Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas FAIRS (1800-1858)

and Mary ROBERTS (1806-1856)

Thomas Fairs and Mary Roberts married on 14 January 1824 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  At the time they were both of West Grinstead.  The witnesses to their marriage were Ann Richardson and Edward Freeman.  (Another Thomas Fairs married Mary Jupp in 1822.  Yet another Thomas Fairs married Mary Haybittle in 1819.)

Thomas Fairs was baptised on 20 April 1800 in West Grinstead.  He was the son of Thomas Fairs (1770-1844) and Elizabeth Lindfield (c1773-1835).  He died aged 58 years in Horsham and was buried on 5 December 1858 in West Grinstead.

Mary Roberts was baptised on 22 April 1806 in Ashurst, Sussex.  She was the daughter of John Roberts and Ruth Lelliott.  She may have died aged 53 years and have been buried on 2 January 1856 in West Grinstead, as per a transcript of the burial register.

The couple were buried together and their headstone records that Thomas died on 28 November 1858, aged 58 years, whilst Mary died aged 52 years on 12 January 1856.  (Details from a transcript of monument inscriptions by the Sussex Family History Group.)

At the time of the 1841 census the couple and 4 children were living at B??tons in Shipley and Thomas was an agricultural labourer.  When the 1851 census was recorded the couple were living in Bar Lane, West Grinstead.  Thomas was then a 51 year old agricultural labourer and Mary was said to be 47 and born in Ashurst.  With them on census night was 20 year old lodger, Peter Potter.

Thomas Fairs and Mary Roberts had 6 known children:

1. James Fairs was baptised on 2 May 1824 in Cowfold, at which time his father was a labourer.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was a 15 year old male servant in the home of John Botting at Twineham Place in Twineham.

2. Charles Fairs was baptised on 28 August 1825 in West Grinstead, at which time his father was a labourer.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was a 15 year old male servant in the home of John Botting at Twineham Place in Twineham.

   Note, we can't be certain James and Charles were part of this family, but as they were together in 1841 we are assuming they were brothers.  The other Thomas and Mary (nee Jupp) had a son David in 1826 and in 1841 he was with George born in 1824.

3. Mary Fairs was baptised on 2 December 1827 in West Grinstead.  She was 13 years old in 1841.

Mary may have married George Cutress on 20 July 1850 in Henfield, but another Mary Fairs was baptised in West Grinstead on 17 December 1826, the daughter of John Fairs and Eliza.  The 1851 census records Mary Cutress, wife of George, was 24 years old and born in West Grinstead - need to check the marriage register for the name of Mary's father.

4. Sarah Fairs was baptised on 1 May 1829 in West Grinstead.  She was 12 years old in 1841.

   Sarah married David Mitchell on 3 June 1847 in West Grinstead.  He was then a 20 year old bachelor and labourer and she an 18 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Mitchell and Thomas Fairs who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Frances Jupp and Henry Mitchell.

5. Reubens Fairs was baptised on 11 March 1832 in West Grinstead.  He was a 9 year old agricultural labourer when the 1841 census was recorded.  In 1851 he was a 19 year old servant and agricultural labourer in the home of 70 year old Thomas Fairs and his 68 year old wife Mary at New House in West Grinstead.  (He was probably more commonly known as Reuben Fairs.)

6. Rebecca Fairs was baptised on 28 July 1833 in West Grinstead.  In 1841 she was 7 years old.  When the 1851 census was recorded she was a 17 year old house servant in the home of Thomas Nailard at Needs Farm in West Grinstead.

   Rebecca married Henry Millham by banns on 14 October 1854 in West Grinstead.  He was a bachelor and labourer and she was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Thomas John Millham and John Fairs who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Ruben Fairs and Fanny Greenfield.

FAIRS          ROBERTS