Notes continued:
Sarah Barber appears in the 1871 Census, living at 283 Mill Lane, Godalming, with a Sara Nicholls, dressmaker, as a living in, domestic servant, aged 14. Taking her age from 1871, gives us her birth in Soho as 1857. Also in the 1871 Census, we found one George Edward Barber and family, living at 286 Mill Lane. George Edward was born in Marylebone, London, had other children born in Soho, Looking at the birth years of the George's other children, Sarah's birth fits between his daughter Mary born 1855 and Eliza Frances born 1860. Charles and Sarah's wedding certificate, tells us her fathers name was George and he was a leather dresser, as in the Census entries we found. Given these facts, we believe there is a very high probability that Sarah is George Edwards daughter. It was also fairly common in those times for children of Sarah's age to be working as servants. Unfortunately, we can not find Sarah's birth details in the national births database, so as to corroborate the above facts.
These are the details of George's family in the 1871 Census: George Edward Barber born Marylebone 1823, wife Mary Frances born St. Pancras 1824, son George James aged 19, born St. Pancras, Charlotte Barber daughter in law aged 18, born Godalming, daughter Mary aged 16, born Soho, daughter Eliza Frances aged 11, born Soho, another Mary also his daughter aged 5, born Soho and Eliza Elizabeth aged 2, born Godalming.
George Edward passed away in 1887 and Mary passed away in 1892, both in Godalming. George's wife Mary and some of their children are listed in the 1891 Census, living at 242 Mill Lane, living with Mary were: daughter Eliza aged 29, daughter Minnie, now Minnie Parish aged 25, daughter Emma aged 22, granddaughter Maude Barber aged 9 (daughter of Eliza) and grandson Frank Parish aged 2, Frank's full name was Francis Henry George Parish, father was George Edward Parish, born Guildford 1867. It is interesting that Francis George Henry was born in Compton, like so many of the Simmonds family.
14th August 2021. We now have positive proof that Charle's wife Sarah was indeed, the daughter of George Edward Barber and Mary Frances Cook. Sarah was born at 1 Crown Place, St Giles North, Middlesex , on 13th December 1856. Her birth registration states she is Sarah Agnes Barber. At the baptism of their son Charles, the parents names were given as Charles and Sarah Agnes Simmonds, thus confirming Sarah's name. Sarah died in Godalming on 2 January 1928.
