A side issue to the Reay family history is, who was Lucy Sands?
In March 1882, Lucy (Lucinda) Sands, a 17 year old, born in Belfast in 1865, was found murdered in North Side, Workington, under a pile of stones by a road-mender. She had last been seen alive in December 1881. (Maryport Advertiser, 3 Mar 1882. P 8, Col 1. et al.)
At the inquest into Lucy’s death, evidence to her movements, and to her clothing worn when last seen was given by Sarah Stewart, of 2 Christian St, Workington, who said she was grandmother to Lucy; that she had lived with her for about four years, was an orphan, and had a little brother.
Further evidence from ‘our’ James Rea(y), (b 1831) of 42 King St, Workington, stated that he was second cousin to Lucy. It appeared that he was the last member of the family to speak to Lucy, prior to going out on the fateful night.
The census return of the previous year, CR 1881, shows that Lucy had been living at 2 Christian St, Workington, with her brother James Henry Sands. Also living at the address were Sarah Stewart and Esther Rea both in their 60’s; Sarah being described as ‘widow’, originating from Belfast. Lucy and James Henry are described as ‘grandchildren’, apparently of Esther. (RG11/5176. F84 P29)
In the previous census in 1871, Esther Rea is shown as living at The Row, Workington with others of our Rea(y) family, including David Rea, father of the witness, James Rea. (spelling varies) (RG10/5242. F45 P3.) Esther, as Ray, died at 2 Christian St in April 1883 with her age given as 65 years. The informant on the death certificate is noted as Sarah Stewart, ‘sister’. (GRO: Q1 1883 Cockermouth 10B 340)
Sarah Stewart died in April 1895 at 42 King St, Workington – see James Rea(y)’s address above – age given as 85 years. She is described as ‘widow of William Stewart, a Shoemaker. The informant is recorded as Lucy Stewart, daughter, of Rosemount Buildings, Edinburgh. (GRO: Q1 1895 Cockermouth 10B 377)
After working for several years as a labourer in a Workington coal yard, James Henry Sands died at the age of 69 years in July 1936 at his long-term digs, 29 Udale St. He does not appear to have married. (GRO: Q3 1936 Cockermouth 10B 623)
Lucy Sands birth is recorded in February 1865 at 20 Michael St, Belfast, to Wm Jno Sands (sic), Pork Cutter and Mary Ann Sands, formerly Stewart. (Irish Genealogy.ie – 02322726. P 284) That of James Henry Sands is recorded as 7 July 1867 at 40 Dagmar St, Belfast. (Irish Genealogy.ie -02277650. P 285)
Further research found that the parents of Lucy and James Henry were William John Sands and Mary Stewart who had been married at the Presbyterian Church on Great Georges St, Belfast in December 1863. (Irish Genealogy.ie – 3326824) On the marriage certificate, William John is described as a pork cutter; and his father as Henry Sands. Mary’s father is noted as John William Stewart. Their occupations are indiscernible due to damage to the certificate.
A Henry Sands, pork cutter, appears in several Belfast street directories between 1846 and 1866, variously at 17 and 43, Little Patrick St; and Griffiths Valuation of 1860. (FMP: Hendersons ‘Belfast & Ulster Street Directory’. + www.lennonwylie.co.uk -Belfast Street Directories.) He also had a side line selling spirits, with a couple of convictions for selling ‘out of hours’. (FMP: Belfast Mercury, Fri 20 May 1853, P2. Col 1; The Banner of Ulster, Sat 26 Aug 1854. P2 Col 6.)
In July 1837, Henry appears as witness in a civil court action between a William Hamilton v Thomas Robinson regarding a land agreement connected to the Provision Trade. Henry is described as foreman pork cutter to Mr Robinson. (FMP: Northern Whig, 14 Mar 1839. et al.) In July 1853, Henry Sands, Pork Cutter & publican, Belfast, county Antrim, was brought up before Belfast Quarter Sessions on a charge of Bankruptcy. He appears to have been discharged later the same year. (FMP: The Northern Whig, Thurs 27 Oct 1853, P1 Col 6. Bankrupt & Insolvency Calender, 14 Nov 1853, P3.)
A John Stewart, shoemaker is listed at 7 Boyd St, Belfast in 1856 & 1858, and at 61 Christopher St, Belfast in 1863 (FMP: ‘Hendersons ‘ Directory of Belfast & Ulster, Street Directory.)
Although no marriage record has so far been traced, (Irish civil marriage records not being extant at the time, and church records ‘patchy’) it is believed that Sarah Rea (aunt to James Rea,) married John William Stewart (grandfather to Lucy Sands) circa 1842 in Belfast. Sarah’s brother David Rea(y)’s family, including James, left Ireland in the 1840’s, first appearing in Workington census’s in 1851.
It would appear that the Stewarts daughter Mary Ann (Stewart) and husband William John Sands both died in the 1870’s, in Belfast. After these deaths, their children Lucy and James Henry Sands moved to be with relatives already living in Workington, living with their grandmother, and grandmother’s sister at 2 Christian St.
