52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week12/52: Sarah Jefferies (nee ADNAMS) 1825-1897
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| Twin sisters? by James Tworow on Flickr https://flic.kr/p/pLBXF |
Sarah Jefferies (nee ADNAMS) 1824 - 1897
Ahnentafel Number 39
NB Variations in spelling of Surnames: Adnams, Adanams, Addams, Adams
Preamble and context for discovery:
This biography was written as part of the 52 ancestors in 52 weeks exercise devised by Amy Johnson Crow. You can join in too here. March is Women’s History Month and this week’s theme is joined together.
I am using this exercise to tidy up and check all my files. Sarah was my 3rd-great-grandmother on my paternal side of the family tree.
The above photo is NOT of Sarah. It was a photo found on Flickr and the title of the photo accurately sums up the results of my research this week on Sarah and her sister Jane. On the 1841 Census, they are listed as the same age which made me rather excited. "Ooh! Twins!", I thought to myself.
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| 1841 Census extract - see what I mean? |
But I have not been able to find a birth/baptism for Jane to date. I have found a baptism for Sarah and I think it unlikely that parents would baptise one twin but not the other. If one were ill, wouldn't you wait until she recovered and then baptise them both?
So, that combined with other evidence forced me to conclude that they were just very close in age.
Jane's age fluctuates by about ten years in the records. In the 1851 Census, she is aged 24 which would put her being born around 1827. On her marriage record in 1855 she says she is 20 years old i.e. born 1835. By the 1861 Census, she is back to being 34 i.e. born in 1827.
So not twins. Not even Irish twins (which is a term used for those born less than 12 months apart) but the hunt was quite exciting nevertheless and produced all sorts of other results too.
Just while I'm on the topic of baptisms, I have been unable to find the other siblings' baptisms as well. Whether this is because Sarah's parents just did not have time, could not be bothered, fell out with the church (her father is buried in unconsecrated ground) or due to issues with the spelling of their name is all up for debate. I am strongly in favour of the latter ie spelling variations which means lots more work for me. I have joined the Hampshire Genealogical Society this week which gave me a very warm welcome and I look forward to using their resources :)
NB Dates written in blue below are from http://projectbritain.com/
Timeline including major World Events/Disasters/Wars etc
1820 George III succeeded by George IV
Birth Date/Place: [i]
Sarah was born 20 July 1824 according to her baptismal record
Baptism Date/Place:
Sarah was baptised Sarah Ann on 9th October 1825 at St Mary's, Alverstoke. Her father was recorded as Thomas, a labourer, and her mother as Sarah. They lived at Forton.
About Forton
“FORTON, a village and a chapelry in Alverstoke parish, Hants. The name is a corruption of Fort-town. The village is suburban to Gosport; stands outside of the fortifications, on the Gosport railway, at the upper end of a sort of lake of Portsmouth harbour; has a post office‡ under Gosport; and contains the railway terminus, the new military prison, and the royal marine barracks.Portraits of George III., by Northcote, Lord Sandwich, by Zoffany, and Lords Barham and St. Vincent, by Beachy, are in the barracks' mess-room. A quondam edifice, on the ground now occupied by the new military prison, was used as a place of confinement for French prisoners during the wars with Buonaparte. James Fort, built in the time of Charles II., and known as Borough Castle, stood on Rat Island, near Forton lake; and some remains of it exist. The chapelry includes the village, and was constituted in 1841. Pop., 6, 425. Houses, 815. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Winchester. Value, £280.* Patron, the Rector of Alverstoke. The church was erected under the new act for building churches; is in the pointed style; and has a very fine organ, which once belonged to Handel. There are a barracks chapel, a Baptist chapel, and a national school.”[ii]
My father would be very excited to hear about that organ which once belonged to Handel 😊
Sarah was the second eldest in her family. She had an older brother William, and six younger siblings.
Schooling
Unable to find records
Occupation Dates/Places:
Unable to locate
Criminal record:
No records found
Physical Description:
Not found
1825 first locomotive passenger service begins
1827 sister Jane born
1828 brother Thomas born
1829 Catholic emancipation
1830 George Iv succeeded by William IV
1831 sister Eliza born
1832 Reform act changes parliamentary representation
1833 Factory Act restricts work hours for women and children
1834 Tolpuddle Martyrs
1836 brother Joseph born
1837 Victoria comes to the throne
1838 brother George born
slavery abolished in the British empire
1840 vaccination for poor begins
1841 brother James born
1841 Census[iii]
Sarah Jnr is living with her parents Thomas and Sarah at Greens Court, Portsea. Thomas is aged 40 and a Plasterer. Her mother is aged 35. Sarah has an older brother William aged 18 – a labourer. There are six younger siblings as follows: Jane aged 15, Thomas aged 13, Eliza aged 10, Joseph aged 5, George aged 3 and James aged 2 months.
