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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Surrey => Topic started by: Newfloridian on Thursday 27 August 15 14:45 BST (UK)
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I have a brick wall mystery here. The Registration Indexes quote the following birth:
Sarah Craxford Sept 1852 Newington 1d 178
Intrigued, I obtained a copy of the certificate which quotes:
Sarah born 12th June 1852
Father: Robert CRAXFORD Mercantile Clerk.
Mother: Sarah formerly MEDLOCK
Address: 10 Eltham Street, St Peter Walworth.
Unfortunately, I can't find a reference to marry these two individuals (I have several Roberts of the right age but none which fit here). There is no family resident at that address in the 1851 or 1861 census returns. There is no evidence of a death of a child Sarah which would fit.
The handwriting on the birth certificate is very clear and Craxford is written out three times perfectly readably. I have though looked at several of the often confused variations of the surname.
Any small glimmer would be appreciated.
Regards
Alan
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Have you looked for a death for Robert, and a marriage for Sarah, so that they might be appearing as another surname in 1861 - to give you some ideas for Sarah's age and place of birth to help trace her?
Have you also found Robert as a mercantile clerk anywhere at any time?
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Who registered the birth?
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There is a death of a Robert Craxford in Sep quarter 1854 Westminster 1a 281. Then there are two marriages in London for a Sarah Craxford, both in 1857.
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There's a Sarah Medlock in Lambeth in 1851 servant unmarried age 30.
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Robert Craxford who died in 1854 suffered from asiatic cholera. He had married in the 1820 and worked for the Colonial Office. His death is recorded in the book "Sam and Sallie: a novel of the theatre" by Alfred Lane Crauford.
Sarah Craxford (spinster) married Thomas William Franey at St Clement Danes on January 11th 1857
Sarah Ann Augusta Craxford (spinster) married James Mash at St George's Church Bloomsbury on October 18th 1857.
Alan
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So we can rule all of those out then!
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What was at #10 Eltham Street? Workhouse? School? Pub???
Jann
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Hello,
10 Eltham Street
William and Mary A Cox with son Henry F 13 yrs.
1851 1567/845/26. - very feint copy
1861 has William born Chester
Heywood
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Is it 10 Eltham or 10 Elham??
Maureen
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Is it 10 Eltham or 10 Elham??
Maureen
Beg your pardon. It's Eltham Street. I have amended my post.
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Thanks,Heywood. :)
Oddly confusing,though...doesn't this also look like 10 Eltham:
1851-1567/840/16
and in 1861:343/109/32
Still don't see any CRAXFORDs.
Maureen
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Yes it does!
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Robert Craxford who died in 1854 suffered from asiatic cholera. He had married in the 1820 and worked for the Colonial Office. His death is recorded in the book "Sam and Sallie: a novel of the theatre" by Alfred Lane Crauford.
Alan
Who did he marry? Was he still married when he died? The record I can see doesn't mention a wife.
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Have you explored the 'mercantile clerk' link - directories or other information?
If no other knowledge about him, born and married abroad.
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I guess this may be one of those mysteries which we can't solve. I guess it is possible that we are looking at 'a woman scorned' scenario. I have most of the certificates for London Craxfords (including a large swatch which went by an alternative stage name spelling) cross referenced with the census returns which includes a similar mystery - the birth of "Henry Samuel Craxford" in November 1882.
The Robert Craxford who died of cholera in 1854 was married to an Elizabeth (haven't found her maiden name) and had their first child, William John, on May 24th 1829 (detail from Pallot Baptism Index). The subsequent generations of this family became involved with the stage, particulalry the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, and were known by the name Crauford -even though their BMDs continued to be issued as Craxford. Alfred Lane Crauford who wrote the biography of his family "Sam and Sallie" in 1933 describes the death of his grandfather and the fate of his father thus: "When the son was fourteen the father died from the prevalent scourge of cholera; leaving little money, his son William was obliged to leave school. He became a lawyer’s clerk and as he became older joined an amateur dramatic society"
I suppose it is possible that the Sarah in question was the illegitimate daughter of this Robert Craxford and Sarah Medlock was using the device of calling herself Craxford and naming him the father which was not uncommon in those days. However it is strange that there is nothing in the records following this to explain what happened to mother or daughter.
We have documented the story of the family and the Britannia Theatre in articles in our own website. If of interest I could PM the link.
Cheers Alan
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There's a Sarah Medlock in Lambeth in 1851 servant unmarried age 30.
Do you think she could be the mother? I agree birth cert could be written as if parents were married but they weren't (have seen that before!)
There was a Sarah Medlock death, think it was 1894, might be worth a look.
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Hmm .. by age, the Sarah Medlock servant in Lambeth would have been born about 1821 - making her 31 at the time of the birth of the Sarah in question.
The death indexes for Sarah Medlock are also confusing. Several are centred on Biggleswade. There is a Sarah Medlock who died in JAS 1860 (no age given). Then there is a Sarah aged 68 (b abt 1811) who died there in JFM 1879 and another who died there aged 73 (b abt 1825) in 1898.
I suppose the most likely link we have is that the Sarah Medlock was working in Lambeth in 1851; and the baby was born in Lambeth in 1852. Most references for Robert Craxford are north of the river - Holborn and Westminster.
Alan