That's brilliant Merry

It looks like the right Sarah and John but not sure Mary Ann is her mother or William her brother.

Mary Ann in 1881 rather than Ann has the same place of birth as in 1871 but has only aged 3 years. William isn't with the family in 1871 but he could easily be elsewhere. I've not looked at earlier censuses.

Perhaps the two father's were related? That would help if they were brothers as that might make finding Edward possible. The other couple are Joseph and Mildred Marion who I saw in 1881.

I was looking in the GRO for a William Ashby with mother's maiden name of Sherman but nothing.

I think Ann Sherman died either in 1872? or 1886? in Hertfordshire.

I think Joseph Ashby is Sarah's brother and Mildred is his wife.

Having said that, of course we don't know that Edward was really an Ashby at all! We know Sarah seemed to like her men to take her name, as seems to be the case with Frank later on.

Is Joseph Ashby (the other father at the 1880 baptisms) a relative of Sarah's?

There is a Joseph Ashby on this tree who is supposedly a cousin of Sarah's:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tr...74075605/facts

Obviously I can't say how accurate it is.

Looking at the GRO Joseph's mother's maiden name was Sherman so looks like her brother.

Frank used her surname in 1901 census as he was still married to my great grandmother even when he married Sarah in 1906 lol.

I do wonder if there was ever an Edward - even her daughter put Edward Ashby down as Sarah's father instead of James on the death certificate.

Thanks all for your help.