Elizabeth Carbery and William or Samuel Brook(e)s

[Deirdre784]

Can’t find 1891 on ancestry but it’s on FindMyPast. Samuel transcribed as James! At Richard St, Merthyr Dovan, Glamorganshire. Joseph born 1878, Douglas, IOM is there - boy labourer - with parents and brother Thomas, a navvy. RG12 4408 5 1.

William nor Samuel found in 1901, though his 2nd wife (sarah ann brooks) is in Pontypridd with a ‘daughter’ Catherine M Brooks, aged 10, born Blaenrhondda, another mystery as William and Sarah Ann were both in their 50s in 1901, and no birth found.

William and Sarah Ann are still in Pontypridd in 1911. Sarah aged 64 born Bristol, William 68, born London. Thomas Dyer 26, and James Mounter 24, are lodging with them. Both born Bristol.

[Milliepede]

Crumbs it does get worse.  What was Sarah Ann's maiden name do you know? 

It can't be the same person throughout can it    William/Samuel.  Looking at the 1911 and number of children etc

Did he marry Sarah Ann in 1895?  If so 10 year old Catherine must belong to her alone.  Presume she had been married beforehand. 

[Deirdre784]

Sarah Ann was born Sarah Ann Dewson, in Bristol on 23 Jan 1842. She had a child with Henry Newton Hall and then married him on 16 August 1864 (Bristol register office). After the death of their 5th child on 7 March 1873 in Bedminster, she appears to leave her husband, taking the one surviving child with her. The little girl died on 12 October 1873, aged 3 in Treherbert, south Wales, death registered by Samuel Barnes.

Sarah Ann and Samuel, or Simon Barnes (birth registered as Simon), 99.9% certain that this is only one man, then go on to live together and have 5 children, 2 of whom die as babies, and one aged 8. All birth certificates say mother Barnes, formerly Dewson (or variants). All births and deaths registered by Sarah Ann, or Samuel / Simon Barnes.

Incredibly after the birth of their youngest child on 26 June 1882, Sarah Ann went and married James Heath (Ystradyfodwg parish church) on 2 October 1882, as Sarah Ann Hall, widow. The only possible death of a Samuel / Simon Barnes was in 1908 (no details to match to Sarah Ann or the 2 surviving children).

Sarah Ann’s mother was living with Sarah Ann and James when she died on 10 May 1887. 

James Heath died on 16 January 1894 in Blaenrhondda.

Sarah Ann Heath then married William Barnes, father listed as Samuel, on 10 November 1895 (St Catherine’s, Pontypridd).

All three of her marriages correctly list her father as Benjamin Dewson (Duson / Dueson), mariner or sailor.

The daughter Catherine M Brooks, with Sarah Ann in 1901 is a mystery, especially as Sarah Ann was in Blaenrhondda when she was born, married to James Heath and almost 50 years old. Samuel Barnes was still in Merthyr Dovan. No birth certificate yet found. Awaiting news on her father from her marriage certificate.

The 1911 is clearly wrong re children to that marriage, though the 16 years married matches the 1895 i have.

I only have 7 children born to Samuel and Elizabeth Brooks and no evidence of a death, but have very little detail on them at all.

Sarah Ann had 5 children with Henry Newton Hall (all died) and 5 with Samuel/ Simon Barnes (3 died).

All in all a real puzzle but i have bought every possible certificate to try and sort it out.

[Milliepede]

That is one confusing case, think I had better go put the kettle on!

[Deirdre784]

That is one confusing case, think I had better go put the kettle on!

It’s one of the most mysterious in our tree 😀

[Deirdre784]

William is buried with his first wife Elizabeth. No idea (yet) where Sarah Ann is buried.

And William’s death is registered as William Samuel Brooks. Certificate now ordered (hadn’t before as i was thinking he was ‘just’ Sarah Ann’s husband, and had probate, will and burial).

Thanks for taking an interest Milliepede, helps to get another view.

[Deirdre784]

William is buried with his first wife Elizabeth. No idea (yet) where Sarah Ann is buried.

And William’s death is registered as William Samuel Brooks. Certificate now ordered (hadn’t before as i was thinking he was ‘just’ Sarah Ann’s husband, and had probate, will and burial).

Thanks for taking an interest Milliepede, helps to get another view.

Found Sarah Ann, buried with her 2nd husband James Heath. Same cemetery as her mother, and at least 2 of her children (no records there for 2 other children), all in separate plots. Not what i was expecting.