My 4th Great Grandparents are John MAYHEW and his first wife Sarah HARRISON (or HARISS).
John MAYHEW was born in 1801 in Bromham, Bedfordshire, England, and was baptised on 2nd August. He was the first of two children born to John MAYHEW Snr and his wife Kazey GREY. His younger brother died at only a few weeks old in April 1804, followed by his father in August of that same year. John’s mother remarried two years later to Samuel STRATTON, but they did not have any children (she was about 43 by this time).
Sarah HARRISON/HARISS was born c.1800 in Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire. She was the first of three known children born to William HARRISON/HARISS and his second wife Jane PARNELL (more evidence is needed on Sarah’s parents).
John, a farm labourer, married Sarah HARRISON on 11th June 1821 at St. Mary’s Church in her hometown of Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, when they were about 20 years old. Eaton Socon is about 14 miles from Bromham on the northeast border of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The couple had five children before Sarah sadly died in 1833 at the age of 33 and was buried on 25th June at St. Owen, Bromham.
- Charles Mayhew (1822-1870) m.1847 to Martha Taylor ~ Agricultural Labourer
- John Mayhew (1824-1893) m.1849 to Louisa Barker (1) ~ Agricultural Labourer
- Keziah Mayhew (1825-1896) m.1849 to John Freeman ~ Lacemaker, Charwoman and Agricultural Labourer’s wife
- Ann Mayhew (1828-1900) m.1850 to Thomas Jeffires ~ Lacemaker, Washerwoman and Highway Labourer’s wife
- Emma Mayhew (1830-1842) died aged 11
John remarried very swiftly to his next-door neighbour, Sarah TAYLOR (13 years his junior), just five months later on 7th November 1833 in Bromham, and the couple had eight children. However, of these eight, only three made it into adulthood.
John continued to work as a farm labourer, and Sarah, like many women in the village, was a lacemaker. The family lived near the corner of Webbs Lane (now Village Road) and Grange Lane in one of the Grade II listed cottages, which now make up 45 to 49 Village Road. The cottages belonged to Bromham Hall Estate up until 1924 and were divided into several smaller cottages than they are today.
- Samuel Mayhew (1834-1841) died aged 6
- David Mayhew (1836-1836) died aged 9 months
- David Mayhew (1838-1855) died aged 17
- Louisa Mayhew (1841-1852) died aged 11
- Josiah Mayhew (1848-1898) m.1872 to Annie Louisa Malcolm ~ Railway Station Master at Berkswich, Staffordshire
- Matthew Mayhew (1851-1929) m.1882 to Ellen Jane Butler ~ Soldier (1870-1898): Colour Sergeant, 96th then 5th Regiment of Foot (stationed in India 1872-80 and fought in the Afghan War 1778-80)
- William Mayhew (1853-1921) m.1882 to Emma Mellowes ~Railway Signalman (England), Steel Temperer in Knife Works (USA)
- Sarah Ann Mayhew (1855-1855) died aged 3 months
Sarah suffered a stroke resulting in paralysis in 1871 and died five years later on 24th April 1876, aged 63, with her son Josiah present. She was buried in the local church a few days later on 27th April. John suffered a similar fate, having a stroke two years later and dying three months later on 11th May 1878, aged 76. Present at his death was Mary BROCKET, possibly his 1st cousin 1x removed (nee TEBBUTT). He was buried in St. Owen Churchyard a few days later.