Sarah Jane Skidmore Smith was born in 1846 in Wordsley, Kingswinford parish, Staffordshire, England to Elijah Smith and Sarah Hardwick (Skidmore) Smith. Her birth was registered in Stourbridge, Worcestershire [a district that includes parts of Staffordshire] in the third quarter of the year, with her mother's maiden name recorded as Skidmore.[1]
In 1851 Sarah J Smith (age 4) lived in Kingswinford with her father Elijah (30, Glass Manufacturers Clerk), mother Sarah (29), brother George S (3), and servant Ann Morris (14, House Servant).[2]
Sarah's mother passed away in 1858. Her father remarried in 1859, to Emma Thomings.
In 1861 Sarah Smith (age 14, Scholar) lived at Pepper Hill in Upper Swinford, Worcestershire with her stepmother Emma (41, Glass Manufacturer), brother George (13, Scholar), and servant Ellen Stickland (31, General Servant).[3] [Although Sarah's father doesn't seem to have been recorded, her stepmother's relationship to head of household was wife - presumably he was only temporarily away.]
Banns of marriage between Sarah Jane Skidmore Smith and James Sproat were published in Darlaston, Staffordshire on 19 Nov 1865.[4]
In 1871 Sarah J L[S] Sproat (age 24) lived in Darlaston with her husband James (29, Pawn Broker Master) and three children: James Hugh (4), William Henry (2), and Jessie S (0), as well as two servants: Mary Carter (16, Domestic Servant) and Sarah Ann Carter (14, Domestic Servant).[5]
In 1881 "Janat"[Sarah] J S Sproat (age 34) lived in Darlaston with her husband James (39, Pawn Broker) and six children: James P[H] (14, Scholar), William H (12, Scholar), Elsie J (6, Scholar), Jessie (5, Scholar), Barbara (3), and Ethel (1), as well as two servants: Catherine Willis (22, Pawnbrokers Assistant) and Alice Riley (18, General Serv).[6]
In 1891 Sarah Sproat (age 44) lived in Darlaston with her husband James (49, Pawn Broker) and five daughters: Elsie (16), Jessie (15), Barbara (13, Scholar), Ethel (11, Scholar), and Annie (6, Scholar).[7]
Sarah Jane Skidmore Sproat, aged 50 years, passed away on 24 Nov 1896 and was buried on 27 Nov 1896 at All Saints Churchyard in Moxley, Staffordshire.[8][9][10] Her death was registered in Walsall, Staffordshire in the last quarter of the year.[11]
↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL76-4ZFR : 8 July 2020), Sarah Jane Skidmore Smith and James Sproat, 19 Nov 1865; citing Marriage Banns, Darlaston, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm DARLASTON.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178145470/sarah_jane-sproat: accessed April 5, 2024), memorial page for Sarah Jane Skidmore Sproat (unknown–24 Nov 1896), Find a Grave Memorial ID 178145470, citing All Saints Churchyard, Moxley, Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England; Maintained by Ray Durrant (contributor 47973071).
↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7N-8LBZ : 8 July 2020), Sarah Jane Skidmore Sproat, 27 Nov 1896; citing Burial, Moxley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,683.
↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J1S-QXN : 31 December 2014), Sarah Jane S Sproat, 1896; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Walsall, Staffordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
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