Sarah (Tilly) Townsing (abt. 1775 - aft. 1812)

Born about 1775 in Somerset, England [uncertain]

Wife of Joseph (Townsing) Towning — married 24 May 1796 in St Andrews Church, Currey Rivel, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died after Apr 1812 after about age 37 in Somerset, England, United Kingdom [uncertain]

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Biography

The date and place of Sarah's death and burial have not been ascertained. It is conjectured on the dates of her marriage and children's births that she was born sometime between 1770 and 1780, probably in Somerset.

Sarah Tilley (sic) married Josepth Townsing (sic) on 24 May 1796 in the Church of England parish church in Curry Rivel, Somerset after banns had been read on 17, 24 Apr and 1 May. They were "both of this parish". The celebrant was James Sedgwick, curate, and witnesses William Lawrence and Robert Spurle^[1] Both Joseph and Sarah could not write, and presumably not read as well. They both signed the marriage register with a mark "X". This may account for variations in the recording of the surname Towning, Townsing and perhaps Townsend in the primary sources, Joseph perhaps being unable to discern the variations in spelling.

It is conjectured that Joseph and Sarah commenced their family soon after their marriage in May 1796 in Curry Rivel. Their children may have been baptized with differing surnames. The following eight children are believed to be their known children:

1. Wm (William) Townsend, baptized 6 Aug 1797, Curry Rivel^[2]. (Register entry by S. Alford, Vicar)
2. Mary Townsend, baptized 6 Jan 1799, Curry Rivel^[3] (Register entry by James Sedgwick, Curate)
3. Mary Townsend, baptized on 10 Jan 1802, Curry Rivel^[4] (Register entry by James Sedgwick, Vicar)
4. George Towning, baptized 3 May 1803, Bickenhall^[5] (Register entry by Charles Toogood, Curate?)
5. Elizabeth Townsend, baptized 22 May 1804, Curry Rivel^[6] (Register entry by James Sedgwick, Vicar)
6. Samuel Towning, baptized 8 Feb 1807, Curry Rivel^[7] (New Register commenced, entry on p. 3 by James Sedgwick, Vicar)
7. Charles Townsend, baptized 23 May 1809, Curry Rivel^[8] (Continued Register entry p. 7 by James Sedgwick, Vicar)
8. Henry Townsend, baptized 26 Apr 1812, Curry Rivel^[9] (Register entry by James Sedgwick, Vicar)

The date and place of Sarah's death and burial have not been ascertained.

Research Notes

In the Ancestry.com index of the marriage register, Joseph's surname is recorded as Towning (sic).

The surname Townsend in six of Joseph and Sarah's children may be a variant of Townsing. The parish minister in Curry Rivel who married them was James Sedgwick. He baptized seven of the eight children including Samuel Towning baptized in 1807, and their last child Henry Townsend in 1812. It is conjectured that their was only one couple (Joseph and Sarah) whose children were baptized with varying surnames.

The fourth child, George Towning, was baptized in Bickenhall parish 4 miles south west of Curry Rivel. It is unknown why his baptism occurred there, but the date of his baptism is consistent with him having been born between his sisters Mary (1802) and Elizabeth (1804). He is recorded in the 1851 Census as a married agricultural labourer, living in Curry Rivel, with his wife and seven children (including Sarah, Elizabeth, Charles, Joseph, and Henry, forenames of his parents and some of his siblings)^[10]

Two daughters were named Mary, baptized Jan 1799 and Jan 1802. It is conjectured that the first died after her baptism. There is a burial recorded for Mary Downing on 19 May (sic) 1799 in Publow parish, around 40 miles northwest of Curry Rivel. The register does not record her age, or her parents. It states "died on her journey" It is possible that the family was relocating from Curry Rivel in 1799, and returned there in 1802. This is weakly conjectural.

Sources

1. ↑ "Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60858 #1621656 : accessed 12 December 2023), Joseph Towning marriage to Sarah Tilley on 24 May 1796 in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\P\cur.r/2/1/3.
2. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1729128 : accessed 13 December 2023), Wm Townsend baptism on 6 Aug 1797, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/2.
3. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1729190 : accessed 13 December 2023), Mary Townsend baptism on 6 Jan 1799, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/2.
4. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1729303 : accessed 13 December 2023), Mary Townsend baptism on 10 Jan 1802, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/2.
5. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #815682 : accessed 13 December 2023), George Towning baptism on 3 May 1803, child of Joseph Towning & Sarah Towning, in Bickenhall, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\bick/2/1/2.
6. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1729397 : accessed 13 December 2023), Elizabeth Townsend baptism on 22 May 1804, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/2.
7. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1669221 : accessed 13 December 2023), Samuel Downing baptism on 8 Feb 1807, child of Joseph Downing & Sarah Downing, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/4.
8. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1669321 : accessed 13 December 2023), Charles Townsend baptism on 23 May 1809, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/4.
9. ↑ "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 60856 #1669428 : accessed 13 December 2023), Henry Townsend baptism on 26 Apr 1812, child of Joseph Townsend & Sarah Townsend, in Curry Rivel, Somerset, England; citing Somerset Heritage Service, Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914, Reference Number D\p\cur.r/2/1/4.
10. ↑ "General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/64806182f493fd1404dc4428 : viewed 13 Dec 2023), George TOWNING, Somerset, England; from 1851 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives /1926B, Folio 536, Page 11, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• Somerset Marriages (database), transcribed by Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, viewed via findmypast
• Boyd's Marriage Index; transcription by Society of Genealogists via findmypast