Lizzy Caroline Mearer King

Births Dec 1874

Davis Lizzie Caroline Hackney 1b 446

In the 1890s Liese's mother Lela Cody (born Elizabeth Mary Davis), met Samuel Franklin Cowdery, a colourful American showman known as Samuel Franklin Cody, who was born in Devonport, Iowa, in 1867. He had travelled to England with his wife, Maud Maria Lee, in 1890, to perform a "Wild West" act under the surname Cody - deliberately trading on the more famous show run by Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody met a wealthy British dealer called John Blackburn Davis, who hired Cody to bring a consignment of horses to Britain. Cody fell in love with Davis's daughter, Lela, and they eloped. As a result Liese was brought up by her Grandfather John Davis and in the 1881 Census we find her in his household -

1881 Census Kensington, Brompton London

• John Davis 59 Foreman Livery Stables Blackmans Yard born Huntingdon
• Caroline Davis wife 56 born Tooting, Surrey
• Lizzie King Grand Child 7 born Edgeware Road, London

In 1911 she is a Housekeeper in the household of Cody and her mother Lela as Leise Whittall

Liese was born Lizzy Caroline Merear King December 1873. Married Arthur Ernest Whittall 1897. They had one son died aged 3 months and 3 daughters. Mr Whittall died 1906.

1915 Liese Maria Whittall - [note the name changes] married Charles Edward Phillips. Liese Mearea Phillips died 1944.

To save embarrassment Lizzy/Liese to S.F. Cody and 'Lela Marie' always called her mother 'Aunty'.