Gen 2.1 Sarah-Ann 'Siran" Severn 1873 - 1948
Sarah Ann Severn, the eldest child of George and Martha Jane Severn was born 5 March 1873. On my trip to England, in 1997, some of the older members of the family recalled an old lady called Sirann (Yorkshire/ Lancashire dialect). I believe this is the person they were talking about. I am indebted to Jim Evans, her son (1919-1994) for a wonderful story and some of the facts here. And a huge thanks to his widow Lilian for the photos.
Sirann (Sarah Ann) was born in Darfield of George and Martha Jane Severn was born 5 March 1873. the youngest of 16 children, though 8 died young. She married James Evans of Rawmarsh. Jim continues the story:
"James Evans, my father was born in 1868 in Dawlish, Shropshire and he always said Dr Webb (Capt. Webb's father) brought him into the world. He was the son of John Thomas and Hannah Maria Evans who came to Rawmarsh in the 1880s from Dawlish with his children: James, Jack, Reuben and Charlotte. Both grandparents died within a day of each other at a house in Victoria Road, Parkgate. John was aged 84.
Jim was very fond of his dog.
Donated by Lilian Evans
Jim and the dog
Donated by Lilian Evans
Jim and unknown grandchild
Donated by Lilian Evans
James (Jim) was born 11 March 1870 at Langley Square, Dawley in the Registration District of Madely in Staffordshire. He married Sarah Ann Severn and they started married life in a very small house in Church Street, Rawmarsh and had a very large family of 16, but 7 died of scarlet fever which was deadly in those days. They moved to a larger house in Pottery Street an area well known for fighting and blackclocks, each family having a team of them. Jim told me that "In 1926 during the strike, my old man used to take me coal picking on Stubbin Tip. I was only eight at the time - we used to go up Haugh Lane and down a track to Bank Cottages which was pretty steep and pulling a barrow of coal up was no Joke. He used to tie me to the barrow for two reasons - one to help him pull, the other so I couldn’t run off. This barrow was a home made effort about 6 feet long and three feet wide with wheels off old wringing machines or mangles as they were called. The axle was made by “Old Footit” the blacksmith at the top of Pottery Street. Funny name for anyone, but a popular one. If anything went wrong down Pottery Street where I was born, you could hear them shout his name or something like it."
Top left Sirann in the yard at Pottery Street;
Above Sirann and Jim;
Left: Jim on a horse. All photos donated by Lilian Evans
Jim said that "In them days Pottery Street had all the mod cons, ash middins, dry closets, blackclocks and bugs. When it was hot they used to come out - the bugs I mean, and feed on you - sucking blood. If they had a feed off our old man, they’d be drunk for three days. We used to chase them up the bedroom wall with a candle. But you had to watch them - they’d turn around and blow it out.”
Jim and Sirann had the following children.
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Martha Jane Evans 1892 married Haigh then Riley (a widow at 32)
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John Thomas Evans 1893 – 1963. married Barker.
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George Evans 1896 -1917
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Ernest ‘Cufty’ Evans 1898 – 1967. married Leather
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Mary Evans 1902 - 1902 - 1946 . married Gillespie
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Sarah Jane Evans 1905 – married Turton & Simpson
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Beatrice May Evans 1908 - 1946 . married married
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Betsy Mabel Evans 1911
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Kathleen ‘Cathy’ Evans 1913 – 1967. married Killeen
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James Evans 1918-1996. married Makin
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Rose Evans 1923. married Hunt
Jim died in 1951 aged 83. Sarah Ann died 1 June 1948 aged 75