Stephen Oxborough, Charles and Elizabeth’s son, was a career criminal who spent most of his life in prison. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Edward Sampson who was also a habitual offender.

Charles Oxborough

Born: 1813 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Father: Charles Oxborough (1784 to 1869)
Mother: Frances Rayner (1787 to 1845)

Spouse: Elizabeth Brady (1819 to 1883)

Married: 1839 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Children:

Elizabeth Ann Oxborough (1846 to 1875)
Walter Stephen Oxborough (1848 to 1894)
Selina Oxborough (1849 to 1911)
Frances Charlotte Oxborough (1851 to 1899)
Stephen Oxborough (1852 to 19 APR 1921)
George Oxborough (1860 to 1912)

Died: 1863 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Timeline:

1823 Death of sister, Elizabeth
1824 Death of sister, Charlotte
1825 Death of 2nd sister, Charlotte
1826 Death of 2nd sister, Elizabeth
1826 Death of brother, Henry
1828 Death of 2nd brother, Henry
1839 Marriage to Elizabeth
1841 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1845 Death of brother, Stephen
1845 Death of mother, Frances
1846 Birth of daughter, Elizabeth
1848 Birth of son, Walter
1849 Birth of daughter, Selina
1851 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1851 Birth of daughter, Frances
1852 Birth of son, Stephen
1860 Birth of son, George
1861 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1863 Death and Burial

Occupation: bricklayer journeyman

Records:

1841 to 1861 England Census Records
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1915

Variations of Surname: none

Spouse:

Elizabeth Brady:

Elizabeth was born in 1819 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1883 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Elizabeth’s father was John Brady. He was born in 1776 in Denton, Norfolk County, England. He died in 1857 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Elizabeth’s mother was Ann Rayner. She was born in 1781 in Suffolk County, England. She died in 1850 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Elizabeth had four known brothers and sisters:

Rachael Brady (1801)
Charlotte Brady (1803)
Benjamin Brady (1806)
Harriet Brady (1807)

Elizabeth had one child out of wedlock:

Charles Brady (1836 Beccles)

Daughters:

Elizabeth Ann Oxborough:

Elizabeth was born in 1846 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1875 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Elizabeth had one child out of wedlock:

William Oxborough (1864 Beccles)

Elizabeth married Edward Sampson in 1866 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Four known children were born to this marriage:

Emma Elizabeth Sampson (1869)
Alice Sampson (1870)
James Sampson (1872)
Selina Sampson (1873)

Edward Sampson was born in 1844 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1917 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England.

Edward Sampson’s Colorful Past:

After Elizabeth died in 1875, I discovered that William, Alice, and John were sent to live with her mother in Beccles. Emma was sent to St John’s Children’s Home in Ipswich, Suffolk County, England. Selena may have been adopted out as I could not find her on any census records.

I then wondered what happened to Elizabeth’s husband, Edward. Could he not take care of his children? Did he die?

The 1871 England census had shown that he was working in Byker, Northumberland County, England, along with two of his friends.

As I searched Ancestry.com, I found the answer to my question in their database, England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892. Edward had been in trouble with the law on multiple occasions.

The first record was for the year 1872. It was not his first offense.

On 5 JUL 1872, Edward was convicted of a crime after a former felony conviction. He was sentenced to three months of hard labor.

On 1 APR 1876, Edward was convicted of burglary and larceny. He was sentenced to six months of hard labor.

On 5 JAN 1877, Edward was convicted of larceny after a former felony conviction. He was sentenced to 12 months of hard labor and five years probation.

On 6 APR 1878, Edward was convicted of night poaching and assault. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

The 1881 England census shows that Edward was a prisoner of the HM Convict Prison Portsmouth in Portsea, Hampshire County, England.

After Edward was released from prison, he returned to Suffolk County, England. The 1891 England census shows that he was an inmate of the Mutford and Lothingland Union Workhouse in Oulton, Suffolk County, England.

