The Mysterious Sarah Bell *COMPLETED THANKS*

[lydiaann]

Sarah Bell, aged 39, married John Hugh Craven, aged 77, at St. John, Newcastle on Tyne on 8 June, 1886 - thus she was born around 1847.  She gave birth to a daughter, Sarah Bell Craven, 2 months later.  With 2 weeks, that daughter had died.  Sarah was the 3rd wife of John Hugh Craven and the baby was buried in the grave of his 2nd wife, Margaret Middlemass Davidson Craven in Alnwick.  John Hugh was a Cattle Dealer.  His birth, baptism, marriages and death are all well documented and there are also good references in the Alnwick Mercury of his dealings within the community, in the UK Poll Directory and elsewhere.  What I need to know is:  where did Sarah Bell come from?  Where did she disappear to?  There are no references to her in particular - birth, baptism or death - apart from that one marriage registration (and I have a copy of that).  Did John Hugh marry her because she was pregnant by him? by some other person?  Was she his housekeeper?  Is there anybody who can trace this Sarah Bell for me somehow?  All we know from the marriage registration that she is the daughter of a gamekeeper.  Was Adam Bell of Middleton, Durham her father?  There is a Sarah but she was born (according to the 1861 census) in 1852.

Any ideas out there, pretty Please? 

[Tickettyboo]

No father's name on the marriage cert?

She was recorded on the census of 1891 (just after John Hugh died) in Long Lee House with her step son James, as 'mother in law', aged 39 born in Durham. That would be about right for a birth in 1852.
Perhaps she upped her age a bit at marriage to make the age gap slightly less?

Can't immediately see her in 1901 census, but there was a marriage for a Sarah Craven in 1894, Newcastle which 'could' be her re-marrying.

 Unfortunately there is obviously a problem in the GRO index as the reference number comes up with her as the only female and a choice of 4 males. This is repeated in FreeBMD, FindMyPast and Family Search so the error is definitely in the GRO index.

Boo

[Milliepede]

All we know from the marriage registration that she is the daughter of a gamekeeper.  Was Adam Bell of Middleton, Durham her father?  There is a Sarah but she was born (according to the 1861 census) in 1852.

So this was her first marriage at age 39 - does it confirm spinster on the marriage? 
Adam Bell was the father on the marriage certificate I presume?

[Milliepede]

Possible 1901 visitor with Bell family - Joseph 61 & Nancy 63

Sarah Craven widow 49 visitor

[Milliepede]

If Adam Bell wasn't on the marriage certificate then there is this one in 1881 unmarried

Sarah Bell 29 father William Bell

and in 1871 Sarah Bell 19 father William mother Margaret

[Mabel Bagshawe]

The place of birth for Sarah Craven on 1901 fits the location of Adam Bell and family in 1861 to a t

Possible death

Sarah Craven
Q2 1915, Teesdale Vol 10a p363
Age 64

[Mabel Bagshawe]

1871 - Sarah Bell, 19, servant, b Middleton in Teesdale, Durham. Civil Parish of Forest and Frith (as per 1901 birth place)

[lydiaann]

My deepest apologies!  Yes, I forgot to name her father, Adam.  However, it was the supposed dob on the one census I did find where Sarah is at home that threw me.  I can understand up to 2 years difference but not 5, particularly as this is the post-1841 rule of 'rounding down'.

It looks as though many of you have found references which, for whatever reason, I didn't.  We (I have another correspondent on this subject) are speculating that Sarah went to work for John Hugh following the death of his second wife, Margaret and are presuming that the child is his (randy old so-and-so!). 

I shall investigate these thoroughly...thanks Chatters, you are the greatest!  Will get back once we have put everything together!!

[JenB]

Durham Records Online free index search shows a baptism in 1851 of a Sarah Bell in Middleton in Teesdale District, father's name Adam Bell, abode Hunt Hall.
The Bell family referred to above are living at Hunt Hall in 1861.

Added They are also at Hunt Hall in 1851.
here's Hunt Hall - it's a few miles upstream of Middleton in Teesdale, but that's most definitely the nearest little town. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=385145&Y=530570&A=Y&Z=120