It is suggested that Sarah prior to her marriage was the Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Charlotte and either her brother or cousin was a Commander Elmhirst at the battle of Trafalgar. (Don23.4.96)

As for the wet nurse story the best I can do is quote from my mothers recollection of the family history written 10 years or more before she died
'The first Duckering of our story was gardener to the vicar of Gainsborough in the early 19th century. The vicar was an Elmhirst, the younger son of a fairly prominent landed family (see Burke's Landed Gentry). The gardener's wife and the vicar's wife both gave birth about the same time - a son to the gardener and a daughter to the vicar and the gardeners' wife was asked to wet nurse the vicars' child. So the two were brought up together and eventually married. This was not to the liking of the Elmhirsts who removed all records of the disgrace from the family tree but perhaps the son of this marriage was helped for Richard Elmhirst Duckering became a prosperous farmer.'  (This is from John Purcell 27th Noember 2024, whose mother was Margaret Clegg who died 2003 and was the daughter of Mabel (nee Duckering) Clegg who was the daughter of Arthur Duckering, son of Richard Elmhirst Duckering).

Sarah’s name in the All Saints Church parish register for burials is recorded as Susannah. FMP Par. Reg.: All Saints Church, Tealby, Lincoln burials 1826 no. 196 Susannah Duckering, abode Panton, buried Sept 24 age 42 yrs. On her gravestone, for this burial date, she is recorded as the wife of Christpoher Duckering - there is no other eligible Christopher Duckering.

The East Barkwith Rector's Register refers to a Christopher D.1783 - 1861. Does the different baptismal locations for the children reflect the family moving around - East Barkwith, then Wragby and finally Tealby ?

It is suggested that Christopher and Sarah eloped and married, because she was from a 'well to do family' and their marriage would not have been allowed. It is suggested that Sarah's father was a General and lived at Tealby (Nalby) Hall. (Don 13.7.96)

Christopher's occupation on some of his childrens birth registrations is refered to as a gardener.

It is suggested that Christopher was a 'Wesleyan Preacher'. (Bet Watkinson 29.11.95)

The 1834 register of voters for Lincoln records that Christopher lived at East Barkwith, owned the freehold of his house. (Lincoln library L 324-2, Mark 27.10.97)

Christopher death certificate registered Horncastle, sub-district Wragby, 2nd January 1861 Market Stainton, aged 78, gardener & seedsman, from natural decay, registered by Philip Elmhirst DUCKERING, present at death Wragby, registered 4th Janaury 1861. See copy on file.

