Third Generation

6. William Thomas EMPSON was born in 1836 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.⁷ He died on 3 November 1881 at the age of 45 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.⁸ He was buried in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. In the 1841 Census, William, 39, his father, was a shoemaker living with his wife, Sophia, 32, and son William, 5, Ann, 3, and Alfred, 6 mos., in the parish of St. George in Birmingham.

In the 1861 Census, William, 26, a printer, was living with his mother, Sophia, 52, a button maker, sister Ann, 23, a button maker, and brother John, 17, a tool maker, at 27 Graham Street in the All Saints Municipal Ward of Birmingham. They were all born in Birmingham.

William Empson married Sarah Cook September 22, 1861, at Aston Juxta Birmingham, Warwick, England (Aston Registration District). William was living in Duddeston at the time. Witnesses to the marriage were John Empson and Ann Empson. Father of Sarah Cook was William Shaw.

When Sarah was born, the family was living at 55 Howard Street, St. George, Birmingham. Father was listed as a printer journeyman.

Mary Shaw was William's second wife, after Sarah died August 12, 1870. She died of a heart attack at 8 Lower Camden Street. His marriage to Mary Shaw occurred February 27, 1871, at the Parish Church of Edgbastion, Warwick, England (Kings Norton registration district). Witnesses were William J. Shaw and Matilda Horton. Mary's father was John Shaw, listed as a steel toy worker.

In the 1871 Census, the family was living at 118 King Edward Rd, LadyWood, Birmingham. Sarah had died, and he had married Mary, 25. Stepson Arthur W. Pennington was living with them. Arthur is listed as being born in the USA, but a British subject.

Family is listed in 1881 Census of England and Wales. Family was living at 197 Ickneild St., Birmingham, Warwick, England. William, 45, was a printer, daughter Sarah, 17, was a printer, Emma, 14, was a warehouse girl, Nellie, 12, was in school, Edith, 6, was in school, and Niece Mary Shaw, 18, born in Brinker, Brednock, Wales, was a press girl.

The 1878, 1879, and 1881 City Directory lists him at 3 Prescott Street (at corner 233 Ickneild Street. He was a lithographic printer (pictures). There's no mention of William, 2 (born in 1879), who died. At the time of William's birth, they were living at 2 Prescott Street. There's also no mention of Lawrence Pennington, brother of Arthur, who was in Birmingham studying at the Midland Institute in 1871.

At the time of his death in November 1881 he was living at 197 Icknield Street. He died of chronic pneumonia, having suffered with it for 9 months.

Children were christened at St Martin's, Birmingham, in December 1867.

Tracing children for clues: An Emma Emson b. 1875 of George Emson living at 22 Bow St., Birm.; an Emma Empson b. 1867 of William Empson at 197 Icknield St; an Emma Empson chr. St Martin, dau of William and Sarah, Batch no. C063002, Source Call No. 0919776, Print Call No. 6900588.

One other William Empson was born November 23, 1829, and christened December 18, 1829, at Saint James, Westminster, London, son of George and Julia Empson.

Were William and John Shaw brothers?

A William Shaw, born abt. 1830, was a pauper, formerly pearl button maker, at the Parish of Birmingham Workhouse on Western Road in Birmingham at the 1881 Census. Another, born in 1831, was a jewellers mounter (gold), living at 62 Sutton St., Aston, Warwick. A third, born in 1832, was a printer compositor living at 20 Shakespear Road, Birmingham. A fourth, born in 1833, was a gun action filer, living at 59 Legge St., Aston, Warwick. A fifth, born in 1834, was a pencil case maker living at 113 Wheeler St., Birmingham. A sixth, born in 1836, was a fomer zinc worker, widowed, lving at the Parish of Birmingham workhouse. We need a William Shaw who was married twice and had a total of 25 children.

Records to check: Batch No. MO11685 - Source call no. 0918846-848. Sarah Shaw Cook PENNINGTON and William Thomas EMPSON were married on 22 September 1861 in St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Aston juxta Birmingham, Warwick, England.

7. Sarah Shaw Cook PENNINGTON was born about 1830 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She died on 12 August 1870 at the age of 40 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was buried in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She is listed as Sarah Empson, late Pennington, formerly Shaw, on Ellen's birth certificate.

According to her son, Lawrence W. Pennington, was the only daughter among 13 children borne by her mother. Her father, William Shaw, married twice and had a total of 25 children.

After making ready to go to America, they finally started in Mardh 1854 with their son Lawrence. Arthur Pennington died on the voyage over, and Arthur Willmore Pennington was born on the same voyage. Sarah remained in Boston for two years and then returned to her old home in Birmingham with her two children.

In the 1861 Census, she, Sarah Cook, 31, a mangler, son Lawrence, 8, a scholar, and son Arthur W., 6, were living at 119 Pope Street, All Saints, Birmingham, with Charles Wilmott, 21, glass cutter, and his wife, Frances, 31. Sarah, Lawrence, and Arthur were listed as having been born in Birmingham.

She is listed as a widow of 32 on the marriage certificate. At the time of marriage, she was living in Duddeston.

Cause of death is listed as "syncope -- by visitation of God -- immediate." That sounds like a heart attack. She was 41 when she died. She died at 8 Lower Camden Street.

Sarah Shaw married Arthur Pennington August 12, 1847, at St. Philip's, Birmingham. A son, Lawrence Willmore Pennington, was born in 1852. A child, Arthur Wilmore Pennington was christened February 26, 1855 at Saint Martin, Birmingham, after Sarah and her two sons returned to England.

A painting in the family has a note on it: "painted by my mother's brother, Lon Pennington." Lon is a nickname for Lawrence. Lawrence doesn't appear in the 1871 Census, although he was studying at the Midland Institute in Birmingham at that time. Arthur Willmore Pennington was living with the Empson family (1871 Census). He later became a silversmith in Birmingham and had two sons, Arthur Lawrence Pennington and Ernest Pennington. I suspect Lawrence W. taught Ernest Regester to paint and possibly taught him the silversmithing trade.

Sarah Pennington married Thomas Cook May 18, 1856, at St. Mark, Birmingham, Warwickshire. No information has turned up about Thomas Cook, and they apparently had no children.

Children were: