Died
8 May 1941
Born
Sarah: 17 September 1878
James: 13 January 1901
Sources
Ancestry
CWGC
Place
Walks
Themes
Sarah & James Halfpenny
Blitz Victims
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
SARAH HALFPENNY
DIED 8TH MAY 1941
Unlike many of the Vernon Street victims, Sarah Halfpenny has a gravestone. Puzzlingly, the inscription only mentions Sarah, while the records indicate that James is buried with her. Cemetery records have her age as 64 yrs (CWGC has 63), and James as 39 (CWGC has 42).
Sarah and her son James Halfpenny (42) lived at 24 Vernon Street, and died in the Vernon Street Shelter.
James is listed in the CWGC records of Civilian Dead in Barrow as ‘son of Sarah and the late Patrick Halfpenny’. Patrick Halfpenny had died in January 1937, aged 65 years.
1939 Register
The 1939 Register for 24 Vernon Street, Barrow has the following listed: Sarah Halfpenny (DoB 17 September 1878), Unpaid Domestic Duties; James Halfpenny (DoB 13 January 1901), Post Office Telephonist, Pensioner Regular Army 3702912 Lance Sergeant; Francis Halfpenny (DoB 4 March 1921), Fitter and Turner; John Halfpenny (DoB 18 January 1916), Dairy Roundsman; Margaret A. Halfpenny (DoB 15 May 1913), Unpaid Domestic Duties; Michael G. Halfpenny (DoB 6 June 1939), Under school age. There are puzzling numbers next to each name and a red asterisk against the bottom 2, with a note to see separate sheet. Perhaps they weren’t permanent residents.
James Halfpenny appears in the British Postal Service Appointment Book having been nominated to be a NT & COA (Night Telephonist/& Call Office Attendant) in Barrow-in-Furness on 14 February 1939.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census the Halfpenny family were already living at 24 Vernon Street. Living there were Patrick Halfpenny (39) Rivetter’s Holder-Up, born Glasgow; Sarah Halfpenny (32), born Barrow, Lancs; Annie Halfpenny (11) Daughter, School, born Barrow; James Halfpenny (10) Son, School, born Barrow; Thomas P. Halfpenny (8) Son, School, born Barrow; Joseph S. Halfpenny (7), Son, School, born Barrow; Robert Halfpenny (5) Son, School, born Barrow; John G. Halfpenny (3) Son, born Barrow; Mary Halfpenny (10 months) Daughter, born Barrow; James Neary (15) Nephew, Apprentice Coppersmith Shipyard, born Barrow; Mary Neary (13) Niece, School, born Barrow.
1901 Census
The 1901 Census sees the family already at 24 Vernon Street. Annie is one year old, and James is 3 months old. Patrick’s brother John Halfpenny (mistranscribed by Ancestry as Halpenny) (24) Ship Rivetter, born Scotland, lives with them, and another Boarder is Louisa Hart (54), Widow, Charwoman, born West Bromwich, Staffs.
Sarah and Patrick had married in the fourth quarter of 1898 in Barrow.
1881 Census
Sarah must have spent most of her life living in Vernon Street. As a child of 2 years in the 1881 Census she is living with her family at 12 Vernon Street. Patrick Neary (44) Head, Labourer in the Iron Works, born County Down, Ireland; and his wife Ann Neary (35), born County Armagh, Ireland; have seven children: James (13), Unemployed; Thomas (11), Scholar; Annie (8), Scholar; Mary (6), Scholar, Catherine (5), Scholar; Sarah (2) and Patrick (9 months). The first two children were born in County Armagh, the rest in Barrow. Two boarders, Andrew Barr (59), Labourer in the Iron Works, and his wife Mary Barr (46) Weaver in the Jute Works (both born County Torone (sic), Ireland) share the house.
