A search to find the ancestors of a little girl who created a piece of embroidery more than 100 years ago has moved a step closer – thanks to Express readers.
Christine Tacon, of Blakelow Road, contacted the Express last week to track down the family of Sarah E Downing, who she believed was a student at Christ Church Infant School when she crafted the antique sampler in 1891.
Amateur family historian Anna Thomas, who lives in Rainow, took on the challenge to find Sarah’s family, and discovered that Sarah married Joseph Gaskell in 1897, and went on to have two children, Helen Marguerite and Francis Rupert.
Christine, whose mum found the embroidery in an antiques shop in Norfolk, said: “The wonderful thing is that she had kids, she is someone’s great-great-granny.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be looking for a Downing after all but a Gaskell. I think if anyone can trace their family back – particularly to Francis – then that will be very interesting. It’s lovely to know that she was married. It’s starting to come together.”
Anna found details of a Sarah Eleanor Downing who was born in ‘September quarter’, 1875. Her parents were Susannah and William A Downing, who was a draper.
In the 1881 census they were registered as living at 54, Bridge Street in Macclesfield, before moving to 2, Great Queen Street, by the time of the 1891 census.
In 1891, Sarah is identified as a ‘pupil teacher’, which would fit in with the production of the sampler in 1892.
She married Joseph Gaskell, a school master at elementary day school Old Church School in the ‘December quarter’ of 1897 at Christ Church, and in the 1911 census is shown as living at 61, Roe Street, with two children, nine-year-old Helen and five-year-old Francis.
It is thought Helen died in 1967.
If you are a relative of Sarah E Downing, or can provide any information, contact the paper on 0161 211 2184.
