A Little Bit of Scandal

Two years on and the next child is born – WILLIAM on 26.12.1802. He is baptised on 5.1.1803.The youngest son of ROBERT (b1766) and MARY KENT, WILLIAM witnesses his sister Hanna Maria's marriage to Edward Roper (so we know he can write) and appears on the Poor Record for the Parish. From 1823 to 1836 (when he is 21 years old and for 13 years) he pays 1/6d for the upkeep of SARAH ROPER's illegitimate child. SARAH ROPER (b circa 1798) was born in Old Buckenham two villages towards Attleborough and could well be EDWARD ROPER's (husband of HANNAH MARIA GILBERT (b1794)) older sister. Interestingly this payment starts about a year before HANNAH MARIA and EDWARD ROPER marry. Did this 'family scandal' bring them together?.


In 1841, SARAH ROPER is shown as 43 years old (WILLIAM GILBERT is about 39 and married to another woman). She has a child ROBERT (aged 14) living with her in Church Green, Banham. This doesn't quite tally – their child would be about 18 years old in 1841 – so its probably not ROBERT who was WILLIAM and SARAH's lovechild. Being 18 years old, the child could have already moved out of his or her home to work or marry. But ROBERT is likely to have the family name ROPER as another name is not shown in the census. Of course people do also lie, make mistakes and may be the math was more socially acceptable on paper?


However, in 1861 SARAH ROPER is living at 138 Tickenhall Street (the same street, and maybe house, her father lived in in 1841 – he now lives at Great Green). She is aged 70 and designated as a pauper and still using the name ROPER so probably never married. Living with her is 10 year old THRIZA SCARFE (b circa 1851) shown as granddaughter and scholar.


My thinking is that if THRIZA SCARFE is a true grand daughter, the first illegitimate child was a daughter who moved away and married into the SCARFE family. However there is also a THRIZA GERMANY (b circa 1855) who is SARAH ROPER's 'neice' and MARY ANN GERMANY's (daughter of GEORGE GILBERT b 1796) daughter. The unusualness of the first name makes me wonder if there is a connection. Someday, someone may go down this route and find those connections!


In 1831 WILLIAM aged 29 marries REBECCA GASKIN (m.12.10.1831) whilst still paying 'child support' to SARAH ROPER. REBECCA is from Banham so would no doubt know all about WILLIAM's illegitimate child. The witnesses at the wedding are ANN GILBERT (probably ROBERT's (b1891) wife), MARIA CHAPMAN (her mark), Michael Wiley and George Minton. MARIA CHAPMAN is is likey to be a relative of JOHN GILBERT (b. circa 1764) and his first wife MARY CHAPMAN (circa 1735-1797).