Sarah Keturah Southwell

Part of the Earley family tree (Great-great-aunt)

Family background and early life

Sarah Keturah Southwell (known as Keturah or Kitty) was born at Lockerley Green on 31 March 1841, the sixth of seven children born to William Southwell (1799–1867) and his wife Martha née Pritchard (1801–1885).

At the first national census in June 1841, aged just two months, Keturah was living with her parents and five siblings at Lockerley Green, where her parents ran the village shop.

At the two following censuses, she was still living at home with her parents in Lockerley Green. In 1861, aged 20, she had no recorded occupation.

In January 1859, she appeared as a witness at the inquest into the death of her sister, Ann, following the birth of Ann’s only child.

Marriage and children

On Christmas Day 1866, Keturah, aged 25, married Edwin Henry Hibberd, a  21-year old boot and shoe maker, at the Ebenezer Chapel in Tote Hill, near Lockerley, “according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Baptists”. The witnesses to the marriage were Sarah’s sister, Mary Elizabeth and her husband, Henry Swaine.

Ebenezer Chapel

Shortly after the wedding, both Keturah and Edwin’s fathers died: William Southwell died on 6 January 1867 followed by Henry Hibberd just nine days later.

The family tragedies continued when Keturah and Edwin’s first two children, William and Mary Jane died as infants. William died on 20 June 1868 having lived for only 48 hours. The cause of death was recorded as “premature birth”. Mary Jane was born in October 1869, but died on 6 April 1870, aged just 6 months; her death was caused by pneumonia.

At the March 1871 census, Keturah and Edwin were living at Mottisfont, where Edwin was now running the village grocery shop. Living with them were Edwin’s two sisters: 11-year old Elizabeth and 8-year old  Helen.

The couple’s first child to survive, Edwin Josiah Hibberd was born at Mottisfont on 21 May 1871. A further five children were born at roughly two to three year intervals:

Annie, born Mottisfont, 31 July 1873

Alma, born Mottisfont, 1876 [Birth registered in January 1876 quarter]

William Henry, born King’s Somborne, 1879 [Birth registered in July 1879 quarter]

Beatrice Millicent, born King’s Somborne, 14 December 1881

Bertha Mary, born King’s Somborne, 8 September 1884

A further child died as an infant, although the details have not been identified.

At the 1881 census, the family were living at Romsey Road, King’s Somborne, between Romsey and Stockbridge, about eight miles from Mottisfont, where Edwin had now established his grocery business, having moved there in about 1875.

Edwin Hibberd

Edwin Hibberd appeared frequently in front of the magistrates bench in Romsey. His first recorded appearance was in September 1872, when he was fined 2s 6d, plus 7s 6d costs, for “having in his possession weights not answering to the proper standard”. He was back in court on similar offences in August 1873 (fine 1s plus costs) and June 1875 (fine 5s and 7s 6d costs).

Following his move to King’s Somborne, he kept out of trouble until February 1888, when he was fined 2s 6d plus 8s costs, the scales to be forfeited.

In April 1875, Edwin was in court as the victim, when 15-year old Herbert Holloway and 12-year old Andrew Hewlett were charged with stealing seven knives from Edwin’s bakery at King’s Somborne. The two boys had broken into the shop by removing a pane of glass, and had tried to sell the knives before concealing them in a bank on the edge of New Lane. The charges against the younger lad were dismissed, but Herbert Holloway was imprisoned for one month, followed by four years at a reformatory.

In January 1889, Edwin appeared on a charge of being drunk and disorderly outside the Crown Inn. Edwin had been arrested after wielding a big stick and threatening George Lovell, the landlord. He was fined 5s plus costs. In June the same year, he was charged with assault, when on Whit Sunday he had a fight with John Davis, knocking him to the ground. He was fined 2s 9d with 7s costs.

Edwin Hibberd died on 9 October 1894, aged 49. The causes of death were chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Later life

At the 1901 census, Keturah was living in Stockbridge Road, King’s Somborne with her daughter, Alma. Keturah was now in receipt of a monthly pension. 25-year old Alma was self-employed on “fancy work” from home. Living next door was her brother-in-law, George Hibberd, a self-employed boot and shoe maker.

Ten years later, 70-year old  Keturah was living with three daughters at 16 Southgate Street, Winchester. Her occupation was once again a grocer; Alma had no occupation, while 26-year old Bertha was an assistant in the shop. The third daughter, Annie was now married to Alfred Clarke, who was employed in a mineral water plant. Annie  and Alfred now had four children. Also in the house were Sarah’s niece, 14-year old Kathleen Langridge, the granddaughter of her oldest sister, Anne (who had died in childbirth in 1859). Kathleen was employed as an assistant in the shop. Finally, the eleventh resident at 16 Southgate was a lodger, 81-year old Harriet Smith.

Bertha married Sidney Hamblin in May 1915. At the 1921 census, Bertha and Sidney were living with their daughter, 2-year old Hazel, at 20 Shirley Road, Southampton. Sidney was employed as a joiner in an aviation factory. Also living with them was 80-year old Keturah (recorded as Sarah Hamblin). Sidney died in May 1923, aged 34.

Keturah died at Bertha’s home at 223 Shirley Road, Southampton on 19 July 1929, aged 88. The causes of death were cerebral haemorrhage and arteriosclerosis