Eliza Staveley (1888-1946) was born in Kilham, a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is situated near Rudston, Langtoft about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Driffield town centre and approx 7 miles from Bridlington.

Eliza is the daughter of John Staveley (1861-1909) & Mary Elizabeth Staveley nee Boynton (1864-1944). John is a farm labourer from Muston and would move around the local area in search of employment. The family would later move to Scarborough since the larger towns and cities provided better work opportunities. Her brother George aged 2 and her sister Edith Annie who were both born in Muston are living with the family when Eliza was born.

Eliza remains with family in Muston until after Hilda May is born in 1890. The family then move to 111 Prospect Road in Scarborough where John Staveley starts work as a mineral water vanman with his horse and cart. This is a pretty tough job in all weathers with little protection from the wind and rain.

In Scarborough the family continues to grow with Mary Elisabeth being born in 1892. Sadly she dies just 17 months after she is born. In 1893 there is a new addition to the family with Ethel May. Finally Walter Boynton Staveley is born in 1896.

The family are at 1 James Place in 1901 which is now a dilapidated row of shops. In 1901 it appears that John’s wife, Mary Elizabeth, is a patient at the North Riding Lunatic Asylum, in Clifton at just 35 years of age. John and Mary’s daughters, Edith Annie and Hilda May, are staying with their grandparents, George and Ann BOYNTON, at 11 Spring Road in Filey in 1901. John and Mary’s son George died on April 5, 1903 at the young age of 17 years.

In 1909 John Staveley dies as a result of Tuberculosis. John’s daughter Hilda May was the witness on the certificate. He was living at 17 Wooler Street in Scarborough.

In the 1911 Eliza is working as a parlour maid and living in Scarbrough:  The 1911 census records the address as 18 Esplanade Scarborough. She works for the Coates family who have several boarders so the building was probably a hotel or Guest House. It is quite close to the sea.

Around 1912, Eliza moves to Tong in Keighley and takes up residence at 16 Low Street. She would have gone there for work and it is in Tong that she meets her future husband George Harry Painter.

George Harry Painter is from Murton, County Durham. This is not far from Sunderland. George and Eliza clearly get on well because the next thing we see are the marriage banns dated 7th December 1913. On 19th March 1914 the happy couple get married at Easington, Durham.

I have not researched further to see if they had children or what kind of employment they had through their working lives. They settled and stayed in Durham

George Henry Painter Died in April 1932. He was remembered in the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette for his service in the Royal Navy. He was a keen sportsman and the middle weight boxing champion of the fleet. He died at 1 West View, Murton, Durham at the age of 44.

Eliza Painter ( Staveley ) age 57 died in Durham on March 12th 1946. Ever remembered by Susie & Chrissie

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