Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Edmund BAXTER (1769-?)

and Ann HEWETT (1773-1852)

Edmund Baxter and Ann Hewett married by banns on 4 April 1796 in Cocking, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they both made their X marks.  The witnesses to their marriage were Robert Baxter, Henry Johnson and James Philip.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Edmund Baxter was baptised on 4 June 1769 in Cocking.  He was the son of William Baxter (1736-1806) and Mary Newell (1748-?).  The death of an Edmund Baxter was registered in the first quarter of 1848 in the Midhurst registration district.

Ann Hewet was baptised on 30 April 1773 in Cocking.  She was the daughter of Thomas Hewit (c1735-1800) and Mary (c1738-1825).  She died aged 81 years (as per her death certificate) on 2 September 1852 in Woolavington and she was then said to be the widow of Edmund Baxter a labourer.  Her cause of death was Hydrothorax and her death was registered by Mary Whitington who was present at the death. 

When the 1841 census was recorded Edmund and Ann were living in Didling, Sussex.  They were both said to be 70 years old and he was an agricultural labourer.

In 1851, Ann was an 80 year old widow living on Woolavington Common in the home of 60 year old widower William Smith and his 16 year old son Joseph Smith.  Ann was then described as a pauper and her place of birth was given as Cocking.

Edmund Baxter and Ann Hewett had 2 known children:

1. Robert Baxter was baptised on 18 June 1797 in Cocking.

2. Mary Ann Baxter was baptised on 1 December 1811 in Cocking.

   Mary Ann may have married Charles Hopkins on 21 April 1832 in Heyshott, Sussex.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Malkin and Mary Hopkins.

   Charles was born about 1803 in Heyshott.

   The 1851 census records that Charles was a 48 year old widower and shoemaker, living in Old Publick House, Heyshott, along with his son George and 46 year old married visitor Agness Fogden.

   Charles and Mary Ann had the following children:

   1. Charles Albert Hopkins was baptised on 13 May 1833 in Midhurst, Sussex.  When the 1881 census was recorded he was living at 14 Lower Fant Road in Maidstone, Kent.  He was then said to be married although his wife was not at home on census night.  Charles was a Corn Merchant's Clerk in 1881 and gave his place of birth as Woolavington, Sussex.  Also in his household then was 54 year old housekeeper, Anne E. Hopkins who was single and had been born in East Peckham, Kent.

   2. Mary Anne Hopkins was baptised on 3 May 1835 in Midhurst.

   3. Emily Hopkins was baptised on 31 May 1840 in Tuxlith/Milland, Sussex.

   4. George Hopkins was baptised on 27 May 1845 in Treyford with Didling, Sussex.  He was 6 years old when the 1851 census was recorded and the only one of his siblings living at home.  The census recorded that he was born in Didling.

Robert Baxter, witness to Edmund and Ann's marriage, was distantly related to Edmund.  Both were the sons of a William.  One William was born 1724 and died in 1809, whilst the other was born 1736 and probably died in 1806.  But which was which.  Robert's father married in 1760 whilst Edmund's married in 1765, both in Cocking.

1724 William was the son of 1698 Nicholas, son of 1652 John

1736 William was the son of 1698 Henry, son of 1650 Peter

Peter and John were brothers and the sons of William (or at least that's how I think the lines run)

When the 1851 census was recorded, 40 year old widow Mary Whitington was living with her 16 year old daughter also named Mary.  They were lodging in the home of Henry Rogers in Street, Cocking.  Mother and daughter were both said to have been born in Woolavington.  In 1841, 40 year old Mary was a female servant was living in Woolavington along with 17 year old Ann, 15 year old Thomas, 11 year old George and 7 year old Mary.

Census Transcript

1841 - Didling, Sussex (HO107/1101/2, folio 5, page 4)

Edmund Baxter, 70, Ag Lab, born in Sussex

Ann Baxter, 70, born in Sussex

BAXTER          HEWETT