Letitia Sanders, daughter of William and Mary Sanders

Despite in-depth and very frustrating research into Letitia Sanders, the daughter of William and Mary Sanders, up until today I knew absolutely nothing about her beyond the fact that she existed according to the will of her father William Sanders, written in 1819.

There is no baptism record for a Letitia Sanders or Saunders. The closest is a record for a child named Alicia Sanders, the daughter of William and Mary Sanders, who was baptised on December 19, 1800, at St. Andrews, Enfield. The two names 'Letitia' and 'Alicia' are very similar phonetically, and both are used by Sanders siblings in naming their children.

I could find no death for her post-1819, and no marriage. Then, this evening, I found a note I had made for a marriage of Letticia Saunders to Robert Dickinson at St. Luke's, Finsbury, in January 1823, and decided to research this couple in greater detail.

What I discovered has made me certain that this 'Letticia' Saunders is definitely my Letitia Sanders, the sister of my Edward Sanders and daughter of William and Mary.

Although Robert Dickinson married Letticia Saunders at St Luke's, Finsbury, the couple were natives of the parish of Enfield, and after their marriage were found to live at Enfield for all of their lives. Letitia was about six months pregnant when she married Robert- perhaps this is why she was not married in her family church of St Andrews, Enfield.

First child Letitia Dickinson was baptised at St. Andrews, Enfield, on March 9, 1823, the daughter of Robert Dickinson, horse dealer of Chase Side, Enfield, and Alicia (the name 'Letitia was written and then crossed out).

Going through parish records concerning Letitia and her family, I noticed that Letitia often went by the name of Alicia. She was 'Alicia' in the census returns of 1841, 51 and 1861, but 'Letiticia' in the census of 1871. Her death was recorded as 'Letitia Dickinson'- there is to me no doubt that the 'Alicia' who was baptised in 1800 is the 'Letitia' who was named in her father's will.

Letitia's husband, Robert Dickinson, was a dealer in horses and cattle. The family residence was described in 1823 as being 'Chase Side'; in 1832 'Clayhill'; and from 1833 'Forty Hill', all in Enfield.

Children born to Letitia and Robert Dickinson were as follows:

Letitia Dickinson: baptised March 29, 1823, St. Andrews, Enfield.

Ann Dickinson: baptised March 4, 1832, St. Andrews, Enfield. Daughter of Robert Dickinson, Clayhill, a labourer, and Alicia.

Robert Dickinson: baptised May 26, 1833, St. Andrews, Enfield. Son of Robert Dickinson, Forty Hill, a dealer, and Alicia.

William Dickinson: baptised November 10, 1839, Jesus Chapel, Enfield. Son of Robert Dickinson, Forty Hill, cattle dealer, and Alicia.

The 1841 census finds the Dickinson family living in Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield:

Robert Dickinson/ 41/ cattle dealer/ born in county
Alicia Dickinson/ 40/ Y
Alicia Dickinson/ 18/ Y
Ann Dickinson/9/ Y
Robert Dickinson/ 8/ Y
William Dickinson/ 1 1/2 / Y

In October of 1844, at the age of 44 years, Robert Dickinson, husband of Letitia Sanders, died. He was buried at St. Andrews, Enfield, on October 30, 1844.

Despite having young children to raise, Letitia Sanders Dickinson did not remarry. She earned a living as a laundress, as can be seen as we follow her through the census returns from 1851 to 1871:

1851: Forty Hill, Enfield.
Alicia Dickinson/ head/ widow/ 50/ laundress/ born Enfield
Ann Dickinson/ daughter/ 19/ laundress/ born Enfield
Robert Dickinson/ son/ 17/ labourer/ born Enfield

1861: Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield.
Alicia Dickinson/ head/ widow/ 60/ no occupation given/ born Enfield
William Dickinson/ son/ unmarried/ 21/ domestic coachman/ born Enfield

1871: Chase Side, Enfield
Leticia Dickinson/ head/ widow/ 70/ formerly laundress/ born Enfield

Letitia/Alicia Sanders Dickinson died in 1880, aged 79 years.

