Family History

Sex : Female

Date of Birth : 1747

Place of Birth : Aston, Hertfordshire

Date of Death : 1799

Place of Death : Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Number of Children : 0

Lydia Walby was baptised on 13th December 1747 at Aston in Hertfordshire. By 1764, Lydia had moved about ten miles south of Aston to the town of Hatfield, where she lived with her father's cousin, William Walby, who was a butcher. William owned several properties, including Aston End Farm in Aston, which he left to Lydia in his will. On 13th November 1766, aged 18, Lydia married a baker named Samuel Stroud. They were married at St Saviour's Church in Southwark on the southern edge of London. Samuel and Lydia went on to have two children baptised in London (at the church of St Sepulchre Holborn) in 1767 and 1770. In 1769 Samuel took on Lydia's younger brother John as an apprentice. At this time Samuel was described as a citizen and baker of London. Some time between 1770 and 1771 the family left London and returned to Hatfield, where they went on to have a further twelve children baptised between 1771 and 1788, although it would appear that at least three of their fourteen children died young. Back in Aston, Lydia's father died in 1776. His will does not mention Lydia, although her husband Samuel was one of the executors. Perhaps her father felt that having inherited the farm at Aston End in 1764 she was already well provided for. Samuel died in 1792, being buried at Hatfield on 11th January. He was said to be 55 years old. Lydia survived him by seven years. She wrote her will on 24th November 1799. She left some money she had invested to her elder children, and also a pair of silver spoons to her brother John. Much of the remainder of her estate she left for her three youngest children, with some property left to her niece Martha Walby (her late brother William's daughter) in trust to look after the three youngest children. Lydia died shortly after writing her will. She was buried at Hatfield on 26th December 1799, aged 52.

Samuel Stroud ( 13th November 1766 - )

Children : None / Unknown

Relationship notes : Southwark St. Saviour, Surrey