Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas FAIRS (c1700-1771)

and Catherine SIMS (c1710-?)

and Mary (c1710-1757)

Thomas Fairs may have married twice, firstly to Catherine Sims on 1 July 1731 and then to Mary Taylor, widow, in 1735/6.  Both marriages took place in Nuthurst, Sussex.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Thomas Fairs date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  He was buried on 5 November 1771 in Nuthurst and the burial register recorded his name as Thomas Fayers.  Might he have been baptised on 9 February 1705/6 in Ashurst, Sussex and have been the son of Thomas Fairs and Mary Wales?  Or might he have been the son of Thomas Fairs and Sarah Wood who married in West Grinstead in 1705?

Catherine Sims date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.

Mary's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She was buried on 7 November 1757 in Nuthurst and the burial register noted that she was the wife of Thomas Fairs.

Thomas Fairs and Mary had 5 known children:

1. Richard Fairs was baptised on 30 April 1736 in Nuthurst.  He married Ann Peckham in 1761.  (They have their own page.)

2. Thomas Fairs was baptised on 22 October 1738 in Nuthurst and buried there on 31 May 1745.

3. John Fairs was baptised on 25 April 1741 in Nuthurst and buried there on 11 May 1745.

4. Sarah Fairs was baptised on 11 September 1743 in Nuthurst and buried there on 20 May 1745.

5. John Fairs was baptised on 12 June 1748 in Nuthurst.

   John most probably married Mary Tulett by licence on 6 April 1774 in Nuthurst.  They were both then of Nuthurst.

   Mary was baptised on 13 July 1755 in Nuthurst and was the daughter of William Toolett (1714-1766) and Susan Feast.

   They had the following children:

   1. Sarah Fairs was baptised on 13 August 1775 in Nuthurst.

   2. John Fayers was baptised on 1 February 1778 in Nuthurst.

      Another John Fairs was born in West Grinstead in 1777 and yet another John Fairs was born in West Grinstead in 1779.    One of the John Fairs was named as the putative father of a daughter, Rebecca Stoner who was born on 3 February 1801 in the Cowfold poorhouse to Sarah Stoner and baptised on 15 March 1801 in Cowfold.

   3. Charles Faires was baptised on 27 February 1780 in Nuthurst.

   4. Willliam Faires was baptised on 28 April 1782 in Nuthurst.  He may have married Mary.  No marriage for them has been recorded in the Sussex marriage index.  They had the following children:

      1. Eliza Fairs was buried on 15 October 1804 in Nuthurst.  The burial register noted that she was the daughter of William Fairs.

      2. Amy Fairs was baptised privately on 18 March 1806.  Both her parents were named in the baptism register.

      3. James Fairs was baptised on 14 November 1809 in Nuthurst.  He died aged 1 year and was buried on 13 March 1811 in Nuthurst.

FAIRS