Wade & Webb Family History

William Marritt1826–?

Farm Bailiff. Ravensden · Laughton · Loughton

William Marritt was a shepherd at Hendon, Middlesex, when he married Eliza Keel there on 25 December 1857. They raised their children at Loughton, Essex, and the Essex parish registers name him as the father of children baptised as late as 1875. By the census of 1881 he was no longer in the household, and what became of him is not yet known.

On this page
  1. Family Record
  2. Life
  3. Documents (2)
  4. Places
  5. Timeline
  6. Open questions
  7. Searches made
  8. Notes

Birth

  1. 1826 Ravensden, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Marriages

  1. 25 Dec 1857 Eliza Keel, at Hendon, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Death and burial

  1. Date unknown Death: place not recorded

Family

Parents
Spouse, 25 Dec 1857
Eliza Keel 1840–1925
Children
Frank Marritt 1866–?
Ada Eliza Marritt 1873–1953

Line of descent Wade line

  1. William Marritt
  2. Ellen Mathilda Marritt, daughter
  3. Frank Edward Wade, son
  4. William Albert Webb Wade, son

Great-grandfather of Webb Wade, from whom this history is traced. Why Webb Wade?

Life

William Marritt was born in 1826 at Ravensden, Bedfordshire, England, according to the FamilySearch tree, which gives no source for the date or the place and names his father as James Marritt.1 His surname is spelled Marritt, Marrott and Merritt in the records of his life, and a searcher should try all three.2

Marriage at Hendon

On 25 December 1857 William Marrott married Eliza Keel in the parish church of Hendon, Middlesex, after banns, that is, after the marriage had been announced in church on three Sundays so that any objection could be raised.3 The register describes him as a bachelor of full age, meaning twenty-one or older, a shepherd living at Hendon, and the son of James Marrott, labourer; the bride, also of full age and of Hendon, was the daughter of William Keel, sexton.3 He signed the register as "William Marrott."3 The tree gives Eliza's birth year as 1840, which would have made her about seventeen, a conflict with "full age" on the register that is still to be resolved.4

Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth Jane Marritt, was born on 28 August 1857 at Hendon, according to her death certificate of 1942, which names her father as William Marritt and her mother as Eliza "Kiel."5 That date falls four months before the wedding, and the tree gives her birth year as 1858.5 Inference The certificate's informant was a niece, so the birth date is secondary information, given at second hand many years later; a birth registration at Hendon in 1857 or 1858 would settle which is right.5

Loughton, Essex

By 1860 the family was in Essex.6 On 5 February 1860 Frederick William Marrott, son of William and Eliza Marrott, was baptised, his baptism entered in the Essex parish registers; the tree calls him Frederick R. Marritt and places his birth at Loughton.6 The census of 1861 recorded William Marritt with Eliza and Frederick, but the tree places that household at "Laughton, Sussex."7 Inference Since the baptism of 1860 and every later record put the family at Loughton in Essex, the Sussex place is most probably an indexing or matching error for Loughton, Essex, though the census page itself has not been examined.7

A son, Frank, was born at Loughton in 1866, according to the tree.8 The census of 1871, which indexes the family under the spelling Merritt, recorded William with Eliza, Frederick and Frank at Loughton, Essex.9 The tree gives his occupation as farm bailiff, a farm manager employed by an owner, without citing a source.10 The Essex parish registers of the next years name William Marritt as the father of three daughters: Ada Eliza on 5 February 1871, Edith Alice on 27 July 1873 and Ellen Matilda on 26 September 1875.11 A daughter Catherine Alice, whom the tree places in 1870, completes the family of seven children the tree records.12

Absent in 1881

When the census was taken in April 1881, Eliza Marritt was the head of the household at Easton Cottage, Loughton, a married woman working as a shopkeeper, with four of their daughters: Catherine Alice, 14, Ada Eliza, 10, Edith Alice, 7, and Ellen Mathilda, 5.13 William was not in the household.13 Inference Because Eliza is described as married rather than widowed, he was probably still living in 1881 and away from home, perhaps working elsewhere, but no record places him.13 Searches of the Chronicling America collection of American newspapers for his name found nothing that refers to him, and nothing places him in the United States.14

