Sarah Ann Blackmore b 23 May 1830 Exeter

[LeighR]

As above, this is what i know or think i know -
Sarah Ann Blackmore possibly b 23 May 1830 Broadclyst  was the daughter of William Blackmore and Elizabeth Page, Sarah had 3 brothers Thomas b c1833, William b c1838 and Francis Kenwood b c1841

Sarah emigrated to Australia, possibly paying 14 pounds passage or so I'm told on the Mary Ann from Bristol via Plymouth on 25 Dec 1848 arriving in South Australia 3 April 1849 she married Henry Wells a convict on 22 June 1849.

Her mother Elizabeth and two Brothers William and Francis also emigrated on the Ship Sibella in December 1851 arriving in South Australia in March 1852.

I found Elizabeth in the UK census of 1851 she was a Charwoman (whatever that was) living at 54 Coombe St, Exeter with her two sons Francis and William, i have no record of Thomas and Elizabeth is a Widow this was just previous to their emigration, my only possible link to her former husband William Blackmore is a newspaper report on the death of a Chimney Sweep of the same name in Exeter in 1841.
There are question marks over the paternity of Elizabeth Page, i believe her parents to be James Page and Elizabeth Ellicott.

As always it's difficult to follow ones ancestry if you don't have absolute proof or at least 2 or more confirming sources in historical records, so i could use some help with this line if anyone is willing or able to follow it up.

Kind Regards
Leigh

[keyboard86]

Hi Leigh, this possibly is the family in 1841, Sarah Ann being shown as Ann:-

Elizabeth Blackmore 35
Ann 11
Thomas 9
Wm 3
Residing at Commercial Place, St Mary Steps, Exeter, Devon
Census Ref HO107/267/ 7/18 / 32

Keyboard86

[LeighR]

That could be right, it's the right general area, and in 1841 Francis was born and it was possibly also the year that William Blackmore died, so if the census was held before the birth of Francis and  after Williams Death and before the birth of Francis, it would fit nicely.
I have Francis Born in November and the possible death of William in early May of 1841,
Even so there is a discrepancy in age for Elizabeth who is listed as 35 in 1841 and 48 in 1851, however that's not uncommon for an error.

Thankyou for your contribution.
Leigh

[keyboard86]

Hi again Leigh, if you read up about the 1841 census you will find that ages were "rounded down" , that is why on certain census returns you will see the family are all possibly in multiples of 5 and what appears to be twins eg 2 aged 15, children less that 15 would remain as is, hope this makes sense!

Keyboard86

PS I should point out that not all enumerators carried out this process.

[LeighR]

Yes i understand that, so i am not being picky, i think that this is the right family, there should be a newspaper report on the death of William Blackmore that i haven't been able to find i just have a reference from another editorial to a previous notification, it was listed in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette of May 1841 that may contain further information

[LeighR]

I found another news report from the Exeter Flying Post, 6th May 1841, Coroners Inquest report which states William Blackmore was 42 years of age and a native of Broadclist, his wife had 3 children and she was pregnant, it's all coming together now and i think that's about as good as i will get.

[keyboard86]

Hi Leigh, this possibly is the family in 1841, Sarah Ann being shown as Ann:-

Elizabeth Blackmore 35
Ann 11
Thomas 9
Wm 3
Residing at Commercial Place, St Mary Steps, Exeter, Devon
Census Ref HO107/267/ 7/18 / 32

Keyboard86

Hi for my own peace of mind can anyone fathom out the occupation of Elizabeth on this return?
Keyboard86

[LeighR]

This is the clipping from the Coroners Inquest reported in the Flying Post on May 6 1841

[suzard]

Could Elizabeth's occupation in 1841 be Charwoman?

At first I thought Dairywoman - but second thoughts and checking on FindMyPast it seems like Char

Suz