Duvall family of Bidborough, Kent

[tenterfieldjulie]

In Robert Smith's will of 1819 he names his daughter Sarah (born 1777) as the wife of Thomas Duvall. At Bidborough, Kent on fam search I have found baptisms of their children - Sarah 1811, Elizabeth 1813, George 1815, Mary 1818. I have not been able to find a marriage for them and I am hoping that someone else can. In the 1837 Poll Book on Ancestry, Thomas Duvall is listed as living at Bidborough. Thanks. Julie

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch has the marriage of a Thomas Duvall to a Sarah Sears 26 Feb 1808 at Hadlow, which isn't far from Bidborough. But I can't see a marriage between a Sarah Smith and a Sears on there.

[tenterfieldjulie]

I found Thomas as a widower in 1851 Census at Bidborough - carpenter and parish clerk age 68 and also in 1861 age 78 widower. He should be there in 1841 as he was in the poll book 1837 at Bidboro but I can't find him. It is possible that the Census record was at Tonbridge not Bidborough, as I seem to recall they overlapped.
Also another son Thomas bapt 8/10/1809 at Bidborough.
I have seen that marriage of Sarah Sears and discounted it, but it is possible she had married before, or could the name Sears have been mistranscribed? Thanks Julie

[Shona]

I have found the following baptisms for children of Thomas Duvall and Sarah - all at Bidborough.

Mary, bpt, 29 July 1808, buried 13 Dec 1808
Thomas, bpt 8 Oct 1809
Sarah, bpt 17 Nov 1811
Elizabeth, bpt 31 Oct 1812
George, bpt 3 Dec 1815
Mary, bpt 15 March 1818

Sarah Duvall was buried on 13 August 1820 at Bidborough. Age at death - 44.

So it is possible that she has been married previously.

[Shona]

There is a baptism for a John Sears in Bidborough on 7 February 1808 - parents are Edward and Sarah Sears.

Off to see if I can find a marriage for Edward and Sarah.

[kiterunner]

Julie, if the first child (Thomas jr) born to Thomas and Sarah was born in 1809, then Sarah was very likely married before, as she would be over 30 when Thomas jr was born.

There is a John Sears, son of Edward and Sarah, baptised at Bidborough 7 Feb 1802. Perhaps the same Sarah? But I can't see Edward and Sarah's marriage at the moment.

Edit - snap, Shona!

[Shona]

Nope - can't find a marriage for Edward Sears and Sarah. But Edward Sears was buried in Bidborough on 11 April 1802.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Oh you are both wonderful .... I will be back.
I never thought I would really know who the girls married, but their father left a will naming their husbands... which I found when I visited the Maidstone RO at the library in Kent .. He also left his natural daughter an equal share .. which I thought very democratic for that age.
I mean you really don't expect to positively sort Smiths do you?!! Julie