Person:Sarah Turner (86)

Sarah Ann Turner was born in 1840 at Heckington in Lincolnshire, daughter of Naomi Turner, formerly Hardstaff, and her husband Edward Turner, a farmer. She was the eldest of the couple's six daughters. The 1841 census finds her living with her parents at Heckington Fen, next door to her maternal grandparents.

In 1850, Sarah's mother Naomi died aged 31. Sarah and her siblings were thereafter brought up by their father alone. None of them had been baptised as babies - they were all baptised on the same day in 1854, by which time Sarah was thirteen years old.

By the time of the 1861 census, Sarah was working as a servant for another farmer in Heckington. One of the other servants there was a John Thomas Judson (who appears to have been known as Thomas).

Three years after that census, Sarah and Thomas were married. By that time they had left Heckington and were living in the town of Boston, where they married on 24th May 1864. Sarah was still working as a servant when the married, whilst Thomas was working as a railway porter.

Between 1865 and 1885, Sarah and Thomas went on to have at least eleven children together.^[13] The first two, in 1865 and 1866, were born in the Boston area. They then moved to the nearby town of Spalding where they had another two children in 1867 and 1869. By 1871 they had returned to Boston, appearing in the census at 1 Junction Street, with Thomas working as a railway inspector, which job he appears to have continued with for the rest of his career, working for the Great Northern Railway. In the mid 1870s the family moved from Boston to Skirbeck Quarter, a suburb to the south of Boston which at the time was just outside the borough's boundaries.

Back in Heckington, Sarah's father died in 1879.

Each census from 1881 to 1911 finds Sarah, Thomas and their children living on London Road in Skirbeck Quarter. In 1911 it was reported that their home had eight rooms, and Thomas was described as being retired.

Sarah and Thomas celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on 24th May 1914, by which time Thomas was seriously ill, although his obituary notes "it was a source of consolation to himself and the members of his family that he was spared to celebrate the happy occasion". He died fifteen days later, on 8th June 1914, at home at London Road in Skirbeck Quarter. He was 73 years old. His obituary also describes his long career for the Great Northern Railway and the high esteem in which he was held. He apparently had 22 grandchildren at the time of his death.

Sarah survived Thomas by just over seven years. She died at Skirbeck on 4th August 1921, aged 80.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. Sarah Ann TURNER, December Quarter 1840, Sleaford Registration District, Volume 14, page 485, mother's maiden name Hardstaffe

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 619; Book 13; Folio 36 & 37; Pages 15 & 16, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Heckington Fen, Heckington, Lincolnshire
   William Hardstaff, male, 50 [1786-91], Farmer, born in county
   Naomi Hardstaff, female, 40 [1796-1801], born in county
   Mary Hardstaff, female, 20 [1816-21], born in county
   William Hardstaff, male, 20 [1816-21], born in county
   Joseph Hardstaff, male, 17 [1823/4], born in county
   Hephzibah Hardstaff, female, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   ~ next household~
   Edward Turner, male, 25 [1811-16], Farmer, born in county
   Naomi Turner, female, 20 [1816-21], Farmer, born in county
   Sarah Turner, female, 5 months [1840/1], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 2101; Folio 231; Page 2, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Edw[ar]d Turner, head, male, 40 [1810/11], Farmer 100 Acres 2 Lab[oure]rs, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Sarah Turner, daughter, female, 10 [1830/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Eliz[abe]th Turner, daughter, female, 9 [1831/2], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Mary Turner, daughter, female, 8 [1832/3], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Eliza Turner, daughter, female, 5 [1835/6], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Hephzibah Turner, daughter, female, 4 [1836/7], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Naomi Turner, daughter, female, 2 [1838/9], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   John H[enr]y Brown, servant, male, 21 [1829/30], Serv[an]t, b. Great Hale, Lincolnshire
   Sarah Macklewain, servant, female, 25 [1825/6], Housekeeper, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Jane Word, servant, female, 18 [1832/3], Serv[an]t, b. Great Hale, Lincolnshire

4. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Heckington (Lincolnshire). Parish registers, 1559-1968. (Lincoln, England: Lincoln Archives Office, 1993).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Heckington in the County of Lincoln in the Year 1854
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   493	Aug[us]t 13	Sarah Ann daughter of	Edw[ar]d & Naomi	Turner	Heckington	Farmer	C. De la Cour, Vicar

   Baptised the same day as her siblings Elizabeth, Eliza, Hephzibah & Naomi.

5. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 2345; Folio 75; Page 11, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Fen Side, Heckington, Lincolnshire
   David Dawson, head, married, male, 42 [1818/19], Farmer of 67 acres, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Sarah Turner, servant, unmarried, female, 20 [1840/1], Serv[an]t, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   George Senescall, visitor, unmarried, male, 13 [1847/8], Scholar, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, servant, unmarried, male, 21 [1839/40], Serv[an]t, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire

6. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 3342; Folio 68; Page 49, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 1 Junction Street, Boston, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 30 [1840/1], Railway Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Sarah A. Judson, wife, married, female, 30 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Naomi H. Judson, daughter, female, 6 [1874/5], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   John T. Judson, son, male, 5 [1865/6], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   William E. Judson, son, male, 2 [1868/9], Scholar, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire
   Mary Hull, visitor, married, female, 21 [1849/50], Railway Storemans Wife, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire

7. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 3219; Folio 114; Page 6, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 40 [1840/1], Railway Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Sarah A. Judson, wife, married, female, 40 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Naomi H. Judson, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1864/5], b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   John T. Judson, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1865/6], Railway Messenger, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   William H. Judson, son, male, 12 [1868/9], Scholar, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire
   George Judson, son, male, 9 [1871/2], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Elizabeth A. Judson, daughter, female, 7 [1873/4], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Emily Judson, daughter, female, 5 [1875/6], b. Scholar, b. Skirkbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Harry Judson, son, male, 2 [1878/9], b. Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Annie T. Judson, daughter, female, 1 [1879/80], b. Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire

8. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 2575; Folio 127; Page 4, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 50 [1840/1], G.N.R. Inspector, employed, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   S.A. Judson, wife, married, female, 49 [1841/2], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   J. Thomas Judson, son, single, male, 25 [1865/6], G.N.R. Goods Guard, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   George Judson, son, single, male, 19 [1871/2], Baker, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Elizabeth Judson, daughter, single, female, 18 [1872/3], Domestic Help, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Emily Judson, daughter, single, female, 16 [1874/5], Milliner, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Harres [sic] Judson, son, male, 13 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Annie Judson, daughter, female, 11 [1879/80], Scohlar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Mary Judson, daughter, female, 9 [1881/2], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Fred Judson, son, male, 6 [1884/5], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Clara Welsh, visitor, single, female, 23 [1867/8], b. Hatfield, Lincolnshire

9. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 3045; Folio 96; Page 27, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   J.T. Judson, head, married, male, 60 [1840/1], G.N.R. Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   S.A. Judson, wife, married, female, 60 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Henry Judson, son, single, male, 22 [1878/9], Working on own account, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Annie Judson, daughter, single, female, 20 [1880/1], Mother Help, working at home, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Mary Judson, daughter, single, female, 19 [1881/2], Teaching School , b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Fred Judson, son, single, male, 15 [1885/6], Lad Porter G.N.R., b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Walter Neal, grandson, male, 6 [1894/5], At school, b. Boston, Lincolnshire

10. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.))
    Class RG14; Piece 19601; Schedule 21, 2 Apr 1911.

    Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
    Eight rooms occupied
    John Thomas Judson, head, male, 71 [1839/40], married, Retired G.N.R. Insepctor Pensioned, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
    Sarah Ann Judson, wife, female, 70 [1840/1], married 47 years, 15 children born alive to marriage, 10 children still living, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Fred Judson, son, male, 25 [1885/6], single, Shunter G.N. R[ai]l[wa]y, worker, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
    Walter Neal, grandson, male, 16 [1894/5], single, Office Boy - Solicitors, worker, b. Boston, Lincolnshire

11. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Sarah Ann JUDSON, September Quarter 1921, Boston Registration District, Volume 7a, page 415, aged 80 [1840/1]

12. ↑ Lincolnshire Standard, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 10, Saturday 10 Sep 1921.

    DEATHS.
    Skirbeck - On August 4th, Sarah Ann Judson, 80.

13. ↑ Birth indexes for children called Judson with mother's maiden name Turner have been found for eleven children, although in the 1911 census Sarah reported that she had had 15 children in this marriage, ten of whom were still living.