Sarah (Leaver) Gray (1790 - 1875)

Born 1790 in Northtown, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England

Wife of John Gray — married 3 Nov 1814 in Cookham, Berkshire, England

Descendants

Died Dec 1875 at about age 85 in Cookham, Berkshire, England

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Biography

Sarah Leaver was born in about 1790, ^[1] probably in North Town, Cookham, Berkshire, the daughter of James Leaver and his second wife Mary Hedges. Her family were non conformists, ^[1] but the entry of the baptism isn't present in the appropriate register. Many entries are missing, and it seems as if the register has partially been reconstructed at some point, no doubt due to damage.

On 3 Nov 1814, Sarah married John Gray, the son of John Gray and Ann(e) Cannon, in Cookham Parish Church. ^{[2] [3]} The witnesses to the wedding were David Leaver and Sarah Attwood. David Leaver was Sarah's brother, and Sarah Attwood later became David's wife.

There were 7 children of the marriage, 6 confirmed in Rev Whateley's Notebook, ^[3] and a further child born after the time when Notebook was regularly updated.

The children were:

Henry born 1817

Sarah born 1818

William born 29 Oct 1820

John born 1824

Ann born 22 Oct 1824

Jane born 28 Aug 1826

David born 24 Sep 1831

Jonathan born 23 May 1834

In 1841, John and his family were living in Maidenhead, Berkshire, although the actual place isn't specified, and his occupation is given as "Butcher". Both he and wife Sarah are given as being 51 - though in the 1841 census the adult's ages were not accurate.

The children still living at home were John aged 17, Jane aged 15, David aged 10 and Jonathan aged 7. Also living with the family was a "Man Servant", Richard Wells (surname unclear) who as aged 15. He may perhaps have been an apprentice butcher. ^[4]

In 1851, John and Sarah were living in Northtown. In 1851, Northtown was probably a small village or hamlet between Maidenhead and Cookham. Today, it is part of Maidenhead. The address isn't given, but they probably lived in the pub where John was publican (The Jolly Farmer - see 1861 census). 2 entries away on the same census page is {Leaver-107|]]Sarah's sister, Jane Partlo and her family.

John was 62, occupation Publican, and Sarah was 60. They were living with:

Daughter Jane, aged 24, who is a "servant" and unmarried

Granddaughter Sarah, aged 11 and at school

A lodger, George Low, a miller.

^[5]

In 1861, John and Sarah are still living in North Town, in the pub "The Jolly Farmer", aged 72 and 71 respectively. John is still a publican, presumably of "The Jolly Farmer". They have their granddaughter Ann Gray, aged 10, living with them, and 2 lodgers - John Bishop and Henry Preston, who are both labourers. ^[6]

The Jolly Farmer was a little south of North Town, on North Town Road just north of the junction with what is now Ray Mill Road West. It can be seen on this 1876 map. It may be necessary to zoom in or out to see the correct map. If you zoom in too much, you get an error, if you zoom out too much you get a modern map.

In 1871, John and Sarah, aged 81, were still in North Town, no longer at the Jolly Farmer, but just next door. They were living alone. John's occupation is given as "Carman", which was, apparently, a sort of cart driver, often employed by railway companies for deliveries. At 81, he seems a bit old to be doing any sort of work! ^[7]

Sarah died in December quarter, 1875, at the age of 84 or 85, in Cookham District. The death certificate hasn't been obtained, so it's possible this is the incorrect death - the age given in the register is inconsistent with Sarah's age. However, it's the only entry that seems likely. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1}
   Rev Whateley's Notebook
   P 254 Dissenter
   Leaver James B 1745 came to Stubbings Farm 1766 from Moulsford Oxon
   1st Fry Elizabeth B1745 sister to W & R Fry’s grandfather
   2nd Hedges Mary B 1761
   marr at Cookham 1769 and 1786
   ...
   Children by 2nd Wife
   ...
   Sarah B 1790 Marr Green * and has 6 children, P 243
   ...
   * SS this is an error – Sarah Leaver married John Gray, which the cross reference confirms
   http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Rev._Thomas_Whateley's_Notebook
2. ↑ Cookham Parish Register - Second Register 1814 No34
   Solemnised at: Cookham Parish Church
   Date: 3 Nov 1814
   Groom:
   Name: John Gray
   Condition: Bach. of Bray
   Bride:
   Name: Sarah Leaver
   Condition: spin otp
   Married after Banns
   Witnesses: David Leaver
   Sarah Attwood
   
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Rev. Whateley's Notebook
   P 243
   Gray John B 1789 Brother to Gray William of Cookham Dean, now in the work house, b of Elizabeth Green P242
   Leaver Sarah B 1790 P 254
   Children
   Henry B 1814
   Sarah B 1816
   William B 1821
   Anne B 1825
   Jane B 1826
   David B 1831
   Timson Charles B 1796 a lodger who gained a settlement in this parish by service at Spencer's Farm
   Rents of Mr T Smith £17
   A bachelor, keeps a horse & cart
   D
   http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Rev._Thomas_Whateley's_Notebook
4. ↑ Census 1841 Cookham, Berkshire HO107/15/11/7 P15 (John Gray)

   Name	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John Gray	51	Butcher	Y
   Sarah Gray	51
   John Gray	17
   Jane Gray	15
   David Gray	10
   Jonathan Gray	7
   Richard Wells	15	M S

   http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Gray-7625-6
5. ↑ Census 1851 North Town, Maidenhead, Cookham, Berkshire
   HO107/1694/382 P17 Sch56 (John Gray)

   Name	Related	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John Gray	Head	62	Publican	Berks Cookham
   Sarah Gray	Wife	60	Berks North Town
   Jane Gray	Dau	24	Servant	Berks North Town
   Sarah Gray	Granddaughter	11	Scholar	Berks North Town
   George Low	Lodger	20 Miller	Bucks Mill End

   http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Gray-12131-1
6. ↑ Census 1861 Maidenhead, Cookham, Berkshire
   RG9/754/81 P20 Sch101 (John Gray)
   The Jolly Farmer

   Name	Related	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John Gray	Head	72	Publican	Berks Cookham
   Sarah Gray	Wife	71		Berks Cookham
   Ann Gray	Grand daughter	10		Berks Cookham
   John Bishop	Lodger	44	Labourer	Berks Cookham
   Henry Preston	Lodger	35	Labourer	Berks Reading

   http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Gray-12131-2
7. ↑ Census 1871 Cookham, Berkshire
   RG10/1292/71 P68 (John Gray)

   Name	Related	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John Gray	Head	81	Carman	Cookham Berks
   Sarah Gray	Wife	81		Cookham Berks

   http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Gray-12131-3
8. ↑ FreeBMD
   Deaths Dec 1875
   GRAY Sarah 78 Cookham 2c 260
   http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl