Mrs. Sarah Smith Finch

Mrs. Sarah Smith Finch (d. 1828) was the wife of Charles Finch, Esq. (1762-1830), a successful ironmonger, trustee of St. Andrew’s Street, and a significant contributor to the new chapel erected in 1836.  His daughter, Elizabeth, married Ebenezer Foster. His brother, William, married Sarah Priestley, the only daughter of the Unitarian minister and scientist, Joseph Priestley.  His son, Charles, Jr. (1787-1866) was also a trustee of St. Andrew’s Street, but was never a member. In 1799 Finch was appointed one of the Commissioners of Cambridge (Cambridge Intelligencer 23 March 1799).  He was also involved, along with several of Flower’s friends mentioned here and elsewhere in this correspondence, in the formation of a Free School in Cambridge on Jesus Lane in 1808 (Cambridge University Library, ADD.MS.5824, ff.16, 18).  His three sons-in-law served among themselves twelve terms as mayor of Cambridge. Finch’s ironworks, operated by the family from 1688 to 1847, was located along the Cam River at Market Hill, near Bridge Street, close to Flower’s house. See Richard Norman Finch and Evelyn Sheila Finch,  Our Finch Family and Others Mainly from Worcestershire and Cambridgeshire ...  ([n.d.]: Published by R. N. and E. S. Finch, 1993), 59, 61; Church Book: St. Andrew’s Street Baptist Church, Cambridge 1720-1832 (London: Baptist Historical Society, 1991), 73, 76, 125, 137-38, 143-44.