William Arthur Sawyer and Ruth Swift

St. Andrew's Church, Kirk Ella
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Croft - geograph.org.uk/p/2306399

William Arthur Sawyer (20), son of William Sawyer and Ann Smith, married Ruth Swift, daughter of William Swift and Mary Ann Lister, on 21 Aug 1855, at the Parish Church of Kirk Ella. Both were resident in Anlaby. At the time of his marriage, William Arthur Sawyer's occupation was listed as Shoe Maker, as was his father's. Ruth's father is listed as late William Swift, Ingeneer (sic). The church official was obviously better at maths than spelling too! LOL

William and Ruth had 15 children over 26 years, including one pair of twins. Seven of these children, including both twins, sadly, did not survive infancy: 

1. Lavinia Jane Sawyer b. 1856 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 187
2. Margaret Ann Sawyer b. 1858 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 205, died, aged 3, in 1862 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 145, and was buried, on 12 Feb 1862, at Hull Holy Trinity.
3. Rebecca Ruth Sawyer b. 1859 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 193, bap. 18 Dec 1859 at West Street Chapel, Hull
4. Mary Ellen Sawyer b. 1861 S Quarter in HULL Vol 09D Page 198, d. 1862 M Quarter in HULL Vol 09D Page 150, buried 27 Feb 1862, at Hull Holy Trinity.
5. Arthur William Sawyer b. 1863 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 213, bap. 24 May 1863 at West Street Chapel, Hull and, curiously, was baptised again on 6 Feb 1869 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull 
6. Mary Ellen Sawyer b. 31 Jan 1865 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 214, bap. 23 Mar 1882 at Christ Church, Sculcoates
7. Ruth Swift Sawyer b. 1868 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 241, bap. 6 Feb 1869 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull
8. Emmeline Sawyer b. 1869 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 223, bap. 6 Feb 1869 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull, died, aged 3, 1873 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 179
9. Minnie Smith Sawyer b. 1871 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 202, bap. 25 Apr 1871 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull, died in 1871 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 228
10. Walter James Sawyer b. 1871 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 221, bap. 25 Apr 1871 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull, died in 1871 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 163
11. Louisa Sawyer b. 18 Apr 1872 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 238, bap. 12 Mar 1873 at St. Matthew's Church, Kingston upon Hull, d. 1873 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 176
12. Ernest Sawyer b. 1873 D Quarter in HULL Vol 09D Page 244, bap. 22 Nov 1873 at Holy Trinity, Hull, d. 1874 D Quarter in HULL Vol 09D Page 189
13. Harold Sawyer b. 23 Feb 1876 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 274
14. Alfred Sawyer b. 1877 D Quarter in SCULCOATES Volume 09D Page 190, bap. 15 Apr 1878 at St. Paul's, Sculcoates.
15. Ethel Sawyer b. 1881 M Quarter in SCULCOATES Volume 09D Page 193, bap. 11 Jan 1885 at All Saints Church, Sculcoates

I've been unable to find any of this family on the Census of 1861.

In 1871, William Arthur Sawyer (35) Post Office Letter Stamper from Yarmouth, Norfolk, was living at Parade, South Anns Buildings, Holy Trinity, Hull, with Ruth Sawyer (37), Lavinia J Sawyer (14) Servant; Rebecca A Sawyer (11); Arthur W Sawyer (7); Mary E Sawyer (5); Ruth S Sawyer (3) and Emmeline Sawyer (1).

In 1881, they were living at 1, Clifton Street, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, where the household comprised: William A Sawyer (45) Letter carrier from Yarmouth, Norfolk; Ruth (47); Rebecca R (21) Dressmaker; Arthur W (17) Apprentice; Mary E (16) Errand Girl; Ruth S (13); Harold (5); Alfred (3) and Ethel (0). Lavinia Jane Sawyer (24) was housekeeper, at 98, Gt Thornton Street, Kingston upon Hull.

In 1891, still in Clifton Street, listed as William Sayer (sic) (55) and employed as a Parkman, with Ruth (57); Rebecca (30) Dressmaker and Ruth S (23) Mother's Help, Harold (15) Wood Carver Apprentice; Alfred (13) and Ethel (10) at school. Lavinia Jane Sawyer (31) Boot & shoe dealer was living on the Anlaby Road, Hull with Clara J Foster (15) Servant. I've been unable to find Mary Ellen (26).

William Arthur Sawyer died on Monday, 15 Jan 1900, at his residence at 93 Belvoir Street, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, aged 64. The newspaper announcement says he was buried at the Western Cemetery on the Thursday [18 Jan 1900] at 2:50 pm.

In 1901, the widowed Ruth Sawyer (67) was living in Rodney Street, Sculcoates, with daughter, Rebecca Ruth (41) Dressmaker and son Alfred Sawyer (23) Grocer's Assistant. Son Harold Sawyer (25) Single, Wood and Stone Carver, from Hull, in 1901, was a boarder in Russell Street, Peterborough, Northamptonshire; Lavinia Sawyer (44) Bootmaker, Shopkeeper was on the Anlaby Road, Hull. Mary E Sawyer (36) Cook, was in Lairgate, Beverley. Ethel Sawyer (20) was housemaid to John G J Marshall, Seed Merchant, at 391, Beverley Road, Sculcoates.

In 1911, Ruth Sawyer (77) was living with her daughter Rebecca Ruth Sawyer (51) Costumier, in Sculcoates. While Lavinia Sawyer (54) Boot and Shoe Dealer, and her sister Mary Ellen Sawyer (46) were living at 169 Anlaby Road Hull, Holy Trinity.

Ruth Sawyer (née Swift) died, aged 79, in Sculcoates on 13 Nov 1913.

In 1921, Lavinia Jane Sawyer (64) Boot & Shoe Dealer was at 169, Anlaby Road, Hull. It appears that Mary Ellen Sawyer (56) was Domestic Servant to a Mary Helen Gilpin Brown (56) in Thornton-Le-Dale.

Rebecca Ruth Sawyer (62) died at 70 Brunswick Avenue, Hull, on 17 Sep 1921. 

Lavinia Jane Sawyer of 169 Anlaby Road, Kingston-upon-Hull, Spinster died, aged 65, on 1 Oct 1921, leaving her effects to her brother, Harold Sawyer, boot dealer.

In 1939, Mary Ellen Sawyer, Retired, was living at 65 Minster Moorgate, Beverley. Mary Ellen Sawyer of 65 Minster Moorgate, Beverley, died, aged 77, on 2 May 1942, leaving her effects to her sister, Ruth Swift Dawson, Widow.