Eliza later married William Thompson, born in Norway in 1826 according to the tree, and came with her daughters to Brooklyn, New York; Ellen's obituary says she came to America at the age of eight.15 When Ellen and Edith married there on the same day in October 1893, each certificate named William Thompson as the bride's father.16 Several of the Marritt children nevertheless gave William Marritt as their father in their own records in New York: Ada Eliza at her marriage to Joseph Gilbert Darrow in 1904, Catherine at her marriage to Isaac S. Hoage in 1905 and in the record of her death in 1921, and Elizabeth Jane on her death certificate in 1942.17

The date and place of his death are not known.18 Inference The records in hand neither show that he died before Eliza's remarriage nor rule out a separation; an English death registration after 1875 for a William Marritt or Marrott born about 1826, or his entry in the census of 1881 elsewhere, is the evidence most likely to answer the question.18

Documents

  1. 25 December 1857 Marriage of William Marritt and Eliza Keel, Hendon, 1857 Hendon parish register (Church of England), Middlesex · image
  2. 2 June 1942 Certificate of death no. 11083: Elizabeth J. Marritt City of New York, Department of Health, Borough of Brooklyn, certificates of death · vital record

Places

  1. 1826Ravensden
  2. 1857Hendon
  3. 1861Laughton
  4. 1871Loughton

Timeline

  1. 1826BirthRavensden, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom
  2. 25 Dec 1857Marriage, Eliza KeelHendon, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
  3. 1861ResidenceLaughton, Sussex, England, United Kingdom
  4. 1871ResidenceLoughton, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Open questions

  • Whereabouts in 1881 and death. Absent from Eliza's Loughton household in the 1881 census; not known to have come to America. Check the 1881 census for a William Marritt/Marrott born about 1826 at Ravensden, Bedfordshire, and English deaths 1875–1885 (the Chronicling America search was fruitless, as expected for a man with no American residence).

  • Low-probability lead (2026-11-09): a Marritt family at Keswick and Newmarket, Ontario (Newmarket Era, 1930s-1940s, William Marritt married about 1887; a James Marritt there too). The surname is rare; if any of Eliza's children (Frederick, Frank) emigrated to Canada, Ontario records might show it. Not pursued.

Searches made

  1. 2026-11-08Bulk review of Matt's OneDrive genealogy folder (Phase 3): all documents transcribed and compared with the tree2 document(s) name this person; see Documents above. Conflicts and new facts are in each document record and in research/sources/document-review-2026-11-08.md
  2. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "William Marritt", England, 1856–1858no matches
  3. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "William Marritt", 1841–19071 page; first: [The daily morning journal and courier (New Haven, Conn.), 1898-06-24, p. 5](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020358/1898-06-24/ed-1/?sp=5)
  4. 2026-11-08Assessment: Chronicling America: "William Marritt", England, 1856–1858No matches, as expected: Chronicling America holds United States newspapers only, so a marriage-window search restricted to England can never return anything. The search plan should skip Chronicling America for English events (or send them to the British Newspaper Archive / Essex and Bedfordshire papers as a manual lead).
  5. 2026-11-08Assessment: Chronicling America: "William Marritt", 1841–19071 page: Daily Morning Journal and Courier (New Haven) 1898-06-24 p. 5, "William Marritt Clark" in a high-school class-day committee: Marritt is a given name here; not this person. Nothing places William Marritt (b. 1826 Ravensden) in the United States at all (he was absent from Eliza's Loughton household in 1881); without evidence of emigration, American newspapers are not the place to look. Lead: the 1881 English census and English deaths 1875–1885, as already noted in the 1881 census record.
  6. 2026-11-09Find a Grave search: William Marritt, b. 1826 ±3, d. ? ±3: 0 resultsno matches
  7. 2026-11-09Newspaper search plan: "William Marritt", 1826–not run: no United States events: search England papers by hand (Chronicling America holds US papers only)
  8. 2026-11-09Internet Archive: "William Marritt"155 pages; first: [Newmarket Era and Express, 1944, p. ](https://archive.org/details/NewmarketEraAndExpress_805?q=%22William%20Marritt%22); [Past into present. 2, 1400-1700, 1989, p. ](https://archive.org/details/pastintopresent20000unse?q=%22William%20Marritt%22); [Newmarket Era, 1940, p. ](https://archive.org/details/NewmarketEra_834?q=%22William%20Marritt%22)
  9. 2026-11-09Internet Archive assessment: "William Marritt" (155 pages)First 20 reviewed: a William Marritt of Keswick, Ontario (Newmarket Era 1937-1946: golden wedding 1937, so married about 1887; estate 1946), and a merchant of Lincoln who died in 1616. Neither can be him (born 1826; last in the Loughton records 1875). Not him.
  10. 2026-11-09Internet Archive hits assessed: 1 searchNo match.
  11. 2026-11-09DPLA: "William Marritt"no matches
  12. 2026-11-09DPLA assessment: 1 searchNo match: no hits.

