Sarah Millership

Born 1889, died 1965
Head Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, 1925-1927
Researched by Dauna Coppin

Sarah Millership was born on 10th December 1889 in Derbyshire. She was baptised in St Thomas’ Church, Brampton near Chesterfield. Her parents were John Thomas, a merchant, and Mary Ann (nėe Brooke).

The 1891 census recorded the family living at 48 Drummond Road, Stoke, Guildford, Surrey. John’s occupation was as a mechanical fitter and his wife was described as working as an engine maker (although this is more likely John’s employment written by the enumerator in the wrong place).

In 1901, Sarah’s family had settled in Sheffield, Yorkshire. They were living at 53 Ripon Street, Attercliff cum Darnall, when Sarh was 11 years old and at school. Her father John’s occupation was Iron Turner. The family had grown and Sarah had four younger siblings.

By 1911, Sarah was aged 21 and had left home to find employment. She was engaged as a general domestic servant for the Benson family of 57 Albert Road, Morecambe, Lancashire.

During the subsequent years, Sarah had, at some point, taken up training as a nurse because by 1921, she was employed as a Staff Nurse at the Withington Institution, West Didsbury, Manchester.  

In May 1925, Sarah was employed as Head Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse “….at a salary of Seventy pounds per annum with rations, washing and furnished apartments and a uniform allowance of Four pounds”. She worked there for two years, resigning on 4th July 1927.  It is not certain why she left or where she subsequently worked.

However, by 1939, Sarah had left the nursing profession and was employed as a housekeeper for Henry O’Connor, a Roman Catholic Priest, and lived, aged 49, at 68 Gardenia Avenue, Luton in Bedfordshire.

Nothing further can be found of Sarah’s life, and it is thought she died in Chichester, West Sussex, in 1965, aged 75 years. She was buried in the Old Cemetery of Bognor Regis as a Roman Catholic.