In the third quarter of 1853, Elisha Leffling married Eliza Emsden in the Gravesend registration district.

In 1861, Elisha and Eliza Laffling were living in a cottage in Gosbeck, Suffolk and Elisha was described as a shepherd who had been born in Baylham while Eliza came from Offton. With them were three children - Eliza (aged 6 and born in Gravesend), George (aged 4 and born in Nettlestead) and Sarah (aged 2 and born in Hampshire).

In 1871, Elisha and Eliza Laflin were living in a cottage in Nettlestead and Elisha was still working as a shepherd. Their daughter Eliza (aged 16) was no longer at home, but they had six children living with them. These were George (an agricultural labourer aged 14), Sarah (aged 12 and born in Hampshire), Amelia (aged 9 and born in Gosbeck), Louisa (aged 6), Emma (aged 4) and Herbert (aged 2).

In 1881, Elisha and Eliza Lafflin were living in a cottage in Nettlestead and Elisha was working as a shepherd. With them were their youngest four children. These were Emma (aged 14), Herbert (a farm labourer aged 12), Kate (aged 6) and Matilda (aged 3).

By 1891 they had moved to Ipswich. Elisha and Eliza Laffling were living at 49 Prospect Row and Elisha wasworking as a general labourer. With them were their daughters, Kate (a dressmaker aged 16) and Minnie (aged 10 and still at school) - Minnie may actually have been a grand-daughter.

In 1901 Elisha and Eliza Laffling were living at 3 Sproughton Road, Ipswich and Elisha (aged 76) was working as a general labourer. With them were their unmarried daughter Matilda (aged 23 and working as a mother's help) and a grand-daughter Minnie Laffling (aged 19, unmarried and born in Somersham).

THEIR CHILDREN

1. ELIZA LAFLIN Eliza was baptised in Nettlestead in July 1856, but her birth has not been found. Eliza (aged 6) was living with her parents in the 1861 census but had left home by 1871.

2. GEORGE LAFLIN was born in the last quarter of 1856 but his baptism has not been found. George Laflin (age 4) was with his parents in 1861 and (aged 14) in 1871. He has not been found in 1881, but he was married in Ringshall in July 1883. The marriage of George Laflin and Eliza Beaumont took place in the third quarter of 1883. Banns were called in Ringshall church in June and July of that year. On 21st July 1883, the marriage was held in Ringshall church. The groom was George Laflin a bachelor aged 26 and a shepherd from Nettlestead and the son of Elisha Laflin, also a shepherd. The bride was Eliza Beaumont a spinster aged 19 from Ringshall. George "made his mark" in the register instead of signing his name.

3. SARAH LAFLIN Sarah Laflin (aged 2) was with her parents in 1861 and in 1871 when she was aged 12. She was said to have been born in Hampshire. Her birth record has not been found - the nearest was in the last quarter of 1858 when the birth of a "Sarah Lafling" was registered in Bermondsey. No more information about her has been found.

4. AMELIA LAFLING was born in the last quarter of 1861, but her baptism has not been found. In 1871, Amelia (aged 9) was with her parents. She may have been the "Amelia Lafflin of All Saints, Ipswich, aged 26" who was buried in Nettlestead in January 1888.

5. LOUISA LAFLIN was born in the last quarter of 1864. Louisa Laflin (aged 6) was with her parents in 1871 but not in 1881.

6. EMMA LAFFLIN was baptised in October 1866 but her birth entry has not been found. In 1871, Emma Laflin (aged 4) was with her parents and again in 1881 when she was aged 14.

7. HERBERT WILLIAM LAFLIN was born in the first quarter of 1869 and baptised in February 1869. He was with his parentsin 1871 (aged 2) and in 1881 (aged 12),when he was already working as a farm labourer.

8. KATE LAFLIN was born in the last quarter of 1874 and baptised in January 1875. She was with her parents in 1881 (aged 6) and in 1891 (aged 16), when she was working as a dressmaker.

9. MATILDA LAFLIN was born in the last quarter of 1877 and baptised in March 1878. She was with her parents (aged 3) in the 1881 census. She was probably not with them in 1891, when she was 13.

Sources for this section.

Parish Registers for Baylham, Nettlestead and Ringshall - available in Ipswich Record Office.
Civil Registration Indexes available online from FreeBMD.
Civil Registration Indexes and Census Data available online from Findmypast.

Page maintained by Susan Laflin. Last updated in December 2007.