Description of Green’s Court surroundings
From the Portsmouth Encyclopedia
HAY STREET Portsea Town
Runs N from Portland Streeet to Queen Street
On E side from S to N:
Royal Seamen and Marines Orphan School & Home; School, Pay’s Buildings, Green’s Court (access via covered passage) (83.7.20)
On W side from S to N:
School, Lion Street, Andrew’s Buildings, Puds Lane
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| I have highlighted where I think Greens Court was. This extract is from The Godfrey edition of the old Ordnance Survey Map of Portsea in 1896 Hampshire Sheet 83.07 |
1845 Irish potato famine
Marriage Dates/Places:
At Kingston Church, Saint Marys, Portsea by the Rev. H. Cottingham,[iv] 2nd September 1847 Thomas Jefferies of Lake-lane Landport to Miss Sarah Adams of Penny-street, Portsmouth.[v]
The entry in the parish register shows Thomas as a Steward. His residence was the Avon Packet. TO DO - Research this more. I suspect the Avon Packet is a steam ship. One of the witnesses is Jane Adnams, Sarah's younger sister. Sarah's father is described as a plasterer.
1848 Public Health act
1848 eldest child and son Henry born 2nd quarter (FindMyPast England and Wales Births Volume 7 Page 131)
1850 eldest daughter Sarah Jane born 1st quarter (FindMyPast England and Wales Births Volume 7 Page 180)
1851 Census[vi]
18 Maitland Street Portsea, Sarah is living with Thomas and Henry her son aged 2 and Sarah her daughter aged 1. Sarah is recorded as being born in Gosport and the two children in Portsmouth.
Sarah’s sister Jane aged 24, born Portsea, is listed in the 1851 Census as a general servant in Joseph Dudley’s household at 80 High Street. Joseph was a silversmith.[vii]
Sarah’s parents are recorded as living at 4 Green’s Court Portsea and her father was born at Falmouth Cornwall.[viii] Brother Joseph is an errand boy. George, James and Ellen/Eliza are described as Scholars.
1851 Sarah's sister Eliza marries Thomas Warren Quick, bricklayer
1852 21 March Sarah's daughter Caroline (My direct ancestor) was born at Dock Row Portsea.[ix]
1854 Crimean War begins
1855 daughter Eliza Jane born - 4th quarter[x]
1854 Sarah Jane dies 4th quarter [xi]
1855 Sarah’s sister Jane marries George Smith at the Parish Church Portsea. George aged 24 is residing at Copenhagen
Street and is a Confectioner. His father
is John Smith a Gardener. Jane aged 20
(???) is listed as residing at Hay Street and her father is Thomas a plasterer. Jane's surname is recorded as Adams. (FindMyPast CHU3 1D 52 Portsmouth History Centre Portsmouth Marriages)
1859 daughter Ellen born - 1st quarter[xii]
1861 Census [xiii]
Sarah is living at 27 Alfred Street, Portsea with Thomas her husband and Henry aged 12, Caroline aged 9, Eliza Jane aged 5 and Ellen aged 2.
Sarah’s parents are recorded as living at 7 New Row, Portsea with sons Thomas and Joseph. Thomas’ sons are also plasterers and Sarah is working in a sweetmeat shop.
1862 daughter Alice Maude born - 1st quarter[xiv]
1865 daughter Amelia Louisa born - 2nd quarter [xv]
1867 2nd reform act doubles the electorate enabling 1/3 of adult males to vote in elections.
1870 Education Act means school for everyone
1871 Census
Sarah is recorded as a widow (but I’m pretty sure Thomas is alive and well so it could just be a mistake). She and Caroline and Caroline’s four younger sisters, Eliza Jane, Ellen, Mance and Louisa are living at 21 Ridge Street Portsea. Caroline’s beau James Cook is visiting that night.
Sarah’s parents are living at 8 Collingwood Terrace with their son Thomas aged 44, plasterer, James aged 30, invalided from HM??? Disabled seaman and Louisa grandchild aged 6.
25th October 1871 eldest daughter Caroline marries James Cook.[xvi]
1872 voting by secret ballot is introduced
1873 Sarah’s father Thomas Harvey Adnams of Collingwood Terrace Southsea was buried 24th February, Arnold’s Plot, 18th row, 5/2 grave. Unconsecrated. Aged 73. Pensioner.
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| British Newspaper Archives 26th February1873, Hampshire Advertiser Page 2 Death Notice Thomas Harvey Adnams |
1876 Alexander Bell invented the telephone and primary education is compulsory
1877 first public electric lighting in London
1878 Sarah’s mother Sarah Anne Adnams died Sunday 23rd June at Drood House, Victoria-road Southsea, relict of the late Thomas Harvey Adnams aged 74 years.
