Ancestors of Mandy Willard

James ANSCOMB (1776-?)

and Sarah STAKER (1778-1845)

James Anscomb and Sarah Staker married by banns on 14 July 1799 in Henfield, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a  spinster.  The witness to the marriage were Mary Staker, Harriet Pettenden and Richard Pattenden.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

James Anscomb was baptised on 11 August 1776 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was the son of Allan Anscomb and Ann Shirley.  His parents had married on 7 October 1759 in Bolney, Sussex and his father was then of Shermanbury, Sussex, whilst his mother was of Bolney.  James died after the recording of the 1851 census.

Sarah Staker was baptised on 25 June 1778 in Henfield, Sussex. She was the daughter of Joseph Staker (1753-1803) and Ann Goble.  They had married on 16 January 1778 in Henfield, at which time they were both single.  Sarah's death was registered in the second quarter of 1845 in the Brighton registration district.  Her father was the son of Zaccheus Staker (1720-1797) and Mary Browning, and her mother the daughter of Henry Browning and Ann Silverlock.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple were both said to be 60 years and they were living at Kentons in Henfield, along with 70 year old Edward Borrer and 30 year old servant Barbary King.  James was then a farmer.  The 1851 census records that James was 73 years old and living with the family of his son Zaccheus at 75 Trafalgar Street in Brighton.  His place of birth was then recorded as Cowfold.

Note - a database at RootsWeb gives that 1776 Cowfold James Anscomb married Ann Anscomb on 13 May 1799 in Cowfold.  This does seem very possible, but the details from the 1851 census seems to imply that 1776 James married Sarah rather than Ann.  I think that James married to Ann was baptised as James Pannett Anscomb on 24 January 1773 in Shipley, the son of Sarah Anscomb.

James Anscomb and Sarah Staker had 3 known children:

1. Mary Ann Anscombe Staker was baptised on 14 July 1799 in Henfield and it was noted in the baptism register that she was the base born child of Sarah Staker.  Her death may have been registered in the second quarter of 1840 in the Brighton registration district.

   As Mary Ann Staker Anscomb she married Robert Reith Powell by licence on 23 October 1821 in Woodmancote, Sussex.  Robert was then a bachelor of Brighton whilst Mary Ann was a spinster of Woodmancote.  The witnesses to their marriage were James Anscomb and  Susan Chasserence.

   Robert was born on 28 February 1801 and baptised in March 1801 at St. Mary's, St. Marylebone Road, St. Marylebone, London and was the son of Philip Powell and Leticia.  He died in 1853 in Chelsea.

   After Mary Ann's death, Robert Reeth Powell married Isabella Armstrong on 3 May 1841 in Brighton.  Their fathers were named as Philip Powell and George Armstrong.

   When the 1841 census was recorded Robert and Isabella, together with his 2 children, were living in London Road, Brighton.  Robert was then a linen draper.  He was then said to be 40 years old, Isabella was 30 and his 2 children were 15.  By 1851 the couple had moved to 36 Jubilee Place within the parish of St. Luke's in Chelsea.  Robert was a 49 year old linen draper.  Isabella was then 42 years old and gave her place of birth as Devon.  At the time they also had a servant living with them, 17 year old Alice Thomson.

   Robert and his elder brother, Philip, were both linen drapers in Brighton and both became bankrupt.  It has been said that the Powell family were related to the Hannington family of Hanningston's department store.  The store was founded by Smith Hannington who on 12 April 1809 married Elizabeth Staker in Brighton.  When the 1851 census was recorded Elizabeth gave her place of birth as Henfield in about 1781, and on 7 September 1780 an Elizabeth Staker was baptised in Henfield, the daughter of Joseph Staker and Ann Goble.

   Robert and Mary Ann had the following children:

   1. Ellen Powell was born in Reigate, Surrey.

   2. Robert Powell was born about 1825 in Reigate.  When the 1851 census was recorded he was an unmarried 26 year old servant and butcher living in the home of Joseph Sharp, who was also a butcher, at 92 Western Road, Brighton.

2. Joseph Staker Anscomb was baptised on 19 April 1801 in Henfield.  He died aged 67 years and his death was registered in the third quarter of 1868 in the Steyning registration district as Joseph Staker Anscombe.  He was probably named after his maternal grandfather who was buried in Henfield on 19 February 1803.

   Joseph married Frances Barber by banns on 1 July 1822 at the parish church of St. Anne's in Lewes, Sussex.  They were both then of that parish.

   Frances was baptised on 7 August 1803 in Poynings, Sussex and was the daughter of John Barber and Elizabeth Port.

   When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and 2 sons were living at 42 Waterloo Street, Hove and Joseph was a brewer.  At the time of the 1851 census the couple and their 2 sons were living at 42a Waterloo Street, Hove and Joseph was a brewer.  In 1861 he was a 60 year old widower living at 60 Waterloo Street, Hove, along with his son Edward and 9 year old grandson James Anscomb.  Joseph was then a wine merchant.

   Joseph and Frances had the following children:

   1. William Anscomb was baptised on 4 June 1826 at St. Nicholas in Brighton, at which time his parents were living in Little East Street and his father was a brewer.

   2. Edward Anscomb was born about 1832 in Brighton.  At the time of the 1841 census he was 9 years old.  He was a 19 year old grocer journeyman in 1851 and living at home with his parents.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 29 year old grocer, living with his father.

   3. John A. Anscomb was born about 1835 in Hove.  He was 6 years old in 1841.  In 1851 he was a 16 year old clerk and living at home with his parents.

3. Zacheus Anscomb was baptised on 29 May 1803 in Henfield.  The death of 66 year old Zaccheus Anscomb was registered in the second quarter of 1869 in Brighton.

   As Zaccheus Anscomb he married Frances Muddle by banns on 3 April 1832 at the parish church of St. Nicholas in Brighton.  He was then a bachelor of Brighton and she was a spinster of Henfield.

   Fanny Muddle was baptised on 26 August 1803 in Uckfield, Sussex and was the daughter Robert Muddle (1776-1821) and Ann Leopard (?-1803).  Her death was registered in the third quarter of 1851 in the Brighton registration district.

   The 1851 census records that Zaccheus was a 47 year old miller.  His wife was also then 47 years old and gave her place of birth as Uckfield, Sussex.  In addition to his father, the couple also had 2 children at home on census night, 16 year old Sarah Anscomb and 13 year old Fanny Anscomb.

   In the second quarter of 1854, Zaccheus married Barbara Barnett in Brighton.

   Barbara was baptised on 18 May 1804 in Ashurst, Sussex and was the daughter of Benjamin Barnet and Mary.  She died age 76 years and her death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1880 in Brighton.  When the 1851 census was recorded she was an unmarried 46 year old cook in the home of Lawrence Dennett Smith at Terrys Lodge in Henfield

   When the 1861 census was recorded the couple were living at 35 Trafalgar Street and Zaccheus was still a miller.  Also with them on census night was his daughter Sarah.  By 1871 Barbara was a 67 year old widow living at 19 Islingwood Road, Brighton.  With her on census night was 53 year old married visitor Jane Bennett who had been born in West Grinstead.

   Zaccheus and Frances had the following children:

   1. Ann Anscombe was baptised on 31 March 1833 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time her parents were of Kensington Place and her father was a miller.

   2. Sarah Anscomb was baptised on 26 April 1835 in Brighton.  She married Thomas Simons on 14 May 1864 at St. Nicholas in Brighton.  She was then 28 years old and he was 34.  Their fathers were then named as Zaccheus Anscomb and William Simons.

   3. Fanny Anscomb was baptised on 11 March 1838 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.

AYNSCOMBE