The Family and Community Historical Research Society is doing a mini project
on career servants and has allocated a nineteenth century housekeeper, house
steward or butler in a big household to each member to try and track their
career through the census.
I've been given Sarah Jones who in 1881 was, aged 56, the (Head) Housekeeper
at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, over 7 other female servants. She said she
was born in Llangollen.
As you can imagine this has been a bit of a problem with such a common name.
I started trying to track her after leaving Chatsworth and thought I'd found
her the correct age in 1891 and 1901 in Oswestry with sisters Sinah and
Eliza, but then found this Sarah Jones also there in 1881 saying they were
all born in Selattyn, so she can't be the right one despite being born in
Llangollen according to 1891 and 1901 - back to the drawing board! In fact
I've failed to find her 1891 onwards and think she may have died between
1881 and 1891. There is a potential death according to Free BMD in Bakewell
district in 1889. Otherwise she may have married late and so changed her
name?
Trying to find her in earlier censuses is no easier. I think I've failed in
1871 (but see below) though she may be a servant with a job that looks like
Wachess (though probably isn't) in the household of William Gardner Corn and
provision broker in South Toxteth. I'm a bit doubtful because this Sarah is
47 years old and says she was born in Salop. Another Sarah Jones is, aged
44, housekeeper to Benjamin Morris mariner in Birkenhead, but has only put
Denbigh as county of birth.
In 1861 she may be a stillroom maid at Trentham Hall, Staffordshire aged 35,
as part of quite a big household of servants. 1851 is a bit more difficult
but she may be a house servant in the home of John Priestley a chemist in
Liverpool though that Sarah is 28.
1841 with ages rounded is even more difficult and possibilities include:
- in an unnamed house in the township of Crogen-Iddon, Llangollen with
parents John and Mary Jones
- in Bache township Llangollen with John and Ann Jones
- in Nant, Penyclawdd township Chirk with parents Edward and Elizabeth Jones
- in Bridge Street Llangollen with parents Elias and Susana Jones
- somewhere in Llangollen (no image on ancestry) with Edward Jones
but possibly more likely in view of her later career as a servant (one of
23) in Chirk Castle.
However, in 1881 at Chatsworth is also Margaret A Jones aged 13 born in
Llangollen and described as a scholar, listed two down from Sarah, and I
take her to be a relative, maybe even a daughter though Sarah herself is
described as unmarried. Say she was a daughter, then maybe in 1871 two or
three years after the birth Sarah wasn't working as a servant and maybe was
describing herself as married and so doesn't jump out of all the potential
Sarah Jones's in that year born in Llangollen.
I've tried to track down this Margaret A Jones in 1871 possibly living with
grandparents around Llangollen and found two possibilities:
- with Thomas and Mary Jones at Tyn y Graig, Cysyllte township, Llangollen
(and two uncles Thomas and John)
- with Meredith and Susan Jones in Pen Rhiw Llanelidan (but only
Denbighshire is given as county of birth).
I tried North Wales BMD but if I'm correct her birth would have been
registered at Corwen which does not seem to have been indexed yet. I also
failed to find a Margaret A Jones of Llangollen of the right age in 1891 by
which time she may well have married.
I am therefore stumped. Does anyone recognise Sarah or Margaret A as members
of their family and can help? Otherwise, does anyone recognise any of the
options above as definitely not being the correct Sarah or Margaret so that
I can eliminate them? Any help would be welcomed. My results have to be
returned by 31st January 2008 to be part of the study, though I'd still be
interested after that.
Thanks very much indeed.
Rhian