John HANDFORD, born 1835, Loughborough

[rosie99]

Hi again, the 1911 is worth a view for a 78 year old John Handford in Loughborough with Barker relations?
Keyboard86

Transcript image here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X754-MGF

[BAC3]

Good Morning,

I think the family profile is complete LESS a few items, namely, first, Who was Sarah THOMPSON? and, second, When, or if, she married John HANDFORD?

In the grand scheme of things I suppose these details were incidental

BAC3

[Jomot]

This seems a likely marriage:

Leicester Mail 5 October 1867
Same place (Register Office, Loughborough) on the 29th ult, Mr Samuel Thompson to Sarah Ann Gilbert Barker, both of Loughborough.

Some other interesting snippets - GRO birth index (mmn blank on both):

BARKER, CHARLES  WILLIAM  1860  M Quarter in LOUGHBOROUGH  Volume 07A  Page 117
BARKER, CHARLES  WILLIAM  1862  J Quarter in LOUGHBOROUGH  Volume 07A  Page 127

Burial 1 Apr 1861 – Charles William, a bastard child of Sarah Ann Barker, Union Poor House (no baptism found)
Baptism 26 Mar 1862 Charles William illegitimate son of Sarah Ann Barker, Union House

Also the Leicester Journal 5 April 1861 DEATHS – On the 30th ult, Charles William, infant son of Sarah Ann Barker

Baptism 21 Jan 1866 Edward illegitimate son of Sarah Barker, Union Poor House, Aged 14 months

In 1866 Sarah Ann Barker was called as a witness in the case of Eliza Adkins, who was accused of murdering her 4 year old son by throwing him down a well.  She claimed they were badly treated in the Loughborough workhouse, and as Sarah Ann was on the same ward she was called as a witness (she swore that no-one had ever been treated badly).  At the time of the report (Feb 1866) Sarah Ann had been in the workhouse for 9 months. 

[BAC3]

Jomot,

Excellent research, thank you very much.   I had not considered using the newspapers for BDM in this case.   A lesson to be learned no matter how experienced you think you are

Mr. HANDFORD's picture is becoming clearer all the time.

BAC3

[keyboard86]

  Agree, so what I have been puzzling is if Sarah Ann Gilbert Barker was b c 1837 Loughborough area, where was she 1841/61?
In 1861 census their is a female S B b c 1838 Single occ Factory Hand b Loughborough in Workhouse , Rushes, Loughborough
Census ref RG09/2276/34/37
Keyboard86

[Jomot]

I think I may have found her 

10 Feb 1840 St Margaret, Leicester
John Gilbert Full Age Bachelor Joiner Waterloo Street. Father = William Gilbert, Victualler (?)
Elizabeth Barker Full Age Spinster Dressmaker Charles Street. Father = Joseph Barker, Builder

1841 Regent St, St Mary, Leicester
John Gilbert 25 Joiner J
Elizabeth Gilbert 25 Dressmaker
Sarah 3
Mary 1

GILBERT, MARY ELIZABETH mmn BARKER 1840 J Quarter LOUGHBOROUGH  Volume 15 Page 146
GILBERT, LUCY JANE mmn BARKER 1841 S Quarter LEICESTER Volume 15  Page 122   
GILBERT, JOHN THOMAS  mmn BARKER  1845 J Quarter in LEICESTER  Volume 15  Page 119
GILBERT, MARY  ANNA  mmn BARKER 1851  M Quarter in NUNEATON  Volume 16  Page 528

1851 Derby Lane, Nuneaton – HO107/2065/17/11
John Gilbert  35 Engineer b Hungerstone? Leics
Elizabeth 35 b Loughborough
Sarah Ann 12 Loughborough
Mary Elizabeth 11 Loughborough
Lucy Jane 10 Leicester
John Thomas 6 Leicester
Mary Ann 3 months Nuneaton

By 1861 John Thomas is in Loughborough, although I haven’t looked for the others.

There is a female Barker birth with no forename & no mmn registered in Loughborough in the Jul-Sep quarter of 1838, Vol 15 Page 129 - could be Sarah Ann?

[BAC3]

It is truly amazing how much ingenuity PLUS tenacious research tend to produce exceptional results.
                                     I can only say "Thank You"

However, there remains one tiny item yet to be resolved without sounding ungrateful.   Did John HANDFORD ever marry Sarah Ann Gilbert THOMPSON

BAC3

[Jomot]

I can't find any evidence that Sarah & John ever married.   

It would seem that Samuel Thompson was also in & out of the Loughborough workhouse and was also a petty thief.  According to records he was a stationary engine driver, born c 1843

1863 Leicester, Housebreaking - 3 months hard labour
1864 Staffordshire, stealing a watch - 8 months hard labour
1869 Leicester, stealing a pair of boots - 10 months hard labour
1871 Leicester, stealing 3 pairs of thread hose at Loughborough on 27 Mar 1871 - 12 months hard labour & 7 years police supervision

There is also a newspaper article about him absconding from Loughborough Workhouse in June 1870 and taking clothes with him belonging to the guardians - 2 months hard labour

I can't trace him with any certainty after this, but perhaps he was still alive and therefore Sarah Ann was not free to marry?

ADDED: The last definite record I can find is his release from Leicester prison (County) on 16 Oct 1872.

[BAC3]

Jomot,

Thank you for all your help.   

The question of his marriage will have to remain a question, sadly, although I have sufficient information now to complete a fairly accurate and comprehensive narrative for him.

For the moment,

BAC3