John Evans and Sarah Whitefoot marriage

[jazz]

Hi, This is a bit long winded so please bear with me
I’ve recently received 2 marriage certificates for John Smith my great great grandfather which I hoped were for his first and second marriages.
The first one as expected:
John Smith (labourer) married Harriet Gwilliam June 26th 1862 at Bucknell Salop fathers William Smith and James Gwilliam both labourers witnesses Thomas Jordan, Mary Ann Mason
John and Harriet are my great grandmother Phoebe Smith’s parents as confirmed by birth certificate

The second one not as expected:
14th March 1882 primitive methodist chapel Ludlow Salop
John Smith aged 44 widower general labourer Leintwardine father William Smith (deceased) farm labourer
Sarah Evans aged 48 widow Leintwardine father John Watkins farm labourer
Witnesses F H Garbett and W ?

I was expecting it to say Whitefoot (probably Benjamin) not Watkins as father.

I haven’t been able to find a relevant Sarah Watkins - Evans marriage for around that time or census data-any suggestions ?

More info (–have more that Ive not posted but this is a mammoth post already)

Phoebe Smith married Henry Evans confirmed by marriage certificate and birth certificates of my grandfather John Henry Evans and his brother Albert William Evans.

Henry Evans birth certificate gives John Evans and Sarah (Whitefoot ) Evans as parents.
I have no marriage certificate for their marriage and so was hoping to get more confirmation from John Smith’s second marriage certificate.

I think that this Sarah Evans was the widow that married John Smith the widower in 1882 before Henry and Phoebe married in 1889. The ages are compatible with census information and 1881 census shows Sarah widowed living with son Henry . But the census also shows John Smith as a widower living there with his son Willie. One of witnesses to Henry and Phoebe ‘s marriage was William Smith ?her brother.

Sarah Whitefoot married John Evans [?]
Name: WHITEFOOT, Sarah
Registration district: [?] Knighton County: Radnorshire
Year of registration: 1853 Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun
Volume no: [?] 11B Page no: [?] 307
Name: EVANS, John
Registration district: Knighton County: Radnorshire
Year of registration: 1853 Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun
Volume no: 11B Page no: 307



Henry Evans and Phoebe Smith were married on 7th October 1889
St Augustine Pendlebury Lancs
Henry aged 23 Stoker L&Y Railway Address 88 Bolton Road Pendlebury
Father JOHN EVANS deceased farm bailiff
Phoebe aged 24 domestic servant Address 2 the Avenue Patricroft
Father JOHN SMITH Labourer
Witnesses WILLIAM SMITH ELLEN EVANS (marriage certificate)


Census references
1891 RG12 piece 2079 folio 8 page 10
JOHN SMITH born Bedstone Shropshire agricultural labourer age 56
SARAH SMITH born Bucknel Shropshire aged 61

1881 RG11 piece 2613 folio 17 page25
HENRY EVANS born Brampton Brian Herefordshire Ag Lab aged 14
SARAH EVANS born Bedstone Shropshire ag lab aged 48
JOHN SMITH born Bedstone Shropshire ag lab aged 45
WILLIE SMITH born Leintwardine Herefordshire aged 11

thank you

[geneius]

Maybe you need to go back to Sarah's parents.

She could be an illegitimate child WHITEFOOT, whose mother marries a John WATKINS or who has 'made up a father'

I can find Sarah WHITEFOOT on the 1851 census at H107 2493 17 4 as a House Servant. but not on the 1841 census!

A check on the place name Clungaford indicates there was a WATKINS family in the village at 1841, maybe you need to looka on the parish registers for the area to locate her baptism, and / or her mothers marriage


ELLEN EVANS (marriage certificate) Henry's sister also desc as Ellenor

[geneius]

Francis Henry GARBETT b 1844 married September 1864 Ann WATKINS Ludlow 6a 945

[geneius]

John WATKINS (who may also be Ann WATKINS father) married a Mary WHITEFOOT 29/05/1834 Wigmore Herefordshire ( this is listed on the IGI)

[jazz]

thank you Ill follow your suggestions up
census 1841 RRGHO107 piece919 book/folio 14/11 page 17
Benjamin WITEFOOT 1781
Frances WITEFOOT 1816
Elizabeth WITEFOOT 1821
SARAH WHITEFOOT 1832
Brampton Brian Knighton Bucknell Shropshire

[geneius]

I couldn't find the family on the 1841 reference quoted, but looking at the information, he could be grandparent!

I have found a Benjamin & Hannah WHITEFOOT having the following children baptised

Benjamin 1807 ( more likely father candidate!)
John & Mary, both May 1815
Fanny September 1815 ( Fanny can be found with her father Benjamin on the 1851 census as LUSCOTT)

BEDSTONE,SHROPSHIRE
baptised 30/10/1831
Sarah Whitefoot d/o Mary Whitefoot

Could Mary be Benjamin's daughter and the wife of John WATKINS? #4

[jazz]

hi just what I have been thinking re Mary and John Watkins

I have a BENJAMIN WHITEFOOT born 1807 Madeley Shropshire (father Benjamin Whitefoot mother Mary) who could be father of Mary.
Not checked where Madeley is as yet
thanks

[jazz]

also have Benjamin Whitefoot marrying Mary Griffiths 17 nov 1806Bucknell Shropshire

[geneius]

also have Benjamin Whitefoot marrying Mary Griffiths 17 nov 1806Bucknell Shropshire

This is probaly the one you want, Madeley is North of the county !

I think you nee to view the original parish records, you may even find a note as to who is Sarah's father....sometimes this is note particularly if there may be a question of Parish Relief ( look at the parish accounts), the church would want to look to the father first before they pay out!

It is also likely that Sarah would be with the extended family instead of the 'newly weds!'

[jazz]

do I physically have to go to view the original parish records and parish accounts?

[geneius]

Thats sounds a desperate cry.....a trip from Lancashire to Shropshire on a nice day....you should be able to view the Parish records at your local Familysearch centre,go to the toolbar on the familysearch site, you will see the centres, order the original records and view at the centre....you could always post on the Shropshire forum to see if anyone will do 'a look up!' not as satisfying as doing it yourself.
Looking at the Parish records, you may pick up other bits about the family.

Or write to the Shropshire records Office for copy and post, you have the dates etc.....

[jazz]

thank you -you are right! visiting isn t practical but the alternatives I think I can manage