No tragedy here (well, only the usual) but I really felt quite depressed after I had finished tracing this family.
Sarah Trafford, born in 1826 into a fairly comfortable farming family, nevertheless is in service by the time she is 12.
In 1847 she has an illegitimate son, Arthur, who is with his grandparents in 1851. In 1861 Sarah and Arthur are living together and Sarah is a Laundress.
In 1868 she finally gets herself a husband, who is 20 years older than herself and at the age of 43, gives birth to their son in 1870.
Her new husband promptly dies on her and by 1871 she is a widow again, with her two sons living with her, aged 25 and 2!
Arthur Trafford marries in 1873. His wife is dead by 1875, aged 22 and leaves him with a daughter Ada.
1881 sees Sarah Trafford, a widow, oat cake maker(!) her widowed son Arthur, his daughter, and her young son from her marriage. They are still together in 1891 but in 1901, Joseph Rhodes has made a run for it and married. Astonishingly, he is a Technical Chemist, married to an artist (oil painter, own account).
Sarah and her son Arthur and granddaughter Ada are still living together in1901.
Arthur died in 1902 and so did Joseph. Haven't found Sarah's death yet but...oh, what a dreary life they all led.
Yes, I know it's only a snapshot every ten years - they might have been out every night razzing it up, but I just feel the gloom coming off them.
Needed to share that, sorry!
OC
Sarah Trafford, born in 1826 into a fairly comfortable farming family, nevertheless is in service by the time she is 12.
In 1847 she has an illegitimate son, Arthur, who is with his grandparents in 1851. In 1861 Sarah and Arthur are living together and Sarah is a Laundress.
In 1868 she finally gets herself a husband, who is 20 years older than herself and at the age of 43, gives birth to their son in 1870.
Her new husband promptly dies on her and by 1871 she is a widow again, with her two sons living with her, aged 25 and 2!
Arthur Trafford marries in 1873. His wife is dead by 1875, aged 22 and leaves him with a daughter Ada.
1881 sees Sarah Trafford, a widow, oat cake maker(!) her widowed son Arthur, his daughter, and her young son from her marriage. They are still together in 1891 but in 1901, Joseph Rhodes has made a run for it and married. Astonishingly, he is a Technical Chemist, married to an artist (oil painter, own account).
Sarah and her son Arthur and granddaughter Ada are still living together in1901.
Arthur died in 1902 and so did Joseph. Haven't found Sarah's death yet but...oh, what a dreary life they all led.
Yes, I know it's only a snapshot every ten years - they might have been out every night razzing it up, but I just feel the gloom coming off them.
Needed to share that, sorry!
OC
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