Of her children, all four married:

Alicia Dickinson married John Balaam on February 2, 1845, at St. Johns, Bethnal Green. She was stated as being a full aged spinster, residing at 12 Queen Street, father Robert Dickinson, cattle dealer. Her husband John was a black smith, the son of another John Balaam, blacksmith, and his wife Mary.
The couple had only one child- a son named John Balaam who was born at Enfield. He was baptised at Jesus Chapel, Enfield, on April 26, 1846, the son of John Balaam, smith, of Forty Hill and Alicia.
John Balaam was the son of blacksmith and farrier John Balaam and his wife Mary Smith, who had married at St. Martin In The Fields in 1821. John's siblings were Isabella, born 1824; and Edward born 1827. John Balaam the Elder, husband of Mary Smith, had been born at Edmonton on December 27, 1793, the son of yet another John Balaam and his wife Isabella.(Isabella Balaam died in March 1840, aged 71 years)

John Balaam, husband of Alicia, died in May of 1848. He was buried at St. Andrews, Enfield, on May 16, 1848, aged 26 years. I can't find any trace of Alicia Balaam under any spelling-she seems to have just disappeared. I presume that she died, because her father-in-law, John Balaam and his second wife Benedicta, took in baby John Balaam and raised him.
John Balaam the Elder lost his wife Mary in June of 1844, aged 49 years. In 1846, at All Hallows, Tottenham, widower John Balaam married Benedicta Drowley of New Romany, Kent, the daughter of carpenter Thomas Drowley.
The 1851 census shows them living in Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield, a few houses away from Alicia Sanders Dickinson and her children Ann and Robert. Youngest child William Dickinson is missing from his mother's household, but I think he was staying the night with the Balaam family...

1851: Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield.
John Balaam/ head/ married/ 7/ white smith/ born Enfield
Benedicta Balaam/wife/ 43/ born Romney, Kent
John Balaam/ grandson/ 5/ scholar / born Enfield
William Dickinson/ visitor/ 4/ scholar/ born Enfield.

William was in fact 12, not 4, but I am sure that it is him...there are no William Dickinsons born Enfield c. 1847, and just houses away William Dickinson is missing from his own home. And, the two houses were related by marriage.

In 1861, the Balaams are still living just houses away from Alicia Sanders Dickinson:
Goat Hill, Enfield.
John Balaam/ head/ married/ 67/ blacksmith/ born Enfield
Elizabeth Balaam/ wife/ 53/ born Romney, Kent (MISTAKE: should have been 'Benedicta' not 'Elizabeth')
John Balaam/ grandson/ 15/ machinist lad/ born Enfield

John Balaam the Elder died in 1868. He was buried at St Andrews, Enfield, on January 12, 1868, aged 74 years. The 1871 census showed that John his grandson was still living with Benedicta Balaam:
Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield.
Benedicta Balaam/ head/ widow/ 63/ laundress/ born New Romney, Kent
John Balaam/ grandson/ unmarried/ 25/ machinist/ born Enfield
Eliza Bushel/niece/ 14/ scholar/ born Dover, Kent

In 1881, Benedicta Balaam was still in Goat Road,Forty Hill, although there was no sign of John: a quick look at Free BMD reveals that he in fact died in 1874, aged 28.
1881 census: Goat Rd, Forty Hill
Benedicta Balaam/ head/ widow/ 74/ laundress/ born New Romney, Kent
John Millard/boarder/ 24/ brick maker/ born Newport, Middlesex.

Benedicta Balaam died in 1884, aged 78 years.


Moving on to the second child of Letitia Sanders and Robert Dickinson...Ann Dickinson. She married coach painter George Edwards at St. Luke, Finsbury, on May 24, 1856. Details in the parish register were as follows:

George Edwards/ full age/ bachelor/ coach painter/ residing 15 Cowper Street/ son of William Edwards, brick layer MARRIED Ann Dickinson/ full age/ spinster/ residing 15 Cowper Street/ daughter of Robert Dickinson, horse dealer. Witnesses: James & Elizabeth Tidy.

