Chapter 18: 

Carew Thomas Elers (1829 -1870)

4 generations between Carew Thomas Elers and James Rupuha Elers

The lives of Carew Thomas Elers and Sarah Field

• Carew was the fifth child and second-eldest son of the Reverend Carew Thomas Elers B.D. and his wife Sarah Elers (nee Palmer).

• He was born in 1829 and baptised on 28 February 1829 at the Parish Church of St Peter, Bickenhill, Birmingham.

• He was called to the Bar at The Middle Temple in January 1852 as reported in “Solicitors’ Journal and Reporter” on 29 January 1870, page 283.

• Carew and Sarah Field were married at All Saints, Leamington Priors, on 8 April 1855.

• The 1861 England, Wales and Scotland Census shows Carew and Sarah lived in  Solihull, Warwickshire with their two daughters Sarah Elizabeth and Charlotte Louisa. That Census quoted Carew’s occupation as a Barrister. It also shows Sarah Field was born in Ufton, Warwickshire, and the two daughters (Sarah and Charlotte) were born in Aston, Warwickshire. Their son Carew Thomas Elers Jnr (who later emigrated to New Zealand, aged 19) was born in 1861 but after the date of the Census.

• Sarah was baptised on 14 October 1838 at Ufton, Warwickshire. Her parents were William and Sarah Field.

• Carew died on 12 January 1870 and was buried on 19 January at St Peter’s, Bickenhill, Warwickshire, aged 41.

• Sarah pre-deceased Carew by two years when she died on 4 August 1868, aged only 31 years. 

• She was buried 4 days later and was buried in the same vault as her husband and two children at St. Peter’s, Bickenhill.

Vaults for Carew Elers and his wife Sarah (nee Palmer) to the left, and Carew Elers and his wife Sarah (nee Field) to the right. These two men were father and son. Also buried in this vault are two children of Carew and Sarah (Field) Elers – Carew and Walter Carew.

• Details of the death of Carew as reported in the “Solicitors’ Journal and Reporter”. The article also reports he died at home at Saltisford.

• Carew’s probate reveals his personal estate was valued at GBP481 which was granted to his daughter Sarah Elizabeth (Elers) Blakemore.

• Photo showing the main street of Solihull (the area where Carew and family lived). The photo was taken 27 years after his death but it gives us a glimpse of what the town looked like during his lifetime.

PROGENY OF CAREW and SARAH ELERS

Carew and Sarah had five children – Carew (1856-1857), Sarah Elizabeth (1858-1889), Charlotte Louisa (1860-1951), Carew Thomas (1861-1933), and George Wyndham (1864-1912).

1. Carew:

• Carew was born in February 1856 and died on 11 November 1857 as reported in the Birmingham Gazette on Monday 16 November 1857.

• He was buried, on 16 November 1857 aged 1 year and 9 months, in the same vault as his parents at St. Peter’s Church, Bickenhill.

2. Sarah Elizabeth:

• See her bio in “The Lives of Sarah Elizabeth Elers and John William Taylor Blakemore” (chapter 18.1).

3. Charlotte Louisa:

• See her bio in “The Lives of Charlotte Louisa Elers and James Woodcock” (chapter 18.2).

4. Carew Thomas Elers:

• See his bio in “The Lives of Carew Thomas Elers and Meri Whakamairu ” (chapter 18.3).

5. George Wyndham Elers:

• See his bio in “The Lives of George Wyndham Elers and Ellen Maria Rowson” (chapter 18.4).

6. Walter Carew:

• Walter was born in April 1866 and died on 18 November 1866 aged 7 months.

• He was buried, 4 days later on 22 November, in the same plot as his parents at St. Peter’s Church, Bickenhill.