Can anyone help me with Sarah Ann DILLEY please?
Her age at the various times I have found her would indicate that she was born between 1852 and 1856, and I was told that she was born in Cottered, Hertfordshire, it appears to be where she was brought up and where she stated she was born in later census, so why did her grandparents record her place of birth as Hitchinfield, Herts and where is it? I also wonder whether the 30 year old single woman and unmarried daughter of John and Mary, Sarah DILLEY born Cottered is the mother of all three of the grandchildren recorded on this census.
Sarah Ann DILLEY was my great-great grandmother. In 1861 she was living (Sarah A aged 6 born Hitchinfield, Herts) with her grandparents John (aged 46) and Mary (nee GRAY) (aged 43) DILLEY in Cottered village. On the same census entry were two other grand daughters Betsy DILLEY aged 10 born Buntingford. Herts (almost certainly later Elizabeth LOVELL) and Louisa DILLEY aged 2 born Cottered, Herts. Louisa was baptised the daughter of Sarah DILLEY, singlewoman on 21st November 1858 also on the same day Rebecca, Eliza and James the last three children born to John and Mary DILLEY born 1854, 1847, and 1850 respectively.
Sarah Ann DILLAY married William James WARBY (note spelling variations) at Bennington, Herts on 31st October 1874, she claimed to be 21 and her father's name was recorded as _____ DILLAY, which probably means that she was illegitimate.
There is only one entry on FREE BMD that seems to match, but it is Hitchin in the June quarter of 1852, which feels too early for the 6 year old child on the census and Cottered is in the Royston district. No baptism has been found for Sarah Ann DILLEY in Cottered.
I have lots of theories but Hitchinfield appears to be the key.
Sandra