Sarah [EDWARDS]

Sarah was the wife of John EDWARDS and mother of Enoch EDWARDS. She was widowed between 1841 and 1851.

The 1851 and 1861 censuses suggests that she was born in about 1812 in Kinlet, Shropshire, however the 1841 census clearly gives her age as 35, ie born 1801-1806. There are three potential explanations for this discrepancy:

(a) the 1851/61 censuses are incorrect in respect of age. She lied, didn't know or a mistake was made.

(b) the 1841 is incorrect. But based upon the 1851/61 census age, Maria and Sophia would have been born when Sarah was 15-17 years old.

(c) John had two wives named Sarah and all the censuses were correct. We know that Maria was christened by John and Sarah EDWARDS in 1827, but we don't know if John's first wife died and he remarried another Sarah.

Possible marriage record (of those in Warwickshire) is:

Sarah CARTER 15 JUL 1823 Saint Phillips, Birmingham

(From Family History Online: "On 15 JUL 1823 at Birmingham St Philip in county of WAR Groom John EDWARDS Status – Occupation – Residence – in county of – Notes – Bride Sarah CARTER Status – Occupation – Residence Shenstone in county of – Notes – Banns or Licence – General Notes – Source –" Unlikely - our Sarah was too young to marry in 1823, and from Staffs not Shrops.)

Sarah RANCE CALDICOTT 30 DEC 1824 Edgbaston

(From FHO: Date 30 Dec 1824 Groom – John EDWARDS Status – Home – Bride Sarah Rance CALDICOTT Status – Home – Church Edgbaston Extra Details)

Sarah GRIGG 27 AUG 1826 Aston Juxta Birmingham

Sarah HOLLAND 07 NOV 1826 Charlecote, Warwick

Sarah REYNOLDS 15 JAN 1827 Saint Martin, Birmingham

Sarah REYNOLDS would be best candidate based on dates. The full transcription from the parish register is: "John Edwards of this Parish, widower, and Sarah Reynolds of this Parish, spinster, were married in this Church by Banns with consent on this fifteenth Day of january in the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and twenty seven, By me Thomas Garbett. This marriage was solemnized between us: The mark X of John Edwards, Sarah Reynolds. In the presence of: The mark X of Lydia Cutler, The mark X of Charles Hodgkins." No. 36 Page 12 St Martins in Birmingham. Possible christenings for Sarah REYNOLDS in Shropshire:

08 JUN 1805 Saint Leonards, Bridgnorth (8.1m N of Kinlet), JOHN SARAH (Prob. got married 1831)

23 NOV 1806 Stottesden And Farlow (2.8m WNW), ANN (Prob. got married 1828)

03 NOV 1806 Aston Botterell (5.6m WNW), JOHN ANN

18 NOV 1806 Much Wenlock (13.1m NNW), JOHN ELIZTH.

17 AUG 1806 Madeley (15m N), JOHN SARAH

Problem with this REYNOLDS marriage is that I would expect a millwright to be able to sign his own name. _{1 2 3}