willis - Spitalfields completed

[rozzi]

All I know is a Sarah Jane Willis was born in Spitalsfields and married a Henry William Payne 1881 St George in the East. They then lived in Bermondsey. What I cannot find is Sarahs family in spitalfields. Anyone know how to find them?

[suzard]

any year of birth??

Suz

[rozzi]

Around 1859 according to 1881 census

[suzard]

Sorry to have t ask for more info - the marriage reg is for dec qtr 1881 and Henry is just plain henry payne on the reg (no middle name)
so  who is Sarah jane living with in 1881 -as she would still be Willis at the time of the census ?
I can't find her

Suz

[suzard]

Are you certain you have the correct couple

I have found in 1881
Living in bermondsey
henry Payne head M 24 carman Spittalfields
Sarah wife 22 Spittalfelds
James son 10mths Bermondsey

but the Sarah jane marriage was not reg til Dec qtr 1881

I think this possibly is Henry Payne who possibly married Sarah Rudd in 1880???

Where did you get the middle name from for henry???

Suz

[rozzi]

He is my Great grandfather it is Henry William Payne. At the time of 1881 census they were married with a son in Alscot Rd Bermondsey. I figure they either married early 1881 or 1880 but can find no confirmation of it nor of Sarahs family its odd. On 1901 census when they lived Anchor st Bermondsey she states she is born Spitalfields Henry was too in the mile end area

[suzard]

1891 Sarah gives p.o.b. as Whitechapel
30 Anchor St
henry payne head M 34 Carman Spittalfields
Sarah 33 Whitechapel
james 10
Alice 9
Sarah 7
ben 5
Caroline 4
Nellie 2
all children b bermondsey
RG12 379 150 58

How are you certain of Sarah's maiden name ?

Do you have onne of the children's birth certs???

Suz

[dawnsh]

Hi Rozzi

Sorry for the late reply to your request.

1. Have you purchased the marriage cert for Henry William Payne & Sarah Jane Willis registration district St George in the East Dec 1/4 1881? They may not have married in that church, St Geo in the East is a registration district in its own right as well as a parish

http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/MDX/Stepney/outline.htm

The marriage cert will tell you who their reputed father's were and occupations.

You will also find out how literate they were, signing the register with their names or leaving a mark, X (although not a fool-proof method)

It is possible that Sarah may not have been able to read and her surname may have sounded like Willis to the vicar, it could have been something else and she didn't know how to spell.

2. Have you got or purchased a birth cert for James? The 1881 census says aged 10 months born Bermondsey which was in St Olave Southwark district, the nearest James I can find is James Charles Wells June 1/4 1880. If his parents weren't married at the time, the surname Payne might not have been put on the register. There is no cert entry for James Payne, that reg district in 1880.

By the 1891 census there are 5 more children, I can suggest birth cert entries for 4

Alice Emily Mar 1882
Sarah Ann Dec 1883
Benjamin John Dec 1885
Caroline Mary A Mar 1887

but Nellie could be Helen Mar 1888 or Ellen Elizabeth Dec 1888

All these were registered in St Olave Bermondsey district.

These should state their mother's maiden name.

Without confirmation of a surname and/or father's name for Sarah (Willis) by buying the marriage cert you most probably won't be able to progress much further with this line.

Hope this helps

Dawn