Sarah Darby

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Sarah Darby was born on 18 March 1784 at Great Parndon, Essex.^2,3 Great Parndon is an ancient but small and isolated parish. It had a population of 300 in 1801, rising to 534 in 1891, and was a place of scattered farms and hamlets. The main crops were grass, cereals and vegetables.

She was the daughter of Thomas Darby and Elizabeth Perry.¹ Sarah Darby was baptised at St. James' on Sunday, 11 April 1784 at Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire.³

She married George Beard, son of James Beard and Sarah (?), in a Church of England ceremony at All Saints on Sunday, 10 October 1824 at Edmonton, Middlesex..¹ Sarah Darby was an an upholsterer.⁴

In Thomas Darby's will on 9 July 1830 Elizabeth Darby, Ann Darby, Richard Darby, James Darby, Hannah Darby, George Darby, Elizabeth Perry and Sarah Darby were named as heirs. The will specified that all of his posessions were to go to his wife, and then after her death it was to all be sold and divided amongst his children equally..⁵

In the codicil to Thomas Darby's will on 5 August 1830 Elizabeth Darby, Ann Darby, Richard Darby, James Darby, Hannah Darby, George Darby, Elizabeth Perry, Elizabeth Darby and Sarah Darby were named as heirs. The codicil added that after the will was executed his children were to each generally pay 20 pounds each back to his executors, who would then divide the amount into three and give the resulting amount "for the use of my children which are these three William Darby, Elizabeth Brown and Susannah Bush for their own use and benefit in addition to their shares as before mentioned they not having had so much assistance from me". It is suspected that Thomas did not actually have a daughter Susannah, but referred to another close member of his family. He also bequeathed 40 pounds to the maintenance of Elizabeth, the daughter of his late son Benjamin..⁵

Thomas Darby's will was probated on 9 August 1833. Thomas' wife Elizabeth died less than three years later, and his property was sold (and presumably the proceeds divided up as he specified) in accordance with his will and codicil..⁶

In Thomas Darby's will on 23 September 1847 Sarah Perry, Elizabeth Darby, Sarah Darby, William Darby, George Darby and Elizabeth Perry were named as heirs. Sarah was to receive, on the death of her mother, a quarter share of the funds from the liquidation of her father's estate..⁷ Sarah and George lived on 23 September 1847 at Waltham Abbey, Essex.⁷

Sarah Darby was recorded as the spouse of George Beard in the 1851 census at Stewardstone St., Waltham Abbey, Essex. She was recorded as being 66 years old.⁸

Thomas Darby's will was probated on 21 January 1853.⁷

Sarah Darby was listed as a lodger in the household of Samuel Philpot and Susanna (?) in the 1861 census. She was recorded as being 77 years old. Also in the house were 5 of the Philpot children aged 13 to just 1 year old. The census seemingly incorrectly states that her place of birth was Stanstead Abbots, where the evidence supports her being born at Great Parndon (but baptised at Stanstead Abbots).⁴

Sarah died circa September 1865 at Bishops Stortford registration district, Hertfordshire.^1,4,3