Ancestors of Mandy Willard

William GOBLE (c1777-1849)

and Philadelphia MEPHAM (c1775-1836)

William Goble and Philadelphia Mepham married by banns on 14 December 1802 in Burwash, Sussex.  At the time William was a bachelor and Philadelphia a spinster.  They were both then of Burwash, and both made their marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were John Kemp (marked) and Hab Wood (signed).  (William and Philadelphia were not my direct ancestors, but were the 4x Great Grandparents of Joanne Mays Becker, who has researched and provided most of the details on this page.)  Hab Wood was a Churchwarden of Burwash.

William Goble's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown.  He died aged 72 years on 14 February 1849 in the Hailsham Workhouse and was buried on 17 February 1849 in Heathfield.  Therefore, he was born about 1777.  His cause of death was Paralysis years and suppression of Urine for 3 days.  Thomas Gander was present at his death and was the informant on the death certificate which was not registered until 30 June 1849.  Current thoughts are that William may have been the son of James Goble of Rolvenden and Elizabeth Baker who married at Northiam, Sussex on 24 August 1775.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was most probably living at Tottenworth in Heathfield, Sussex, the home of Thomas Howell.  His age was recorded as 60 years and he was an agricultural labourer.  The census also states he was born in Sussex, but whoever gave the details to the enumerator may not have known much about William.

Philadelphia Mepham's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown.  She died aged 61 years and was buried on 13 November 1836 in Heathfield, when the burial register described her as the wife of William Goble.  Therefore, she was born about 1775, although the IGI implies she was born about 1781.

The East Sussex Baptism Index has been checked for both William and Philadelphia, but nothing suitable has been found.  A William Goble was born 1778 in Worth, but he died in 1780.  Another William Goble was born 1772 in Eastbourne, Sussex, and as yet it is not known if he may have married Philadelphia, but it is thought unlikely.  It could be possible that William came from Kent, as there were Gobles in the Hawkhurst area at the time, and Hawkhurst is only about 7 miles from Burwash.  Likewise, Philadelphia may also have hailed from Kent, but nothing has been found for either of them in the IGI.

William Goble and Philadelphia Mepham had 8 known children:

1. George Goble was baptised on 24 April 1803 in Heathfield, but he may have been born before his parents marriage, in about 1801.

   George married Harriet Hover on 27 September 1830 at St. Nicholas in Brighton, Sussex.  George was then a bachelor and made his mark.  Harriet was a widow and signed her name.  The witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Vinall and Emma Vinall.  Previously as Harriot Wratton she had married Stephen Hover on 21 February 1814 in Warbleton, Sussex.

   Harriet was born about 1794 in Herstmonceux, Sussex.  She and her first husband had at least 1 child, Jebuz Hover baptised on 7 February 1822 at the Zoar Street Baptist Chapel in Hellingly, Sussex.  Stephen was baptised on 21 March 1790 in Warbleton, the son of Stephen Hover and Jemima Gurr.

   When the 1841 census was recorded, George, Harriet and 15 year old Jabez Hover were living in the household of John Paine, a blacksmith and his wife Caroline and their 2 young children, in Heathfield, near Late Vine's Shop.  In 1851 George and Harriet were alone in Heathfield, and George was then a 50 year old agricultural labourer.

2. Henry Goble was baptised on 3 March 1805 in Heathfield.  He was buried on 30 August 1878 in Herstmonceux.

   Henry married Rebecca Stonestreet on 26 July 1828 in Warbleton.  The witnesses to the marriage were William Robins and Harriott Hover.

   Rebecca was baptised on 29 May 1803 in Warbleton, and was the daughter of James Stonestreet (1763-?) and Susanna Simmons.  Before her marriage she had an illegitimate son:

   1. Samuel Dalloway Stonestreet was born about 1824 in Warbleton or Heathfield.  He married twice.  Firstly to Jane White in 1850, by whom he had 1 known son, Frederick Stonestreet born about 1851 in Herstmonceux.  As Samuel Dalloway, he then married Louisa Goble Ellson in 1871.  They had 5 known children.

