Lavinia Marshall

LAVINIA BENSON
Lavinia was born at 5pm on Friday 30 March 1838 in Morley, West Yorkshire, the daughter of John and Martha Benson. Her birth was registered by her father on 2 May 1838. She was baptised on Friday 24 June 1838 at St Peter’s Church, Gildersome, West Yorkshire.
When the UK Census was taken on 6 June 1841, Lavinia was living at Bottoms of Hill, Morley with her parents and a younger sibling. She was then aged 3.
When the UK Census was taken on 30 March 1851, Lavinia was living in Goddard Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, the home of her uncle and aunt, Joseph and Mary Smith. She was then aged 13 and already employed as a flax mill worker.
She was married on Tuesday 26 February 1861 at the Register Office, Hunslet, West Yorkshire to William Marshall. Lavinia was then aged 22, had no apparent profession and was living in Morley. The marriage was witnessed by William Matthews and Andrew Marshall. It is evident from the marriage certificate that Lavinia could not write.
When the UK Census was taken on 7 April 1861, five weeks after her marriage, Lavinia was living in Boulab Terrace, Gildersome with William. She was then aged 23.
When the UK Census was taken on 2 April 1871, Lavinia was still living in Boulab Terrace, Gildersome with William and their five children. She was then aged 33 and employed as a wool weaver. The children were John (9 and a scholar), Oliver (8 and a scholar), Arthur (7 and a scholar), Martha (4) and Mary (1).
On the birth of her son, Edwin, in 1872 Lavinia was still living in Gildersome and could still not write.
When the UK Census was taken on 3 April 1881, Lavinia was living in Sanderson Yard, Gildersome with William and their eight children. She was then aged 43. The children were Oliver (18 and employed as a cloth burler), Arthur (16 and employed as a cloth finisher), Martha (14 and employed as a weaver piecener), Mary (11 and a scholar), Edwin (8 and a scholar), Ezra (4), Ira Groundwell (2) and Maria (4 months).
When the UK Census was taken on 5 April 1891, Lavinia was living in Middleton Road, Morley (a 4-roomed house) with William and five of their children. She was then aged 53. The children were Martha (24 and employed as a cloth weaver), Edwin (18 and employed as a mill hand), Ezra (14 and employed as a mill hand), Ira Groundwell (12 and a scholar) and Maria (10 and a scholar).
When the UK Census was taken on 31 March 1901, Lavinia was living at 54 Middleton Road, Morley (a 3-roomed house) with William and their three youngest children. She was then aged 63. The children were Ezra (24 and employed as a card cleaner in a woollen mill), Ira (22 and employed as a domestic groom) and Maria (20 and employed as a dressmaker).
When the UK Census was taken on 2 April 1911, Lavinia was living at 89A Northern Street, Morley (a 3-roomed house) with William. She was then aged 73. The census record indicates that William and Lavinia had had 11 children, 8 of whom were still living.
Lavinia was widowed in 1913 when William died. They had been married for 52 years and had had eleven children together.
When the UK Census was taken on 19 June 1921, Lavinia was living at 43 Great Northern Street, Morley (a 4-roomed house); the home of her daughter, Maria, and son-in-law, Percy Fielding. She was then aged 83.
Lavinia died, aged 83, on Thursday 23 February 1922. Her home at the time of her death was still 43 Great Northern Street, Morley. She had survived William by 9 years. The cause of death was myocardial degeneration and bronchitis. Her death was registered by her son, Edwin, on 24 February 1922. Lavinia was buried on Monday 27 February 1922 at the Morley Methodist Church.