I've lost a whole family!!

[LizzieW]

On the 1841 census, my 2 x g.g.aunt Phillis Sayer and her husband John, an ag lab and 4 children, Ann aged 6, William 5, Maria 3 and Betsy 1 were living in Stradbroke, Suffolk.  John and Phillis were both shown as 35 on the census, but when Phillis died in November 1841 her age was given as 31, she was buried at All Saints Church, Stradbroke.

In 1851 the only person I can find on the census is Ann (surname shown as Sayers) who was a house servant in the house of a bookbinder in St Stephens Lane, St Laurence, Ipswich - HO107,Piece 1800, Folio 16, Page 25.

What has happened to the rest of them.  In 1851 John would have been about 41, William would have been 15, Maria 13 and Betsy only 11.  I can't find any of them, either in the deaths or in the census. There is a possible marriage for John Sayer in 1842 in Hoxne, Suffolk (the are where they were living and where the births of the children were registered - that is the ones 1837 onwards).  There is a choice of a Maria, a Susanna, a Sophia/Sophia Mary and a Louisa.

Can anyone see this family anywhere?  I'm at a loss and feel I must be missing something.

Lizzie

[barryd]

Try Free Reg

Input Sayer and Sayers, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials.

http://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/562789b8f493fd7fae000bc0

[LizzieW]

barryd 

I tried freereg and couldn't find anything - are you saying you've found them on there?

[Milliepede]

Very remiss of you Lizzie to lose the whole lot  but I can't find any of them either 

[LizzieL]

This might fit if John married maria, had a few more children and died before 1851

HO107 , Piece 1799, Folio 251 , Page 7

[LizzieW]

LizzieL

Thank you, I'll have a look later on, one of my sons has just turned up!!

[avm228]

This might fit if John married maria, had a few more children and died before 1851

HO107 , Piece 1799, Folio 251 , Page 7

That is a great find.

Naomi Ward, 17 b Stradbroke, is listed as Maria's sister.  Naomi was born on 12 June 1834 at Stradbroke.  The rather wonderful Baptist registration book records that she was the daughter of John Ward and his wife Charlotte, who in turn was a daughter of Henry and Phebe Aldous.  It also names the midwife and two Aldous women who were present at the birth.

So Maria Aldous who married John Sayer in 1842 may have been an illegitimate daughter of Charlotte Aldous and therefore half-sister to Naomi Ward.

[LizzieL]

Marriage of John Ward and Charlotte Aldous in Stradbroke 12 Oct 1821. Maria "Ward" is b abt 1820 according to 1841 census, her age given as 21 so not rounded.
definitely looks like Charlotte's illeg daughter

[barryd]

Could not identify any of the names on Free Reg but they do exist in Suffolk!