Sarah was born at Desborough about 1858, the fourth of nine known children born to John and Elizabeth Coe.

Sarah initially worked in the shoe trade, as a machinist. Her mother Elizabeth died in 1875 when three of her children were still under the age of 10 and by 1881 John had remarried.

The 1881 census shows John to be working as a grocer. There were six children still living at home, including Sarah. Five of the children were working in the shoe trade, with the youngest still at school. By 1891 John's second wife Ann is described as a grocer whilst John and Sarah were dairyman and dairymaid respectively.

Sarah continued to live with her father until at least 1911, by which time Ann Coe had died and John had retired.