Jenkins / Davis connection

I have the marriage certificate with the following information

Shadrach Jenkins, bachelor of full age, of Bream, West Dean, collier
married Sarah Davis , spinster of full age, of Bream, dressmaker
on 9th March 1856, at Primitive Methodist Chapel, Lydbrook
Fathers Thomas Jenkins collier
and William Davis charcoal collier
- both fathers deceased although the certificate does not state this
Witnesses - Robert Davies and Caroline Davies
Minister John Parry Bellingham, Registrar J M Thomas

I have found Sarah Davis at home with parents on the 1841 census and again in 1851

I believe the Caroline Davies who was a witness was either Sarah's older sister of Sarah's illegitimate daughter before her marriage. Sarah was born in 1827.

Questions
1. Who was Robert Davies? Not a brother so a cousin / uncle?
2. Who was Mary, Sarah's mother?

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Hi Janet, welcome to the forum and of course the rest of this great website.
It's nearly 3am here and I must be off now. However in the meantime perhaps you can recheck your post or at least clarify things a little, if it's my mistake then I apologise, but I'm confused.
Your very helpfull background note, thanks, mentions Robert the witness; yet you then ask abt a new character, Richard, did you mean to say Robert ?. Similarly where does Mary come into things ?.
The more you can tell us, the more likely we can help you.
Many thanks, see you tomorrow, Jeff.

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Sorry - was tired myself and message sent before I finished!

Robert Davies was a witness but I can't find any Robert Davies connected with Sarah.

Sarah's father was William and I am trying to find out who her mother was. From census records of 1841 and 1851 her mother was Mary.

The most probable marriage for William and Mary (Sarah's parents) seems to be

William Davis b. abt 1776-80 Kempley
Mary Roberts b. abt 1788-90 Newent
marriage 29 Jan 1810 at Mitcheldean
both give place of residence as FoD

Questions - Does anyone have connections to Robert Davies? He could be an uncle or a cousin. Does anyone have any connections to a Mary Roberts to rule this ,marriage in or out? There is more than one Mary Roberts born in the time frame but only one found born Newent.

Many thanks

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Hi Janet

Just after a bit more clarification please!

"I believe the Caroline Davies who was a witness was either Sarah's older sister OF Sarah's illegitimate daughter before her marriage. Sarah was born in 1827".

Can I take it you mean OR Sarah's illegitimate daughter?

Do you know if Sarah actually had an illegitimate daughter? If so, when was she born as I cannot see how she would be old enough to be a Witness at her mother's wedding?

EDIT

I have just noticed that you spell Sarah's surname DAVIS, but the Witnesses are DAVIES. Is this a typo, or are they spelt differently on the marriage record please?

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Caroline Davis the sister to Sarah was born 1820, Sarah was born 1827
I have a death for a CHARLOTTE Davis in 1824 age 4 with no matching birth - this could be Caroline mis-transcribed as Charlotte

All the info is from FoD site parish registers off this site.

My Sarah is shown at home with parents William and Mary in 1841 at Breams Eaves
In 1851 census we have
Bream Woodside
13 DAVIS William 75 Wood Collier Kempley
Mary 63 Newent
Sarah 24 Dressmaker West Dean
Caroline Grand daughter 7 West Dean

This Caroline is Sarah's daughter, baptised 1843 at Bream chapel, mother Sarah Davis, single woman, no father named. Sarah would have been 16yrs old.

At the time of the wedding in 1856 at Lydbrook Primitive Methodist Chapel, Sarah was 29, Caroline (daughter) would have been 13years old. Research indicates that there was no legal minimum age for a witness as long as the minister was sure the minor understood what they were doing and could sign the register.

Sarah's occupation on the wedding cert states dressmaker - which agrees with the census in 1851.

Sarah and her father William's name is spelt DAVIS but Robert and Caroline's are spelt DAVIES. I have an official transcription of the marriage cert not a photocopy of the original register so I can't infer too much from the change of spelling.

I know it seems complicated but all the info is cross-referenced and checked and facts fit so far.

I feel if I can identify Robert Davies then I can make some progress.

Many thanks for reading this far

Janet Howell

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