Who is Mrs Sarah Gildart?

[Merry]

Here's my next minor conundrum!

Francis Gildart's first wife was called Mary. No children, or no surviving children. She died in 1768 and was buried at St Mary's Hampton (Richmond-upon-Thames), Middlesex 4 Sept 1768.

(I'm not entirely sure who Mary was either, but at last there are some possible marriages, though any in the Liverpool area probably cousins of this Francis Gildart)

So, after Sept 1768 Francis Gildart married a Sarah. She outlived him and is mentioned in his will dated 28 Dec 1784.

In Francis's will he states if he dies at Tilbury in Essex he wants to be buried at Shadwell, Essex (presume he means Chadwell, as Shadwell is in Middlesex). If he dies anywhere else then he wants to be buried in the churchyard at Hampton, Middlesex (where his first wife was buried - though he doesn't mention that).

Francis died in Jan 1785 and was buried at Chadwell, Essex 16 Jan 1785. Presumably he died at Tilbury as this was only a short time after his will was signed.

His widow, Sarah, died in late 1794. In her will (signed 5 Sept 1794) she describes herself as of Leicester St, St Ann's, Westminster. She asks that she be buried near her late husband, but says that would be at "the burial ground at Hampton in Middlesex". She is duly buried at Hampton 2 Dec 1794.

So, was the burial thing just a mistake - did she forget where Francis was buried, or did she have two husband's and forgot to mention it was an earlier husband who was buried at Hampton? I keep thinking it's not a big deal, but then it keeps bugging me!

Plus who is she anyway? I can't see any marriage to fit this couple.

[Merry]

Forgot to say, in Sarah's will she leaves stuff to numerous relations. I suppose it should be possible to work out who she is from that!!

[kiterunner]

These are the people mentioned:

William Burgess of Oxford Street, St Marylebone, Middlesex, Gentleman
my niece Mary Jollands now resident in Leicester Street
my nephew John Spencer of Compton Street, St Ann Westminster, tailor
Elizabeth Piper of Great Portland Street, St Marylebone
my niece Elizabeth Chidley of Crown Street, St Ann Westminster
John Marshall of Ogle Court, St Marylebone, tailor
Charlotte Chidley, daughter of the aforementioned Elizabeth

[kiterunner]

Charlotte Chidley was baptised in 1778, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth.
Joseph Chidley married Elizabeth Spencer 2 Oct 1769 Hampton, Middlesex.

[kiterunner]

There is a PCC will of Thomas Spencer, butcher, of Hampton, proved in 1765, which mentions his sons Robert and Edward and daughters Mary Ann Elizabeth and Salley (I don't know whether there was one called Mary Ann or two called Mary and Ann due to lack of punctuation!)

[Merry]

Oooh, thanks for listing them Kate. That was my next job.

I wonder if Salley and Sarah are the same person? - Perhaps not the person I'm looking for, but maybe a family where the alternative name Sally is used for Sarah?

[kiterunner]

That was my first thought, but I think Sarah would be more likely to be Thomas's sister with Salley perhaps being named after her. Thomas didn't mention a son John in his will, so maybe he had a brother who had a son called John?

[Merry]

Yes, once I was back reading your post at home and not on my phone, I realised Salley would be the wrong generation.

[Merry]

Those children for Thomas Spencer are too young for the one called Elizabeth to have been married in 1769:

Children of Thomas Spencer and Jo(h)anna(h), all bap Hampton, Middlesex

26 Jun 1748 Robert
15 Apr 1751 Mary
20 Nov 1753 Thomas
30 Mar 1756 Edward
8 Sept 1761 Elizabeth
18 Oct 1763 Sally

[kiterunner]

OK, so Thomas isn't much help then!