Matthew Bird resided at Daintons Cottage up until about 1941 or even after this date when Esther E Bird (nee Saunders) died.
I believe that Matthew Bird's (Esthers husband) mother was Rebecca Ripley and Thomas Bird who resided at Tinkers Town Hellingly in 1881. There were several children prior to marriage in 1885 Hastings district Sarah Ann I believe to be born in 1883 and was registered as Sarah Ann Ripley and Matthew I cannot find a register for but about 1884/1885.
Sarah Ann Ripley married Alfred Meades in 1899 this is the Sarah Ann that sold rags in Hawkhurst and owned 3 properties 2 in Hawkhurst and 1 in Angley Road Cranbrook, she left one to Thomas Bird her nephew and one to Matthew Bird jnr (my husbands father). Matthew Bird married Esther Saunders in 1904 the witnesses to the marriage were Sarah Ann Meades and Alfred Meades who married as above. Alfred Meades died and Sarah Ann married Edward Ellis in 1937 and she died in 1951. Thomas Bird was Matthew Bird snr's father (he died in 1891) also Sarah Anns father but as I cannot find a birth record for Matthew I am trying to confirm the relationship that I think it is. Can you help me here - can anyone remember Matthew Senior having a sister Sarah Ann?
Regards
Janet
