Sarah Emma Clarence

[Merry]

There are very few people around called Charles Clarence and none who are cabinet makers or similar occs in 1881 or 1891 (that I can see at the mo anyway!). No marriage for Emma and Charles showing up either at the moment, so this may turn out to be a tricky task.

[Shazza34]

Merry

Sarah's birth was registered by Emma Clarence, Mother, Union Workhouse, Bassingbourn, this is the only address on her birth cert.

Marriage certifcate states witness' to be Albert Worboys who I have already found as the grooms brother on 1911 census. The second witness looks like Selina Smith - no idea who she was I'm afraid.

Any help to you ?

Sharon

[Merry]

Not really! lol

When you say the marriage witness 'looks like' Selina Smith, do you think it might not say that? Are you able to post up that bit of the cert if you are unsure? (she could be our only hope!)

[samesizedfeet]

There is am Emma Smith in Bassingbourn Workhouse in 1881.

BUT, she is only 8 which would make her about 14/15 when Sarah Emma Clarence was born.

[kiterunner]

Trouble is, it's a very common name, so that Emma might well not be the same one.

[Shazza34]

Thanks for your help so far. Have been chucked off main computer, now on phone so will check out your findings tomorrow.

[samesizedfeet]

I might be grasping at strws here. The person above Emma on that 1881 is Alice Smith, place of birth Shepreth Cambridgeshire.

The only Shepreth I can find is part of Royston, Herts (marriage place of Emma)

[samesizedfeet]

I'm beginning to think the answer definitely lies in the workhouse records themselves.

According to the Workhouses website Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies holds the records and it includes Births for 1866-1929.
(direct page for Royston Union Workhouse, which Bassingbourn was covered by - http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.h.../Royston.shtml)

There may possibly be more information in this about the mother than you get on the birth certificate.

[Merry]

If they have the admittance registers these would usually give her age for starters, which is more than we know already!

It does seem strange that Charles Clarence isn't more visible in the records, as it seems unlikely that he didn't exist, even if he and Emma were not actually married.

[Shazza34]

Originally Posted by samesizedfeet

I might be grasping at strws here. The person above Emma on that 1881 is Alice Smith, place of birth Shepreth Cambridgeshire.

The only Shepreth I can find is part of Royston, Herts (marriage place of Emma)

Zoe where did you find that marriage for Emma ?