Viv Carter described in some detail what she knew about Elizabeth Rippon Moore, her grandmother’s great grandmother, and the research she undertook to try and establish where Elizabeth had come from and who she was. Through a series of tenuous links she set out to try and prove that Elizabeth’s mother was probably a Margery Rippon, although she still has no idea how she gained the surname Moore.
Elizabeth Rippon Moore was baptised in December 1795 in Aycliffe village, Durham and married John Walton in May 1823 by licence in Whitburn, Durham. John was a butcher but sadly died in 1825, leaving Elizabeth with two children (Frances and John) and a butchery business, which she seems to have carried on quite successfully, ending up owning several properties.
One of the clues that Viv used was a mourning brooch of Ann Lawson (another butcher’s wife), which had passed down through Elizabeth’s family via her daughter Frances. It ended up in the possession of Ann Lawson Hall, who was close to Frances and was an informant on Frances’ death certificate. The link of the Lawson family with the Rippon’s led Viv to Margery Rippon, born at Esh, Durham in 1776.
This was a hugely entertaining talk which produced several questions and anecdotes at the end of the meeting. Like many of our family histories, Viv was restricted by the available evidence; in the future more records may become accessible, making the evidence more unambiguous and even clarifying the surname ‘Moore’. Many members, after the talk, said how complicated it was to research particular names, especially common ones, and the difficulties of knowing where people had come from. The general feeling was that Viv had done a sterling job, looking back over a very difficult family history and future clues might clarify or change the story in time to come. I’m sure we all agree that with family historians, the work is never finished!
Lesley Smith, Secretary, Deal & District Branch
of Kent Family History Society