Part of the Ingram-Green family tree (Great-grandmother)
Family background and early life
Sarah Fisher was born on 23 October 1865 at 5 Derby Terrace, Plumstead (then in Kent). She was the second of four children born to Matthew Henry Fisher (1823–1880), then a coffee shop keeper, and his wife, Lydia née Cooper (1831–1891). Sarah was baptised at St Mary the Virgin Church in Plaistow, Essex on 14 June 1868, alongside her younger sister, Alice who had been born on 27 May 1868.
At the 1871 census, the family (Matthew, Lydia and their four children) were now living at 7 Derby Terrace in Plumstead. Matthew’s occupation was now recorded as fishmonger.
Sarah’s father, Matthew died on 25 July 1880 (aged 57), leaving her mother a widow with four children aged between 9 and 16, including 14-year old Sarah.
Lydia Fisher never re-married, and at the 1881 census she was living at Crescent Road, East Ham with her three youngest children. Aged 50, she was now a “fish hawker”.
Marriage and children
On 20 December 1883, 18-year old Sarah married 19-year old Joseph George Green (sometimes known as George) at St John the Baptist’s Church, East Ham. He was the son of Joseph Henry Green, a labourer at Beckton gasworks, where George was also employed.
Less than six months later, on 3 June 1884, the couple’s first son, Ernest George Green was born. Over the next 18 years, a further eleven children were born:
Matthew Henry born 18 August 1886
Joseph George born 3 January 1891
Leonard Richard born 1 February 1893
Dorothy Sarah born January 1895
Bertha Eliza born 22 April 1896
Evelyn Hannah born 18 March 1900
William Alfred born 30 August 1902
Four other children died as infants.
At the census in April 1891, George (now an engine driver at the large gas works at Beckton) and Sarah were living at Sidney Buildings, East Ham with their two youngest sons, Henry and George. Also living at the address were Sarah’s younger brother and sister, Henry (an oil & colourman) and Alice. 6-year old Ernest George was at the home of his grandparents, Joseph and Eliza Green.
Ten years later, the family (Joseph and Sarah with seven children) were now at 78 Napier Road, East Ham. 37-year old Joseph was still employed as an engine driver at the nearby gas works. 16-year old Ernest was now a pupil teacher and his 14-year old brother Matthew was a telegraph messenger for the GPO.
On 19 March 1910, Sarah and George’s 15-year old daughter died with phthisis syncopie (tuberculosis).
By the census in the following year, the family had moved a mile to the east and were living at 20 St Awdry’s Road, Barking. By now, the two older sons had left home, leaving their five younger siblings with their parents. 20-year old Joseph was a telegraph operator and 18-year old Leonard was a trainee electrician.
Death
Sarah died, aged 50, on 22 May 1916, at 32 Masterman Road, East Ham. The causes of death were carcinoma of the liver (6 months) and dropsy. She was buried at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, East Ham, on 26 May 1916.
Sources
Ancestry.co.uk:
1871 England Census
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1918
Essex, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1994
Essex, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1935