Notes

  1. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: birth 1826, Ravensden, Bedfordshire, England, no source attached; father James Marritt back to the text
  2. Marriage of William Marritt and Eliza Keel, Hendon, 1857, Hendon parish register (Church of England), Middlesex: William Marrott "England and Wales, Census, 1871", FamilySearch, William Merritt, 1871. Record: William Merritt, 1871 "England and Wales, Census, 1861", FamilySearch, William Marritt, 1861. Record: William Marritt, 1861 back to the text
  3. Marriage of William Marritt and Eliza Keel, Hendon, 1857, Hendon parish register (Church of England), Middlesex: No. 169, December 25th, William Marrott, full age, Bachelor, Shepherd, Hendon, father James Marrott, Labourer; Eliza Keel, full age, Spinster, Hendon, father William Keel, Sexton; after Banns Marritt Keel Marriage Record: Marritt Keel Marriage back to the text
  4. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GMWV-2K3 (their page): birth 1840, England Marriage of William Marritt and Eliza Keel, Hendon, 1857, Hendon parish register (Church of England), Middlesex: notes: full age means 21 or over; the tree's birth year of 1840 for Eliza would make her 17 back to the text
  5. Certificate of death no. 11083: Elizabeth J. Marritt, City of New York, Department of Health, Borough of Brooklyn, certificates of death: Date of birth: Aug. 28, 1857, Birthplace: England, Hendon, Father: William Marritt, Maiden name of mother: Eliza Kiel, Informant: Ethel E. Wade, niece FamilySearch Family Tree, profile P912-71L (their page): birth 1858, Hendon "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Elizabeth J. Marritt, 2 Jun 1942. Record: William Marritt in entry for Elizabeth J. Marritt, 2 Jun 1942 back to the text
  6. "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch, William Marrott in entry for Frederick William Marrott, 5 Feb 1860. Record: William Marrott in entry for Frederick William Marrott, 5 Feb 1860, England, Essex, Parish Registers "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch, Frederick William Marrott, 5 Feb 1860. Record: Frederick William Marrott, 5 Feb 1860 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile P912-T4L (their page): Frederick R Marritt, birth 1860, Loughton, Essex back to the text
  7. "England and Wales, Census, 1861", FamilySearch, William Marritt, 1861. Record: William Marritt, 1861 "England and Wales, Census, 1861", FamilySearch, Eliza Marritt in entry for William Marritt, 1861. Record: Eliza Marritt in entry for William Marritt, 1861 "England and Wales, Census, 1861", FamilySearch, Frederick Marritt in entry for William Marritt, 1861. Record: Frederick Marritt in entry for William Marritt, 1861 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: residence 1861, Laughton, Sussex back to the text
  8. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile P912-G1X (their page): Frank Marritt, birth 1866, Loughton, Essex back to the text
  9. "England and Wales, Census, 1871", FamilySearch, William Merritt, 1871. Record: William Merritt, 1871 "England and Wales, Census, 1871", FamilySearch, Eliza Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871. Record: Eliza Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871 "England and Wales, Census, 1871", FamilySearch, Fredrick Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871. Record: Fredrick Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871 "England and Wales, Census, 1871", FamilySearch, Frank Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871. Record: Frank Merritt in entry for William Merritt, 1871 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: residence 1871, Loughton, Essex back to the text
  10. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: occupation Farm Bailiff, no source attached back to the text
