Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the sixth of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 8–9). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).
Bournemouth was a beautiful and fashionable place with its long beach and pleasure gardens and the sea. We lived when first married in the Palmesston Road, Boscombe, about two miles from Bournemouth. Not having a home of our own, Charles rented two very nice rooms, where I first started housekeeping. We were very happy.
After being married a month, we went to live with a man by the name of Mockridge, whose wife had died and who did not want to break up his home. So we lived there, and I worked as a housekeeper and was very glad to do something to help Charles, as it saved our paying rent. It was a very comfortable little home.
After staying eight months at the Mockridge home, we moved into the lodge at Boscombe Manor to live. Charles was second gardener to Sir Percy Basset Shelley, the son of the poet Shelley. Boscombe Manor Bournemouth was one of the most beautiful estates in England. There were two lodges, one east a mile from the manor and one west a mile from the manor. It was a very beautiful and pleasant place to live. I had to let all the carriages through the gate (no tradesmen were allowed through, since there was another entrance called the tradesmen’s entrance). So again I was able to help Charles in a small way by saving the rent.
Sir Percy and Lady Shelley kept a large establishment of servants: 14 in the house, five gardeners, a dairyman, a state carpenter, a state painter, a coachman and two grooms, a butler, two footmen, and a yacht with eight sailors.
After being married a year, a sweet little daughter came to bless our home, for which I nearly gave my life. Mr. Slessor, my old master, wanted her named Cecily or Susan, so we chose Cecily. She was born at Bascombe Manor Lodge on 27 June 1885. When the baby was two months old, I took her to Headbourne Worthy rectory and had her christened at St. Swithun’s church, the same church where we were married. Mr. Arthur Slessor was the godfather. Miss Alethea Slessor and Caroline Drewe were the godmothers. It was quite a fashionable christening. After the services we all went to the rectory to tea.
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