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This isn't a Briercliffe question but I wondered if any of you had any thoughts on which direction I should go on.

I'm currently looking at hubbys line. His grandfather was Thomas Elisha Smith, grandmother Sarah Mountford. Sarah is causing me problems.

They married June 13 1880 at a place called Newchapel here in Staffordshire. They both gave their address as 'Pitts Hill', a village near to Newchapel. Sarah, age 20, gives her fathers name as Henry Johnson, brickmaker.

This is Sarah and Thomas Elisha on the census

1881
RG11Piece / Folio 2709 / 26 Page Number 46
Pitts Hill, Wolstanton, Stafford, England
Thos. E. SMITH Head M Male 23 Tunstall, Stafford, England Potter
Sarah SMITH Wife M Female 19 Tunstall, Stafford, England
Infant SMITH Son Male 1 w Tunstall, Stafford, England

1891
RG12/2161 folio 55 pg12
19 Globe St, Burslem
Elisha Smith Head Mar 32 Potters placer Staffs Tunstall
Saml Smith Son 10 Scholar Staffs Pittshill
Emily Smith Dau 7 Scholar Staffs Tunstall
Hannah Smith Dau 2 Staffs Burslem

1891
RG12/2164 folio134 pg 6
Haywood Institute
Sarah Smith Patient M 34 Staffs Burslem. (Son David is on next page.)
David Smith Patient S 10 Staffs Burslem.

1901
RG13/2596 folio 107 pg23
4 Mayers Bank Burslem
Thomas E Smith Head M 42 Potters placer Staffs Tunstall
Sarah Smith Wife M 40 Staffs Burslem
Samuel Smith Son 19 Potters placer Staffs Pitts Hill
Emily Smith Dau S 17 Potters mould maker Staffs Tunstall
David Smith Son S 14 Potters mmould maker Staffs Burslem
Hannah Smith Dau 11 Staffs Burslem
Albert Smith Son 8 Staffs Burslem
James Smith Son 4 Staffs Burslem
Henry Smith Son 1 Staffs Burslem

Sarah died in 1910, her age is given as 49.

I'd love to take Sarahs line back a little bit no luck so far. I can't find her on the 1871 census when I would expect her to be with her parents. I have also looked at the 1861 without success but then there is a discrepancy with her age so it is possible that she was not around for the 1861 census night.I've looked at Mountford and Johnson but I am stumped.
Has anyone any suggestions as to how I might make some progress with this?

_________________
Mel

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Hi Mel,
if she gave the name of her father as different to her own then she may not have been living with him, and only with her mother.---That makes things hard, not knowing her mother's name.
However, I have found four Sarah Mountfords in Staffs in 1871. Living in Bucknall, Hanley, Onecote and West Brom, ages from 9-11, all except the one in Hanley are daughters, the Hanley one is grand-daughter. I don't know Staffs so I don't know how near these places are to Tunstall.
Had a quick look at the families of these Sarahs and I don't think they can be her.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Thanks Gloria.
The only 2 possibilities really are Bucknall and Hanley. I had seen them but have nothing that could point me more positively in any direction.

_________________
Mel

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Have you found Henry Johnson in the 1871? I've found one who is a bricklayer.
I have found three Sarah Mountfords born
Wolstanton Sept qtr 1862
Stoke T June qtr 1861
Stoke T Dec qtr 1863

_________________
Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Have you! What are the details please?

_________________
Mel

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Henry Johnson aged 29 yrs. head of house-- sister-in-law, living in Chapel St. Audley. Born Audley. Bricklayer.
Folio ref---RG10/2835?
S&N File ref---CD1 R10_2835 Pdf p.51

I have looked at the original and it says son-in-law---looks like he may have been "working away"--ha ha.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Thanks Gloria. Will try to find him now. Audley is about 7 miles from Burslem, where Sarah was allegedly born. I don't think I would have given that a second glance if I had stumbled on it....it pays to ask for help from people not familiar with an area!!

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Mel

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Found a Sarah Johnson aged 9yrs born Burslem living in Chell. She is with mother Maria and "father" Samuel (didn't she have a son Samuel?) two siblings and Maria's mother Betsy Wilson.
May be clutching at straws there, but maybe not.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

In the 1871 census of Henry Johnson his father in law was a labourer in a brickyard.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Could I have the details for the Chell reference please - thats the district where she was when she married. Pitts Hill is part of Chell.
I'm not going to be certain of any of this until I can go to the library and look at PR's etc. but you've certainly given me more to go at than I found for myself. I've been proper duff with this family!

Thanks Gloria

_________________
Mel

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Folio ref RG10/2845/F?
S&N file ref CD2 R10_2845 pdf. p61

Is that what you want???

_________________
Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Thanks Gloria. It is.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!