Maria, Louisa & Phoebe Willis in Ashley

[Olive M]

Hi
I have a little mystery that really needs some help to solve!

These 3 ladies all have connections to Thomas SARGENT. I'd really love to know if they were connected to each other.

Thomas SARGENT (b 1804 Gazeley Suffolk) married Maria WILLIS on 20 October 1829 in Ashley Cambs. Maria SARGENT died June qtr 1840 in Newmarket district.

On 1841 census Thomas is with his 4 children and Phebe WILLIS (age 65) in Ashley. Phoebe Willis died in September qtr 1854 in Newmarket district. Was Phoebe Mother of Maria?

Thomas then married Louisa WILLIS (b 1823 in Moulton Suffolk) in September qtr 1846 in Newmarket district. On 1861 census Thomas and Louisa are in Ashley with their 8 children plus 1 from Maria.  Louisa SARGENT died December qtr 1863 in Newmarket district. Was Louisa sister of Maria?

I'll be thrilled to receive any ideas on how to link them all together.
Thanks

[Brentor boy]

No answer to your question but, according to the entry on Free Reg, Thomas Sargent's status when he married Maria Willis in 1829 was "divorced".

Also from Free Reg - 14 October 1825. Marriage of Thomas Sargent, of Ashley, bachelor, to Charlotte Ashman at Ashley cum Silverley.

[Olive M]

Thanks for that information. The Thomas story just gets more complicated!

[bedfordshire boy]

Using https://www.cfhs.org.uk/searchsd.cfm you'll find the baptism of Maria Willis in Ashley in 1812 daughter of Henery and Feebe, so it looks as though Phoebe was her mother.

As Louisa was born in Suffolk rather than Ashley she may not have been Maria's sister, but may well be connected. The only way to find out if she was connected to Phoebe/Maria is to research both families and see if they meet.  Do you have her marriage certificate to get her father's name?

[Olive M]

Thanks for confirming Mother daughter connection. I'd hoped that was the case.

I'm working on getting the certificate but in the meantime I'll keep working on the family. I just have a feeling a link will turn up. Even though it's two different counties the villages are very close together, I walked from one to the other many years ago, so I have high hopes.

Regards