Eliza Heath (nee Thomas)  17??-1835

Born: not known but believed to have died around 1835.
Daughter of: David Thomas.
Eliza married: James Heath in October 1778 and later lived with a Capt. Wilson.
By James Heath, Eliza had issue:
1. George Heath
By Capt. Wilson, Eliza is understood to have had two daughters.

Overview of Eliza Heath

Eliza Heath is mentioned in "Records of the Heath Family, 1913" as follows:
"About 1777 he (James Heath)  married Eliza or Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Rev.-Thomas, D.D., a Welsh clergyman, by whom he had one son, George Heath. Owing to his misconduct, his wife appears to have left him, when her son was about two or three years old, and returned to her own family in Wales. She subsequently "married" a Capt. Wilson, and by him had at least two daughters. No evidence of a divorce is known to exist, for which, at that period, a private Act of Parliament was required. She is believed to have died around 1835."

John Heath, in the later book "Heath Family Engravers, 1993" gives October 1778 as the month of Eliza's wedding and notes her father as being David Thomas, a stocking presser by trade.

There is a reference to a David Thomas in the book "Honourable Society of Cymmrodion by RT Jenkins and HM Ramage, 1951".  This book is not indexed but the relevant information is on pages 58, 88, 126, 232, 250, 256  and 259.  It is recorded that David Thomas was treasurer of the Cymmrodorian Society (A society of Welshmen living in London) and that he was a stocking presser in Ropemaker's Abbey, Moorfields.  He is recorded as having been a member of the Society as early as 1753 and was still recorded as a member in 1778, when he is noted as originating from Flint in Wales.  It is recorded that there was a dissolution of the Cymmrodorian Society some time after 1778, bought about by the death of David Thomas the treasurer who was insolvent and who had £140 of the Societies money in his hands at the time.  It would seem very likely that this David Thomas was Eliza's father.

If you have any information to add to what is listed please contact me on jj@jjhc.info
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