Sarah Bowditch

c1799-1879

Sarah, her parents and siblings:

Sarah was baptised on the 24^th February 1799, at St John the Baptist, Wonersh, Surrey, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Mercer (nee Foster) who were married on the 29^th December 1797 at St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon, Surrey. (James was from East Clandon)

Her father James was baptised on the 25^th February 1770, in East Clandon, Surrey, the son of Richard and Sarah Mercer. He died aged 69 in 1839 and was buried on the 26^th May, at St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon.

Her mother Elizabeth was born c1775. In 1841 Elizabeth (65) was living in Back Lane, West Clandon. She died aged 75 in 1850 and was buried on the 12^th January, at St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon.

James and Elizabeth also had the following children (all baptised at St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon, Surrey):

Elizabeth, born 1^st October, baptised 25^th October 1801

Edmund, born 20^th August, baptised 18^th September 1803

William, born 7^th March, baptised 30^th March 1806

Harriot, born 22^nd April, baptised 19^th May 1811

Richard, born 28^th January, baptised 21^st February 1813 (dad a Labourer)

James, born 30^th March, baptised 30^th April 1815 (dad a Labourer)

George, born 18^th April, baptised 18^th May 1817 (dad a Labourer)

Sarah in later life:

Sarah married Thomas Bowditch on the 26^th August 1823, at St Margaret, Westminster. (Witnesses, Ann Nash and William Martin)

(Thomas was born on the 19^th March 1795, he was baptised on the 19^th August 1795 in Dalwood, Devon, the son of James and Dorothy Bowdich (nee Estmond) who were married in 1791 in Dalwood).

Sarah and Thomas had a son, Thomas, baptised on the 19^th March 1827, in Dalwood, Devon.

In 1851 Thomas (56) was working as a Servant, living at 25 New Road, Chelsea, with Sarah (50).

The 1861 census records Thomas (66) and Sarah (62) lodging at 1 Cross Street, Chelsea (surname recorded as Borodikle on ancestry)

Thomas died aged 71 in 1866, he was buried on the 16^th June at St Mary, Greenham, Berkshire.

The 1871 census records Sarah (72) as an Annuitant living in Hereford Place, Newbury with her widowed daughter-in-law Anne (40), a Needlewoman and her grandchildren, Alfred (12), (Edmund Alfred) Edwin (10), Elizabeth (8) and Mary Ann (6).

Sarah’s daughter Elizabeth died aged 13 on the 8^th June 1876. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th June.

Her daughter Mary Ann died aged 12 on the 6^th April 1877. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th April.

Sarah died aged 80 on the 15^th April 1879, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 19^th April.

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