George Sayer

[pauljohnmac]

Thank you for your suggestions, I have seen Georges baptism record from the Workhouse records at Maidstone, it does not reveal anything further.  I also have his marriage certificate to Eliza Edwards, no father mentioned so I think he may have been illegtimate.    His mother Elizabeth is also a mystery as I can only find her on the 1881 census living in Ramsgate, showing as a widow of Thomas Sayer a boatman. She died in 1884 aged 60, death reported by Eliza her daughter in law.

George was a railwayman and committed suicide in 1887 at St Lawrence, he was out of work due to depression and had alarge family to support, I think it got too much and he hanged himself!! I have the report from the local paper. I have been researching this family for many many years, with no hope so far of finding his father.

[Bill749]

Hi Paul

If the baptism does not name the father then I think the Bastardy Bonds are your next line of attack.

The 1851 census for the Eastry RD, which includes Deal and the surrounding parishes, is available on CD-ROM #13 from Kent FHS - check www.kfhs.org.uk/public2.htm for details.  If you can find out where they were living at that time it might give you a clue as to where to look for any bonds.

As he was living in Deal later, this might be a good place to start, as the records for St Leonard's are easily accessible.  The bonds are available on microfiche, but it would be advisable to check the date range before ordering.

Regards, Bill

[casalguidi]

Not conclusive of course but given her age and birthplace in the 1881 census (Elizabeth SAYER bc1817 Sandwich) what about ................

1861

1 Queen's? Court, Ramsgate

Elizabeth STOKES? head of family wid 44 laundress b.Sandwich

RG9/537 folio 50 page 1
..........................

1851

2 Ivy Cottages (near the Plains of Waterloo)

Samuel STOKES head mar 40 mariner/boatman b.Ramsgate
Elizabeth wife 34 b.Sandwich
George son 7 b.Eastry
Sarah dau 3 b.Ramsgate

HO107/1630 folio 416 page 26
...........................

Notice son George of the correct age and birthplace in 1851

Not having much luck with 1871 unless she could be the Sarah SAYER at Chatham Passage lodger widow age 53 b.Sandwich (I haven't checked other years to see if this Sarah crops up again thus be eliminated).

RG10/994 folio 47 page 42

Who were the witnesses to George's marriage to Eliza?  Could they be relatives or have you eliminated them?

Casalguidi

[pauljohnmac]

Thanks, you have hit upon a very intersting fact, in that the witnesses at George and Elizas wedding are Sarah Stokes and Thos Philpott!  Good spot! So there must be some link between the Stokes name. George is shown as George Sawyer with the 'w' crossed through, and then at the bottom he is shown as George Sayers. (with an s on the end)
Thanks so much this may be the clue to end my brick wall, will have to do more research, maybe when christmas is over!!

[cathieee]

hi i ve just seen this thread through google
my g g great grandad stephen pilcher (petley) was base born ,im trying to find out his father ,his mother was mary petley ,he was bapt at st mary s eastry on 3rd sept 1797 ,i can find no marriage cert for her marrying a pilcher ,my ggg grandad only went by the name of stephen pilcher as an adult though ,i have his marriage cert ,all the census s and death record ,but i need his fathers name to go any further back
thanks.....cathie

[sarah]

Hi Cathie,

I am very sorry but you have just replied to a member who sadly we have lost touch with.

When we loose touch with a member we leave a little note underneath there name but who knows he may just log in and see your reply (this does happen)

Regards

Sarah