Ancestors of Mandy Willard

David FAIRS (1826-?)

and Ann WOOLVEN (c1831-?)

David Fairs and Ann Woolven married on 21 January 1854 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and labourer and she a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Thomas Fairs and William Woolven who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Woolven and Harriet Fairs.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

David Fairs was baptised on 17 December 1826 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Fairs (1794-1874) and Mary Jupp (1798-1838).  In 1841 he was a 15 year old agricultural labourer living in the home of William Standford at Springhead in Parham, Sussex.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 25 year old agricultural labourer living with his father.  The death of 79 year old David Fairs was registered in the fourth quarter of 1909 in the Horsham registration district, therefore, born about 1830.

Ann Woolven was born about 1831/2 in Cowfold, as per the census.  She was the daughter of William Woolven (1807-1841) and Jane Newman (c1807-?).  I have not found her baptism in a transcript of the Cowfold parish registers, nor those of her younger siblings, although her elder brother was baptised there in 1828.  At the time of the 1841 census Ann was 10 years old and living with her 34 year old widowed mother and 4 siblings at Hooklands in Cowfold.  When the 1851 census was recorded she was a 19 year old general servant in the home of Thomas Graveley at Laurel Cottage in Cowfold.  Ann's mother Jane remarried on 24 September 1853 in Cowfold by banns to David White.  He was a widower and labourer.  Their fathers were named as Richard White and William Newman who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were James Newman and Rebecca Rhodes.

David Fairs and Ann Woolven 9 known children:

1. Harriet Fairs was baptised on 18 June 1854 in Cowfold.  She died aged 17 years and was buried on 29 December 1871 in Cowfold.

2. Ann Fairs was baptised on 16 November 1856 in Cowfold.  She may have died aged 16 years and have been buried on 20 June 1873 in Cowfold.

3. George Fairs was born on 28 February 1858 (should this 1859?) and baptised on 27 March 1859 in Cowfold.  He married Ellen Lelliott in 1882.  (They have their own page.)

4. David Faires was baptised on 17 August 1862 in Cowfold.  David married Susan.  Susan was born about 1857 in Dealwood, Devon.  In 1891 the couple were living in North Mundham Village, next door to his brother George.  David was then a 29 year old gardener and Susan was 34.

5. William Faires was baptised on 8 May 1864 in Cowfold.  He died aged 32 years and was buried on 12 November 1896 in Cowfold.

6. Mary Faires was baptised on 3 June 1866 in Cowfold.

7. Hary Faires was baptised on 29 November 1868 in Cowfold.

8. Emily Faires was baptised on 16 July 1871 in Cowfold.  She died aged 2 years and was buried on 5 September 1873 in Cowfold.

9. Catherine Faires was baptised on 29 June 1873 in Cowfold.  She died as an infant and was buried on 2 January 1874 in Cowfold.

FAIRS          WOOLVEN