Louisa was born in 1827 in Wiston, which lies between Steyning and Storrington in West Sussex. In the Middle Ages Wiston comprised two parks which were later landscaped and a Roman road which was still in use in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was primarily a small farming village concerned with wheat, barley, oats, rye, vetch, peas, beans, flax and apples. By the 16th century, cattle had overtaken the medieval sheep flocks. The abundant woodland also provided work and by the time of Louisa’s birth it was self-sufficient in basic skills, with its own brickyard, timber yard and carpenter shop. By 1900 Wiston had become very much an estate village with the estate being the biggest employer up to the 1970s.
On the 11th November 1827, Louisa, the daughter of carpenter Samuel and his wife Jane, was baptised at St Mary’s, a 12th century medieval church in Wiston. She was baptised by Rector George Wells, who would go on to speak on 10th February 1831 in front of a committee of the House of Lords in relation to the care of the poor, with particular evidence from his Wiston parish.
In 1841, 12 year old Louisa was living in Washington, Sussex. It is not recorded whether she was at school or not.
By 1851, 23 year old Louisa was a servant at Park Road, Broadwater. She was one of four servants in the household catering to Thomas and Elizabeth Wyatt, their four daughters and one son.
By 1871, Louisa was still working as a servant, this time at 17 Clarence Square, Brighton, to widow Mary Ann Jones. She was helped by servant colleague, 19 year old Jane Osborn.
In 1881, Louisa was a housekeeper for her sister Ruth, who was five years younger than Louisa and lived in London. She lived and worked at 20 Queensbury Mews West, Kensington, London. Ruth was married to James Wilson, a coachman from Cheshire.
In 1891, 63 year old Louisa was a lodger at 3 Waldram Road, Lewisham, London. She lived there with a Frances Richardson, 12 years her junior and came from Alfreston in Sussex and who may have been a possible relation.