The Biography of Sarah Ann Gage

Regional Mentor for Gressenhall, Helen Bainbridge, has shared the fascinating biography of Sarah Ann Gage.

Biography of ​Sarah Ann Gage

(b. 1873 - d. 1939)

26th December, 2019
by Stephen Douglas

Sarah Ann Gage was the fifth child of William and Mary Ann Gage (née Hilton), being born in early 1873. (1) (2) William Gage, aged 28 is listed in the 1861 census as being employed as a Porter, living in Quebec Road, East Dereham in 1861. (3) However by 1871 the family was living at Shipdham Road, East Dereham and his occupation has changed to an Agricultural Labourer. (4) After William’s marriage and arrival of his children there are a number of entries can be found in the criminal registers along with newspaper articles providing the reason for his imprisonment. There are several instances of poaching and stealing flour. For example in 1865 he is sentenced to 12 calendar months with hard labour for night poaching. The newspaper article includes details of Gage of the events which include striking the gamekeeper’s son and being armed. (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

The newspaper article and criminal register confirm that William was charged with stealing 4 eggs in Hillington, but is states ‘that this prisoner died on 29 May [1875] last after committed and before trial’. (11)

On her father’s death Sarah Ann’s mother Mary Ann would have just given birth to Charlotte. (12) However Charlotte was not to be her last child. Rhoda was born in the June quarter of 1876 and William was registered as her father. Who the father was may never be known, and Rhoda died before the 1881 census, aged 3 in 1880. (13) (14) In the census of 1881 Mary Ann is living in Shipdham as a housekeeper for Henry Guyton a 42 year old widower of two boys. (15) None of her children are living with her and Mary Ann remains with Henry Guyton at least until 1901, where she is now stated to be a widow and a servant rather than married and a housekeeper. (16) Her death is registered in 1902. (17)

By 1881 all of Mary Ann’s surviving children would have been old enough to find employment and leave home, except for Sarah Ann, and her younger sister Charlotte. They appear at Gressenhall Union Workhouse for the first time on the 1881 census. (18). Why and how Mary Ann was enabled to leave them there, whether she deserted them, or if she had to pay some of their keep is unknown. However, shortly after the 1881 census, both Sarah Ann and Charlotte were among an initial group of children chosen to be boarded out to selected local people. The two sisters had the fortune to remain together when they were sent to live with Robert Bennett [Bunnett] in Sparham. (19)

Sarah Ann and Charlotte were still living with foster parents in 1883 as Medical Officers reports were presented to the Guardians confirming that all was satisfactory. (20) (21) However by 1891, Sarah is 17 years old and working, and residing, in Weston Longville as a domestic general servant for the Sewell family. (22) A little over two years later Sarah marries Frederick Goward, an agricultural labourer from Weston Longville. (23) Their Banns being read in Weston Longville church in September 1893. (24) The couple first child was Hilda May born in 1895 (who sadly died in the same quarter), followed by Percy Frank born in 1900. (25) (26) (27) They lived at Weston Longville, in the St Faiths district, living at Church Street in the 1901 and Post Office Lane in 1911. (28) (29).

At the age of 66, Sarah Ann Gage passed away in 1939, a few months before the outbreak of the Second World War. Her death registration was made in East Dereham and we think entered as ‘Sally’ in error. (30) However, her headstone at Weston Longville reads In ever loving memory of a devoted wife and mother SARAH ANN GOWARD who passed away on June 19th 1939, aged 66 years. At rest. Also FREDERICK her husband who passed away on Aug. 7th 1950 aged 77 years. ‘Reunited’. (31).

​Reference List
1. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ (1873) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, Mar 1873, Available at: www.gro.gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

2. ‘Mary Ann Hilton’ (1856) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, December 1856, Available at: www.freebmd.org.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

3. ‘William Gage’ (1861) Census Return for Quebec Road, East Dereham, East Dereham subdistrict, Norfolk; PRO: RG9/1242 Folio 24 p. 43. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

4. ‘William Gage’ (1861) Census Return for Shipdham Road, East Dereham, East Dereham subdistrict, Norfolk; PRO: RG10/1846 Folio 68 p. 15. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

5. Gage, William (1865). ‘Litcham Petty Session’ Lynn Advertiser 9 April, p. 6 (1864) Available: www.findmypast.co.uk (Accessed 04 July 2020)

6. ‘William Gage’ (1865) England & Wales Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; Class: HO 27; Piece: 141; Page: 348; Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

7. Gage, William (1867). ‘Swaffham Quarter Sessions. Stealing coals at Gaywood. Norwich Mercry, 26 October, p. 6 (1867) Available: www.findmypast.co.uk (Accessed 04 July 2020)

8. Gage, William (1871). ‘Charge of Stealing flour. Norwich Mercry, 21 October, p. 6 (1871) Available: www.findmypast.co.uk (Accessed 04 July 2020)

9. William Gage’ (1871) England & Wales Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; Class: HO 27; Piece: 159; Page: 291; Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

10. ‘William Gage’ (1875) England & Wales Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; Class: HO 27; Piece: 141; Page: 348; Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

11. ‘Gage, William (1875). ‘Charge of Stealing Eggs at Hillington. Norfolk Chronicle, 10 July, p. 9 (1875) Available: www.findmypast.co.uk (Accessed 04 July 2020)

12. Charlotte Gage’ (1873) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, Mar 1875, Available at: www.gro.gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

13. ‘Rhoda Gage’ (1876) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, June 1876, Available at: www.gro.
gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)
14. ‘Rhoda Gage’ (1880) Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007; March 1880. Available at: www.freebmd.org.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

15. ‘Mary Ann Gage’ (1846) Census return for Westfield Lane, Shipdham, East Dereham subdistrict, Norfolk, PRO: RG11/1976; Folio 82, p. 8. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

16. ‘Mary Ann Gage’ (1901) Census Return for Back of New Inn, Shipdham, East Dereham Subdistrict, Norfolk; PRO: RG13/ 1869; Folio 56; Page: 5 Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

17. ‘Mary Ann Gage’ (1902) Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007; March 1902. Available at: www.freebmd.org.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

18. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ (1881) Census return for The Workhouse of Mitford and Launditch Union, Gressenhall, East Dereham subdistrict, Norfolk, PRO: RG11/1980; Folio 111, p. 3. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

19. ‘Sarah Ann Gage (1881) ‘Boarded out children. Letter regarding the placement of fostered children. TNA MH12/8490 88902/1881. The National Archive. Available at: www.discovery.nationalarchives.co.uk (Accessed: 30 December 2019)

20. Mitford and Launditch Workhouse Guardians Committee (1883) ‘Mary Ann Todd’ Minutes of the Guardians of the Mitford and Launditch union Workhouse 2 July 1883. NRO C/GP 14/30

21. Mitford and Launditch Workhouse Guardians Committee (1883) ‘Mary Ann Todd’ Minutes of the Guardians of the Mitford and Launditch union Workhouse 2 July 1883. NRO C/GP 14/30

22. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ (1891) Census Return for Farmhouse Lyng Road, Weston Longville, St Faiths Subdistrict, Norfolk; PRO: RG12/ 1516; Folio 60; Page: 1 Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

23. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ and ‘Frederick Goward’ (1893) FreeBMD Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, September 1873, Available at: www.freebmd.org.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

24. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ and ‘Frederick Goward’ (1893) Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940; Weston Longville, St. Faiths, Norfolk; Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England; Reference: PD92/7. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

25. ‘Hilda May Goward (1895) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, June 1893, Available at: www.gro.gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)
26. ‘Hilda May Goward (1895) Certified entry recording death on the Civil Registration Index, June 1895, Available at: www.gro.gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

27. ‘Percy Frank Goward (1900) Certified entry recording birth on the Civil Registration Index, September 1900, Available at: www.gro.gov.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

28. ‘Sarah Ann Gage’ (1901) 1891 Census Return for Church Street, Weston Longville, St Faiths subdistrict, Norfolk; PRO: RG13/1832; Folio 68; p. 10. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

29. ‘Sarah Ann Goward’ (1911) Census Return for Post Office Lane, Weston Longville, St Faiths Subdistrict, Norfolk; The National Archives; Class: RG12/11238 Folio 33. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

30. ‘Sally Goward (1939) Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007, June 1939. Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 30 September 2019)

31. ‘Sarah Ann Goward (1939) Mid Norfolk Monumental Inscriptions, WLV/C12 on www.findmypast.co.uk (Accessed: 17/07/2020)