Ladkin/Hodges conundrum

[handyman]

My ancestor Sarah Ann Ladkin was born at Blaby in 1839 to Benjamin Ladkin, a cordwainer, and Ann Ladkin nee Hodges.
Ann, who was born in 1819 at Broughton Astley, is variously shown in census records as Ann, Sarah and Sarah Ann Ladkin.  The census record of 1851 also shows that Ann’s mother was a Sarah Hodges, born 1784 at Wigston.
The marriage of Benjamin Ladkin at Leicester in 1837 shows that he married a Sophia Hodges whose father was William Hodges a farmer.
I am left wondering whether Sophia, Ann, Sarah and Sarah Ann are all one and the same lady and daughter of William Hodges and Sarah from Broughton Astley.
Can anyone confirm this with any baptism records of Broughton Astley around 1819.

[Taylor94]

Still on the hunt for the daughter but you mention William and Sarah as parents.
This marriage comes up -
William Hodges and Sarah Hackett 29 Aug 1810 St Margarets Leicester.
Both of the Parish
William is a Widower and Sarah a Spinster.
Mother Sarah lists birthdate and place as 1784 Wigston on Census, There is a bapt for a Sarah which fits census information
Sarah Hacket bapt 5 Feb 1785 Wigston Magna, Leic. Parents - Josh and Mary.

Edit* It seems William and Sarah are baptising children in Wigston as Non Conformists, Which may explain lack of baptism for Sarah/Sophia. I have a few non conformist ancestors myself whose baptisms are nowhere to be found.

[Taylor94]

Children of William and Sarah from what I can see.
Denomination - Independent
Father for the last 3 is listed as William Henry Hodge
Joseph Hodges born 31 Dec 1810 Bapt 27 Jan 1811 Wigston
Mary Hodges born 12 Feb 1814 Bapt 14 Mar 1817 Wigston
James Hodges born 4 Aug 1816 Bapt 14 Mar 1817 Wigston
William Henry Hodge Bapt 24 Sep 1818 Wigston
Emily Jane Hodge Bapt 21 Feb 1821 Wigston
Sydney Bryant Hodge Bapt 19 Dec 1819 Wigston
No sign of a Sophia/Sarah unless Emily changes her name? Sarah's burial gives her birth date at around 1821.

[handyman]

Thanks for that information.  My ancestor, Sarah Ann Ladkin married a Joseph Mills who came from an Independent church background so I am not surprised that some of the Hodges were too. That is probably where their paths crossed.  As I have discovered on previous branches of the family, non-conformist records have not always survived the passage of time. I may never discover whether Sophia and Sarah are one and the same.  I did trace the marriage of William Hodges to Sarah Hackett and indeed his first marriage to Elizabeth Garten, but I am a great advocator of always going from the 'known to the unknown' so I wanted to prove the Sophia/Sarah link before moving on. Thank you for you help.

[dcbnwh]

I noticed that a William Hodges married Elizabeth Hackett in Wigston Magna on 10th December 1794.

Elizabeth, wife of William, was buried there on 9th October 1809.

A daughter, Jane, was baptised in Wigston Magna on 22nd March 1796.

Elizabeth and Sarah Hackett may have been related but I can't find baptisms with the same parents.

Sarah had a brother, John, who may have been the witness at William's first marriage and another probable sister, Mary, married a John Hodges of Oadby in 1799.

Joseph Hackett married Mary Storer in Wigston Magna on 5th April 1768.

David

[handyman]

Thank you for that information David, at first sight it does seem to fit, however I would doubt that Elizabeth and Sarah were sisters as I am well aware of the church's stance at that time 'a man may not marry his wife's sister.'  That said, they might be more loosely connected.
Colin

[Jomot]

Although the 1837 marriage was as recorded as Sophia Hodges, the banns were called as Ann Hodges (or Hodgers - the 'r' is either smudged or crossed out).  The marriage date is noted on the banns record, so there's no doubt that it's the same couple.

Sophia/Sarah/Ann signed X so may not have been aware of what had been written in the register.

[handyman]

Thanks Jomot, I think really clears that up.  The poor lady must have had a bit of an identity crisis being called by different christian names all the time.

[dcbnwh]

I don't if this may be a clue to the wrong name in the register, but the next name on the banns is Sophia Hill. It could be that the curate/vicar muddled up the names when booking the marriage.

George Barker, curate, officiated at both marriages and recorded the dates of the banns. The last reading for Ann, 30th July, was the first for Sophia.

David