Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Nicholas BARHAM (1814-1896)

and Frances DADSWELL (1812-1901)

Nicholas Barham and Frances Dadswell were my 3x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married by banns on Thursday 24 December 1835 at the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Wadhurst, Sussex.  Nicholas signed his name, whilst Frances made her X mark.  The witnesses to the marriage were Leah Dadswell (mark) and Thomas Cooper (signed).  (Leah was Frances's sister-in-law who had married her half brother Edward Dadswell.)  They were married by the Vicar, Robert Barlow Gardiner.  Nicholas may then have been approaching his 22nd birthday and Frances just past her 23rd birthday.  She was also about 2 months pregnant with their second child.

Nicholas Barham was baptised on 6 February 1814 in Wadhurst.  He was the eldest son and fourth child of Nicholas Barham (1785-1857) and Elizabeth Moren (1791-1864).  He died aged 82 years on 23 July 1896 at Whitegates in Wadhurst and was buried on 27 July 1896 in Wadhurst.  His cause of death was acute bronchitis (6 days) and cardiac incompetence syncope.  His son Nicholas Barham, who was then of Durgates, was present at the death and also registered the death.  Nicholas was a master wheelwright.

Frances Dadswell was baptised on 19 November 1812 in Wadhurst.  She was the eldest daughter of Robert Dadswell (1784-1852) and 5 91 Ann Kitchenham (1792-1871).  She died aged 88 years on 6 July 1901 at 3 Fair View Villas, Crowborough, Rotherfield, Sussex.  Her caused of death was senile degeneration of the heart, general anasarca and exhaustion.  Her death was registered by her daughter, Hannah Smith, who was of the same address.  Frances was buried in Wadhurst on 9 July 1901.

On 19 October 1835, Nicholas and Frances were witnesses to the marriage of Edward Dadswell and Leah Harman, in Rotherfield.  When the 1891 census was recorded Nicholas and Frances were living in a House and Shop next door to Whitegates in Wadhurst.

Nicholas Barham and Frances Dadswell had 7 known children:

1. Nicholas Barham Dadswell was born on 19 August 1833 in Ticehurst, Sussex and baptised on 1 December 1833 in Wadhurst, as the illegitimate son of Frances Dadswell.  He died aged 76 years and was buried on 27 April 1914 in Wadhurst, and his name was recorded in the burial register as Nicholas Barham.  Like his father he became a wheelwright.  When the 1851 census was recorded he was an apprentice.

   As Nicholas Dadswell, he married Charity Wallis by banns on 30 October 1857 in Wadhurst.  He was then of full age, a bachelor and a wheelwright.  Charity was a minor and a spinster.  They were both of Wadhurst and both signed their names.  The witnesses were Stephen Thorpe and Harriet Wallis.  (In the fourth quarter of 1858, Stephen Thorpe Apps married Harriet Wallis.  Harriet was born about 1835 in Wadhurst and may have been a cousin to Charity.)

   Charity Wallis was born about 1837 in Wadhurst and was the daughter of William Wallis (1804-?) and Harriet Dibley (1807-?).  She died aged 70 years and was buried on 6 April 1907 in Wadhurst.

   In 1881 the family were living at Durgates Hill Cottage in Wadhurst.  In 1891 the couple and their daughter were living in Sparrows Green and Nicholas was a 57 year old wheelwright.  By 1901 the couple and their daughter were living in Durgates.

   Nicholas and Charity had 2 known children:

   1. Emma Barham was baptised on 24 October 1858 in Wadhurst.  In 1891 she was a 32 year old dressmaker.  She died unmarried aged 55 years at Durgates and was buried on 8 December 1913 in Wadhurst.

   2. William Barham was baptised on 26 February 1860 in Wadhurst.  He died aged 75 years at Laurel House, Old Station Road in Wadhurst and was buried on 12 February 1832 in Wadhurst.  When the 1901 census was recorded he was a painter and decorator living in Wadhurst.

      William married Mary Ann Friend by banns on 7 April 1885 in Wadhurst.  He was then a bachelor and a painter.  Mary Ann was a spinster.  They were both of full age and of Wadhurst.  The witnesses to the marriage were G. Barham and E. Barham.  (E. Barham was probably his sister Emma and G. Barham may have been is Uncle George who was only about a year older than William.)

      Mary Ann Friend was born about 1862 and was the daughter of James Friend a labourer.  She died aged 69 years at Laurel Villa, Old Station Road, Wadhurst and was buried on 10 February 1931 in Wadhurst.  At the time of the 1881 census she was a servant in the household of Thomas Husher, a carpenter and brickmaker of Fair View, Wadhurst, and she was then said to have been born in Ticehurst.  The 1891 census records that she was born in Burwash and 1901 says Wadhurst.  She was a dressmaker.

