Sarah Osborne - Watson

I really like the fact that my great-great grandmother wrote down information about her family.  It makes me think that I'm like her - she would have used a family history program, had it been available! I've already written a post about her - Clara Watson/Furnsby - but this post is about her mother!

Sarah Osborne was born on 12 August 1829 in Lowestoft. Her parents were Martha Gibbs and Thomas Osborne.

Martha and Thomas married on 25 April 1822 in Oulton, Norfolk.  They soon moved to Lowestoft and appear to have stayed there for the rest of their lives.  According to Parish records, they had six children baptised of which Sarah was their second eldest child. 

Sarah worked as a dressmaker.  Sarah had received a basic education as she could sign her own name at her wedding.  Her father, Thomas, died on 28 June 1853, age 54.

On 25 October 1859, Sarah Osborne married Alfred Watson at the Parish Church in Lowestoft witnessed by Sarah’s sister, Mary Ann and her husband George Clark.   Alfred was not a Suffolk native.  He was born in Brixton, Surrey on 19 March 1828, coming to Lowestoft in the 1850s.  He was a carpenter. He was also able to sign his name at his marriage to Sarah

Sarah had seven children: all the details of their births and deaths are known up to the early 1900s because Sarah’s daughter Clara Elizabeth wrote the information down, presumably so she wouldn’t forget!  Her children were:

·      Mary Ann – born 12 August 1860;

·      Clara Elizabeth – born 13 September 1861;

·      Emma Sarah – born on 18 March 1863, died on 13 April 1867;

·      Alfred Thomas - the only son and he also died young –born on 13 September 1864 and died on 13 January 1866;

·      Hannah – born 1 October 1866;

·      Ellen – born 13 July 1868; and

·      Frances – born 30 May 1871.

The names of children in families at this time would often follow a particular pattern.  Sarah and Alfred did not follow such a pattern.  Their first daughter was named after one of Sarah's sister - which was also Alfred's mother's name.  The second daughter's middle name was another of Sarah's sister's names.

With the exception of Emma, all Sarah’s children were baptised in St Peter's Lowestoft.  St Peter's was built in 1833.  Unfortunately in 1974 this large, stately, 140 year old church was demolished as the congregation had decreased to such a size as was unsustainable.  A block of units designed for elderly people were built on the site. It is not known why Emma was baptised at the Free Church, Lowestoft.

In the 1861 Census, Sarah, Albert and infant daughter Mary Ann were living in Raglan Street (the exact number in the street was not recorded).  Sarah's younger sister, Elizabeth, was living with the family at this time.  In 1871, Sarah, Albert and their four daughters were living at 57 Raglan Street. 

Sarah’s mother, Martha, died on 23 November 1878, aged 79.  Both Sarah’s parents are buried in the Churchyard of St Margaret’s, Lowestoft. Their names have not been recorded in a recent register, probably indicating that the headstone was part of the graveyard that was demolished when the Church was extended.

In 1881, the family was still living at 57 Raglan Street – with their five daughters.

By 1891, just Ellen was living with Sarah and Alfred, and they had moved to 13 Raglan Street: 

·      Mary Ann had married and lived in Lowestoft with her husband and three daughters;

·      Clara Elizabeth had married, emigrated to Australia with her husband and, in 1891, was about to have her third child;

·      Hannah had also married and was living in Lowestoft – she did not have any children; and

·      Frances – it is not known why she wasn’t with her family at the 1891 Census.  She died late in 1891 - on 21 December - age 20.

Sarah lived her whole life in Lowestoft.  She died on 22 February 1897 aged 68.  Her daughter Mary Ann died later that year, leaving three young daughters.  Alfred Watson died five years later on 11 June 1902 aged 74.  Both are buried in Lowestoft Cemetery.

Sarah Osborne - Watson

Relationship to SNR = Great, great, great, great grandmother