Sarah was born 15 April 1805 in Fryeburg, Oxford County, Maine. Sarah is the daughter of Joseph Charles and Dorothy Abbott. Sarah appears to have been named after Joseph's mother, Sarah Walker. Since females were not listed in any Censuses until 1850 - we have to make some assumptions on where we first find Sarah. So - we can find a Joseph Charles living in Orangeville, Genesee County, New York. I assume this would be the earliest record for Sarah. Although - the record for Joseph does not list a female in his household of her age range. She would have been 15 years old in 1820. Joseph lists 4 females under the age of 10, 1 female age 26 to 44 and 1 female over the age of 45. So, Sarah may have been living with another relative at that time or the census may not be accurate.
We next find Sarah, most likely, in the 1830 Census in Wethersfield, Genesee County, New York. Wethersfield, living with her husband Chauncey Conkey. So by this we also can assume the Sarah marries Chauncey Conkey prior to 1830. Also living with them is another male age 15 to 19. I'm not sure who this male would be. We find Sarah again, presumably, in the 1840 Census in Wethersfield, Genesee County, New York. As noted in previous blogs - Wethersfield is now in Wyoming County, New York. Next door to Chauncey Conkey is Joseph Charles, Sarah's father. Living in Sarah's household were 2 males age 5 to 9 and 1 male under the age of 5. We know the younger male to be Eli Theodore Conkey and one of the older males to be Giles B Conkey. The other male is not known. This is most likely another child of Sarah and Chauncey. There is also 1 female age 20 to 29 - it is unknown whom this is either. Of course there is also a male and female ages 30 to 39 listed also - Sarah and Chauncey.
We know that this Conkey family leave Wethersfield in the year 1840 and travel westward ending up in North Plains, Ionia County, Michigan. This information can be found in the History of Ionia County. The unknown male listed in 1840 may have passed away on the journey from New York to Michigan. Sarah has another son, Ira Porter Conkey, in 1844 in North Plains, Ionia County, Michigan. The family is found in the 1850 Census living in North Plains, Ionia County, Michigan. Also living in North Plains is Sarah's brother, Nehemiah Charles. Nehemiah's family came to North Plains in 1844.
By 1860 the family has moved to Ronald, Ionia County, Michigan. Sarah's husband, Chauncey, is active in the church. In the 1860 Census in Ronald we find the family, son Giles has moved out, but Sarah's sister, Miranda Charles, is living with them now.
Sarah and Chauncey become grandparents in 1861 with the birth of Giles eldest daughter, Alice Conkey. Their second grand child, Emily (Emma), is born the following year.
Sarah and Chauncey are still found living in Ronald, Ionia County, Michigan in 1870 and 1880. Miranda remains with them.
I have recapped the children of Sarah and Chauncey on the blog for Chauncey.
Sarah Walker Charles dies 22 January 1890 in Ronald, Ionia County, Michigan. I have attached her obituary and a picture of her headstone.
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