maiden name mystery?

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by apowell

Thank you for your help

It seems that Sarah must be Edward's & Ann's child because all the other siblings are baptised to them.

I did wonder if maybe Sarah had previously married a Hunt and he'd died, although she was young when she married Joseph Homer. The marriage entry stated she was a spinster, but maybe it was a mistake.

Aha!
FreeREG has the transcription of a marriage 27 Oct 1867 at St Andrew, Netherton, Worcestershire: Joseph Hunt, full age, bachelor, puddler, residence Netherton, and Sarah Brooks, full age, spinster, residence Netherton, father Edward Brooks miner, witnesses Samuel Heywood and Sarah Ann Heywood.

Your Sarah would definitely not have been "full age" in 1867 but the rest fits.

Oh, I should add that the groom's father is down as William Gill, labourer - we might need that info to try to figure out what happened to Joseph Hunt.

[Katarzyna]

Great find, Kite. St Andrew, Netherton, Worcestershire: is incorrect tho', it should be Staffordshire - and the Reg. district is Dudley. Strange that Free BMD got that wrong.

Edit : but it's in the Diocese of Worcester!
Kite, was that from the New Free BMD?

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by Katarzyna

Great find, Kite. St Andrew, Netherton, Worcestershire: is incorrect tho', it should be Staffordshire - and the Reg. district is Dudley. Strange that Free BMD got that wrong.

Edit : but it's in the Diocese of Worcester!
Kite, was that from the New Free BMD?

No, FreeREG.

It seems that Netherton used to be in Worcestershire and that is why FreeREG has it as Worcestershire.

[kiterunner]

Back to FreeREG - William Gill, 40, bachelor, labourer, married Sarah Hunt, 42, widow, daughter of William Smith, labourer, 9 Apr 1855 at Christ Church, West Bromwich. Abode for both is Greet's Green. Just need to find them on a census now to see if there is a Joseph with them so we have an idea of his year and place of birth.

[kiterunner]

Ok, here is an 1871 census entry:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...e&pId=15088285

5 Aston Street, Tipton, Staffordshire
William Gill Head Mar 57 Labourer Northampton Brackley
Sarah Do Wife " 59 Worcester Bentley
Joseph Do Son Mar 24 Puddler Staffs Tipton.

On the 1861 census, Sarah's birthplace was Tipton and Joseph's was Bredon's Norton, Worcestershire, but there are some markings which could mean they were the wrong way round:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...e&pId=20515630

Anyway, this must be Joseph Hunt but listed under the surname Gill, and he was still alive when his wife Sarah married Joseph Homer.

[Phoenix]

Brilliant, Kite!

As Sarah was recorded with Joseph Homer immediately after Edward and Ann on the 1871 census, just as her elder sister had been after she married, on an earlier census, that definitely suggested she was her parents' child.

I have heard it suggested that spinster could simply mean "free to marry". I'm not sure that Sarah actually was but mercifully nobody was interested in enquiring too deeply!

[apowell]

Hi Kite and team,

Gosh, amazing detective work and also for everybody's input and help, much appreciated

I'm away from home today, but I will look at all the information later tonight.

I really appreciate this and thank you, and I wouldn't have found this information.

Amazing work, Kite, and everyone.

Kind regards
Adrian