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| British Newspaper Archives, Hampshire Telegraph Page 5 Death notice Sarah Ann Adnams |
1878 4th September - wedding of son Harry Jefferies[xvii]
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| British Newspaper Archives, 11th September 1878 Hampshire Advertiser wedding Harry Jefferies son of Thomas Jefferies Convict Warder |
1881 Census[xviii]
Sarah is living at Anglesea Road Unicorn Building with Thomas and Ellen aged 22, dressmaker and Maud, aged 19 and Louiza aged 16.
1887 invention of the gramophone
1891 free education for every child
1891 Census[xix]
Sarah and Thomas are living at 87 Havant Road Portsea.
Map:
Immigration/Migration Dates/Places:
Not applicable
Children’s Birth Dates/Places:
Military Service Dates/Places:
Not applicable
Organizations/Associations Dates/Places:
Death Date/Place:
1897 Sarah dies TO DO PURCHASE DEATH CERTIFICATE
Burial Date/Place[xx]
24th August 1897 Parish of Portsea
Probate:
Unable to find.
FAN CLUB (Friends and Neighbours)
Baptism sponsors/godparents - not recorded
Marriage Witnesses Officiants - Jane Adnams and Thomas Adnams
Accompanying passengers on shipping list - not applicable
Newspaper – see above
Census – other lodgers/neighbours – as above
City directories – others living in household/on street
Land Deeds – witnesses/buyers/sellers
Maps – neighbours
Military – unit members
Death – informant/undertaker - to be obtained from death certificate
Music?
Sorry ! I just can't help it. Love this song.
Conclusion:
It's funny but when you've just written a biography for the husband the week before i.e. Thomas Jefferies, you think to yourself, "Oh I couldn't possibly find any more information." But of course, you do. I've pushed us back another generation and have lots more leads to follow. I tried to find out more about the Adnams in Gosport but wasn't able to tie down too much.
There was a William Adnams of Gosport, butcher in the Perry's Bankrupt Gazette in 1849 and a George Adnams, seaman in Gosport in 1843. There was an article about James Adnams saving lives while working at the Haslar Bridge Toll House in 1836. There was also an advertisement for the cheapest fresh fish @ Adnams at Haslar Bridge in 1836 and a William Adnams killed by a Marine John Munday in 1836. Whether these people are related to our Adnams is yet to be proved.
The spelling of the surname of course will be a challenge for future research.
Another goal I have is to create a map that plots where the Adnams/Jefferies all lived in Portsea. It's all about time, isn't it?
How has your family history week been? Have you made any progress?
References
[i] FindMyPast Portsmouth Baptisms, Portsmouth History Centre, CHU42/1B/2, accessed 23 March 2022
[ii] GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Forton, in Gosport and Hampshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.URL: http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/20921 Date accessed: 24th March 2022
[iii] FindMyPast, 1841 England Census, HO107 Piece Number 415 Book 1 Folio 9 Page 12 Schedule 64 accessed 23 March 2022
[iv] British Newspaper Archive, Hampshire Advertise Page 8 Marriages 4th September 1847 accessed 6 March 2022
[v] Ancestry, England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973, FHL Film Number 919748, 919749, 919750, 919751, 919752, 919753, 919754, 919755, Family Search, 2013 accessed 19 March 2022
[vi] Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data:Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Class: HO107; Piece: 1657; Folio: 378; Page: 6; GSU roll: 193562
[vii] Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Class: HO107; Piece: 1658; Folio: 581; Page: 5; GSU roll: 193563-193564
[viii] FindMyPast 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census, HO107 Piece No 1658, Folio 15, Page 22, Schedule 91
[ix] General Register Office, certified copy of an entry of birth, County of Southampton, Kingston and Landport Sub-district, Caroline Jefferies, 21 March 1852 at Dock Row Portsea, registered 27 April 1852, purchased 4 September 1996 and in Alex Daw’s possession.
[x] England and Wales births, 2B, 316
[xi] FindMyPast England and Wales Births Volume 2B, 23
[xii] England and Wales births, 2B, 381
[xiii] Ancestry. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Class: RG 9; Piece: 632; Folio: 54; Page: 22; GSU roll: 542674
[xiv] England and Wales births, 2B, 365
[xv] England and Wales births, 2B, 386
[xvi] General Register Office, certified copy of an entry of marriage, County of Hampshire, Parish Of Portsea, James Cook and Caroline Jefferies, 25 October 1871, purchased 3 June 1991 and in Alex Daw’s possession
[xvii] 11 September 1878 Hampshire Advertiser, courtesy of British Newspaper Archives
[xviii] Ancestry Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. 1881 British Isles Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Class: RG11; Piece: 1145; Folio: 86; Page: 2; GSU roll: 1341280
[xix] Ancestry, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Class: RG12; Piece: 857; Folio: 68; Page: 10; GSU roll: 6095967
[xx] FindMyPast,Hampshire Portsmouth Burials, CH3/1E/49
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