Rachel was born a chalk to her mother Mary Ann, she was born 18th of November 1875, Great Waltham, Essex, England. And baptised the 26th of December 1875, Ford End, Great Waltham, Essex, England. The father was not named but he was later given on her Marriage certificate as Simon Eve. He never married Mary Ann and moved away from the area. it is now known that Rachel was adopted by her mothers husband, Isaac Spurgeon around 1875, in the parish of Great Waltham, Essex, who subsequantly married in 1878.

Rachel met Christopher Courtman and fell in love, they married 3rd Aprill, 1893, in the Parish of Blackmore, Essex, England. Rachel gave her father as Simon Eve, Occupation Labourer. Rachel also gave her age at Marriage as 20y making her born 1873, i suspect this was an error.