EARLY YEARS
Sarah d/o John and Margaret Mirehouse was probably born in Cockermouth about 1824. As we possess baptism records for seven of her siblings, it seems likely that she was also baptized.
She would have been about 17 when the 1841 census was taken and living with John and Sarah Mossop, in Gilcrux parish, Cumberland, when the 1841 census was taken. They had three children: Mary (9), Alice (7) & Joseph (5).
MARRIAGE
15 Feb 1845, at the Register Office, Cockermouth, Cumberland: Joseph Armstrong, of full age, WIDOWER, nailor, of Cockermouth, son of JOSEPH Armstrong, nailer; married to Sarah Mirehouse, of full age, spinster, of Cockermouth, daughter of John Mirehouse, hatter. Witnesses were John Birkett and (her sister) Jane Armstrong (who both signed their names); Joseph signed his name, but Sarah made her mark.
Sarah bore Joseph seven children between 1841 and 59. They lived in Cockermouth until at least 1851, when the census states Sarah's 15 year sister Isabella was living with them. Their next chidlren were christened in Bridekirk (1853), Dearham (1855) and then Cockermouth again in 1856.
She left Cockermouth prior to giving birth to Joseph Myers Armstrong in Whitehaven, Oct 19, 1859.
CENSUS DATA
1851 Census
Joseph Armstrong (Head) age 33, born Bridekirk
Sarah Armstrong (wife) age 27, born Cockermouth
Joseph Armstrong - 11 (son by Joseph's first marriage)
George Armstrong - 5
John Armstriong - 3
Ann Armstrong - 1
By the the time of the 1861 census, Sarah was living with her sister Mary, and her husband Thomas Haslam, at #13 Haslam Street, Bury:
Sarah Armstrong, head, married, Age 37, hat trimmer born Cockermouth.
George Armstrong, so, 15, factory hand, b Cockermouth
John Armstrong, son, 13, factory hand, b. Cockermouth
Henry Armstrong, son, 7, factory hand, b Cockermouth
William Armstrong, 5, b. Cockermouth
Thomas Armstrong, 3, b. Cockermouth
Joseph Armstrong, 1, b. Whitehaven.
1871, census, Bury -Thomas Haslem (52) and his wife Mary (50, born Whitehaven) were occupying the same house, but the Armstrongs were gone.
1881, census at # 1 Haslam street, Bury - Sarah is listed as a 57 year old widow, still employed as a hat trimmer. 20 year old Joseph and 23 year old Thomas were living with her. So was Sarah's grandaughter Sarah Ann Armstrong.
Little Sarah Ann died in Bury the following year, in the registration quarter of Jul-Aug-Sep 1882. She was about 6 years old.
DEATH
Sarah Armstrong died some 13 miles away in Leigh during the registration quarter of Jan-Feb-Mar, 1900. She was 76 years old at that time.