Sarah Irby
b. circa 16 May 1861, d. 20 October 1942
- Father: John B. Irby b. February 1830, d. between 1900 and 1910
- Mother: Harriet Townsend b. April 1839, d. 7 March 1910
- Sarah Irby was born circa 16 May 1861 in Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- She was known as Sally.
- John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumerated next to the household of John's brother William.. Other members of the household included Sarah Irby, James Leland Irby, Bessie Irby, Rebecca Irby and Elizabeth Irby.
- John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Sarah Irby, James Leland Irby, Bessie Irby and John B. Irby.
- John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Sarah Irby, John B. Irby, Bessie Irby, James A. McArthur and Bessie Irby McArthur. Also, boarding in the household was one male farm laborer. And son John also was enumerated in the Brownsville household of his mother's brother John R. Townsend, working on the farm.
- She was a school teacher, according to the 1900 census.
- She married Alex F. Hilliard on 16 January 1901 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina, at the residence of the bride, with Rev. C. B. Smith officiating.
- The following appeared on 25 January 1901 in The Marlboro Democrat: Married on Wednesday evening, January 16, 1901, at the residence of the bride in Smithville, by Rev. C. B. Smith, pastor of Bennettsville station, Mr. A. F. Hilliard, of Bennettsville and Miss Sallie Irby, daughter of the late John B. Irby of Smithville Township. It was a quiet home wedding, only the relatives of the bride and groom being present. They will make their home in Smithville for a while at least.
- The following appeared on 12 March 1910 in The Watchman & Suthron: (Bennettsville, March 8) Mrs. Harriet Irby, widow of the late John b. Irby, of this county, was burned to death at the home of her sister, Mrs. W. F. Kinney, near Blenheim, this morning between 6 and 7 o'clock. Mrs. Irby's body was almost completely destroyed. Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Kinney were saved from a like fate by a faithful old family servant Pleasant Gibson. The three women were alone when the fire was discovered.
W. L. Kinney, a son of Mrs. W. F. Kinney, went to see his uncle, Jno. R. Townsend, on business before breakfast, and left the lamp buring in his room. From this, it is assumed, the house caught fire. The occupants escaped, but Mrs. Irby, though warned not to go in again, could not be held back and entered the buring building. There she met her death. It is supposed that she fainted or was overcome by the smoke and heat.
Mrs. Dudley was painfully burned in an effort to rescue her sister. She and Mrs. Kinney were restrained by the negro from rushing into the burning building.
The terrible news was a shock to the entire county. Mrs. Irby was a member of a large and influential family. She was respected and revered by everyone. She leaves surviving her one brother, John R. Townsend, two sisters, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Kinney, and four children, James L. Irby of Boykin, Mrs. Bessie McArthur and Mrs. Sallie Hilliard and John B. Irby, of Cheraw. - Alex F. Hilliard and Sarah Irby appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included John B. Irby.
- She officially witnessed the death of Alex F. Hilliard on 7 April 1927 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- Sarah Irby became a widow at the 7 April 1927 death of her husband Alex F. Hilliard.
- Sarah Irby appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Irby, Marlboro County, South Carolina, at State Highway 9.
- Sarah Irby appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, at 220 McColl Street lodging in the household of Henry and Leila Rowe.
- Sarah Irby died on 20 October 1942 in Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, . Informant was Mrs. Mamie McPherson, Bennettsville.
- She was interred at McCall Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- Last Edited: 15 Aug 2015