The Life of Elizabeth Swarbrick

	Name: Elizabeth Swarbrick
	Father: William Swarbrick
	Mother: Mary Hodgson
	Birthdate: 15 October 1808
	Birthplace: Kirkland, Garstang, Lancashire, England
	Date of Death: 6 June 1879, age 70

Elizabeth Swarbrick never married and as far as I have learned thus far, she had no children. Very little is known about her adult life and I have been unable to find any census records or address records covering the period of time between her leaving her parents home until her death in 1879.

The only firm record I have found of Elizabeth's life is her Will, which gave me scant information about the lady herself, but gave me a wealth of information about members of her family that I was previously unaware of.

WILL:

Elizabeth Swarbrick wrote her Will on 5 April 1879 and appointed her sisters, Isabella Smith - the wife of Michael Smith; and Mary Bamber - the wife of Thomas Bamber, as Executors of her estate.

She left all of her household furniture, wearing apparel, and her gold watch chain to her sister Isabella; a gold Cameo brooch "with a carving of the head of Our Saviour" and a pair of plain gold earrings to her niece Mary Dawson (daughter of her sister Isabella and her first husband Richard Dawson); and her best pair of gold earrings to her niece Elizabeth Dawson (another daughter of Richard and Isabella).

To her niece Mary Swarbrick (daughter of her brother William) she left her small cameo brooch. To her niece Mary Wells (daughter of her sister Mary Bamber and the wife of Joseph Wells) she left her gold watch.

She also left a gold locket and gold necklet to her friend Miss Mary Stringfellow, and another gold locket to her friend Miss Margaret Seddon.

The remainder of her real and personal property was to be sold or otherwise converted to cash and - after the payment of her just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses - divided as follows: First the payment of a legacy of £300 to her sister Isabella and another of £140 to her sister Mary - both free from legacy duties.

The balance of her estate was to be divided into 5 equal parts, with one part going to each of her above mentioned sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and one part to each to her brothers William and Robert.

The 5th and final part was to be divided between the five children of her late brother John, namely William, Thomas, John Jr, George and Mary Jane.

All estate given to females was for their own use and was to be free from marital control.

Elizabeth signed the will with her mark which was witnessed by Edward E. Banks, Solicitor, Preston; and John E. Underhill, Clerk to Mr. William Banks, Solicitor, Preston.

Elizabeth Swarbrick died on 6 June 1879, aged 70 years, at the home of her sister Isabella, 15 Holstein Street, Preston.

The Will was proved at Lancaster on 15 August 1879, with a declared value of under £1000, no Leaseholds. RESWORN: May 1886, value under £1500.

MONUMENT INSCRIPTION: (partial)

"...Also for Elizabeth, sister of the above George Swarbrick, who died June 6th, 1879, aged 70 years..."

(Buried in the Roman Catholic section of Preston Cemetery)

BURIAL RECORD:

Elizabeth Swarbrick, age 70, of 15 Holstein Street, Preston, was buried on 10 June 1879 in plot C-416 in the Catholic section of Preston Cemetery. She was the third and last interment - buried 11 ft deep. She was buried with her elder brother George Swarbrick and his wife Margaret (nee' Norris). It was the final part of their monument inscription that first made me aware of Elizabeth.

DEATH NOTICE:

"Deaths...Since our last, Preston...Elizabeth Swarbrick, Holstein Street, 70,..."

(From 'The Preston Guardian', Saturday, 14 June 1879)

NOTES:
1:	Until seeing his headstone, I did not know that George Swarbrick had any sisters.
2:	The above information was taken from the headstone at Preston Cemetery, microfilmed copies of the Preston Guardian newspaper held at the Harris Reference Library, and a transcript of the Will, held at the Lancashire Archives.