Founder of Bedford College, anti-slavery activist and philanthropist.
Her Wikipedia page is very informative.
Elizabeth Jesser Sturch was born on 15 December 1789 in the St Clement Danes district, Middlesex (now Greater London), the second of the five children of William Sturch (1753-1838) and Elisabeth Myrtilla Sturch née Jesser (1758-1841). Her father was an ironmonger by trade and a theological writer. Her four siblings were: Mary Myrtilla Sturch (1788-1869); Joanna Sturch (1791-1865); William Jesser Sturch (1794-1850) and John Sturch (1801-1824).
On 11 January 1821 she married Dr John Reid (1776-1822) in the Parish Church of St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the marriage register she is described as a spinster of this parish and her husband was shown as a widower of St Pancras parish.
In the 1861 census she is shown as aged 71 years, a widow and a house proprietor, lodging at 20 Michael's Place, Kensington, Middlesex (now Greater London), the home Catherin Du Montel, aged 29 years and a seamstress.
Probate records show that she lived at 21 York Terrace, Regent's Park, Middlesex (now Greater London) and that she died there, aged 76 years, on 30 January 1866, her death being registered in the 2nd quarter of 1866 in the Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). Her will, with a codicil was proved at London's Principal Registry on 15 May 1866 by Elizabeth Ann Bostock of 48 Bedford Square, Middlesex, a spinster and her sole executrix. Her effects were recorded as being under £25,000.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