On this census record, Edward listed his marital status as married. Yet, the child named William Sampson was described as the “illegitimate child of Edward”. I could not find William on any other census. He must have used his mother’s surname.

The 1901 England census shows that Edward had been relocated to the Wangford Union Workhouse in Shipmeadow, Suffolk County, England. His marital status was listed as married. Yet, the child was no longer with Edward.

The 1911 England census shows that Edward had returned to the Mutford and Lothingland Union Workhouse. The document listed his marital status as widowed.

Selina Oxborough:

Selina was born in 1849 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1911 in Shipmeadow, Suffolk County, England.

Selina married George Darby in 1870 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

George Darby was born in 1842 in Geldeston, Norfolk County, England. He died in 1916 in Shipmeadow, Suffolk County, England.

The 1891 and 1901 England censuses show that Selina and George were inmates of the Wangford Union Workhouse in Shipmeadow, Suffolk, England. Selina was described as “feebleminded” on the 1901 England census.

Selina died at the Wangford Union Workhouse before the 1911 England census was enumerated. George remained at the workhouse in Shipmeadow until he died.

One Note:

Selina’s brother, Stephen Oxborough, was a “career criminal“. There is a court document, dated 3 OCT 1913, that shows Stephen had used the alias of George Darby when he committed a crime.

Frances Charlotte Oxborough:

Frances was born in 1851 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1899 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Frances married Lewis Clarke in 1870 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland County, England. Ten known children were born to this marriage. All the children were born in Beccles except Charlotte and Obadiah. They were born in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

William Lewis Clarke (1873)
Charlotte Clarke (1874)
Obadiah Clarke (1877)
Lewis Clarke (1879)
Edith Clarke (1882)
Elizabeth Clarke (1884)
Elijah Clarke (1886)
Florence Clarke (1888)
Arthur Clarke (1889)
Robert Clarke (1892)

Lewis Clarke was born on 12 MAR 1850 in Hopton, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1940 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

After Frances died, Lewis married a widow, Britannia Pinfold Neale Sarbutt Sarbutt in 1902 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Britannia Neale was born in 1855 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1937 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Britannia’s Parents:

Britannia’s father was Solomon Pinfold. He was born in 1826 in Colchester, Essex County, England. He died in 1858 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England.

Britannia’s mother was Ann Neale. She was born in 1829 in Tipperary, Ireland. I do not know when Ann died.

Brittania had two sisters. They were born in Pockthorpe, Norfolk County, England.

Amelia Neale (1849)
Louisa Neale (1852)

I believe Solomon and Ann were never formally married in a Church of England ceremony. That was because Solomon was considered a gypsy. I discovered an 1829 baptism record for his brother, Charles, that described their father as a “Gypsy”.

There is also the fact that Amelia and Louisa were baptized under the surname Neale. If the Church of England did not recognize a marriage, they would not christen a child with the father’s surname.

Britannia’s Husbands:

Britannia first married James Sarbutt in 1873 in Weston, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

James Sarbutt was born in 1842 in Weston, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1875 in Weston, Suffolk County, England. James was 33 years old when he died.

James had previously married Elizabeth Holland in 1870 in Weston, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Elizabeth Holland was born in 1842 in Bungay, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1871 in Weston, Suffolk County, England. Elizabeth was 29 years old when she died.

Britannia then married Walter Sarbutt, James’ cousin, in 1876 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Seven known children were born to this marriage:

William Arthur Sarbutt (1877)
Harriet Britannia Sarbutt (1878)
David Walter Sarbutt (1880)
Britannia Ethel Sarbutt (1884)
Arthur James Sarbutt (1885)
Walter Stephen Sarbutt (1890)
Albert George Sarbutt (1893)

Walter Sarbutt was born in 1856 in Ringsfield, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1899 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Walter was 43 years old when he died.

Notes:

The surname, Oxborough, originated in Norfolk County, England. It appears in church registers as early as the mid-16th century. As the world population grew, these Oxborough ancestors moved to other counties in England. By the late 19th century, some had immigrated to Canada and Australia.

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