William TOMKINS, Tanner, Bermondsey

[IanStB]

My ancestor Sarah Ann Tomkins married William Ebbs in Redbourn, Herts in October 1840. Her father is named as William Tomkins. On the marriage cert, William is described as a leather dresser. Later censuses all give her place of birth as Bermondsey, Surrey.

After research over quite a long time, I think there's a decent chance that she is Sarah Tomkins, born 6 Oct 1822 and baptised at St John Horselydown, Bermondsey 23 Nov. 1822, f. William (a tanner), m. Ann., living in Fair Street. I suspect Susan Tomkins (later Biggs), bapt. St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, 12 Sept. 1819, when William and Ann were in Assembly Place, was her sister. As always, later dates on censuses don't align and this may be wrong.

However, I'm now stuck as there are several candidates for William and Ann and I don't have enough information to take things further, either to reinforce my identification of Sarah or to identify her parents William and Ann.

I've looked everywhere I can think of online (I'm in Edinburgh, not London) so I'm looking now for any hints, tips or chance encounters that anyone may have.

Thanks in advance. 

[CaroleW]

If I have the right census entries Sarah’s birthyear varies to a year when she would only have been 11 in 1840. Only one entry shows Bermondsey.  Does surname change to Hebbes?

1851 - b 1825 London Middlesex
1861 - b 1829 London Surrey
1871 - b 1821 London Middlesex
1881 - 1821 - London Bermondsey
1891 - 1823 Redbourn Herts
1901 - 1821 Redbourn Hers

[ciderdrinker]

Good Afternoon
Like you I have gone round a round on this one.
I did consider if William and Ann were older and had had earlier children.
William baptised St George the Maytr 10.12.1799 born 14.12.1796 who was buried 25.9.1802 form Woolpack Yard Kent Road
Stillborn male son Buried 13.10.1804 .

This might lead to two burials
William Tomkins 1772-25.4.1827 of Cross Key Alley
William Tomkins 1774- 5.10.1838 Grange Walk.

But really I think you need to pursue occupational records of his time as a leather dresser/tanner.
The Worshipful Company of Curriers controlled all leather workers with 30 miles of Bermondsey.Their records were deposited at the London Guildhall but you could contact them direct.
FindMyPast is supposed to include them but the Library edition here has gone down this morning.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/livery-companies-included-in-london-apprenticeship-abstracts/curriers-company-apprenticeships

I can see an apprenticeship for a William Tomkins 1777 and 1788 but not latter and no details are given because the website /library access is down.

I'm sorry but that is the only suggestion I have.

Ciderdrinker

[IanStB]

Thanks Ciderdrinker, I appreciate the suggestion. It's the kind of occupational resource that I was not aware of until you identified it.

Ian