I regret that I have only just stumbled onto this thread not normally checking the Suffolk board being preoccupied with my Cambridgeshire CORNWELL ancestors. However, around Newmarket the picture often gets clouded so some interlopers from across county boundaries do turn up on my system. This includes Sarah CORNWELL born c1797 at Rougham, Suffolk.
Peter -
Thank you. This one has already been suggested as a possible alternative identity for my great x3 grandmother Sarah Frost (nee Cornwell) who married Ambrose Frost in Exning on 8 May 1828. I have considered it, and rejected it for the following reasons.
We see Ambrose and Sarah Frost in the 1841 census living in Exning at HO107 Piece 1027 Folio 25 page 16.
We do not see them in the 1851 Census because Piece 1763 is missing.
In the 1861 Census they are in Swan Street, Exning (RG9 Piece 1032 Folio 69 page 10) and Sarah is said to be 56 years old, and to have been born in Exning.
In the 1871 Census Sarah, now a Widow, is at the White Swan, Exning (RG10 Piece 1596 Folio 19 page 13). She is now said to be 64 years old, and again is said to have been born in Exning.
She died in 1875 (registered Cambridgeshire, Newmarket 1875 Q2 volume 3B page 354) at which time she was said to be 72 years old.
So that's three pieces of evidence in which an age is asserted which is considerably more consistent with hers having been the 1804 Exning baptism rather than the 1797 Rougham baptism; and two pieces of evidence which identify her birth place as Exning not Rougham. She was also married in Exning, not Rougham.
Taken in the round, therefore, whilst I do not rule out absolutely the possibility that she was from the Rougham line, I think it considerably more likely that she was born and baptized in Exning, where she lived her whole life.
Further proof might be available from wills or from her parents' death registrations if she was the informant for one or other or both. I am in fact quite hopeful that either she or Ambrose might have been the informant for her father's death, which would put the matter beyond doubt.
The parents of the Sarah Cornell baptized in Exning in 1804 were John and Lucy.
Ambrose and Sarah Frost's first child was a son whom they named John Cornwell Frost (strongly suggesting that Sarah's father was called John Cornwell) and their first daughter (who was their third child, and my great great grandmother) was named Lucy Frost. This may just be coincidence, of course ... but equally, it may be significant.
Lucy Cornell died in 1848 (registered Cambridgeshire, Newmarket 1848 Q1 volume 14 page 18). I haven't obtained the death certificate yet. I suspect when I do the informant will probably be her husband John.
There are four possible John Cornell deaths: all registered Cambridgeshire, Newmarket (1855 Q2 volume 3B page 375), 1856 Q1 volume 3B page 325; 1859 Q4 volume 3B page 357; 1861 Q1 volume 3B page 359). Before I go investing in death certificates to see who the informants were, I'd like if I can to see whether any of the four can definitely be ruled in or out by their wills and probates or administrations. I have yet to look at the Suffolk wills for the first two (in 1855 and 1856) - indeed, not sure whether I should expect to find them in the St Edmundsbury & Ipswich diocesan records, or the Ely records. I have searched the Probate Calendars up to 1865 and not found anything for the 1859 and 1861 deaths.
I did, however, find one which might be of interest to anyone researching the parallel lines: John Cornwell of Bottisham Lode died 11 January 1864, and probate of his will was granted to his widow and relict Sarah Cornwell on 20 April 1864. Effects under £100.