Like her sister Letitia, despite marrying at St. Lukes Finsbury, Ann Dickinson lived and raised her family in Enfield parish. Her children with George Edwards were as follows:

Annie Elizabeth: baptised 20 September, 1857, Enfield. Father George Edwards, coach painter, of Enfield, mother Ann. Buried St Andrew, Enfield, August 10, 1862, aged 5 years.

Alicia Sarah: baptised December 12, 1858, Enfield. Parents George Edwards, coach painter, Enfield, and Ann.

Alice Jane: baptised April 8, 1860, Enfield. Born March 8, 1860. Parents George Edwards, coach painter, and Ann.

George William: baptised July 14, 1862, Enfield. Born July 14, 1862. Parents George Edwards, coach painter, and Ann.

Annie Elizabeth: baptised January 24, 1864. Born December 25, 1863, Enfield. Parents George Edwards, coach painter, and Ann.

Emily: born July 11, 1866, Enfield. Baptised 26 August, 1866. Parents George Edwards, coach builder, and Ann.

Eleanor Edwards: born September 4, 1869. Baptised October 31, 1869, Enfield. Father George Edwards, coach painter, and Ann.

Albert born January 19, 1872, Enfield. Baptised June 8, 1872. Parents George Edwards, coach painter, and Ann.


1861 Census: High Street, Enfield.
George Edwards/ head/ married/ coach painter/builder/ born Enfield
Ann Edwards/ wife/ 29/ born Enfield
Annie E/ daughter/ 3/ born Enfield
Alicia/ 2/ daughter/ born Enfield
Alice/ 1/ daughter/ born Enfield
Emma Lingwell/ niece/ 10/ scholar/b Enfield


1871: Parsonage Lane, Enfield.
George Edwards/ head/ marr/ 40/ coach painter/ born Enfield
Ann Edwards/ wife/ 39/ coach painter's wife/ born Enfield
Alicia/ daughter/ 12/ scholar/ born Enfield
Alice / daughter/11/ scholar/ born Enfield
George W / son/ 8/ scholar/ born Enfield
Annie E / daughter/ 7/ scholar/ born Enfield
Emily/ daughter/ 4/ born Enfield
Eleanor/ daughter/ 1/ born Enfield

1881: Chase Side, Enfield.
Ann Edwards/ head/ widow/ 49/ laundress/ born Enfield
Alicia Edwards/ daughter/22/ laundress/ born Enfield
Alice Edwards/ daughter/ 21/ pupil teacher/ born Enfield
George W/ son/ 18/ railway booking clerk/ born Enfield
Emily/ daughter/ 14/ scholar/ born Enfield
Eleanor/ 11/ scholar/ born Enfield.

The 1881 census shows that Ann Dickinson Edwards was widowed in the decade between 1871 and 1881.

1891: Enfield
Ann Edwards/ head/ widow/ 59/ laundress/ born Enfield
George W/ son/ single/ 28/ railway clerk/ born Enfield
Emily/ daughter/ single/ 24/ dressmaker/ born Enfield
Eleanor/ daughter/ 21/ single/ laundress/ born Enfield

1901: Nursery Villa, Garden Hill, Enfield
William Brooks/ head/ 37/ carpenter/joiner/
Alice J/ wife/ 41/ born Enfield
Daisey E. A / daughter/ 10/ born Enfield
William/ son/ 5/ born Enfield
Ann Edwards/ mother-in-law/ widow/ born Enfield
Emily Edwards/ sister-in-law/ 34/ book keeper/ born Enfield

There is no sign of Ann Dickinson Edwards in the 1911 census, so she presumably died between 1901 and 1911. Three of her spinster daughters were located living together in Enfield:
Annie Elizabeth Edwards/head/single/47/ housekeeper at home/ born Enfield
Emily Edwards/sister/single/ 44/ cashier at a fishmongers/ born Enfield
Eleanor Edwards/ sister/ 41/ single/ dressmaker at home/ born Enfield.


