Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Richard FAIRS (1790-1875)

and Elizabeth BROWN (c1799-?)

Richard Fairs and Elizabeth Brown married by banns on 26 December 1816 in West Grinstead.  The witnesses to their marriage were Ann Brown and William Neeve.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Richard Fairs was baptised on 2 May 1790 in Cowfold.  He was the son of Richard Fairs and Elizabeth Woolvin (1766-?).  Richard died aged 85 years and his death was registerd in the second quarter of 1875 in the Steyning registration district.  He was buried on 23 May 1875 in Shermanbury.

Elizabeth Brown was baptised at the age of 21 on 28 March 1820 in Cowfold.  The baptism register recorded that she was the wife of Richard Fairs, but not the names of her parents.  The 1851 census records that she was born in Shipley, Sussex.  She may have died aged 80 years with her death being registerd in the fourth quarter of 1880 in the East Preston registration district.  Might she have been the daughter of William Brown and Hannah Matthews who married in Shipley in 1782, or maybe Alan Brown and Susanna Agate who married in 1783 in Shipley.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and 6 children were living at Morleys in Shermanbury.  Richard was then a 50 year old agricultural labourer.  In 1851 the family were living at Green??? in Shermanbury.  Richard's age was then recorded as 62 years and Elizabeth as 51.  With them on census night were 3 children.  The couple were still living in Shermanbury in 1861 and Richard was a 72 year old agricultural labourer and Elizabeth was 62.  Also with them were 2 sons.  In 1871 the couple were living alone in Shermanbury.  Richard at the age of 82 was still earning his living as an agricultural labourer.

Richard Fairs and Elizabeth Brown had 15 known children:

1. Elizabeth Fairs was baptised on 6 July 1817 in Cowfold, at which time her father was a labourer.

2. John Fairs was baptised on 23 August 1818 in Cowfold.

3. Mary Fairs was baptised on 25 June 1820 in Cowfold.

4. Richard Fairs was baptised on 12 May 1822 in Shermanbury.  Richard married Christian South on 23 April 1848 at St. Nicholas in Brighton, Sussex.  Their fathers were named as Richard Fairs and Samuel South.

5. Ann Fairs was baptised on 6 June 1824 in Shermanbury.

6. Frances Fairs was baptised on 19 February 1826 in Cowfold, at which time her parents were from Shermanbury.

7. Sarah Ann Fairs was baptised on 30 September 1827 in Shermanbury.

8. Thomas Fairs was baptised on 14 June 1829 in Shermanbury.  He was 12 year old in 1841 and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

9. James Fairs was baptised on 25 September 1831 in Shermanbury.  In 1841 he was 10 years old.

10. Henry Fairs was baptised on 12 May 1833 in Shermanbury.  He was 8 years old in 1841.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 28 year old agricultural labourer, living at home with his parents.  Henry married Caroline Parsons on 27 April 1861 in Shermanbury.  Caroline was baptised on 11 February 1844 in Shermanbury and was the daughter of William Parsons and Jane.

11. Jane Fairs was baptised on 15 March 1835 in Shermanbury.  She was 6 years old in 1841.

12. Eliza Fairs was baptised on 26 February 1837 in Shermanbury.  In 1841 she was 4 years old.

13. William Fairs was baptised on 15 December 1839 in Shermanbury.  At the time of the 1841 census he was a year old.  He was an 11 year old scholar in 1851 and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

14. George Fairs was baptised on 3 October 1841 in Shermanbury.  He was a 9 year old scholar in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 19 year old agricultural labourer and visitor in the home of Thomas Knapp at Granary Cottage in Shermanbury.

15. Alfred Fairs was baptised on 17 September 1848 in Shermanbury.  He was 2 years old when the 1851 census was recorded.  In 1861 he was a 12 year old agricultural labourer.

BROWN          FAIRS