Sarah Elizabeth was the youngest child of William and Jane Valler. She was born on 20 July 1824 - baptised 20 March 1825 Parish of St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex - the family address had changed again to Euston Mews, St Pancras.

As with her elder brother William Roope and sister Jane, Sarah Elizabeth travelled from London to South Australia in 1838 with her mother and other family members.

While there is information showing that her sister Jane and half-sister Ann Owen Hudson made their way at some stage to Tasmania and lived their lives there, whether or not she also made the journey and returned to South Australia, is not known. It is known however, that she lived and died in South Australia.

Sarah led an “interesting” life, fitting 3 marriages into her 74 years. Her first husband was Charles Wharton (also known as Charles Walton) - they were married 31 March 1840 in Adelaide, SA.

Children born to Charles and Sarah were Charles Valer 3 May 1841 at The Tiers, S.A., Elizabeth Valer born 10 October 1845 also at The Tiers, Ellen born 18 February 1848, at New Tiers, and Emma 17 January 1850 also at New Tiers. The children were all known by the surname Walton (not Wharton).

Sarah's first husband Charles Wharton died on 22 March 1860 in Adelaide, SA and she remarried 22 Mar 1860 (the same day.....?) to Charles Serle (various spellings). They were married at St Thomas, Balhannah, District of Nairne, SA. NOTE: the death and marriage dates are from SA BD&M indexes, so possibly may not be accurate.

Sarah's 2nd marriage was short-lved as Charles Serle died 2 years later on 20 June 1862 at Stony Creek, District of Nairne, SA.

Five years on and Sarah's 3rd marriage took place - to John Frayne on 27 May 1867 at the Residence of Mrs Patterson, Kent Town, SA.

This marriage produced one known son Frederick Frayne born 28 June 1867 in Adelaide, SA.

While living at Edwardston, Adelaide, John Frayne died on 9 August 1893 at Springbank. SA. He was 74 years of age. His wife Sarah died five years later on 4 August 1898 while living at Stepney, Norwood, SA. She also was 74.

Of her 74 years just 16 of them were spent in the country of her birth. Her descendants are many, with children, grandchildren and I'm sure great grandchildren - possibly great great grandchildren. No research has been undertaken to follow their lives.

In these days of overseas travel it is very likely that descendants have made it their mission to visit the ‘old country’ and see the areas where the Valler family originated. Let us hope so anyway.......

I happened to locate a site on the internet - at Hatfield Family Genealogy which has further information on the life of Sarah Elizabeth Valler and her first husband Charles Wharton (Walton).

NOTE: 21 January 2015 - A fellow researcher has advised me that the above link to Hatfield Family Genealogy is no longer working.

There is no mention of the further 2 marriages and although I have checked the BD&M dates I am not able to verify the content of the information. There is a notation on the site that it has not been updated since December 2002, so in all probability there is further information to be added. However it makes for interesting reading and if anyone has success in contacting the author - Charles Whiteford - I would be very pleased to hear from you, as I have had no reply to the message I sent to him via the email address on his website.