Biography of Sarah Ann Maria Spurgeon (Sarah Annie Maria High)

Also known as Annie and Maria. Born on 16 September 1858 & baptised on 10 October 1858 in Reedham, Norfolk, one of 13 children. In the 1861 census age 3 she's living with her parents James & Ann, sisters Hannah (11), Ellen (9), Harriet (4), brother James (7), and two lodgers at On the Hill, Reedham. In 1871 age 13 she's at the Gate House, White House Lane, Besthorpe, Norfolk with her uncle Robert Smith (64, a Railway Gate Keeper) & aunt Mary Ann Smith (62).

At the time of her marriage to Robert Walter Spurgeon (17 February 1878), she was living in the parish of Ormesby St Michael, Norfolk. In the 1881 census age 22 she's living at 6 Goldworths Buildings, St Helen's, Norwich with her husband Robert (24, a railway porter), son Cecil (2), daughter Ethel (1), and a servant Emma Rhodes (13).

Between 1881 and 1884 the family moved to Besthorpe, near Attleborough, Norfolk (NLS map); her daughter Catherine was born & died there age 9 months. The family (Robert, Sarah & Sidney) moved in 1885 from Norfolk to 29 Culvert Road, Battersea, London after the family fell on hard times (see/hear Charles Spurgeon's account). George was born here, & baptised at St Saviours. Between 1886 & 1890 the family moved to 13 Doddington Grove, Battersea, where Albert died, a week after his baptism, also at St Saviours.

Sarah moved to 34 Millgrove Street, Battersea, London in 1890. In the 1891 census she's living with her husband and sons Sidney (8), George (5), and new-born son Walter (3 months). In May 1895 the family (including new-born sons Charles & Arthur) were living at 2A Block, Old Street, Shoreditch, London. By 1901 they've moved to 3 York Road, Brentford, with Cecil (22), Sidney (18), Walter (10), Charles (8), Arthur (6), Herbert (5), Hilda (2), and a servant (Ellen Neighbour, 17). In the 1911 census the family has moved to 63 Whitestile Road, Brentford, now with 5 sons: George (24), Walter (19), Charles (17), Arthur (16), & Harold (14); and 2 daughters Hilda (12) & Winnie (9).

Sidney was the first of her children to emigrate to the USA in 1905; he was followed by Ethel & Cecil in 1907. George, Walter, Charles and Aurthur remained in England when the rest of the family emigrated in December 1915.

She sailed on 8 December 1915 from Liverpool to the USA on the SS Philedelphia with husband Robert (69), daughters Hilda (16) & Winifred (13), arriving at New York on 16 December 1915 and settling in California at 1273 Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley.

During the first World War five of her sons (Harold, Arthur, Charles, Walter & George) were overseas fighting with the Allies.

In 1920 Sarah was living at 3841 Grove Street, Oakland, Alameda, California with her husband and daughters Hilda & Winnie. After her husband's death in 1921 she lived with her daughter Winnie Gordon's family in Alameda, California. In the 1930 census she's living at 1733 Brandon Street, Oakland with her daughter Winnie, son-in-law James, & their son James (5), and later (1939-1941) at 711 43rd Street, Oakland, California.

She died on 26 April 1943, age 84. See also Sarah's map timeline.