   When the 1851 census was recorded Henry, Rebecca and Stephen were living at Broad Oak in Heathfield.  Henry was then an agricultural labourer.

   Henry and Rebecca had 3 known children:

   1. Martha Ann Goble was baptised on 30 August 1829 in Heathfield.

   2. Henry Goble was born on 19 October 1833 and baptised on 25 November 1833 in Heathfield.  He was convicted of stealing 180 watches from Henry Grant of Rushlake Green, Hailsham (Warbleton) on 6 December 1861.  His accomplice was his neighbour Alfred Fuller.  When the 1861 census was recorded Alfred and wife Eleanor were living in Stonehouse Road, Warbleton, but Henry was not living next door at that time.  Henry Grant was the brother of John Grant and he married Caroline Goble, widow, nee Hunnisett, who was 1833 Henry's Aunt!

   3. Stephen Goble was born on 17 March 1834 and baptised on 20 April 1834 in Heathfield.  He married Elizabeth Eaton on 25 December 1858 in Ticehurst, Sussex.  She was born about 1840 in Burwash.  When the 1861 census was recorded the couple together with their young son were living at Cottenden No. 3 in Ticehurst, where Stephen was an agricultural labourer.  They had the following child:

      1. Albert Goble was born about 1860 in Ticehurst.  He was a year old in 1861.

3. William Goble was baptised on 19 February 1809 in Heathfield.  He died before 1842.

   William married Caroline Hunnisett on 24 December 1832 in Herstmonceux.  (They were the 3x Great Grandparents of Joanne Mays Becker.)  The witnesses to the marriage were John Colbran and Jane Honeyset (see notes below).

   Caroline was baptised on 22 June 1817 at the Independent Chapel in Herstmonceux and was the daughter of Walter Honeysett (1790-?) and Sarah Bedell (1796-?).  Caroline married twice - see further below.   She died of a "Morbis Cardis" (heart condition) at the Wivelsfield Asylum on 11 September 1885.  In 1881 she was a nurse at Dog House, Warbleton, the home of Ephraim Morphey and his wife Mary A.

   William and Caroline had 4 known children:

   1. Mary Ann Goble was born on 28 April 1833 and baptised on 30 June 1833 at the Congregational Chapel in Herstmonceux.  At the time of her baptism her father was a labourer of Herstmonceux.  She died on 21 April 1915 in Dallington, Sussex.  She married twice.  Firstly to John Friend on 9 April 1851 at St. Saviours, Southwark in London.  John was born about 1816 in Kent, the son of John Friend (1786-?) and Jane Matcham.  He died on 23 March 1856 in Salehurst, Sussex.

      John and Mary Ann had 4 known children:

      1. Julius Friend was born on 27 July 1851 in Bodiam, Sussex.  He died of Consumption in January 1877 in Scotland.

      2. Hilderic Friend was born on 6 November 1852 at Little Wigsell, in Bodiam and baptised in the parish church on 16 January 1853.  He died in about 1940, possibly Birmingham.  He married Maud Freeland in about 1879 in Hong Kong, China.  She was born about 1851 in Sedlescombe, Sussex and died in about 1937.  Hilderic was a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, a Botanist and the author of 14 books.

      3. Mary Jane Friend was born on 16 April 1854 and baptised on 10 September 1854 in Bodiam.  She died in about 1946.  She was also known as Jenny.  Mary Jane married her distant cousin Charles Frederick Honisett in September 1874 in Hastings.  (Charles and Mary Jane's mothers shared Great Grandparents.)  Charles was born about 1848 in Herstmonceux and died aged 79 in 1926.  Charles and Mary Jane's daughter Edith Kate Honisett (1877-1965) married Alberic de Gruchy in 1903.  He was the son of John de Gruchy (1854-1901) and Jane (c1848-?).

      4. Emma Friend or Emily Friend was born on 4 October 1855 and baptised on 3 February 1856 in Bodiam.  She married John de Gruchy (1854-1901) in 1893 as his second wife.

