Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Joseph FAIRS (1800-1873)

and Philadelphia RICHARDS (c1805-1867)

Joseph Fairs and Philadelphia Richards married on 6 April 1826 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.  (They were not my direct ancetors.  Joseph's mother was the niece of my 6x Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Steel.)  (I have taken the date from the Sussex marriage index.  Does anyone have any further details from the marriage register?)

Joseph Fairs was baptised on 5 January 1800 in Shermanbury, Sussex.  He was the son of Richard Fairs and Elizabeth Woolvin (1766-?).  Joseph died aged 74 years in Lower Beeding and was buried on 30 January 1873 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was an agricultural labourer.

Philadelphia Richards date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She died aged 68 years and was buried on 15 September 1867 in Cowfold, Sussex (might her age at death have been 63 rather than 68?).  She may have been the daughter of Ellis Richards and Phyllis Miles who had married on 14 February 1804 in Little Horsted, Sussex.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and 6 children were living at Littlef??? in Cowfold.  Joseph was then said to be a 40 year old farm labourer and Philadelphia was 35.

In 1851, Richard was a 51 year old agricultural labourer and said he was born in Cowfold.  Phillis was then 46 years old and said she was born in Horstead, Sussex.  With the couple were 6 of their children and 6 year old nurse child Richard Martin who had been born in Worthing, Sussex.  They were living in Oakendean Cottage, Bolney Road, Cowfold.

The couple and 2 of their sons were still living in Oakendean Cottage in 1861.  Joseph Fares was a 61 year old agricultural labourer and said he was born in Shermanbury.  Philadelphia was 56 years old and said she was born in Horsted Keynes.

The 1871 census records that Joseph was a 72 year old widower and agricultural labourer and he was living with his son Thomas at Cross Cottage in Lower Beeding, Sussex.

Joseph Fairs and Philadelphia Richards had 10 known children:

1. John Fairs was baptised on 20 August 1826 in Shermanbury.

2. Eliza Fairs was baptised on 16 March 1828 in Cowfold.  She was baptised on the same day as her cousin Ann Fairs.  In 1841 she was 13 years old and the eldest of her siblings living at home.

   Eliza married Thomas Fairs on 1 August 1857 in Cowfold.  He was a bachelor and labourer and she a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Thomas Fairs and Joseph Fairs and they were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were George Faiers and Ann Parsons.

3. Thomas Fairs was baptised on 30 May 1830 in Cowfold.  In 1841 he was 11 years old and living at home.  In 1851 he was a 21 year old agricultural labourer and he was living at home with his parents.

   Thomas married Mary Woolvin on 27 May 1854 in Cowfold.  He was then a bachelor and labourer and she a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Joseph Fairs and Thomas Woolvin who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Woolvin and Eliza Faiers.

   Mary was baptised on 1 May 1825 in Cowfold and was the daughter of Thomas Woolven and Mary Sayers.

   When the 1861 census was recorded the couple were living at Gratfields in Cowfold.  Thomas was then a 30 year old agricultural labourer and Mary was 36, and they were both born in Cowfold.  In 1871 the couple were living at Cross Cottage in Lower Beeding.  Thomas was then a 40 year old agricultural labourer and Mary was 45.  Thomas's father was also living with them.

4. Ann Fairs was baptised on 23 Setpember 1832 in Cowfold.  The 1841 census records that she was 8 year old Fanny Fairs.

5. Ann Fairs was baptised on 23 November 1834 in Cowfold.  She married John Woolven in 1853.  (They have their own page.)

6. Sophia Fairs was baptised on 4 June 1837 in Cowfold.  The 1841 census recorded that she was 4 year old Sarah Fairs.  Her name was still recorded as Sarah Faires in the 1851 census and she was then 14 years old and living at home.

7. Joseph Fairs was baptised on 4 August 1839 in Cowfold.  He was a year old at the time of the 1841 census.  He was a 12 year old agricultural labourer in 1851 and living at home.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 21 year old rail labourer and he was living with his parents.

8. William Fairs was baptised on 27 March 1842 in Cowfold.  He was 9 years old in 1851 and living at home.  In 1861 he was a 19 year old rail labourer and he was living with his parents.

9. Richard Faires was baptised on 30 June 1844 in Cowfold.  He was a 7 year old scholar in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 17 year old apprentice on board the Eliza Emma and the census was taken in Yorkshire.  The master of the ship was 36 year old Hugh Hards who had been born in Steyning, Sussex. 

10. Henry Fairs was baptised on 26 Mary 1848 in Cowfold.  He died aged 10 years and was buried on 8 July 1858 in Cowfold.  In 1851 he was 3 years old.

FAIRS          RICHARDS