James Shermer 1855 and Sarah Ann Watkins 1858

Gloucestershire and the Midlands

JAMES SHERMER & SARAH ANN WATKINS 

HUSBAND

James SHERMER 1855- [P3]

father: James SHERMER [P4]
mother:
born: about 1855
died:
buried:

WIFE

Sarah Ann WATKINS 1858 (also known as Sarah Anne) [P4]

father: Thomas Farmer WATKINS [P5]
mother: Emma BARBER [P5]
born: 4 June 1858 at 82 New Bond St, Aston, Warwickshire
baptized: 12 August 1858 at Bordesley, Warwickshire (a district of Birmingham)
died:
buried:

On Sarah Ann's birth certificate her father is recorded as a Railway Engine Driver.

MARRIAGE

place: Parish of Brightside, Sheffield, Yorks
date: 11 March 1876

Marriage Certificate: 11 March 1876 marr of James SHERMER, 21, bat, labourer, of Hammond Street, s. of James SHERMER, lab, to Sarah Anne WATKINS, 19, spin, of Hammond Street, d. of Thomas Farmer WATKINS, Striker. Witnesses Adam X BISHOP and Jane X BEVERLEY.

The occupation "Striker" may indicate "a blacksmith's helper who swings the sledgehammer" (Merriam-Webster).

CHILDREN

William Thomas SHERMER 1877-

born: 30 December 1877 at Union Work House, Gloucester

Thomas William SHERMER 1879-1975

born: 30 December 1879 at Union Work House, Erdington, Aston, Warwickshire

NOTES

The marriage certificate for Thomas William gives his father's occupation as Sailor, which probably accounts for Thomas' and his brother William's being born in workhouses. Sarah may have had no means of support during her confinements if her husband was at sea.

Sarah and the children are recorded in the 1881 Census for Aston Union Workhouse, Gravelly Hill, Erdington.

  Sarah SHERMER, m, 23, general servant, b. Birmingham, Warwickshire
  William SHERMER, 3, b. Sheffield, Yorks
  Thomas SHERMER, 1, b. Aston, Warwickshire

In the 1901 census for Bristol there is an entry for the youngest brother Thomas.

  Thomas Shermer, 22, b. Aston, Warwickshire, Farrier Black

In the 1901 census for West Bromwich there is an entry which probably refers to the eldest brother William:

  William Shermer, 25, b. Staffs, Iron Worker Puddler

In the 1901 census for 18 Bradwell Street, Burslem, Staffordshire, there is an entry which might refer to the parents, although there are problems with the recorded ages. Sarah should have been 43 or 44. It is possible the wife's age of 62 is an error for 42. No entry for an alternative Sarah SHERMER has been found.

  James Shermer, husband, 50, Corporation Carter, b. Gloustershire N R
  Sarah Shermer, wife, 62, b. Warwickshire, Leamington