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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Cheshire => England => Cheshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: themagusman on Monday 07 February 11 16:21 GMT (UK)
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Hi Folks,
I am trying to track down my (somewhat elusive) great-grandmother, Sarah Ann Barfield. She was born in 1849 according to most censuses, but reported various birthplaces on different censuses, including Runcorn on 2 censuses. She married my great-grandfather, John Measures, on 12 October1873 at All Saints in Leicester. On the marriage certificate, her father is given as George, a butcher.
I have been unable to find any valid record of Sarah Ann before her marriage, or of her father George at all. She may have a brother John J., a house-painter, born about 1854, who was a lodger with her in the 1901 census.
Any clues from local Cheshire records would be gratefully received!
Thanks!
John Measures
Ontario Canada
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FOR BACKGROUND INFO ONLY
1901 shows her birthplace as Wolverhampton 1849 which is the same birthplace as John J Burfield (image shows Burfield)
1891 shows Runcorn Cheshire 1849
1881 - Runcorn Lancashire 1849
So her birthyear is spot on every time - but not her birthplace
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The free 1911 index shows her as aged 62 - so again b 1849
having found her on the index - I tried searching again using, Runcorn, Cheshire and Staffordshire as her birthplace but got no match
I then used Wolverhampton and up she popped so we now have 2 Runcorns versus 2 Wolverhamptons
I also searched for John Barfield in Leics and found John James aged 56
I then searched again showing his birthplace as Wolverhampton and other members of the household Sarah Measures - got the same match so he was still with Sarah in 1911
Unfortunately - not one bit of the above info has helped me to find her or John on earlier censuses!!!!
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Thanks for posting the info, Carole!
Confusing isn't it!
I wonder if any of the local trade directories show her father, George Barfield, Butcher.
John
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Just a shot in the dark :) ???
1861 Census
62 Stafford St,
Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
RG9/1992/63/5
John ALLEN, 43, Head, Mar, Master Butcher, born Hertfordshire
Anne, 36, Wife, Mar, born Eldersfield, Worcestershire
SARAH ANN, 12, Daug, Butchers Assistant, born Prunschom (Runcorn?), Cheshire)
JOHN JAMES, 8, Son, Scholar, born Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
Alice Jane, 5, Daug, born Wolverhampton
George Frederick, 3, Son, born Wolverhampton
Will try and find John Allen in 1851.
Trish :)
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1871 Census Ann (no E) is a Widow, Charwoman, born c 1812, Salford, Lancashire. George now 13, is with her and that is the only way I found her!
RG10/2939/68/12
I cant find John Allen in 1851 at all.
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That's really interesting & the first time anyone has found anything remotely encouraging!! Thanks so much.
So since her "father" George Burfield/Barfield attended Sarah's wedding in 1873, presumably Anne remarried & Sarah took her step-father's name?
John
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OH, so George was alive in 1873?
And he was a Witness at the Wedding?
Mmm not sure where to go with thiis now as I am completely confused.
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Me too! I have found no record of George before or after that fits to him being to Sarah's father, but given that he might not be Sarah's biological father, it changes the search criteria, so I'm going to revisit my previous searches.
Thanks again
John
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Your welcome John :)
I hope I am on the right track for you.
Heres another "spanner in the works"
John James ALLEN, June 1853, Wolverhampton, 6b 374
Now the only Christening I can find with my resources is on Familysearch.Org;
James ALLEN, 28 Feb 1853, St James, Woverhampton, Staffordshire.
Mother ANN Allen
June Birth Reg and Feb Christening may not work out though.
Got to go to bed now as its nearly 2.00am here in Oz.
Hopefully someone with access to Staffs Records may find more for you re this Birth Reg.
John may only be a half Brother to Sarah.
ALICE JANE Allen seems to be Christened 07 Feb 1858, St Marys, Wolverhampton to JOHN/HANNAH
Her Birth is 25 April 1855
GEORGE FREDERICK was Christened the same day 07 Feb 1858
(Familyearch.Org)
So Ann may be a Hannah ::)
Still cant find a Marriage for John Allen to a Ann/Anne/Hannah , even without using a Surname for her, 1849-1861 in Staffs.
Trish :)
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There is this marriage which has an Anne Thomas on the same page
Marriages September qtr 1860
John Allen Wolverhampton 6B 665
So since her "father" George Burfield/Barfield attended Sarah's wedding in 1873, presumably Anne remarried & Sarah took her step-father's name?
Did he sign as a witness to the wedding?
If not - just because his name appears on the marriage cert - it does not necessarily mean he was there or even existed. Lots of illegitimate children made up a fathers name when they married to appear "respectable"
Marriages December qtr 1837
George Barfield Coventry 16 431 - Hannah Allen on same page but your Ann/Hannah was too young to have married in 1837
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Hi Carole,
Thanks for the comment. I think it is quite possible "George Burfield" was not at the wedding. He is certainly not one of the witnesses, & Sarah was married from her husband's address (although I understand that could have been to save costs on Banns?).
I do however think he existed. John J. Burfield is on the 1901 census as a lodger with Sarah, so at some point it appears they both took his name.
I will have a look at the Coventry marriage to see if it could fit in.
Trish,
There is a John Allen, master butcher, age 37, living at 7 Stafford St, Wolverhampton in the 1851 Census. His wife Ann is given as age 53 & born in West Derby. The only child with them is Hannah Woods age 30, a step-daughter born in Liverpool. There is record of a Hannah Woods born to Richard & Anne Woods in Liverpool in 1821, which (kind of) all fits. Presumably John A. traded in the first Ann for a younger model, if they are the same person. It doesn't explain where Sarah came from as she was born in 1849. Presumably IF this is my family she came along with the second Ann......
I guess I should search for an Ann born in Derby in 1825, & with a 2-year old daughter Sarah, in the 1851 census, but that sounds like a mammoth undertaking..........
Thanks again Carole & Trish
John