      So far I haven't found any children from this marriage - none living with them when the 1891 or 1901 census were recorded.

2. Frances Barham, my 2x Great Grandmother, was born on 29 July 1836 in Wadhurst.  She married Frederick Edward Boorman (1846-1884) in 1866.  (They have their own page.)

3. William Barham was born on 24 November 1840 and baptised on 10 January 1841 in Wadhurst.  He died aged 50 years (according to the parish register) and was buried on 4 June 1892 in Wadhurst.  He was a carpenter.  In 1881 he was described as a wheelwright and a Methodist preacher.

   William married Laura Smith in about 1862.

   Laura Smith was born about 1842 in Wadhurst.  She was the daughter of George Smith (1808-1878) and Elizabeth Fuller (1814-?).  When the 1851 census was recorded her name was entered as 9 year old Lorna Smith.  In 1861 she was living with her parents in Pell Green, Wadhurst, where she and her mother were straw bonnet makers.  Laura died aged 82 years at Marl Pit in Wadhurst and was buried on 29 September 1924 in Wadhurst.

   In 1881 the family were living in Wadhurst village.  At the time of the 1891 census the family were living at 5 Woods Green in Wadhurst and William was a wheelwright and carpenter.  In 1901, Laura was a domestic housemaid living at Marl Pit along with 3 of her children and a 5 year old boarder, Annie Hinder.

   William and Laura had 14 or 15 known children:

   1. Ada Elizabeth Barham was born about 1864 in Wadhurst.  The 1881 census records that she had "water on the brain from birth".  She died aged 22 years and her death was registered in the first quarter of 1886.

   2. Flora Smith Barham was born and died in 1864 (birth register in the third quarter and death in the fourth.)  The Wadhurst burial register just records that infant Flora Smith Barham was buried on 9 November 1864.  I don't know for certain that she was a daughter of William and Laura.

   3. William George Barham was born in the fourth quarter of 1865 in Wadhurst.

   4. Ernest Frank Barham was born about 1867 in Wadhurst.

   5. Martha Smith Barham's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1868 and she was born in Wadhurst.  In 1891 she was a 23 year old unmarried domestic servant and the eldest of her siblings living at home.  The 1901 census index recorded her name as Martha Bankham and she was then a 33 year old domestic cook living in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

      Martha married Owen Sherlock in the second quarter of 1902.

      Owen was baptised on 7 July 1867 in Horsted Keynes and was the son of George Sherlock (1832-?) and Anna Sherlock (1835-?).

      Owen and Martha had 1 daughter:

      1. Edith Olive May Sherlock was born on 25 April 1903 in the Cuckfield, Sussex registration district.

      Owen and Martha later adopted a girl of French origin.

   6. Mary Edith Barham was born in the fourth quarter of 1870.

   7. Laura Ann Barham's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1872.  Her name was recorded as Annie Barham in 1891 census and she was a 19 year old domestic servant living at home.  The 1901 census recorded her name as Laura Serham and she was then a 28 year old under matron living in Tunbridge Wells.

   8. Arthy Barham's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1873 and he was born in Wadhurst.  In 1891 he was an 18 year old general labourer living at home.

   9. May Sophia Barham was born in the second quarter of 1875 in Wadhurst.

   10. Kate Barham was born about 1877 in Wadhurst.  She was 14 years old in 1891 and living at home.  In 1901 she was a domestic house maid living in Pembury, Kent.

   11. Percy Barham was born about 1879 in Wadhurst.  He was a 12 year old scholar in 1891.  In 1901 he was a stockman on a farm.

   12. Edith Isabel Barham was born about 1880 in Wadhurst.  She was 8 months old when the 1881 census was recorded.  Her death was registered in the second quarter of 1882.

   13. Ethel Barham was born about 1882 in Wadhurst.  She was an 8 year old in 1891 and living at home.  I have not been able to identify her in the 1901 census index.

   14. Charles Barham was born in the fourth quarter of 1883 in Wadhurst.  He was 7 years old in 1891.  The 1901 census index records his name as Charles Barlram and he was then a 17 year old grocer's assistant living in Tunbridge Wells.  He may have married in the third quarter of 1907 in the Ticehurst registration district.

   15. Florence Mabel Barham was born in the second quarter of 1889 in Wadhurst.  She was 2 years old at the time of the 1891 census.

