myroots
Will the real William Fage step forward?
posted Sunday, 10 April 2005
The birth certificate of my grandmother, Elizabeth Sarah Fage, in 1901 at Girtford Siding, shows her mother as Alice nee Cade, and her father as William John Fage, a Gardener's Labourer. William John Fage married Elizabeth's mother Alice Cade in 1893 in Sandy's parish church. His father is recorded as James Fage. William's age is given as 21 (birth year 1872).
Elizabeth (who I knew as 'Nana Brown') told my mother that her grandfather James (Jim) died, drowned in the local river on a mercy mission for medicine for her when she was very young. A death certificate and newspaper cutting for 1902 confirm at least the death by drowning. His widow is named as Sarah.
A Jem Fage married Sarah Willsher in 1870 in Sandy. In the 1871 census, James and Sarah are living in Potton, Sandy, with their baby daughter Mary Ann (8 months). By 1881, James and Sarah are at St Neots Road Sandy, with William (9), Louisa (7), Mary Ann (5), Elija (2) and two-day old Walter. All the children are shown as born in Girtford. In 1891, William is aged 19. Walter isn't in the household, but four more children have been added to the family: George (10), Sydney (8), Emma (7) and Mabel (1).
This is all fine, except I'm still not sure I have found the 'right' birth for William John around 1871/2. I have a certificate for the birth of a John William in 1872, father James Fage, mother Sarah Willsher. Could the first names have been switched as he grew up? Or should I keep searching for another James and Sarah, and a son who really is William John?
Elizabeth (who I knew as 'Nana Brown') told my mother that her grandfather James (Jim) died, drowned in the local river on a mercy mission for medicine for her when she was very young. A death certificate and newspaper cutting for 1902 confirm at least the death by drowning. His widow is named as Sarah.
A Jem Fage married Sarah Willsher in 1870 in Sandy. In the 1871 census, James and Sarah are living in Potton, Sandy, with their baby daughter Mary Ann (8 months). By 1881, James and Sarah are at St Neots Road Sandy, with William (9), Louisa (7), Mary Ann (5), Elija (2) and two-day old Walter. All the children are shown as born in Girtford. In 1891, William is aged 19. Walter isn't in the household, but four more children have been added to the family: George (10), Sydney (8), Emma (7) and Mabel (1).
This is all fine, except I'm still not sure I have found the 'right' birth for William John around 1871/2. I have a certificate for the birth of a John William in 1872, father James Fage, mother Sarah Willsher. Could the first names have been switched as he grew up? Or should I keep searching for another James and Sarah, and a son who really is William John?
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