A mother for William, Charles and Elizabeth Chick (1840s)

[SamuelF992]

Thank you everyone. I'd come across Sally Griffin Tozer before but had written her off. However looking at these baptisms it seems like it does indeed have to be her. I wonder why she referred to herself as Sarah in the censuses but not anywhere else?

[Pheno]

I've seen mentioned elsewhere that lots of people considered the censuses to be official documents on which they had to put their correct names, whereas other records, particularly church baptisms where people were already known by a diminutive were not considered as official.

Pheno

[avm228]

Yes, Sally was a diminutive of Sarah, so although Sally was her baptismal name perhaps she sometimes thought it sounder “smarter” or more formal to be a Sarah.

[SamuelF992]

Interesting. That does indeed make sense. I do wonder if Griffin was the surname of the suspected father - there were Griffins baptised around that time in Broadclyst - although none to an Elizabeth.