Isabella Theodora (Iles) Priest (1847 - 1939)

Born 1847 in Keynsham, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Died 17 May 1939 at about age 92 in Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Isabella Theodora Iles was born in 1847, in Keynsham, Somerset, England, the eldest child of John Iles, Master Chimney Sweep, and his wife Elizabeth Williams, with the event being registered in the 1st Quarter at Keynsham,^[1] and was baptised on the 28th March the same year, also at Keynsham. G R Harding officiated.^[2]

Whilst still living with her mother (her father had died), at 23 years of age, she gave birth to a son she named Francis William Stoneham Iles. As was so often the case, could the name "Stoneham" be a clue to the father of her child? Just three weeks after his birth (on the 2nd April 1871) she was enumerated with her son, mother, and siblings living on Horse Street, Chipping Sodbury. Noted as being in residence at the time were the 3-week-old "William Stoneham", her widowed mother; Elizabeth (54), a chimney sweep; her siblings: 18-year-old William Henry, also a chimney sweep; 15-year-old Thomas Absalom, a labourer; 12-year-old Sarah Elizabeth; and 7-year-old Edward John; and the staff: Bridport, Dorset-born Henry Gales (29), also a chimney sweep; and Thornbury, Gloucestershire-born Henry Williams (12), also a chimney sweep.^[3]

With no mention of licence or Banns (although Banns remained lawful until the 1900s), she married James Priest, a coachman, on the 3rd May 1873, in All Saints Church, Crondall, Hampshire. The officiant was William Durst, and their witnesses were Joseph Priest, Emily Barton(?), and Mildred(?) Sophie Vaughn Cator. All Parties signed their names. James's father was noted as Richard Priest, coachman, and Isabella's father as John Iles, Sweep.^[4] Subsequently they were to have six known children, a daughter, and five sons:

1. Sophia Isabella (1874–1924 (Tupman))
2. Henry Alfred James (1876–1943)
3. Thomas Edward John (1878–1931)
4. Frederick George (1881–1882)
5. Arthur John (1884–1916)
6. Bertie Louis (1885–1886)

Her husband died the same year as their youngest son.

Isabella (Iles) Priest migrated from England to Australia.

With Sophia being well settled with a husband and new family, and Thomas likewise settled (although not yet married), Henry and Arthur having emigrated to Australia (they had a cousin in Victoria), and no longer a husband of her own, it is possible Henry's impending marriage to Martha Brown in New South Wales may have been the impetus for her to also emigrate. Regardless of the reasons, emigrate she did, and by 1915 she was living at 87 Nelson Street, Rozelle (Balmain), with son Arthur (who was to die in Egypt, in 1916, as a member of the Australian Forces involved in the Great War.)^[5]

In 1930 she was living at 9 Burt Street, Rozelle, with son Henry, an engine fitter, and his wife, Martha, where all three were registered to vote.^[6]

Isabella Theodora Priest née Iles passed away on the 17th May 1939, in Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia,^[7] and was interred on the 18th in the Field of Mars Cemetery, East Ryde, where her son Henry would also be laid to rest.^[8]
A notice was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on the 19th May, to say her funeral had been held the previous day.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: ILES, ISABELLA THEODORA; Mother's Maiden Surname: WILLIAMS; GRO Reference: 1847 M Quarter in KEYNSHAM Volume 11 Page 124
2. ↑ Baptism — "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9V-8N25 : 25 February 2022), Isabella Theodora Iles, 1847.
3. ↑ 1871 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5YX-14Q : 28 June 2022), Isabella Iles in entry for Elizabeth Iles, 1871.
4. ↑ Marriage — "England, Hampshire Parish Registers, 1538-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGQG-ZD96 : 11 August 2022), James Priest and Isabella Theodora Iles, 03 May 1873; citing Marriage, , possibly other reference information Lancashire Record Office and Hampshire Record Office, England; FHL microfilm 1,040,287.
5. ↑ Death Notice for Son Arthur — "Family Notices" The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) 2 March 1916: 1. Web. 14 Aug 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155114039>.
6. ↑ Voter Registration — Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
7. ↑ Death Registration — New South Wales State Government Births, Deaths, Marriages Death Registration details: Name: PRIEST ISABELLA THEODORE; Registration Number: 10770/1939; Father's Given Name(s): WILLIAM; Mother's Given Name(s): ; District: ROZELLE (NOTE: the father's name as recorded is incorrect, most likely because the informant did not know.)
8. ↑ Burial — Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/123698091/isabella-t-priest: accessed 13 August 2022), memorial page for Isabella T Priest (unknown–May 1939), Find A Grave: Memorial #123698091, citing Field of Mars Cemetery, East Ryde, Ryde City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by III (contributor 47426837).
9. ↑ Funeral Announcement — "Family Notices" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 19 May 1939: 9. Web. 13 Aug 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17585161>.

• 1851 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGP3-GPS : accessed 20 Jul 2020), Isabella Iles in household of John Iles, Keynsham, Somerset, England; citing Keynsham, Somerset, England, p. 17, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• 1861 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7J8-S4X : 3 March 2021), Isabella Iles in household of John Iles, Keynsham, Somerset, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• 1881 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q279-82N6 : 8 December 2017), Isabella Priest in household of James Priest, Paddington, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 30, Piece/Folio 11/121, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,213.

• 1891 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3T22-RPZ : 22 February 2021), Isabella T Priest in household of David L Thomson, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, London county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• 1901 Census - "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X942-7Y3 : 20 May 2019), Isabella T Priest, Fulham, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing South Fulham subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• Emigration — Orvieto The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27-12628 Name: Mrs Priest; Gender: Female; Departure Date: 26 Nov 1909; Departure Port: England; Ship Name: Orvieto; Shipping Line: Orient Line; Destination Port: Sydney, Australia; Master: J F Ruthven