Sabina daughter of John Crowhurst of Bexhill, builder, and Sarah (baptismal record)
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Writing his Will in May 1835 John Crowhurst of Bexhill, yeoman, named his daughter Sabina Crowhurst as a beneficiary.
At the time of the 1851 England Census, Sabina Adams, age 35, born in Bexhill Sussex, married, schoolmistress, was living in North Gardens, Brighton Sussex. With her was daughter Lucy (5) of Brighton.
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Release of trusts and indemnity to widow of surviving executor, dated 19 Jan 1856. 4
John Shoosmith of Berwick, farmer, and his wife Sarah (née Crowhurst), Alfred Crowhurst of Bexhill, builder, William Crowhurst of 72 Upper Gloucester Lane, Brighton, plumber, John Adams of 66 Castle Street, Southwark, grocer, and his wife Sabina (née Crowhurst), the surviving children of John Crowhurst and his wife Sarah, (née Smith), to Elizabeth Putland of Hellingly, widow of John Putland of Willingdon, gent
four sums of £103 1s 6d paid to Sarah Shoosmith, Alfred Crowhurst, William Crowhurst and Sabina Adams under the will of Smith Crouch
recites: will of Smith Crouch of Hastings, gent, bequeathing £1000 to John Putland and Henry Tindall of Hastings, cornfactor, to be held in trust for the benefit of his wife Ann Crouch for life, with remainder of a moiety to the children of John Crowhurst of Bexhill, carpenter, and his wife Sarah, (née Smith), and to Sarah's illegitimate daughter Mary Smith otherwise Stunt, 24 Aug 1819; death of Smith Crouch 23 Jan 1820, probate of his will at Lewes 21 Jul 1820; death of Henry Tindall April 1828; death of John Putland intestate, 6 Apr 1841; grant of administration to EP; investment of the capital in a mortgage, paid off in 1846 when the sum was invested in government securities; death of Ann Crouch 17 Sep 1854, whereupon the surviving children of John and Sarah Crowhurst became entitled to the principal; marriage of Mary Smith otherwise Stunt to Henry Muzzell at Hurstpierpoint on 24 Aug 1827; burial of Mary Muzzell at Woodford in Essex on 18 Jan 1845; death of Henry Muzzell; death of Edward Crowhurst an infant in 1805, James Crowhurst on 11 Jan 1853 and burial at St Mary Lambeth, and Matilda Crowhurst on 15 Nov 1846 and burial at New Church in Maidstone, Kent; marriage of Sarah Crowhurst to John Shoosmith at Bexhill on 16 Dec 1835; marriage of Sabina Crowhurst to John Adams at Bexhill on 8 Dec 1842; sale of a moiety of the stock by Elizabeth Putland who has paid brokerage, legacy duty and costs (details), leaving a net sum of £412 6s 0d.
Witnesses: William Cruttenden, clerk to Messrs Martin, solicitors, Battle; George Hirtzel, 19 Coleman Street, solicitor
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Sabina Adams does not appear in either the 1861 or 1871 England Censuses. This might be explained by the fact that, throughout the 1850s and 1860s, beginning in 1852 and ending in 1868, a number of newspapers reported that a 'respectably-dressed woman' by the name of Sabina Adams, widow, of Brighton, was repeatedly arrested, sentenced and incarcerated for stealing clothing. Her age as given in the reports indicate that she was born about 1814/5. The official government documentation confirms the multiple offences, where they were committed and, with a couple of exceptions, her age and marital status. However, the above 'Release of Trusts' seems to indicate that Sabina's husband, John Adams, was still living in 1856, and the Sabina Adams charged as indicated is referred to as a widow some four years earlier. As such, the evidence is not conclusive as to whether they are the same Sabina Adams.
At the time of the 1881 England Census, Sabina Adams, age 67, born in Bexhill, widow, dressmaker, was in Wandsworth and Clapham Union Workhouse, Battersea Surrey.
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Sabina Adams died aged 73 years. 3
Research Notes: