Martha was born in Diseworth, Leicestershire, and moved with her brother William to London between 1851 and 1861, living at Waltham Cross. There she found work as a laundry maid working for Theobalds Park. The building in which she worked was some distance from the Meux’s family mansion. The husband of one of Martha’s granddaughters recalled being told that the laundry building had two storeys; the ground floor was the laundry and the upper floor was where the maids lived. In an environment of copper pipes, water, and steam, Martha worked with the other ladies for twelve hours each day, and then retired to the upper floor, where the steam and damp came up through the wooden floor joists from the laundry below. The beds were said to be always damp, especially in the winter. Martha’s salary was £13 a year.
In 1862, Martha married Charles Thomas Hillier, probably at Holy Trinity Church (renamed Christ Church in 1975), Waltham Cross. After their marriage, Martha and Charles lived ‘in a little street of tiny terrace houses in Cecil Road’. They had eleven children: Anne (1862-1870); Alice (born 1864); Louisa Martha (born 1866); Charles William (born 1867); Agnes Mary (1868-1962); William Thomas (1870-1951); Harry (born 1871); Arthur (born 1872); Richard (born 1873); Harry Dexter (born 1874); and Adelaide (born 1876).
Charles worked sometime as a gun maker but by 1881, he was a pensioner and living on his own means. It is said that Charles ‘sat in his chair all day and puffed away at his pipe...he had eight shillings a week in his pocket’. It was said he suffered from rheumatism. Meanwhile, Martha continued to work as a laundress.
By 1891 the family had moved to 37 Eleanor Road. Charles died in 1898.
Martha was remembered as being ‘little’ in stature and ‘much loved’. Her brother William died in 1911 and left his estate worth £164 3s. 4d. to her.
Martha died in the winter of 1923 aged 86.
William H.
Caroline H.
Elizabeth H.
Elizabeth