Third protagonist - John Waters

Sarah's oldest William H Tolley born 1870 we haven't seen since the 1881 census when he was with Sarah and John Waters.

In 1911 it looks as if he was a colliery banksman above ground living at 29, The Ferns, Merry Hill, Quarry Bank, Staffordshire with wife Emma and 5 children: Lily May born about 1894 working as a pupil teacher in elementary school; Benjamin Henry born about 1896 working as a colliery horse keeper underground; Sarah Hannah born about 1900; William James Thomas born about 1905 and Kathleen Emma born about 1910. Apart from Lily who had been born at Small Heath Birmingham, all the children had been born at Quarry Bank. William and Emma had been married 18 years  and had not lost any children. Checking for a marriage: William Henry Tolley married Emma Bridge Dec qtr 1892 Stourbridge district. (Quarry Bank is in the Stourbridge district.)

It looks like William had left Martin Hussingtree sometime before 1891 to find work in the industrial south Staffordshire. In 1891 he was lodging with the Hingley family on High Street Quarry Bank working as a carter. Frank Hindley, head of the house was an Ironworks labourer. William could have easily been employed in the ironworks or at the coalmine. By 1901 he was a banksman at the coal pit and the family were living at 178 High Street Quarry Bank. (Transcribed as Falley on ancestry.)