Morning
I've been through the census records again but still cannot find Esther. I've also found that there only a handful or Esther/Hester Root(s) listed in the civil registration indexes, none of which seem to tie up with the individual on the death certificate.
I do have a theory that Esther is another of Sarah's illegitimate children but without a baptism record its all circumstantial:
Palmer/Roots Timeline
1789 - Sarah Palmer born at Rainham
1804 - James Palmer, son of Sarah born at Rainham (believed to be living in Strood/Frindsbury area in 1841-1851 census')
1812 - Elizabeth Frances Palmer, born at Rainham (believed to be daughter of John Roots, no further information on her)
1812 - John Roots & Sarah Palmer marry at Rainham. John is said to be from Addington
1815 - Thomas Roots born at Addington, son of Sarah (no further information on him)
Theres a gap until:
1822 - Mary Roots, my ancestor, born at Rainham/Hadlow. Source comes from Mid-Kent Poor Law records from KFHS "Sarah Roots, beggar?, wanderer?, daughter of John and Nancy Palmer, married to John Roots, deceased, with female bastard child bn 26 Feb 1822, from Rainham. 16 Apr 1822"
Then theres another gap until the above death certificate issued in 1847. However I found the following records at Biddenden:
1829 - Margaret Sarah Roots baptised, daughter of Sarah. Margaret can be found living in Tenterden in 1841 census. She is believed to have married John Sharp in 1848 at Tenterden (transcripts don't list the fathers or witnesses). She may have died in 1849.
1846 - Esther Roots baptised, daughter of Esther (single woman). No further information on either woman, including no birth certificate for the younger Esther.
It could be the elder Esther above is Sarah's daughter, being born between Thomas & Mary or Mary & Margaret, but again nothing has been found yet to confirm this.
At this rate, it maybe that a lot of hours are going to be spent looking through poor law records to determine Sarah's movements