Sarah Ravenscroft, blacksmith Frodsham

[jacqueline cox]

In 1851 Sarah was a 44 yr old widow, a blacksmith "supported by her friends" at The Quay Frodsham, with Ellen, 3 and James 2. In 1841 she was wife of James Ravenscroft a blacksmith at The Quay aged "30". Same person, apparently. In 1860, she seems to have a child called Ralph, baptised in 1860 at Runcorn, son of Sarah and Ralph Ravenscroft. In 1861, she is a widow aged 33 , a linen draper at Bridgwater Street, but with all the correct children with the correct ages. She is now a linen draper. In 1866 her daughter Ellen married Hugh Hughes, claiming Ralph Ravenscroft, mariner, as her father. Can any sleuth help me with how and when she remained a widow yet lost James and gained Ralph? Baffled Jacqueline

[stanmapstone]

In 1851 Sarah was a 44 yr old widow, a blacksmith "supported by her friends"

I think it says "Blacksmiths Wo supported by Friends" in other words Blacksmiths Widow supported by Friends.
It looks like the age in 1861 has been wrongly entered by the enumerator and should be 53. Ages in 1841 were rounded down so she could be anything from 30 to 34.
Stan

[junev]

hi,

Is it possible they are 2 separate Sarah's?

A Sarah Bolton married Ralph Ravenscroft in 1846 (Family search - his father James hers William) in Frodsham and the children (Ellen & james) also on the site with Ralph as the father. A Ralph Ravenscroft's death is registered in Q1 1861 so this could tie in with your Sarah being a widow on the 1861 census. I see she is also down as being born in Warrington in 1861 whereas the 1851 Sarah is born Frodsham. You mention that Ralph is a mariner on a marriage - this may be why they cannot be found on the 1851 census

Junev

[junev]

Hi again,

The Probate record of the 1861 death is on ancestry - master mariner probate granted to widow Sarah.

Junev

added

address Bridgewater Street

[jacqueline cox]

Thank you for your prompt reply Stan. It figures, but it does not get me any further into her relationship with the seemingly invisible Ralph Ravenscroft. If this mariner was "all at sea", like me, he didn't have time to be fathering children! And what was his relationship to her dead husband, James Ravenscroft who may have died in 1842?
Thank you for your second posting which came through as I was answering yours. If Ralph Ravenscroft who married Sarah Bolton in 1846 was himself the son of the James and a previous Sarah in the 1841 census, it may work out. James, blacksmith, Ralph blacksmith and /or mariner, his wife trying to carry on the blacksmith's business. It looks good, thanks. I'll crawl over it again and see.
Thanks to Junev, too. It all looks very neat now!

[junev]

Hi,

A Sarah Bolton was baptised in Warrington in 1828 to William and ellen Bolton - Sarah is on the 1841 census with her mother (and others but no father)

Junev

[junev]

Hi,

Ralph was 34 when he died (Cheshire BMd)

Junev

[jacqueline cox]

Thank you again Junev. I think the blacksmith widow in 1851 had her grandchildren with her, though it does not say they are. No wonder it confused me...
Now try this on. Sarah and James seem to be living with an older Elizabeth Kirkham in 1841. I thought it might be Sarah's mother...Sarah Kirkham marries James Ravens in 1822.
Her daughter in law Sarah Ravenscroft married Thomas Kirkham, after Ralph died; see 1871 census. Thomas Kirkham and James Ravencroft were both witnesses at Ellen's wedding. Ir's all a bit cosy, if you ask me!

[Joolsy]

If you are still looking at these records and confused, please let me explain.
Sarah Ravenscroft the widow of 1851 was married to James Ravenscroft, the blacksmith who died due to visitation by God in 1842. Their son Ralph (born 1826) is the father of the child Ralph (Born 1860).
 
Sarah Bolton of Warrington was the wife of Ralph who died in 1861 and she married Thomas Kirkham in 1863.

The widowed Sarah, James wife, remarried into the Hough family. Her maiden name was Kirkham and she was born in Frodsham in about 1807.
Hope this helps