#52Ancestors, Long Line

I think I have written before about the long lines of James’ and Thomas’ and John’s, Betty’s and Sarah’s and Mary’s. They are what got me hooked into this genealogy obsession. And I’m still trying to untangle it all.

I don’t have a long line of Ag Labs either. Occupation-wise there were weavers, glovers, painters, grooms, dressmakers, milliners, glove makers, farmers, yeoman, gentlemen, artists, railway employees, bakers, millers, tailors…and ag labs.

More recently there have been engineers and others working in the engineering fields; fitters and turners and mechanics. Others in the transport industry, education sector and in the medical and scientific field.

Sarah Horskins (maiden name unknown) was born about 1777 most likely in or near London. She married William Horskins about 1801 and raised a family of ten children (or more yet to be discovered).

William was a baker, a career path which was followed by several generations of the family. William died in August 1842. By then their youngest child was in her early twenties and at least five of their children had married and started their own families.

On Wednesday December 6, 1843 Sarah walked from her home in Pratt Street, Lambeth to the workhouse in Princes Road. She joined the line of people and families waiting for relief. Food parcels. I wonder did she do this regularly ? Each week ? Did her unmarried daughters go with her ? Did she meet old friends, facing the same struggles in their sunset years ?

The December weather in 1842 & 1843 was particularly mild. As recently as 2008 those mild temperatures still fell comfortably within the “top 10” occurrences of mild early winter months. (see more historic weather information here) 

Sarah joined the long line. How long she stood waiting is unclear, as is how close to receiving relief she came. But there, in that long line she was struck by apoplexy and passed away. An inquest was held on 9 December 1843 and reported in the London Standard, 11 December 1843. She was 66.

Sarah was my maternal four times great grandmother.