Come on David don’t get down hearted!!
One thought that's already occurred to me is that there's nothing to say that Joseph Sabey, the other family in Bolnhurst, the one who married firstly Elizabeth Hall in 1751, was also non-conformist. The fact that he baptised one child from each of his three marriages in the established church suggests that he wasn't non-conformist. Which might be why I haven't inked in that Francis was his son.
Although Joseph Sabey married three times 1751, 1770, and 1778 (27 years time span) and probably died in 1804 Bolnhurst he only had three children baptised;
1.William, son of Joseph & Eliz Saby, labr, priv bap 26 Dec 1752 Bolnhurst PR (privately bap ?died) on its own perhaps not significant but then
2.Sarah Sabey d of Joseph and Elizabeth born Jun 1770 bap 9 Oct 1774 at Bolnhurst IGI P003551 (bap on burial born before marriage in Dec.)
Sarah, daughter of Joseph & Eliz Saby, age 4yr & 4 months (born Jun 1770) burial 9 Oct 1774 Bolnhurst PR
3.Elizabeth Sabey d of Joseph and Elizabeth bap 16 May 1779 Bolnhurst Beds (bap on burial)
Eliz, daughter of Joseph & Eliz Saby buried 16 May 1779 at Bolnhurst PR
Perhaps Joseph was unlucky not to have surviving children (his wives got pregnant son after or before the marriages) or perhaps he was NC and had other children who did not died so were not baptised.
I have read that (perhaps this needs clarification);
‘A burial could only take place in a graveyard of a Parish Church (unless a NC Denomination had purchaded land for burial. Burials started Little Staugnton Baptist 1786).
As an article on Genuki. 'If a new-born infant was sickly and thought unlikely to survive, its fate in Heaven required it to be baptised urgently. So any available clergyman was persuaded to attend the family home and baptise the child there, and hence the baptism was done "privately" and recorded as such. If the child recovered it would often be baptised publicly later and you may sometimes find "brought to church" with a date, added beside the original entry, or as a separate entry in the register'
Also there is no burial in 1752 at Keysoe of any Elizabeth or Sarah; Saby or otherwise
Was this the burial (remember unbaptised Elizabeth was buried 1752 Bolnhurst)?
Sarah Saby a child buried 8 Nov 1752 St Dunstan Bolhurst
John
Have you disregarded Rebekah "daughter illegitimate of Sarah Hull" baptised at Colmworth on 30 Sep 1798 ? ...... as on 27 Mar 1798 Richard Fisher married Sarah Hull at Colmworth...
John. I do not have these Colmworth records so thank you for this it seems spot on to explain her alias and again there is the Hull / Fisher / Sabey link.
Is there any information on the marriage licence?
Licence: Joseph Sabey of Bolnhurst and Rebecca Fisher alias Hull of Colmworth 27 December 1814
You mention Edmund Ward farmer of Thurleigh; stood surety for the marriage licence of William Saby and Sarah Throssel.
Please excuse my ignorance but why would and what is the significance of standing surety for a marriage ?
Also
Edmund Ward is mentioned as a member of the congregation between 1766 & 1776 in the Little Staughton
Was this the Baptist Church and therefore indicate that he was NC? I can see Edmund and Mary Ward of Thurleighh baptised children there 1770-1786.
‘My’ Francis baptised his son ‘my’ Samuel there in 1793 although he says on the censu he was born 1792 at Bolhurst.. Samuel and his 1st wife Elizabeth baptised children from 1818 in Keysoe although his eldest child Naomi was probably born 1815 in Keysoe. I have been unable to find a marriage for Samuel Sabey to Elizabeth. Can you help please?
There is also a submitted entry for a second marriage for Samuel to Mary Dickins on 23 Mar 1829 Keysoe. Can you confirm this?