Biography

Sarah Elizabeth Werge Howey was born 13 JAN 1854 in Bromyard, Herefordshire, England. ^[1]

She was christened by Rev. James Newman on 27 September 1854 in Bromyard, Herefordshire. ^[2]

In 1861, she is at home, the youngest of her family. ^[3]

And just one brother is still at home in 1871.^[4]

She married Mervyn Kirke on 26 AUG 1873 in Tynemouth Priory church. ^[5]

In 1920 she was awarded an MBE for services as a member of the Surrey County Local Comittee and of Guildford Local War Pensions Committee. (thiis is only scratching the surface of her work to make the lives of servicemen & their families better!)^[6]

She died on 28 AUG 1936 at Southsea, England. ^[7]

Aug 31 1936 Times - obituary.

She was buried in Guildford cemetery in Sep 1936

She left a written memoir - just a few pages but here is what it says:-

Recollections of a Grandmother

Consider the feeling, the instincts of a Girl with 5 brothers her immediate seniors! True the brothers had three elder Sisters - very "superior" (& emancipated) to the 5 males, but inestimably important compared with Frog - the Infant girl! One sister, the eldest was married to a husband, leaving several mooning "would be suitors" lamenting. Two remained at home. The youngest, 12 years junior to the 3, superfluous, having left school at an earlier age than in these days of Competitive Exams, proved to be tiresome to her seniors, and if anyone can visualise the life of "A Toad under a Harrow", that person may, in a measure understand what Frog had to expect!

Thanks to the most perfect parents and the love of brothers, uncles and cousins, male and female, the "Chit" survived and carried a light heart, seeing the sunshine of life and not being unduly depressed by the clouds.

The time was not uninteresting, and that the said "chit" remained unattached was due to her deep sense of what she would require before she accepted the responsibilities and duties of married life.

At the age of 17½ the die was cast! There was no hesitation tho' marriage meant the separation from most dearly loved parents and, after two years engagement, husband and wife started their mutual life on Foreign Service (at Gibraltar) where their first child, a son, was born.

Returning to Home Service, in a popular seaside garrison town(Southsea), two happy years passed, bringing with them a second son and a daughter. There followed 5 years in an inland county town (Reading), where two more sons were born, and where many life long friendships were established, but - as must be in military service - Foreign Service - India this time - divided the family, three children being left at Home for Education and two accompanying their parents to India.

Within 18 months the Mother and children were sent home and though recurring & serious illness followed, the family was re-united after 5½ years and for another 2 years remained so.

Strange to say (in the view of the rising generation) though I am now a gt grandmother and might for years have been a gt grandmother, I was once an infant and memory takes one back to the earliest stage of childhood, when - the youngest of a family of 9, of whom my immediate seniors were five brother, I never lacked incitement to mischief, not to daring!

But the earliest, most lasting recollection, stamped deeply in my heart and mind is still that which carries me back to my beloved father and mother. My father, a fearless horseman, never failed to give me the joy of a ride to the stables, almost before I could walk. So soon as a small child could fit on a donkey, I was his companion. As the months passed, the donkey was superseded by a pony and whether with or without a saddle or bridle, the 5 elder brothers, adored by the small sister, expected their said sister to be as fearless as they were themselves! Many a time, halter on arm, one of more of the brothers gratified the ambition of the small sister by smuggling her away into a meadow where a deep ditch compelled a "jump", and when the steed was caught, & the trust child was placed thereon - halter in hand - minus saddle - a sharp cut with shipe started the amusement which was deepest joy to the nursery truant and a source of satisfaction to the boys that their small sister was not a coward.

Later, the donkey of infancy was superseded by a Cob with sufficient mischief to satisfy an ambitious child - At that time there were no no3. pommelled saddles, neither had a man's saddle been recognised as a suitable seat for a woman rider! One kept one's seat by balance and with or without a stirrup.

Years later, on Foreign Service (including India) and elsewhere - Especially in Spain - the training of the small child proved its value in the life of the woman - not only as regards personal pleasure but in the mother's competence in starting her sons with a real love of horsemanship. In later years, when riding days were over - Alas! - visiting the Rock tombs of Sicily, the writer was deeply impressed by the fact that the Heroes were buried with Horse and Dog - man's two most constant friends.

(This is typed up from a hand written document held by her family)

Research Note

follow this up [2]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N4P-7K4 : 1 October 2014), Sarah Elizabeth Howey, 1854; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Bromyard, Herefordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRZW-5X4 : 11 February 2018, Sarah Elizabeth Howey, 27 Sep 1854); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 992,639.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M75R-P9M : 25 August 2020), Sarah Howey in household of Marianne Howey, Bromyard, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V552-MV5 : 28 September 2019), Sarah E Howey in entry for Edwards W Howey, 1871.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DG7-NYW : 13 December 2014), Sarah Elizabeth Howey, 1873; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1873, quarter 3, vol. 10B, p. 372, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ [1] Supplement to the London Gazette, 30 March 1920 P3842
7. ↑ "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLX-3Q9J : 17 September 2018), Sarah Elizabeth Kirke, 30 Dec 1936; citing Probate, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .