Help please in general (re my Jenkins family in particular ) (General)

by Rj best, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 11:34 (3806 days ago) @ janethowell

Hi janethowell

I am the great-granddaughter of Sarah Hannah Jenkins b 1870 and great-great-great granddaughter of Shedrach Jenkins. There is a big family mystery surrounding Sarah's death and I am desperately trying to get some hints!

Sarah is on the 1891 census living with her father Shedrach in Stone and I have a marriage record for her marrying a William Redman in Stoke in 1891. She had a child Alice born in 1892 and then Evan Neary (I presume named after his uncle) in 1896. Then the only record I have for her is giving birth to my great-grandmother Doris in the Stoke workhouse in 1902.

Although all three of her children appear on the 1911 census in Stoke there is no record for her, including any death certificate and she was not buried with her husband. The big mystery is that there is no record of her or Evan Neary Redman in the 1901 census and I cannot understand why she was in a workhouse.

Also I know at least four Jenkins siblings were living in Stoke in 1901 (Rachel Jenkins for example), that Sarah's husband and father in law were both employed, and that her parents were still alive. With all this family (non of whom appear to be destitute) why was my great grandmother born in the workhouse? Any where is Evan Neary Redman (aged 5) in 1901?

I have struck a blank with every search I have looked into.

Can you think of anywhere/ anyone I could look to find out? There are no online records with Stafforshire council archives that help.

Thanks so much in advance,

Rachel Best