That takes care of the brief summaries of Letitia Sanders' daughters, Letitia and Ann Dickinson. Now for her two sons, Robert and William. First cab off the rank: Robert Dickinson.

Robert Dickinson married Emma Eley on July 23, 1853, at Jesus Chapel, Enfield. The parish register stated:
Robert Dickinson/ 20/ bachelor/ labourer/ in this district/ son of Robert Dickinson, horse dealer
MARRIED Emma Eley/ 19 / spinster / in this district/ daughter of William Eley, labourer.

1861 Census: Parsonage Lane, Enfield.
Robert Dickinson/ head/ 27/ gardener/ born Enfield
Emma/ wife/ 25/ born Enfield
Emma/ daughter/ 7/ born Enfield
Robert/ son/ 6/ born Enfield
Mary/ daughter/ 1/ born Enfield

1871: Windmill Hill, Enfield
Robert Dickinson/ head/ 36/ gardener/ born Enfield
Emma/ wife/ 40/ born Enfield
Emma/ daughter/ 17/ born Enfield
Robert/ son/ 14/ scholar/ born Enfield
Mary Ann/daughter/ 9/ scholar/ born Enfield
Letitia/ daughter/ 7/ daughter/ scholar/ born Enfield
William/ son/ 5/ scholar/ born Enfield
Emily/ daughter/ 4/ born Enfield
Henry/son/1/ born Enfield


1881 census: Enfield, Parsonage Lane.
Robert Dickinson/ head/ 47/ gardener/ born Enfield
Emma / wife/ 47/ gardener's wife/ born Enfield
Emily/ daughter/ 13/ scholar/ born Enfield
Henry/ son/ 10/ scholar/ born Enfield
Alice/ daughter/ 8/ scholar/ born Enfield
Albert/ son/ 5/ scholar/ born Enfield


1901 Census: Parsonage Lane, Enfield.
Robert Dickinson/ head/ 53/ gardener/ born Enfield
Emma/ wife/ 52/ washerwoman/ born Enfield
Rose/ daughter/ 17/ housemaid domestic service/ born Enfield
Albert/ son/ 16/ gardener's boy/ born Enfield
Harry/ visitor/ 5/ scholar/ born Edmonton


Now for the second of Letitia's sons, William Dickinson...

William Dickinson married Emily Bray at Marylebone on May 19, 1861:

William Dickinson/ full age/ bachelor/ coach man/ residing St. Marylebone/ son of Robert Dickinson, horse dealer MARRIED Emily Bray/ full age/ spinster/ of St. Marylebone/ daughter of William Bray, butler.

William and Emily had a childless marriage, but their niece, Emily Merrick, came to live with them and remained for many years.

1871 Census:Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield
William Dickinson/ head/ married/ 31/ gardener/domestic servant/ born Enfield
Emily Dickinson/ wife/ 30/ laundress/ born Marylebone

1881 census: Goat Lane, Forty Hill, Enfield
William Dickinson/ head/ married/ 41/ coachman-domestic servant/ born Enfield
Emily / wife/ 41/ born London
Emily Merrick/ niece/ 11/ scholar/born LOndon


1891: Enfield
William Dickinson/ head/ 51/ gardener/ born Enfield
Emily / wife/ 50/ born London
Emily Merrick/ boarder/ single/ 20/ born London
Charles E. Merrick/ boarder/ 2/ born Enfield

1901: Woodland Terrace, Enfield
William Dickinson/ head/ 61/ builder's labourer/ worker/ born Enfield
Emily / wife/ 60/ laundress/ own accord, at home/ born Marylebone
Emma Merrick/ niece/ single/ 30/ laundry maid/ worker, at home/ born Marylebone
Charles E Merrick/ boarder/ 12/ scholar/ born Enfield

1911: 43 Berkbick Road, Enfield
William Dickinson/ head/ 71/ married 49 years/ no children/ roadsman EVDC/ born Enfield
Emily/ wife/ 71/ born Marylebone.

Thus the family of the mysterious Letitia Sanders is completed...four children and eighteen grandchildren, and a life of 79 years spent in Enfield.