Who was Eliza Large?

My 5th Great Grandfather, Thomas Matthews of Highworth, Wiltshire wrote his will in 1816 and made a bequest to his "Granddaur Eliza Large the sum of two hundred pounds secured by the Note of hand of her father Benjamin Large to be paid her on her attaining her age of twenty one years."   Thomas's daughter, Mary Matthews of Highworth, wrote her Will in 1823 and made a bequest to "my niece Eliza Large".   Thomas's son-in-law, David West who was my 4th Great Grandfather and husband of Elizabeth West, Thomas's eldest child, wrote his Will in 1836 and made reference to his daughter Sarah Large.

There is a Church Register record of a marriage in 1806 in Highworth between bachelor Benjamin Large and spinster Susanna Matthews. Witnesses are Thomas Matthews and Sarah West.  Now, Grandfather Thomas Matthews had 13 children: Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Thomas, Ann, Ann, Frances, Sarah, Jane, Susanna, William, Thomas & Sophia.  The first Thomas, the first Ann, Sarah & Sophia all died in infancy or childhood and 8 of others are beneficiaries in their father's Will, leaving just Susanna unaccounted for.

There are Baptisms Records from Down Ampney, Gloucestershire for 7 children born between 1807 and 1816.  6 of them have parents Benjamin and Sarah, but the first, Eliza, is said to be the child of Benjamin & Mary.   I cannot find any record of a marriage between Benjamin Large and Sarah West, or a likely birth of an Eliza to Benjamin Large and Sarah.

All the right elements are there in these records, but they don't quite match up!  It's "doin' me 'ead in!"

The Eliza Large born in Down Ampney in 1807 went on to marry Walter Harris, a baker in Highworth.  I have yet to investigate a possibly relationship between Walter and the Richard Harris who married Thomas Matthews' daughter Martha.

There is now, 3 days later, an answer to the question posed here.  Please see my next post, "Eliza Large was ..."

Footnote:  David West's daughter Maria and her husband John Arthur Dodd were my 4th Great Grandparents.  A previous researcher in my family believed John Arthur and Maria were cousins, but I think it is more likely they were 2nd cousins, John Arthur's maternal grandmother being a Hannah West from Coln St Aldwyn's, Gloucestershire.  Hannah's husband was a John Compton:  family rumour has it he was related to Compton McKenzie and Fay Compton.  Great scope for more research on this branch of the family!

Until next time ... Cheers!