Sarah Jane was born on the 21st April 1861 (VRI film 1526142 and RoB Bury 1861 Q2 V.8c p.374) to Thomas (HM059) and Rachel (HM060). She was baptised at Holy Trinity, Habergham Eaves on the 21st February 1861 only a month after the death of her father. According to the 1881 Census she was born at Stubbins, the 1871 Census says Tottington, and her parents were living at Bromley Fold near Tottington only two weeks before she was born at the time of the 1861 Census. It was shortly after this that the family must have moved to the Burnley / Habergham Eaves area to live on Gannow Lane
In the 1871 census Sarah Jane was described as a 9 year old scholar living with her widowed mother and five older siblings at Cog Lane.
By the time of the 1881 Census, Sarah Jane was 19 years of age and working as a cotton weaver like most of her family. She was still living with her mother and her married sister, Mary Ann (FM232), and her family.
Sarah Jane married Walter Chaffer on the 24th March 1885 (RoM Burnley Q2 V.8e p.289) at St Stephen’s Church in Burnley with her older brother Joseph as a witness. Walter was a carrier living at 58 Huffling Lane. Sarah Jane had been living with her mother at 1 Ridge Row (Road).
Sarah Jane died in 1929 aged 68 and was buried on the 27th May 1929 in Burnley Cemetery in grave 6159. She had been living in Lytham Road in Blackpool at the time of her death.
VRI – Vital Records Index
[Last updated 03 Jan 2011]