Sarah Smith 1843

Sarah Smith – 1843 Scredington

Sarah Smith was the sixth child of of Barthwell and Charlotte Smith born around 1843, she was baptized the 28th May 1843 at Scredington in Lincolnshire.

Baptism Records as follows:
Scredington in Lincolnshire
No.380 May 28th 1843, Sarah daughter of Barthwell & Charlotte Smith, abode Scredington Lane, trade: Chair Mender, ceremony performed by W Grice curate.

She marries Levi Smith on the 30th December 1861 at Nettleham, Lincolnshire. Levi Smith dies in 1878.
Sarah appears in the 1881 census as housekeeper to Isaac Robinson living at 14 Newark Road, North Hykeham. The census also indicates she is “unmarried” rather than a widow. The census also shows a Frederick, Bertie and Christopher Smith all “nephews” of the head of the household Isaac Robinson.
Isaac Robinson commits suicide on the 21st June 1887 and in a newspaper write up of the coroner’s inquest (transcribed below) it clearly indicates Sarah Smith was Isaac Robinson’s wife, even mentioning her as Sarah Robinson and states Christopher Smith, listed in the 1881 census, was again his nephew. No marriage records can be found as yet to prove this marriage took place

This inferred “marriage” to Isaac Robinson appears to be only in the newspapers and maybe for appearances sake only. Isaac Robinson left a will (last will and testament) dated the 4th June 1887, written just over two weeks before he committed suicide and in it he bequeaths “I give all my household goods and furniture to my housekeeper Sarah Smith absolutely”. This shows Sarah was still his housekeeper and not his wife, further reading of the newspaper article would also infer they were not living together as man and wife, the report states Isaac was for at least three weeks prior to his death sleeping with Jno. Gray, to keep him company, this would surely have been a “wife’s” role………

The other Smith’s mentioned in the 1881 census, Frederick, Bertie and Christopher were nephews to Sarah, they would appear to be sons of her brother Henry Smith and Ellen Gray.
For a time at least it would appear Sarah and the three boys mentioned above had given up the travelling and gypsy way of life, I have yet to find out what happened to Sarah after this tragedy.

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“The Lincolnshire Chronicle June 24, 1887”

Hykeham South – Shocking suicide of a horse dealer. – On Wednesday afternoon, Dr Mitchinson, county coroner, held an inquest at the Fox and Hounds, South Hykeham touching the death of Isaac Robinson, a horse dealer, 50 years of age, who was found dead in a dry ditch on the previous morning with his throat cut in a fearful manner. Christopher Smith, a boy 11 years of age who lived at the deceased’s house, said he last saw Robinson, who was his uncle, alive on Monday evening, when they were having supper. The deceased’s wife and sister and Jno. Gray were also present, and Robinson seemed as usual. On Tuesday morning, about six o’clock, witness was shepherding, and saw the deceased lying in a dry dike in a pool of blood, with his face downwards. Witness was very frightened, and ran towards home. He met Mrs Robinson on the way, and they went back together. When they arrived at the spot where the deceased was lying, Mrs Robinson screamed and some neighbours came up. Sarah Robinson said on Tuesday morning the last witness met her outside her house about six o’clock. She had missed the deceased from home and was looking for him. She asked Smith if he had seen the master, and he replied “Yes, I have found him in yon corner,” pointing to a corner of the field. Witness at once went to the spot indicated, and found her husband lying on his face and saw some blood on his shoulder. She called out loudly for assistance, and Mrs Whiteman and Jno. Gray came up. Deceased had been in a low nervous way for some time, and did not seem to care about looking after his business. Mr Gray had been staying at their house to keep the deceased company, and he slept with him. The deceased seemed more cheerful on Monday, but had slept badly lately. John Gray landlord of the Fox and Hounds, South Hykeham, deposed that for the last three weeks he had been sleeping with the deceased to keep him company. He had been low spirited about some business matters, and slept badly. On Monday they went to Lincoln and Saxilby, but they only went for a drive, and did not transact any business. They had one glass of beer during the drive, and when they got home, about two o’clock, they had a glass of sherry and water. As far as witness knew, the deceased had not been drinking much lately. He talked as usual when they were driving. They slept together on Monday night. A little before six o’clock on Tuesday morning the deceased got up, and showed witness his tongue, and asked him how it looked. He said he must go into the garden, and as he did not return in about a quarter of an hour witness went to look for him, and he heard Mrs Robinson call out. He went up to her, and saw the deceased lying dead in the ditch with his throat cut. The deceased had supper at nine o’clock on the night before, and seemed to have slept well that night. He had had various injuries about the head at different times, and used to complain very much of his head. Mr Osbourn Johnson, surgeon, of Bassingham, said he had attended the deceased since the 26th May. He was then suffering from the effects of having taken too much drink. Witness prescribed for him generally. The deceased was trembling and nervous. Witness saw him at home on several occasions, and he then said he would go over to Bassingham. The deceased visited him several times, and seemed to have reformed in his drinking habits for a time. Afterwards he relapsed, and witness was suspicious he was taking more drink than he had limited him to. A week last Saturday he saw the deceased at home and found him looking much worse, and told him to send for some medicine. When the man came for the medicine he asked witness to go and see deceased, but he did not think it necessary. On Sunday morning Gray drove deceased over to witnesses house, and he was then very low and complained of being sleepless. Witness accused him of taking more drink than he had given him permission to do, and he denied having done so. Witness gave him some more medicine, and told him if he was not well he was to go over on the morning. He was depresssed about certain business transactions. Witness had examined the wound on the deceased’s throat and found it sufficient to cause death. He was of the opinion that the deceased had weakened his mind by drink, and that he would have got quite well if he had obeyed witnesses directions and given up drink. A verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind was returned.

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