Find Ancestors

Samuel Weaver is my maternal grandfather and I have managed to track down and prove most of his facts. I would like to order his birth certificate but unfortunately that is the one record I can't find.

His parents were Samuel Weaver and Sarah Canfield (married 1867 in Lewes Sussex). His mother remarried in 1880 to George Simmons. The family bible mentions George and Sarah's deaths.

I was able to trace Samuel through all the census although in the 1881 one he is shown as Samuel Simmons, son but in the rest of the census he is shown as Samuel Weaver, step-son.

He married Isabella Newell on 16.2.1903 in Uckfield (I have the marriage certificate) and they had two children by the 1911 census.

The family emigrated to Australia in 1912. He died in Australia in 1937.

I would be extremely grateful if somebody could help me with this gentleman's birth entry. He's been giving me a headache for a long time!

Thank you

Rosemary Simeon

Where in Sussex was he said to have been born?

Buxted according to the 1881 census.

The mother in 1871?

1871 census


Person: WEAVER, Sarah Address: Old Harrys, Buxted

BRIGGS, John Head M 58 1813 Sussex VIEW
WEAVER, Sarah Housekeeper F 29 1842 Sussex VIEW*********born MAYFIELD
BRIGGS, Albert Servant M 21 1850 Sussex VIEW
HOBBS, Henry Servant M 19 1852 Sussex

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


His age in 1881 would indicate that he was born in 1878

1881 census

Person: SIMMONS, Samuel Address: Wilderness Lane, Mayfield

SIMMONS, George Head Married M 59 1822 Ag Lab
Ashington, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, Sarah Wife Married F 41 1840 Ag Lab Wife
Mayfield, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, Daniel Son Single M 19 1862 Ag Lab
Buxted, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, John Son Single M 26 1855 Ag Lab
Buxted, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, Alfred Son Single M 17 1864 Ag Lab
Buxted, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, Samuel Son Single M 2 1879
Buxted, Sussex

When did Samuel snr die?

When and where was he born?

If Samuel was born 1878/79 then Samuel Snr. should be on the 1871 census, have you found him?
Was he with Sarah at this time, did they have any other children?

1881 gives Sarah's place of birth as Mayfield, Sussex but there seems to be no such place. Where does she give in the other census records?

EDIT:- I stand corrected - MAYFIELD (St. Dunstan), a parish, in the union of Uckfield, hundred of Loxfield-Camden, rape of Pevensey, E. division of Sussex, 9 miles (E. N. E.) from Uckfield

Sarah is - almost certainly - shown above in 1871.............

In 1891 she still gives her place of birth as Mayfield, Sussex, but her date of birth is 10yrs earlier:-

1891 England Census about Sarah Simmons
Name: Sarah Simmons
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: abt 1831
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: George Simmons
Gender: Female
Where born: Mayfield, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Mayfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Mark Cross St Mark
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Registration district: Uckfield
Sub-registration district: Rotherfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 783
Folio: 27
Page Number: 8
Household Members:
Name Age
George Simmons 66
Sarah Simmons 60
Samuel Weaver 12
John Simmons 36

http://www.mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk/

This looks like the marriage you have found for Samuel snr. and Sarah Canfield:-


Name: WEAVER, Samuel
Registration district: Lewes
County: Sussex
Year of registration: 1867
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume no: 2B
Page no: 342

MarriageFinder: Samuel Weaver married one of the following people:

CANFIELD, Sarah<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
NOVIS, Mary Ann

HOWEVER - in the 1871 census there is this Samuel Weaver with a wife called Mary A. Weaver (could this be Mary Ann Novis from the above marriage?):-

1871 census transcription details for: Balsdean, Rottingdean

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG10
Piece: 1071
Folio: 29
Page: 16
Reg. District: Lewes
Sub District: Rottingdean
Parish: Rottingdean
Enum. District: 2
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Balsdean, Rottingdean
County: Sussex

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born

WEAVER, Samuel Head M 28 1843 Sussex
WEAVER, Mary A Wife F 36 1835 Sussex

Could you have mixed up two families?

Do you have the 1867 marriage certificate?

Kath. x

This is the ONLY death in Sussex between the marriage and Sarah's re-marriage

Deaths Dec 1867 (>99%)
Weaver Samuel 23 Steyning 2b 163

Who is named as father on the 1903 marriage cert?

Was looking at that Kath. Here is the marriage on freebmd.

Marriages Dec 1867 (>99%)
CANFIELD Sarah Lewes 2b 342 Scan available - click to view
Haines William Lewes 2b 342 Scan available - click to view
NOVIS Mary Ann Lewes 2b 342 Scan available - click to view
Weaver Samuel Lewes 2b 342

Which family is the bible connected with?

Do you have a copy of the 1880 marriage cert?

It would seem to be absolutely VITAL.....................

I was beginning to think that the marriage is not correct too.

Is the Sarah listed in 1871 census noted as being married or single?

Married...............

Have to leave now, but will look back later.
Good hunting!

Having looked at the 1891 image, Sarah's age has, in my opinion, been mistranscribed.

I would suggest it was actually recorded as 50

1901 census

Person: SIMMONS, Sarah Address: Hadlow Down, Mayfield, Hadlow Down Five Ashes

SIMMONS, George Head Married M 84 1817
Buxted, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, Sarah Wife Married F 62 1839
Hadlow DN, Sussex VIEW
SIMMONS, John Son Single M 46 1855 Rat Catcher
Hadlow DN, Sussex VIEW
WEAVER, Saml Step Son Single M 22 1879 Farm Labourer
Hadlow DN, Sussex V

Has anyone found Sarah Canfield before 1867?

...............there are NO Canfields in Mayfield in 1841,1851 or 1861