Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann Ware (nee Vernon)

My Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann (1860 - 1901) was a housewife, mother of eight, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Sarah Ann was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1860, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 31), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 27), a housewife.

Sarah Ann was the fourth of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

• Susan  1854 - 1930  (75 years old)
• Thomas  1857 - 1916  (about 59 years old)
• William 'Robert' Robert  1859 - 1939  (about 80 years old)
• Sarah Ann  1860 - 1901  (about 40 years old)
• Silas  1862 -
• Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
• Arthur John  1865 -
• Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 - 1934  (65 years old)
• Martha  1871 -
• Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months old)
• Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
• Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years old)

1861 Census:

1871 Census:

Unfortunately I can't find Sarah Ann on the 1881 Census, when she would have been a young woman.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1882, a twenty-two year old Sarah Ann gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, whom she called Mary Ann, in the district of Crediton. In the same quarter, Sarah Ann (about 22), a ?, married William Henry Ware (about 18) (often known by Henry or Harry), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, also in the district of Crediton. It seems likely William was the father of Sarah Ann's daughter - on later censuses he is certainly listed as Mary Ann's father.

Including Mary Ann, Sarah Ann and Henry had eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Mary Ann  1883 -
• William  1884 -
• John  1886 - 1887  (17 months old)
• Emily  1887 -
• Edwin John  1890 - 1890  (0 - 6 months old)
• Annie  1891 -
• Edith 'Alice' Alice  1895 -
• Henry 'Charles' Charles  1900 -

Sadly, the couple's third child, John, passed away, at only seventeen months, in 1887. He was buried on 20th March 1887 in Crediton. They would give their next born son, Edwin, the middle name of John, perhaps after his older brother. Sadly, Edwin too passed away young. He passed away, aged between zero to six months, in 1890.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1901, Sarah Ann passed away, aged only about forty, in the district of Exeter. She left behind a husband, and six surviving children, the eldest about seventeen and youngest not yet one.

That motherless baby would go on to serve in the Royal Navy at the end of the First World War. Charles enlisted less than a month after he turned eighteen. He joined as a stocker on 14th August 1918. Though he originally signed up for a period of twelve years, he was invalided out on 6th October 1920, serving two years. He served on several ships, including: Vivid II, Apollo, Columbine and Impregnable. His character is repeatedly given as very good, his ability satisfactory. As brief physical description is also given of Charles as a young man: he was only 5'2 1/2'', had light brown hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion. I wonder if he resembled his mother is any way.