      Mary Ann then married John Sands by licence on 3 February 1875 at St. Andrews in Hastings.  (They were the 2x Great Grandparents of Joanne Mays Becker.)  The witnesses to the marriage were Nathaniel George King and Sarah Grant.

      John and Mary Ann had 3 known children (2 long before their marriage):

      1. Hetty Friend Sands was baptised on 25 March 1860 in Dallington.  She died of cancer in about 1911 in Hastings.  She was a children's nurse.

      2. Arthur John Friend Sands was born on 31 March 1862 in Dallington.  He died on 1 August 1907 in Herstmonceux.

         Arthur married Emma Blackman Noakes on 25 December 1882 in Herstmonceux.  (They were the Great Grandparents of Joanne Mays Becker.)  The witnesses to the marriage were Samuel Frank Stebbing and Elizabeth Blackman Noakes.

         Emma was born on 24 February 1863 and baptised on 29 March 1863 at All Saints in Herstmonceux.  She died after 1907.  She was the daughter of William Blackman Noakes (1822-1899) and Emma Hook (1836-1895).

      3. John Sands was born on 16 June 1876 at Coatbridge or Old Monkland in Scotland and died before 1881.

      John Sands was born on 22 November 1817 in Dallington and baptised on 28 December 1817 in Heathfield.  He died on 24 December 1901 in Dallington.  He was the son George Sands (1796-1876) and Mary Honeysett (1799-1868).  He first married Harriet Hunnisett on 20 April 1840 in Herstmonceux.  She was born and baptised on 29 June 1817 in Herstmonceux and died there on 22 July 1848.  She was the daughter of William Honeysett (1792-?) and Harriet Duly.

      John and Harriet had 1 known child:

      1. Charles Henry Sands was born about 1843.  He married Harriet Robins.  She was born about 1845 in Warbleton and was the daughter of William Robins (c1810-?) and Barbara Baker.  (William was probably the William Robins witness to the 1828 marriage of Henry Goble (above) to Rebecca Stonestreet.)

   2. Sarah Goble was born on 21 December 1834 and baptised at the Congregatonal Chapel on 1 February 1835 in Herstmonceux.  She died aged 4 months at Cowbeech and was buried on 13 April 1835 in Herstmonceux.

   3. Hannah Goble was born on 16 February 1836 and baptised at the Independent Chapel on 20 March 1836 in Herstmonceux.  She died of Measles and Whooping Cough aged 2 years at the Hellingly Workhouse on 20 February 1838.  She was buried on 26 February 1838 in Heathfield.

   4. Caroline Goble was born about 1838 in Robertsbridge, Sussex and baptised aged 10 years on 3 December 1848 in Ewhurst.  She emigrated to the USA.

   After the death of William Goble, sometime between 1838 and 1842, his widow Caroline Goble, nee Hunnisett married John Grant on 5 November 1842 in Mountfield, Sussex.  John was born about 1806 in Brightling, Sussex and died there in 1860 from liver disease.

   John and Caroline had 6 known children:

   1. Mary Ann Grant was baptised on 28 January 1844 in Ewhurst, Sussex.

   2. Caroline Grant was baptised on 3 December 1848 in Ewhurst.

   3. James Grant was baptised on 3 December 1848 in Ewhurst

   4. David Grant was baptised on 3 February 1850 in Ewhurst.  When the 1881 census was recorded he was a watch maker living in a shop in Bexhill, Sussex, along with wife Harriet, 2 children and brother Levi.

   5. Sarah Grant was a witnesses to the marriage of her half-sister Mary Ann Goble on 3 February 1875 in Hastings.

   6. Levi Grant was born about 1858 in Brightling.  In 1881 he was an unmarried watch maker living with his brother David's family in Bexhill.

4. James Goble was born on 1 May 1810 and baptised on 10 June 1810 in Burwash.

   James married Mary Wood by banns on 21 January 1833 in Herstmonceux.  At the time they were both of Herstmonceux.  James made his mark whilst Mary signed her name.  The witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Haywood (signed) and Frances White (marked).  (Thomas married Frances on 20 May 1833 in Herstmonceux, and the witnesses to their marriage were John Colbran and Jane Honeysett - see notes below.)

