Sarah Elizabeth Whitby was born in October 1868 to Timothy and Hannah Whitby (nee Milliner) in the town of Audley, Staffordshire.
The 1871 census has Sarah down as being two years old and living at Quarry Cottage, Quarry Road, Audley. Her father was a Veterinary Surgeon and her mother's occupation was simply noted as wife. Sarah had a younger brother named Charles, aged 1.
In 1881, Sarah was now 12 years old and is noted on the census as a scholar. Her father is still a Veterinary Surgeon and her mother is now working as a Teacher. Sadly by now, Charles is no longer around having died three years previously in 1878. Another brother, Timothy, appears on the census, aged 5. The address is still the same as in 1871.
The next census available is the 1901 census with one mistake of the middle name of Sarah. Instead of an E, there is a G. All other information correlates and this may have just been an entry error. By now the family are living in Islington, London at 31 Beacon Hill. The household consists of Timothy Sr, Hannah, Sarah and Charles (brother to Timothy living on own means'). Hannah and Sarah have no listed occupation and Timothy is noted as a retired veterinary surgeon. They also have a visitor, a servant and an aunt in the household. Sadly, Timothy dies later this year.
In 1911, the family moved to 30 St Matthew's Road in Worthing, Sussex. The only occupants there are Hannah and Sarah and theyre both listed at doing household duties' with Hannah having an additional comment of private means'. Hannah would live there for 7 more years before her death in 1918 and she is buried in Heene Cemetery in Worthing. 2 years later, Sarah's brother Timothy would die and be buried along with their mother. 3 years later, Sarah would die on the 20th May 1921 with probate being granted on the 5th August 1921. Probate was left to a Mary Esther Warr (widow) with the effects of £754 18s. Sarah is buried with her mother in Heene Cemetery along with her brother, Timothy.
Note: Interestingly, the birth date has changed with the official records. The birth record and censuses give us the year of 1868 for Sarah's birth whereas probate and the death record gives us 1871.