Will of Christopher Duckering, gardener.
'I Christopher Duckering of Barkwith East in the County of Lincoln Gardener do publish and declare this my last Will andTestament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. Firstly I give and bequeath unto my dear Wife Ann Duckering the use of such portion of my household furniture as she shall think proper to select for her own use and I direct that my said Wife shall be allowed to live in and occupy two rooms in my new dwelling house in Barkwith East aforesaid for and during the term of her natural life free and clear of all charges of Rent Rates and Taxes whatsoever. I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Ann Duckering and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life one annuity or clear yearly sum of Fifteen pounds to be issuing and payable in twelve equal payments monthly out of my Messuages lands hereditaments and real estates situate and being Barkwith East aforesaid the first payment to be made at the expiration of One Calendar Month next after my decease I give and bequeath unto my friends George park and John Dobsonboth of Barkwith East aforesaid all and singular my ready money securities for money Book debts stock in hand goods and Chattels personal estate and effects what so ever To hold the same each the said George Park and John Dobson their executors administrators and assigns Upon trust as hereinafter declared thereof (that is to say) Upon trust in the first place to collect get in and receive all debts which shall be due an dowing at the time of my decease and to sell and convert into money the whole of my personal estate (except such as shall be retained for the use of my said wife) and to pay and satisfy all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses And upon further trust to put out on Interest the entire residue (if any) until the death of my said wife I give and devise unto the said George Park and John Dobson all and singular my lands Messuages Tenements Heriditaments and real estate situate and being in Barkwith East aforesaid or elsewhere in the said County of Lincoln to hold the same (subject tot he annuity afore said charged there on) unto the said George Park and John Dobson and their heirs Upon the trust here in after declared concerning the same (that is to say) Upon trust that they my Trustees or the survivor of them shall receive the rents and profits arising annually from my said real estate and shall pay unto my said Wife as foresaid and the surplus rents and interest shall beallowed to accumulate (if any) until the decease of my Wife And from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife or assoon as conveniently may be after I direct that my said Trusteesor the survivor of them or his heirs do and shall sell andabsolutely dispose of all my said Real Estates either together or in parcels and either by public auction or by private Contract to any persons or person who shall be willing to become purchaser or purchasers thereof for the most money and best prices that can be reasonably obtained for the same with full power and authority to buy in the same hereditament or any part thereof at ahy such auction or auctions and to resell the same at any future auction or by private Contract without being answerable for any loss diminution in price or expense whichshall be occasioned therby And I direct that my said Trustees or Trustee shall stand and be possessed of the money that shall arise from the sale of the said hereditaments herein before directed to be sold and of the Rents and profits therof in the mean time until such sale shall be effected Upon trust in thefirst place to pay all debts Bonds or Notes and the funeral expenses of my said Wife what so ever And to pay to Richard Duckering the sum of Ten pounds and to Alfred Duckering the sum of Nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings and to James Timm of Brough the sum of sixty pounds and the entire residue to be equally divided amongst Philip Duckering, Rachel Babington, Caroline Goy and Mrs Burton wife of William Burton share and share alike And I direct that the receipts of my said Trusteesor Trustee for the time being of this my Will shall effectually discharge the Purchaser or purchasers of my said Real Estates or other persons paying any money by virtue of this Will And thatthe Trustees for the time being shall not be answerable foreach other respectively but each for himself only Nor shall theybe answerable for involuntary losses And it shall be lawful forthem respectively to reimburse themselves and each other all costs charges and expenses attending the execution of the trusts aforesaid And lastly I appoint my said Trustees Executors ofthis my Will In Witness whereof I the said Christopher Duckering have to this and to the preceding sheet of this my last Will and Testament set my hand this Twelth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fiftynine - Christer Duckering - Signed published and delivered by the above named Christopher Duckering the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto - John Richardson William Clarke
Effects under £100
On the first day of May 1861 The Will of Christopher Duckeringformerly of Barkwith East but late of Market Stainton both inthe County of Lincoln Gardener deceased was proved by the oathof George Park and John Dobson the Executors named in the Willthey having been first sworn duly to adminster.
I do hereby certify this to be a correct copy. Lincoln 9th of May 1861' (Will from Daniels/Jill Dyson -22.4.96)

The sale notice for Christopher's property, dated 16th November 1854, advises that it consisted of four cottages, two shops and fifteen acres in East Barkwith and was occupied by Alfred Duckering, his grandson. (See document in LA 27.10.97) See details below:

EAST BARKWITH, NEAR WRAGBY
LICOLNSHIRE
TO BE
SOLD BY AUCTION
BY MR. CHARLES TATESON
At the Cross Roads Inn, East Barkwith,
On THURSDAY, the 14th NOVEMBER, 1861
At five o'clock in the afternoon.
(unless previously disposed of by Private Contact, of which due notice will be given, and subject to such conditions of Sale as will be then and there produced), the following
VERY VALUABLE AND DESIRABLE FREEHOLD
PROPERTY
Situate at East Barkwith aforesaid
In the following or such other Lots as may be agreed upon and declared at the time of Sale, viz:-
LOT 1. -- All those two several Messuages, or Tenements, withthe Barn & other Buildings thereunto belonging, with the piece or parcel of Arable Land, lying behind the same, as now staked out, (being part of a Close containing Seven Acres and a half, or there abouts), containing altogether by ad measurement 0A. 3R.2P., or thereabouts, on the south side of the Turnpike road leading from Louth to Wragby.
LOT 2. -- All that Garden and piece or parcel of Arable landas now staked out, (also part of the said Close) containing altogether, by adjustment 0A. 3R. 2P., or thereabouts, on theSouth side of the said Turnpike Road, leading from Louth toWragby, and on the West side of the last mentioned lot.
LOT 3. -- All that piece or parcel of Arable Land, as now staked out, (also part of the said Close,) containing by admeasurement, 1A. 1R. 11P., or there abouts, situate on theSouth side of the two last mentioned Lots.
LOT 4. -- All that piece or parcel of Arable Land, as now staked out, (also part of the said Close,) containing by admeasurement, 1A. 1R. 11P., or there abouts, situate on theSouth side of the last mentioned Lot.
LOT 5. -- All that piece or parcel of Arable Land, as now staked out, (being also part of the said Close,) containing by admeasurement, 1A 1R. 11P., or there abouts, situated on the South side of the last mentioned Lot.
LOT 6. -- All that piece or parcel of Arable Land, as nowstaked out, (being the remaining part of the said Close,) containing by admeasurement, 2A. 0R. 3P., or there abouts, situate on the South side of the last mentioned Lot.

