Widowed parent still alive?

[littleem1906]

Hi

I have a Sarah Smith in my family tree who is puzzling me. She was born around 1851 in Berkshire. She married William Harbidge in Birmingham in 1875. On the Birmingham marriage Banns her father is listed as Charles Smith (labourer).

When looking for her in census, I came across a Sarah Smith of the right age (and with the same area of birth) in 1861. Details as follows:
Charles Smith - Head - 53 (transcribed incorrectly as 63) Widow - Agricultural Labourer (Hagley Heath, Hampshire)
Mary Smith - Daughter - 19 (Hurst, Berkshire)
Matilda Smith - Daughter - 17 (Hurst, Berkshire)
Sarah Smith - Daughter - 9 (Arborfield, Berkshire)

However, and this is the puzzling part, when looking for her in 1871, I couldn't find anything but this record:
Hannah Smith - 57 - Widow- Laundress (Lambourne Berkshire)
Sarah Smith - 22 - Daughter (Thatcham Berkshire)

If this Sarah in 1871 is my Sarah, how can she be living with her mother, when previously in 1861 she was living with her father (listed as a widow)?

I did some digging further and there is a Charles Smith who married Hannah Edgerton in Aborfield in 1835. I unfortunately can't find baptisms for their children, yet. But I believe the Charles Smith in 1861 is the man who married Hannah Edgerton. The birth date and age are the same as in the 1851 census when he appears with Hannah and some of the same children as listed in 1861.

So, my conundrum here is this - Is the Sarah Smith in 1871, listed with mother Hannah (of the same age that Hannah Edgerton would have been) my Sarah? If she is, why is her father listed as a widow in 1861?

If anyone can shed any light on this I'd appreciate it.

[Pheno]

Haven't looked at any of the actual detail but it strikes me that Charles and Hannah might have gone their separate ways prior to 1861 but to maintain respectability they might have told a fib on the census and each suggested that they were widowed rather than separated.

Have you found Hannah on the 1861?

Pheno

[littleem1906]

I did wonder whether this was a possibility.

I can't find Hannah in 1861 at all. I think I've found her in 1881 though, living in Hampshire and listed as a widow but using her maiden name.


Hannah Edgerton - 67 - Widow - Charwoman (Shinfield, Berkshire)

[littleem1906]

Scrap that. That Hannah Edgerton is likely to have been Hannah Ford, the wife of Richard Edgerton, who she married in the same town in 1836. Not my Hannah.

[Dundee]

However, and this is the puzzling part, when looking for her in 1871, I couldn't find anything but this record:
Hannah Smith - 57 - Widow- Laundress (Lambourne Berkshire)
Sarah Smith - 22 - Daughter (Thatcham Berkshire)

This Hannah is more likely to be the wife of Richard who she and Sarah are with in 1861.

Perhaps this is what you are referring to in your last post.

Debra 

[littleem1906]

I just found a Sarah Smith in the 1861 census living with mother Hannah and father Richard. Born in Thatcham, Berkshire.

So it looks like the Sarah living with widowed mother Hannah in 1871 can't be my Sarah. As the places of birth match up.

This brings me back to finding a my Sarah in 1871. I can't find her at all. Nor can I find a death date for her mother Hannah, which now appears to be likely to have occurred before 1861.

[LizzieL]

1851 Charles and wife hannah and more children

Piece number   1693
Folio   48
Page   6

Hannah born Arborfied abt 1814

[LizzieL]

And 1841
Piece number   28
Book number   3
Folio number   9
Page number   12

[LizzieL]

from GRO index
SMITH, Sarah    mmn    EDGENTON (sic)
 1851  Q2  WOKINGHAM UNION  Vol 6  Page 323