* A household of ill repute?

[Peter_H_Williams]

My Great 2x grandmother Sarah Summers (1813 - 1884) was born in Wivenhoe, Essex.  Her father, a Baker died when she was 13.  Later in life in Marylebone she has two boys, both illegitimate but by the same father. Charles Summers Wisdom born June 1844 and William Wisdom born 21 May 1850.

In the 1841 Census I believe her to be in Colchester, Essex (HO 107/344/7) in this household:

Name      Sex      Age      Occupation                  Where Born
Ann M Graves      F      50      Independent means      Y
Clara Graves      F      40      Independent means      Y
Ellen Cutting      F      20      Female servant            Y
Ena Cutting      F      15      Female servant            Y
Sarah Summers      F      28      Female servant            Y
Marianne Blais      F      40      Independent means      Y
Henry Knestub      M      20      Surgeon                  Y
George Cross      M      20      Male servant            Y

There was a 'Who Do You Think You Are' Programme where the research person suggested that because of the odd make up on a Census it was a brothel.  Any views?

Even if Sarah Summers was selling her services in Colchester in 1841 it doesn't lessen my high regard for her. This is a woman whose father died when she was 13, he didn't own the property that he was in and creditors forced them onto the street. Somehow, the eldest boy, Jonathan Summers manages to end up as a Baker in Steeple years later. The mother, Anna Maria, later known as just plain Maria dies aged 65 as an inmate of Wivenhoe workhouse 24 December 1841.  I believe that was probably the trigger that sent Sarah to London I think Sara was hard-working and resourceful, (both sons were well educated and were indentured and apprenticed) quite possibly she was helping to support her mother when in Colchester.


ID:6786

[Jane]

Certainly an interesting selection of people, another possible option is a normal lodging house, what do the houses along the street look like?

I might also be tempted to find one of two of the people in the next census if you can to see what they ended up doing

[Essexraptor]

Another possiblity is that the 3 older females have all come into inhertance and are living with a paid servant each and the 2 younger males are 'boarders'

As suggested, I would try to track the younger males to see where they go. The younger females are harder because of course they could marry in the 10 yeras between Census returns and so ......'disappear'

Good luck.... and let us know what you find [grin]