Lincoln woman needed to make man happy!

[miltonbank]

Hi guys

Sorry for the dramatic subject header  but can anyone help me trace a Lincolnshire woman from the 1850s whose surname I don't even know?

I'm trying to trace a woman known only at this stage by her 'married' name, Sarah MacBeth. In the 1901 census she was listed as aged 48, making her date of birth approximately 1853 and the only further information I have is that she was born in the village of Welton Le Marsh. Her first name may also have been Sarah Ann.

Unfortunately, I cannot look at a marriage certificate because I believe she was a common law wife who posted herself as married in the census to 'husband' William as a face-saving exercise, common with those who were raised in the Victorian era.

All help gratefully received - from male or female!


Many thanks in advance.

[nanny jan]

Hi miltonbank,

Did Sarah and "husband" William have any children?  If so her "maiden" name should be on the birth certificate.

I have a couple like this on one of my lines; on all 10 childrens' birth certs and the husband's death cert she used her "married " name!

Nanny Jan

[miltonbank]

Hi Nanny Jan

Unfortunately, no. They appear to have 'got together' in their forties so no kids for them. I've tried tracing a death certificate for her under the name MacBeth, but with no joy yet, hence the search for the maiden name to see if it can cast some light.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[Necromancer]

Pity there were no kids ...

too many choices - from the 1861 census - assuming she used the same PoB and no mistranscriptions ....

 
Sarah Blackburn 1855  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton Le Wold  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Borman  1852  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton Le Wold  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Coulson 1851  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Dawber  1853  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Hewson 1852  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton Le Wold  Lincolnshire 
 
Sarah R Hornby  1851  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Lorrance  1855  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Cherry Willingham  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Ann Roe 1855  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Walker  1854  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

Sarah Ann Willerton  1851  Welton, Lincolnshire Daughter  Welton  Lincolnshire   

[miltonbank]

Thanks Newfy . . . I looked at a Lincolnshire Street Atlas and saw Welton le Marsh was such a small place I thought she might have been easier to trace; no such luck. I'll maybe try to find a connection with the Sarah Anns as a first port of call. More questions than answers - isn't research always thus!

[Geoff E]

Too many Weltons!

Welton by Lincoln - about 5 miles N of Lincoln.

Welton le Wold is 3 miles W of Louth.

Welton le Marsh is between Skegness and Spilsby ... census piece 2376 in 1861

Sarah's born in Welton le Marsh 1845-55 - remembering that she was older than Wm McB, she may have "reduced" her age ...

Sarah R(ebecca) HORNBY 1850
Sarah KIRKMAN 1845 - married Esau EVISON - still with him in 1901.
Sarah Ann MACKINDER 1845 - still single in 1901

Not much help

[Necromancer]

Take your point Geoff - I produced my list by using WELTON* in the Birth field .....

[miltonbank]

Hi guys

I received a reply this morning from Bradford Archives - Sarah Ann had spent a spell in the workhouse there in 1915. The archivist wrote the creed register shows Sarah Ann, husband's name William, admitted herself to Bradford Workhouse on March 3 1915. Her date of birth was listed as 1859 and before admission she lived with her sister (also listed on the creed register as nearest relative) at 149 Manningham Lane, Bradford. The sister's name was Adelaide Townsend.

The best Adelaide Townsend 'fit' (assuming Adelaide was single) appears to be based in earlier census records around the Leeds area, which is taking us further away from Welton Le Marsh and Lincolnshire. All advice gratefully received!

[Geoff E]

I think Adelaide will lead us to the answer

1901
5 Ebor St, Bradford
Adolph TOWNSEND 47 Keeper of Servants Registry, Alford Lincs
Adelaide 47 Welton le Marsh

Marriages Mar 1876 
LUCAS Adalaide Clemence         Bradford, Y.    9b   283   
TOWNSEND  Adolphe         Bradford Y    9b   283