4. Ann Barham was born on 19 August 1843 and baptised on 22 October 1843 in Wadhurst.  She married John Baldwin in 1866.  (They have their own page.) 

5. Hannah Barham was born on 7 June and baptised on 3 August 1845 in Wadhurst.  She died at The Oaks, Tubwell Lane, Jarvis Brook, Sussex and was buried on 14 May 1940 in Rotherfield.  The burial register notes she was 97 years old.

   Hannah married William Griffith Smith in 1873 and their marriage was registered in the third quarter in the Ticehurst registration district.

   William Griffith Smith was born in 1851 in Wadhurst and was the son of George Smith (1808-1878) and Elizabeth Fuller (1814-?).  He was 4 months old when the 1851 census was recorded.

   In 1881 they were living at Sparrows Green, Wadhurst and William was a journeyman wheelwright.  At the time of the 1891 census the family were living in Mabs Hill Cottage in Tichurst and William was a wheelwright.  Next door or in the same property was the family of Hannah's brother George.  In 1901 William and Hannah were living in Rotherfield and William was a carriage builder.

   William and Hannah had 5 or 6 known children: 

   1. Luther Gilbert Smith may have been a son of William and Hannah.  He died aged 2 1/2 years at Witherenden Hill in Burwash and was buried on 6 February 1878 in Stonegate, Sussex.

   2. William Griffith Smith was born in the third quarter of 1874.  He was not living with his parents when the 1881 census was recorded.  The death of a William Smith aged 0 was registered in the second quarter of 1875 in the Ticehurst registration district.  The burial of William Smith aged 9 months was recorded on 3 April 1875 in Stonegate, Sussex.

   3. Hannah Smith was born in the third quarter of 1876 in Ticehurst.  In 1891 she was a 14 year old living at home.  When the 1901 census was recorded she may have been an unmarried 24 year old, cook domestic living in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she gave her place of birth as Stonegate, Sussex (which is part of Ticehurst parish).  Might she have married Abel Tulett in the fourth quarter of 1903?  In 1901 Abel may have been a 19 year old bricklayer's labourer living in Dane Hill.

   4. May Elizabeth Smith was born about 1880 in Wadhurst.  She was a 10 year old scholar in 1891.

   5. George Smith was born about 1883 in Ticehurst, although his baptism has not been found in the parish registers of Ticehurst or Stonegate.  He was as an 8 year old scholar in 1891.

   6. Louisa Smith was born about 1886 in Ticehurst, although her baptism has not been found in the parish registers of Ticehurst or Stonegate.  She was a 5 year old scholar in 1891.

6. Henry Barham was baptised on 23 February 1851 in Wadhurst.  He married Emily Ford in 1872.  (They have their own page.)

7. George Barham was born about 1859 in Wadhurst.  He married Rebecca Goldsmith in 1880.

   Rebecca was baptised on 3 April 1859 in Horsmonden, Kent and was the daughter of Richard Goldsmith (1826-?) and Matilda Hicks (1827-?).

   In 1881 George was a blacksmith and they were living at 4 Cottage Mabbs Hill, Ticehurst.  When the 1891 census was recorded George was not at home with his family on census night.  Rebecca and her 4 children were living in Mabs Hill Cottage in Ticehurst.  In 1901 the family were living in the St. Pauls district of Deptford, London and George was a coachsmith.

   George and Rebecca had 6 known children:

   1. Lily Barham was baptised on 29 January 1882 in Stonegate, at which time her father was a blacksmith of Stonegate.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1891.  In 1901 she was a barmaid in St. Pauls, Deptford along with her sister Rebecca, but they were not living with their parents.

   2. Rebecca Mary Matilda Barham was born in the second quarter of 1883 in Stonegate and baptised in the Stonegate parish church on 24 June 1883, at which time her father was a blacksmith of Stonegate.  She was an 8 year old scholar in 1891.  She was a barmaid in 1901.

   3. Irene Charlotte Barham's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1887 and she was born in Stonegate.  She was 4 years old at the time of the 1891 census.

   4. Hilda Edeline Barham was baptised on 21 September 1890 in the parish church of Ticehurst, at which time her father was a blacksmith.  In 1891 she was, what looks like in the census return, 10 months old.

   5. Clarence George Barham was born in the second quarter of 1894 in New Cross, London.

   6. Reginald Henry Barham was born in the fourth quarter of 1896 in New Cross.  He died in about 1960.  He married Dorothy and she died in 1997.  (Many thanks to their daughter Jane for these details.)

BARHAM          DADSWELL