No compelling baptismal record has been found for Elizabeth. There were Elizabeth FOULKs christened in the early 1770s but were sufficiently close to Oldbury, where she married, to substantiate a link. A Thomas FOULKES of Madeley married an Elizabeth BARNHILL in Bridgenorth in 1790, but no burial has been found for Thomas FOULKES to suggest that Elizabeth was a widowed Mrs FOULK.
Elizabeth FOULK married Richard REYNOLDS in Oldbury, near Bridgenorth, Shropshire on 21 Apr 1794.
Their first son, John, was baptised in Oldbury, near Bridgenorth, Shropshire on 1 Nov 1794, just five months after Elizabeth married Richard. It is thought that the couple were the parents of both Sarah and John because in later life John REYNOLDS lived and died in Button Oak, near Kinlet, where Richard REYNOLDS also ended his days.
Two further sons, William and Richard, were baptised by Richard and Elizabeth in Sidbury, which is half way between Bridgenorth and Kinlet. A fourth son Thomas was baptised at Aston Botterell, 3 miles west of Sidbury. Finally Sarah was born in Kinlet in 1807.
The picture is of an itinerant farm labourer moving between farms with his family, staying for a season or two then moving on.
In 1841 Richard is living in Button Oak, 2.5 miles south of Kinlet with "Elenor" REYNOLDS. It is not clear who "Elenor" is as there is no matching marriage record, but she might have been a brother's widowed wife or a spinster cousin, or it may have been a transcription error of Elizabeth. By 1851 this Richard is listed as a widower.
One compelling 1841 record for Elizabeth is for Elizabeth REYNOLDS, 70-74, living with William REYNOLDS, publican 40-44, and his wife(?), Sarah, 30-34 at "Darby Hand" near Bumble Hole in Dudley. This was a heavily industrial area surrounded by coal pits and brick works. The house would have backed onto a spur of the Dudley canal serving the various works. William is a good fit for Elizabeth's second son, born in 1798.
If this 1841 census record of Elizabeth with son William in Dudley is correct then Elizabeth may have been in ill-health and may have died in Q2 1841, aged 70 suggesting 1771 birth, marriage age 23 in 1794 and last child at 36. (Ref: Q2 1841 DUDLEY UNION 28, 245)
Other possible 1841 records:
- an Elizabeth REYNOLDS, aged 65-69, was living on Charles Street, Cleobury Mortimer (4.5 miles from Kinlet) as head of the household with Henry DOWNING, clerk, 24 and a female servant.
- an Elizabeth REYNOLDS, aged 80 is living with Leticia REYNOLDS, 42, both of independent means at Bulls Bank, Claverley (17 miles to Kinlet)
- an Elizabeth REYNOLDS, 75-79, is living with Stephen REYNOLDS, 15, both Japanners, at 2 Court Pinfold Street, Birmingham, 1.2 miles from Unett Street where daughter Sarah lived.
The only civil death registrations in Cleobury Mortimer R.D. (which includes Kinlet) were:
- An Elizabeth REYNOLDS died in 1843 , however this Elizabeth REYNOLDS was a farmer's daughter just 26 years old who died of consumption (TB).
- An Elizabeth REYNOLDS, 75, died in Cleobury Mortimer R.D. in Q2 1861, suggesting she was born in 1786, too late to marry in 1794.
In Birmingham R.D.:
- Q4 1842 Elizabeth REYNOLDS, 76 suggesting a birth year of 1766, and marriage age of 28 in 1794, and eldest child (Sarah) born when she was 41. Perhaps she was staying with her (only) daughter when she died.