Genealogy Chat

I'm looking at my Grandmother's ancestors who lived in a small hamlet called Meesden in Hertfordshire. In 1851 the population was 185 which by 1901 had dwindled down to 132, so you can imagine what a small place it was/is. Because I'm looking into three different names I found it beneficial to print the whole census' out for all the years and something has come to light which I find very strange..... In each cenus from 1851-1881 William and Sarah Freeman are described as brother and sister (both unmarried) are sharing a home. William is described as Head and Sarah as his housekeeeper. Firstly, their ages on each census vary wildly (!) 1851 - William 50 & Sarah 40 1861 - ' 40 & ' 59 1871 - ' 48 & ' 56 1881 - ' 61 & ' 58 1891 - ' 73 ----------- Even so, I'm sure they are the same people. A few weeks ago I visited Meesden Parish Church to look at the Registers and this is what I found.... William Freeman - son of William & Sarah Freeman bap.1820 James ' - ' ' ' ' ' bap.1823 Rebecca ' - ' ' ' ' ' bap.1827 David ' - ' ' no father ' ' bap.1834 In the death register a Sarah Freeman died in Buntingford Workhouse in 1885 aged 81. This would tie in with her not appearing on the 1891 census, although I can't imagine why she would be in a Workhouse. There is also a burial record for a William Freeman on 6th May 1891 (which would have been after the 1891 census was taken). I need opinions and theories on this! Look forward to hearing from someone - anyone! Lyndsey

Lyndsey she may have died in the workhouse but in those days the workhouse was also used as a hospital so she may have been in there for medical attention. Georgina.

I would be looking for another William and Sarah. it seems that you have two different lots there.

I presume you have checked the census images for the age. Sometimes they are nearly impossible to read because of the clerk's check marks. On balance it would appear that Sarah was quite a bit older than her brother. Did you see any earlier baptisms for the family? Sarah may have been the oldest and baptised elsewhere - often the parish where the mother came from. Of course, she may not have been baptised at all. I agree, the workhouse was used as a hospital especially for the elderly infirm. You need to get the death certificates to help sort this one out. Anne

They look like the same Sarah & William to me just the ages differ... 1861 census.. Sarah Freeman abt 1810 Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire, England Sister Meesden Hertfordshire William Freeman abt 1821 Meesden, Hertfordshire, England Head Meesden Hertfordshire Joseph Brooks abt 1829 Meesden, Hertfordshire, England Lodger Meesden Hertfordshire 1871 census... William Freeman abt 1823 Meesden, Hertfordshire, England Head Meesden Hertfordshire Sarah Freeman abt 1815 Stocking Pellham (Pelham Stocking), Hertfordshire, England Sister Meesden Hertfordshire 1881 census.. William FREEMAN Head U Male 60 Meesden, Hertford, England Ag Lab Sarah FREEMAN Sister Female 58 Stocking Pelham, Hertford, England Housekeeper Georgina.

Thanks everyone The church records only go back as far as 1820 so I think I need to go to the Archives Centre in Hertford. Anne, how would Sarah's death certificate help? - surely if she died in the workhouse the informant would have been one of the staff there? Thanks again Lyndsey

Have you got them in 1841? I've looked in Meesden and Stocking Pelham but can't see them. Heres my explanation William Freeman marries a Sarah in Stocking Pelham C1810. They have a daughter Sarah and possibly more children. They move to Meesden and have a son William followed by James, Rebecca and David. The problems with the age could just be that they were only an agricultural family and probably were not particularly educated. Your next step would be the PRs for Stocking Pelham and settlement and removal orders. If you can't get to the Hertford Archives they have a book of settlement/removals which costs about a fiver. Don't try accessing their website at mo though, its gone belly up cos its a bank holiday!

Thankyou both. Janet - That's the strange thing - although apparently James was born in Meesden there are no Freeman's there in the 1841 census.I wonder if you might have any ideas why that was? His wife Jane's maiden name was Robinson and there were several Robinson's in Meesden in 1841. I think the Freeman's were in Meesden for a long time, somebody has lent me a booklet about Meesden and it mentions a Freeman there in 1661!