The Family of Sarah Pluck

Origins

The origins of this tree are not clear yet. The current head of the tree, Sarah (maiden name unknown) was born in St Neots so it seems highly likely that her husband (also still unknown) was linked to the St Neots Plucks who can be found in Twig 16. I have not found a marriage for Sarah so have been unable to determine when she was widowed.

Sarah was a widow at the time of the 1841 census when she was living in West Wickham with John Hartgrove and four of her children. She continued to live at the same address for the rest of her life, marrying John Hartgrove in 1863, 12 years before her death at the age of 75.

There are a couple of weak points in this tree: (1) the link to James Turner Pluck (PL2707) is only circumstantial, but fairly strong, nevertheless, and (2) Walter James Pluck's (PL2698) parentage is also not proven (see below).

 

Notes on some individuals

PL No	Surname	Forenames	Notes
2714		Sarah	First found in the 1841 census living in West Wickham with John Hartgrove and four children, two born possibly in St Neots and two possibly in West Wickham. She is also in the 1851 census living at the same address with John Hartgrove, but no children. James Turner Pluck is living not far away. 1861C: she is a visitor at the home of Ann Squires in Huntingdon Street, St Neots. She is recorded as a widow, age 63, and a lace maker. 1871C: still living at Stretley End with John, but they are now married.
2708	BROWN	Rhoda Ann	C1871: living in West Wratting, b. West Wickham, 1836
2718	HARTGROVE	John	Living with Sarah in all censuses from 1841 to 1871 (except 1861 when Sarah was visiting a friend in St Neots).
2719	PLUCK	?	Known only through his wife, Sarah, who was a widow with four children by the time of the 1841 census.
2709	PLUCK	Alice Emily	C1871: living in West Wratting. C1881: not found, but she marries in 1882. 1901C: living in Aspenden Herts, a son and a daughter, husband a railway engine driver.
2706	PLUCK	Emily Rhoda	There is a possible marriage in the Linton RD in Q4 1903.
2701	PLUCK	Frederick Turner	1901C: a groom, living away from home, a boarder in High Street, born West Wickham. He married in Q4 1909: Linton 3b 1163. Free BMD offers three possible spouses: Mary Hobbs, Florence Wilson or Mabel Crampton.
2707	PLUCK	James Turner	Turner is probably a family name. There is a death in the GRO index: Q4 1855 William Turner Pluck, St George Southwark 1d 90. Without knowing his age we can't guess where he might fit into the family. 1851C: In West Wickham there is a James Pluck who fits. He is an ag lab, 23 years old, unmarried, born St Neots, and a lodger. Also in West Wickham is Sarah Pluck, widow aged 51, born St Neots; she is living with John Hartgrove, ag lab, 40, unmarried, born West Wickham. John Hartgrove and Sarah Pluck can also be found in the 1841 census at the same address (Stretley End). Sarah has several children: Mary Ann (15), James (15), Eliza (10) and Sarah (6). It looks as though Sarah is James' mother. 1871C: West Wratting, birch broom merchant, b. St Neots 1826.
2710	PLUCK	Marian Louisa	The 1871 census gives her name as Marian L and her age as 6. The GRO index has Mary Louisa in Q3 1864. The GRO index is a typescript transcription and almost certainly wrong. The GRO marriage index has Marian Louisa. 1901C: living in Leigh, husband works at the Royal Arsenal, four sons: Walter, Herbert, William and Archibald.
2698	PLUCK	Walter James	I have no proof, yet, that Walter is the son of James Turner Pluck. The evidence is circumstantial: James and Rhoda were married in Shoreditch in 1853, Walter was born in the Old Kent Road in 1857. They were near neighbours in the 1881 and 1891 censuses of West Wickham. A daughter of Walter was called Emily Rhoda, a son was named Frederick Turner and both families had a Marion. There is no doubt that they were closely related but James could have been Walter's uncle. A birth certificate is needed, or a 1861 census record. 1901C: horse dealer and carter (employer), born London. Although a birth record has been found in the GRO index Walter James has not been tracked down in either the 1861 or 1871 censuses. The first census record is in 1881, by which time he is married and is no longer with his parents.
2700	PLUCK	Walter James	1901C: 'James' , works for father, born Wendens. He married in Q3 1904: Linton 3b 1077, probably to Jane EGLETON (Free BMD). My Custodian entry has "son of Walter James of West Wickham - presumably a comment by GB. I don't have access to GB's records at the moment.