Sperring Family from Chilcompton Midsomer Norton Somerset England
I would like anyone who has a Sperring family tree to see if the following fits ... but, nothing can ever be proven seeing as we don't have any birth certificates. My g.g.g.grandmother Martha Sperring didn't put on her marriage certificate (April 1843 in Melbourne Victoria Australia) her parents' names. Her sister had recently died, and so Martha was then the only descendant of her parents - whoever they were! Martha arrived in Melbourne in 1841 on the "Strathfieldsaye" at age 23, along with her younger sister Eliza, aged 20/21. They were probably indentured housemaids for a two year period. She had stated on her emigration records that she was a native of Bath. (Bath is close enough to Chilcompton and Midsomer Norton - neither town would have meant much to anyone else not from that area, wheras most people have heard of Bath.) As far as we know, no record was ever kept of her parents' names. Her death certificate states "Father - Thomas, Butcher" - but this was her husband, erroneously put in place - by her son/daughter ? - insead of her own father, which of course they may not have known.
I need a good sleuth! Census records in Somerset show a George Sperring and his wife Hester/Esther nee Taylor, as having two daughters, Martha and Eliza, born 1818 and 1820, in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. It would seem that Hester/Esther might have died young, and also there are records that George was imprisoned, or at best, spent time at Devon Prison during the 1841 census .. perhaps he was just working there in his work capacity of carpenter. If imprisoned, this would have left Martha and Eliza to fend for themselves - or perhaps be placed with their closest relatives. George had a brother William whose wife was called Sarah (according to the census). Martha upon marriage (to Thomas Pearse, native of Devon), produced many children, and co-incidentally, the first two were named George William, and Sarah Taylor. This is the only lead that looks rather promising of a family connection, but can not be proven. Close relatives' DNA testing might give more indication - I have used FTDNA Family Finder, hoping for close matches. In the meantime, I was rather hoping that there would be a family from Chilcompton with brothers George and William ...
Sorry. Off base. Good luck.
I have photographed the Midsomer Norton gravestones for www.gravestonephotos.com and there is one surviving grave of the Sperring family. Rebecca Sperring died 1839, Her father was James Sperring and Mother Ann Sperring. You can obtain a free copy of the photograph from the website the reference is of the photo is 376604. This is one of the graveyards where many gravestone have been removed, (circa 1960) I found a whole stack behind the North Wall, many other used as paving slabs.
I am not far from Chilcompton so could have a look at the churchyard there for you. Richard Castle Ckass1@gmx.com.
Martha seems to be a common name with the Sperrings. A Martha Sperring of Midsomer Norton married James Dando (De Anlo) in 1800 another married a Henry Hare in 1839.
You should find more leads on www.familysearch.com/search. Oh by the way I picked up on the name because I was at school with a Sperring in Kent back in the 1950s.
Hello Richardcastle, Thankyou for your response. Yes, Martha does seem to be a common "Sperring" name. If what I have surmised from my original posting, I think my Martha had a cousin Martha via her Uncle, her father George's brother, William Sperring. Who knows, (I don't!) this Martha might have been the one who married Henry Hare. I have not found anyone with a family tree, although I believe William Sperring to be well 'covered' by genealogists. The other Sperrings - well, I just don't know at this stage. My Martha left England in 1841. I'm feeling a little more certain that my Martha is the daughter of George Sperring and his wife Hester/Esther Taylor ... as I have recently come across burial information (in Australia) giving the name Martha Sperring Taylor. This is the first 'otherwise' mention of the Taylor name in relation to my Sperrings.
Interesting that you knew a Sperring - I don't think it is a very common surname at all!
HI Lollyrock are you still searching Sperrings in Somerset? Iam just starting to look at my Sperring connection in Somerset. My family is largely from that area so I have a fairly good idea regarding parish boundary changes etc if your still looking let me know I will let you know what I find that might be relevant have already found a few spelling errors for the name on parish records Sperrin/ spearing being the two most common that can be problematic.
Hi Lucinder. I am always interested in any Sperring data .. seeing if the pieces fit. Yes, I do know that there are variations of the Sperring/Spearin name and that they probably all derive from the same source.. which I'm wondering is Flemish or such. As I don't have any dates or names of my ancestress Martha Sperring, I have to hope someone will one day post a tree with her (surmised) parents on it, i.e George and Hesther (nee Taylor) Sperring on it along with a brother William and wife Sarah. Do you have such a tree or names ? With thanks, lollyrock