  11. "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Ada Eliza Marritt, 5 Feb 1871. Record: William Marritt in entry for Ada Eliza Marritt, 5 Feb 1871 "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Edith Alice Marritt, 27 Jul 1873. Record: William Marritt in entry for Edith Alice Marritt, 27 Jul 1873 "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Ellen Matilda Marritt, 26 Sep 1875. Record: William Marritt in entry for Ellen Matilda Marritt, 26 Sep 1875 back to the text
  12. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: children Elizabeth Jane, Frederick R, Frank, Catherine Alice, Ada Eliza, Edith Alice and Ellen Mathilda FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GS4J-DQ2 (their page): Catherine Alice Marritt, born 1870 back to the text
  13. 1881-census-eliza-marritt-household: Easton Cottage, Eliza Marritt, Head, Mar, Shop Keeper; Catherine Alice 14, Ada Eliza 10, Edith Alice 7, Ellen Mathilda 5; notes: William Marritt was absent "England and Wales, Census, 1881", FamilySearch, Eliza Marritt, 1881. Record: Eliza Marritt, 1881 back to the text
  14. Research log, searches made: Chronicling America, William Marritt, 1841–1907: one page, William Marritt Clark, not this person; nothing places him in the United States back to the text
  15. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GMWV-63F (their page): William Thompson, born Sep 1826, Norway; spouse Eliza Keel "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch, Eliza Thompson in entry for William Thompson, 1900. Record: Eliza Thompson in entry for William Thompson, 1900 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GMWV-2K3 (their page): residence 1900, Brooklyn 1906-07-18-ellen-m-wade-obit: born in England and came to this country when 8 years old back to the text
  16. 1893-10-18-ellen-thompson-wade-marriage-certificate: Ellen M. Thompson, father William Thompson, mother's maiden name Eliza Keel 1893-10-18-edith-thompson-frost-marriage-certificate: Edith A. Thompson, 18 October 1893, Father's Name: William Thompson, Mother's Maiden Name: Eliza Keel back to the text
  17. "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Joseph Gilbert Darrow and Ada Eliza Marritt, 14 August 1904. Record: William Marritt in entry for Joseph Gilbert Darrow and Ada Eliza Marritt, 14 August 1904 "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", FamilySearch, William in entry for Isaac S Hoage and Catherine or Katherine A Marritt, 30 September 1905. Record: William in entry for Isaac S Hoage and Catherine or Katherine A Marritt, 30 September 1905 "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Catherine A Hoage, 31 Jan 1921. Record: William Marritt in entry for Catherine A Hoage, 31 Jan 1921 "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch, William Marritt in entry for Elizabeth J. Marritt, 2 Jun 1942. Record: William Marritt in entry for Elizabeth J. Marritt, 2 Jun 1942 back to the text
  18. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile GHY8-937: death: deceased, no date or place Research log, searches made: open question: whereabouts in 1881 and death; check the 1881 census and English deaths 1875–1885 1881-census-eliza-marritt-household: Eliza Marritt, Mar back to the text
Every FamilySearch record attached to William Marritt (12)
  1. 1857William Lancaster, "England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
  2. 5 Feb 1860William Marrott, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997"
  3. 1861William Marritt, "England and Wales, Census, 1861"
  4. 5 Feb 1871William Marritt, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997"
  5. 1871William Merritt, "England and Wales, Census, 1871"
  6. 27 Jul 1873William Marritt, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997"
  7. 26 Sep 1875William Marritt, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997"
  8. 14 August 1904William Marritt, "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938"
  9. 30 September 1905William, "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938"
  10. 31 Jan 1921William Marritt, "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949"
  11. 2 Jun 1942William Marritt, "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949"
  12. Marritt Keel Marriage