   Mary may have been born between 1805-1814 in either Warbleton or Heathfield, and died in 1877.

   In 1838 James was found guilty of theft - see notes below - and sentenced to be transported for 7 years.  On 29 July 1843, James, Mary, John and William were admitted to the Hellingly Workhouse and discharged on 6 August 1843.  When the 1841 census was recorded Mary and her 2 sons were living at Pleydells in Warbleton, but James was not at home on census night.  In 1851 Mary and her children were still living at Pleydells and she was described as married, but James was again away from home on census night.

   James and Mary had 5 known children:

   1. John Goble was born about 1833 in Heathfield.  He was 8 years old in 1841.  He married Elizabeth.

   2. William Goble was born on 28 June 1834 and baptised on 24 August 1834 at the Independent Chapel in Heathfield.  He was 6 years old in 1841.

   3. James Goble was born about 1836 and died aged 2 years.  He was buried on 18 January 1838 in Heathfield.

   4. Sophia Goble was born about 1844 in Warbleton.  She married John Young.  He was born about 1824 in Eastbury, Berkshire.  He was a licensed victualler.

   5. Jane Goble was born about 1846 in Warbleton.  When the 1881 census was recorded she was unmarried and living with her sister Sophia and her husband in Snakes Lane, Woodford St. Mary, Essex.

5. John Goble was baptised on 31 May 1812 in Heathfield.

6. Richard Goble was born about 1815 and baptised on 22 January 1817 in Heathfield.  However, the baptism register records that he was the son of John Goble and Philadelphia, but it is believed his father's name was wrongly recorded.

   Richard married Mary Sidmore.

   Mary was born about 1821 in Heathfield.

   When the 1851 census was recorded, Richard, Mary and Mary Ann were living at Church Hill in Heathfield and Richard was an agricultural labourer.

   Richard and Mary had 2 known children:

   1. Nancy Goble was born on 12 March 1842 and baptised on 14 May 1848 in Heathfield.  She died aged 6 years and was buried on 21 September 1848 in Heathfield.

   2. Mary Ann Goble was born about 1845 in Heathfield.

7. Jane Goble was baptised on 20 April 1817 in Heathfield.  Her father's name was recorded as John Goble against her baptism, but William Goble on her marriage certificate.

   Jane married William Forward on 29 March 1839 in Burwash.  At the time, William was a bachelor and a gamekeeper.  Jane was a spinster and they were both of Ticehurst and both signed their names.  The witnesses to the marriage were Robert Forward and Fanny Forward, who both signed their names.

   William was born on 29 November 1813 and baptised on 2 January 1814 in Burwash.  He was the son of Robert Forward (1789-1851) and Mary (possibly Mary Warchus or Mary Walter).

8. Isaac Goble was baptised on 30 January 1820 in Heathfield and his father's name was recorded as John Goble.  He died of kidney disease aged 23 (according to the workhouse register) on 23 April 1844 in Hellingly and was buried on 26 April 1844 in Heathfield, aged 22 (according to the burial register).  He may have married Abigail.

NOTES

John Colbran and Jane Hunnisett

John and Jane were witnesses to the marriage of William Goble and Caroline Hunnisett on 24 December 1832 in Herstmonceux.  Caroline and Jane were sisters.

They were also witnesses to the marriage of Thomas Hayward and Frances White on 20 May 1833, also in Herstmonceux.  Thomas and Frances had been witnesses to the marriage of James Goble and Mary Wood on 21 January 1833 in Herstmonceux.

John Colbran and Jane Honnisett married on 21 October 1833 in Herstmonceux and the witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Haywood and Frances Haywood.

Jane was baptised on 1 November 1814 in Burwash and was the daughter of Walter Honeysett (1790-?) and Sarah Bedell (1796-?).  She died in 1871 in New South Wales, Australia.

The Trial of James Goble

On 29 January 1838 James GOBLE was taken into custody and charged with Larceny.  He was found guilty of 2 offences although he pleaded not guilty to both.  It was recorded that James GOBLE was a Labourer aged 27 years and that he was able to read but not write.  He was committed by S.B.P. MICKLETHWAIT, Esq.

