Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Edward CATT (1825-1902)

and Mercy Ann FOSTER (1831-1888)

Edward Catt and Mercy Ann Foster married on 2 March 1849 in Winchelsea, Sussex.  Their marriage certificate noted that her father was a convict.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Edward Catt was baptised on 1 May 1825 in Udimore, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Catt (1796-1861) and Sarah Larkin (c1798-1859).  He died aged 77 years on 2 June 1902 in Appledore, Kent.

Mercy Ann Foster was baptised on 27 November 1831 in Winchelsea.  She was the daughter of Thomas Foster and Elizabeth.  She died aged 58 years on 25 October 1888 in Icklesham, Sussex.  When the 1841 census was recorded she was 9 years old and living in Winchelsea with Frances Foster a 23 year old dressmaker and 1 year old Elizabeth Foster.  Frances may have been baptised on 5 December 1817 in Iden, the daughter of Thomas Foster and Elizabeth.

In 1861 the family were living at No.2 Ferry in Winchelsea.  Edward was then a 35 year old, what looks like, Late Grazer.  Mercy Ann was then 30 years old.

The 1871 census records that the family were living in Cooks Street, Winchelsea and Edward was a 45 year old shepherd.

By 1881 the family had moved to Friar Street, Winchelsea and Edward was a 56 year old shepherd.

In 1891 Edward was a 65 year old widower living in High Cottage, Icklesham along with 4 of his children.  He was still then earning his living at shepherd.

In 1901, 75 year old Edward was living in Saxon House in Appledore, Kent.  Also with him on census night were 2 of his daughters and a 6 year old grandson, Albert E. Catt, who had been born in Brixton, London.

Edward Catt and Mercy Ann Foster had 12 known children:

1. Rosina Catt was baptised on 4 November 1849 in Icklesham.  She was a 12 year old scholar in 1861.

2. Edward Foster Catt was born about 1851 in Icklesham.  He was a 10 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 19 year old bricklayer apprentice and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

3. Richard Catt was born in the fourth quarter of 1855 in Icklesham.  In 1861 he was a 5 year old scholar.  He was a 15 year old shepherd boy in 1871.

4. Charles Catt was born in the third quarter of 1858 in Icklesham.  He was a 3 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 12 year old farm boy. Charles married Eleanor Elizabeth Ellis in 1893.  She was born about 1866 in Hove, Sussex and died in 1917.

5. Harry Samuel Catt was born on 8 September 1860 at Winchelsea Station SER(?) Brede.  At the time of the 1861 census he was 7 months old.  He married Amelia Eliza Callow in 1895.  (They have their own page.)

6. Emma Elizabeth Catt was born about 1863 and baptised on 23 July 1865 in Winchelsea.  She was an 8 year old scholar in 1871.  In 1881 she was an 18 year old dressmaker living at home.  The 1891 census records that she was an unmarried 28 year old, living at home with her father and younger siblings.  In 1901 she was an unmarried 38 year old housekeeper living with her father.

7. Frances Ann Catt was baptised on 23 July 1865 in Winchelsea.  In 1871 she was a 5 year old scholar.

8. John James Catt was born in the fourth quarter of 1869 in Winchelsea.  He died in 1927 in Westgate, Fayette, Iowa, USA.  He was a year old when the 1871 census was recorded.  In 1881 he was an 11 year old scholar.  He was a 21 year old agricultural labourer in 1891.  John married Agnes Mary Steer in 1896 in Battle, Sussex.  She was born about 1872 in Dallington, Sussex.

9. Frank Charlton Catt was born in the third quarter of 1871 in Winchelsea.  He was a 9 year old scholar in 1881.

10. Ellen Mercy Catt was born about 1873 and baptised on 11 July 1875 in Winchelsea.  In 1881 she was an 8 year old scholar.

11. Mary Jane Catt was baptised on 11 July 1875 in Winchelsea.  She was a 6 year old scholar in 1881.  In 1891 she was 16 years old.  In 1901, she an unmarried 26 year old living at home with her father and elder sister.

12. Frederick Charlton Catt was born in the first quarter of 1880 in Winchelsea.  At the time of the 1881 census he was a year old.  In 1891 he was an 11 year old scholar.

CATT          FOSTER