Some help again please!!

[dsjturner]

Hi all!
I'm sorry i'm a bit of a pain, but I need a little help and wondered if any of you pro's would be able to help me out?!
I was looking up my 2 x G grandfather George French in the 1881 census and I found him living in Oldbury Worcestershire with his wife and young son. They are also living with a lodger by the name of James Williams. I noticed he was 78 and unemployed which I found a bit strange!
Anyway completely by accident I scrolled up on the census and the neighbour was a Sarah French. I looked at her dob and her children and it turns out to be George's Mother and my 3xG grandmother! She was living with her 2 children and also with a lodger also with the Name of James Williams age 60!!
Then it clicked Sarah's maiden name was Williams! I think I may have found my 4xG grandfather and sarah's brother, but I can't find the evidence to back it up! I was wondering if anyone could see if they could make a connection!
I looked up Sarah's birth and found a Sarah born 1827 in Tipton, Staffs with a father James, but there were lots of Sarah Williams born in that area at the time so not sure!
All I know is she was called Sarah Williams, born 1827/1828 in Tipton Staffs and Married a George French.

Many thanks in advance for all your help!

[danuslave]

I'm sorry i'm a bit of a pain, but I need a little help

You're not a pain.  What would we do all day if people didn't need help?  Anyway, we like a challenge   

Have you already tried tracing back through the censuses to see if you can tie everyone together, or is that what you would like us to do?

For anyone else interested

1881  Piece: 2841; Folio: 72; Page: 26

42 Hobins Lane

George French  Head  Marr  30  Miner  b Churchbridge, Worcs
Mary Ann French  Wife  Marr  28  b Lividale, Stafford
John French  Son  1  b Langley, Worcs
James Williams  Lodger  Widower  78  b Tipton, Stafford

41 Hobins Lane

Sarah French  Head  Widow  54  Tipton, Stafford
John      "         Son  Miner  Langley, Worcs
Eli         "         Son  13  Scholar  Langley, Worcs
James Williams  Lodger  Unm  60  Boatman  Warwick

Linda

[dsjturner]

Hi danuslave,

Thanks for the reply! I have managed to find Sarah in the 1851, 1861, 1871 and obviously the 1881 census. In the 1851 census she is living with her husband and not her parents unfortunately! I had a look on the 1841 census but it didn't come up with much!!
Daniel 

[danuslave]

Hi Daniel

Look again at 1871.  James Williams is living with Sarah and next door (still Hobins Lane) are

James & Sarah Williams, both born Tipton

I'd be inclined to revisit 1861 and 1851 as well!

Linda

[dsjturner]

fantastic! I didn't even think of doing that! I'm going to look now and see what I find!!

[dsjturner]

I think you've cracked it!!
On the 1851 census next door to Sarah is a James Williams, married to a Sarah Williams who have a son called James! Both James's details match to the ones we found before!!

[danuslave]

Hi Daniel

Moral of story - think laterally.  Or in this case up and down the census image.   

Glad it worked out

Linda

[dsjturner]

It's the silly things you don't think of! I will remember that for future searches! Thank you very much for your help!
I think it must run in the family though, i'm 25 and still live at home! Looks like they didn't flee far from the nest either!!

[dsjturner]

I have just noticed Sarah (senior) and James Williams are living with a John Chew a 74 year old lodger who is unemployed! I've come accross many lodgers before, but usually they were working. I could imagine times were hard then and being coal miners and labourers I couldn't imagine them being very wealthy. Would I be wrong to assume that he may be family as he is unemployed?