Lot 1 is in the respective occupations of MR. ALFRED DUCKERING, and MR. JAMES PICKERING, and the remaining Five Lots are in the occupation of MR. ALFRED DUCKERING.
(continued)
The whole of the Property is Tithe-free. The Land is of superior quality, and well adapted for Garden or Building Ground. Possession may be had at Lady-Day next.

A PLAN of the Property may be seen and further Particulars known, on application to MR. GEORGE PARK, or MR. JOHN DOBSON, East Barkwith, or at the Offices of FREDERICK COOKE, ESQ., SOLICITOR, BOSTON or MR. PARK, SOLICITOR, HEDON, YORKSHIRE.

Hedon, 10 October, 1861
(Printed by) Wm. Parnell, Printer, Market-place, Hedon.

Marriage Contract 23rd September 1807, source Lincolnshire Archives MB1807/594

'Know all??? by those Presents that We Christopher DUCKERING of Scotton in the County of Lincoln farming man and Thomas NEEDHAM of The??? in the said County farmer are held and firmly bound to the Worshipful Wm. BATTINE LL A Vicar General and Official ????? of the Dioceuos of Lincoln lawfully constituted in two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to the said Dr William Bathine or his certain Attorney Executors, Administrators or Assigns for the payment whereof we bind ourselves and each of us by himself for the whole and every part thereof and the Heirs, Executors and Administrators of us and each of us firmly by those presents sealed with our seals dated the twenty third day of September in the forty seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King Defender of the Faith & and in the year of the Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and seven.'

'The condition of this obligation is such that if hereafterthere shall not appearing lawful set or impediment by reason of any pre contract entered into before the twentyfifth day of March One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty four consanguity affinity or any other lawful means whatsoever but that Christopher DUCKERING bachelor and Sarah ELMHIRST spinster maylawfully solemize marriage together in the same afterwards ??f ully remain and continue for man and wife according to the lawin that behalf provided and moreover if there be not at this present time any action suit plaint Wills or demand moved order pending before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Temporal for or concerning any such lawful Impediment between the said parties nor that either of them be of any other Parish or of better Estate of Degree than to the Judgent granting of the Licence is suggested and by Christopher DUCKERING sworn to.'

'And lastly if the same Marriage shall be openly solmenized in the Church or Chapel in the licence specified between the Heirs appointed in the Constitutions Ecclesiastical confirmed and according to the form of the Book of Common Prayer now by Law established And if the above be under Christopher DUCKERING & Thomas NEEDHAM do Wills the said Wm BATTINE ??? D his surrogates and others his Office is whatsoever by Reason of the promise Then this Obligation to be void or due to remain in full force and Virtue.'

Sealed and delivered in the Presence of
(Signatures and seals:) Christopher DUCKERING, Arthur BONSON, Thos NEEDHAM.'

Marriage licence. 'On the twenty third day of September in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven Appeared personally Christopher DUCKERING bachelor and made oath, that heis of the Parish of Scotton in the County of Lincoln and that he is aged above twenty one years, and intendeth to marry with Sarah ELMHIRST of the Parish of Waddingworth with said County spinster aged above twenty one years and that he knoweth of no lawful impediment, by reason of any pre-contract, consanguinity, affinity, or any other lawful cause whatsoever, to hinder the said marriage, and prayed a licence to solemnize the same in the Parish Church of Waddingworth and further made Oath, that the usual Place of abode of the said Sarah ELMHIRST ??? in the said Parish of Waddingworth for the space of four weeks last past. (Signed) Christopher DUCKERING. Sworn by me Arthur BONTON, Surrogate.',

Parish register: No 19, Christopher Duckering of the parish of Scotton in the county of Lincoln bachelor & Sarah Elmhirsty of y’r parish spinster were married in this Church by Licence this 24th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven by me John Mournsey Curate. This marriage was solemnized bewtween us (both signed) in the prsence of R’d Elmhirst, Alice Hebblewhite and Sam’l Rogison