The first offence to be brought to trial was the “Stealing at Heathfield, one barrel, the property of Thomas ELLIS”.  The second “Also one sack and one bushel of wheaten flour the property of John BALCOMBE”.  The sentence for the first crime was “Imprisoned for one fortnight in Solitary Confinement” and for the second “Transported for seven years to commence at the expiration of his first sentence”. 

The following is my transcript of a document relating to the first offence: 

“The Jurors for our Lady the Queen upon their Oath present that James Goble Late the parish of Heathfield in the County of Sussex Labourer on the sixth day of December in the first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid One Cask of the value of two shillings and six pence of the Goods and Chattels of Thomas Ellis then and there being feloniously did steal, take, and carry away against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity” 

The witnesses were Abigail ELLIS, Edward WEEKES, Edward ERREY and William KEMP. 

The document recording the second offence was similar to that of the first, but the date of the crime was “the twenty seventh day of June in the first year …” and the crime “One Sack of the Value of two shillings of the Goods and Chattels of John Balcombe then and there being found feloniously did steal, take …” 

The witnesses were John BALCOMBE, Edward ERREY, Edward WEEKES and Henry Albert WATERS.

Statements were made by some of the witnesses and the following are my summaries of their accounts. 

First offence: 

Second offence: 

The trial was heard at Lewes.  The witnesses received the following expenses: 

First case: 

Second case: 

There were also other court costs.

I could not readily find whether James was transported.  The Session Roll for February 1838 contains over a hundred sheets of paper that are held together in the top left-hand corner by a cord that can not be removed.  Nor is there an index or any order to which the pages have been filed.  As the pages have been rolled together for 165 years it is difficult to carefully look through the pages and then hold up preceding pages so as to read the page of interest.  Some pages are torn and fragile but most are intact.  At the bottom of the stack are getting on for a hundred slips of paper which may contain details of whether sentences were carried out.

1851 census - Pleydells, Warbleton, Sussex, (HO107/1638, folio 368, page 24)

Mary Goble, Head, Mar, Charwoman, born Sussex, Wartling

John Goble, Son, U, 17, Ag Labr, born Sussex, Heathfield

William Goble, Son, U, 16, Ag Labr, born Sussex, Heathfield

Sophie Goble, Daur, 7, Scholar, born Sussex, Warbleton

Jane Goble, Daur, 5, Scholar, born Sussex, Warbleton

1861 census - Stonehouse Road, Warbleton, Sussex (RG9/569, folio 122, page 19)

Alfred Fuller, Head, Mar, 30, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Dallington

Eleanor Fuller, Wife, Mar, 25, born Sussex, Warbleton

... continued on next page

Harriet Brett, dau in law, 5, born Sussex, Warbleton

George Fuller, son, 2, born Sussex, Warbleton

Harry Fuller, son, 2 mths, born Sussex, Warbleton

(The next property on the census enumerator's route was Stone House, occupied by John Roberts Dunn, Esq, who was the Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant.)

Alfred Fuller and Ellen Brett married in the fourth quarter of 1856 in the Hailsham registration district.

When the 1851 census was recorded, 15 year old Ellenor Brett was living with her parents, Henry Brett and Frances (nee Kemp), at Pleydells in Warbleton.  Two doors away was Mary Goble and her 4 children.  Mary was the wife of James Goble, who 1838 was covicted of theft.  There is no sign of Afred in the 1851 census.

1871 census - Bodle Street, Warbleton, Sussex

Alfred Fuller, Head, Mar, 40, Agricultural Labourer, born Sussex, Heathfield

Elener Fuller, Wife, Mar, 33, born Sussex, Warbleton

Harry Fuller, Son, 10, born Sussex, Warbleton

Frank Fuller, Son, 8, born Sussex, Warbleton

Mary Ann Fuller, Daur, 5, born Sussex, Warbleton

Emily Fuller, Daur, 11m, born Sussex, Warbleton

GOBLE