Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas HEWIT (c1735-1800)

and Mary (c1738-1835)

Thomas Hewit and Mary may have married sometime before or about 1762, as their first possible child was baptised that year in Chithurst, Sussex.  No possible marriage has been found for them in the Sussex or Surrey marriage indexes or the IGI.  There was a Thomas Hewit who married Mary Brooker on 22 July 1753 in East Lavant, Sussex, but they would seem to be a completely separate couple.

Thomas Hewett's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  He was most probably buried on 11 April 1800 in Cocking, Sussex, but the burial register only records his name.  Thomas does not appear to have left a will.  He and his family seem to have settled in Cocking shortly before or about 1767.  There was a Thomas Hewett baptised on 5 September 1729 in Cocking who was the son of John Hewett (1700-1767) and Mary Eldridge (1698-1700), but that Thomas was most probably the one who married in East Lavant.  A Thomas Hewett was a witness to the following marriages in Cocking:

31 July 1769 - James Soale, bachelor and Mary Button, widow

13 August 1769 - Henry Ayling, bachelor and Elizabeth Baker, spinster

6 April 1778 - John Ginner and Mary Baker, spinster

8 January 1794 - Robert Pollard, bachelor and Jane Kingsgate, spinster

Mary's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She died aged 87 years and was buried on 24 February 1825 in Cocking.  It would seem unlikely she was baptised in Cocking as there were only 2 Mary's baptised there between 1736-1740.  The first was Mary Twyne on 6 March 1736/7 and the second Mary Clare on 22 January  1737/8.  Mary Twine may have married John Ayling in 1765 and Mary Clare may have married Richard Stoner in 1769.  A Mary Hewit was a witness to the following marriage in Cocking:

3 June 1782 - John Long and Mary Terry, spinster

Thomas Hewit and Mary may have had the following children:

1. Thomas Hewet was baptised on 10 January 1762 in Chithurst, Sussex.  His parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.

2. Mary Hewet was baptised on 11 September 1763 in Chithurst.  Her parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.  Might she have been the mother of the following illegitimately born son:

   1. Thomas Hewit was baptised on 2 March 1783 in Cocking.  The baptism register did not record the names of his parents, only that he was illegitimate.

3. John Hewitt was baptised on 11 January 1768 in Cocking.  His parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.  He may have died aged 66 years and have been buried on 28 September 1831 in Cocking.

   As John Hewett he married Priscilla Sanders by banns on 16 October 1797 in Cocking.  They were both of Cocking and both made their X marks.  The witnesses were James Philip and Robert Pollard.

   Priscilla was born about 1777 and buried on 18 March 1868.  She may have been baptised on 17 November 1775 in Easebourne, Sussex and have been the daughter of Charles Sanders and Rose Boxall.

   John and Priscilla had the following children:

   1. Ann Hewett was baptised on 9 July 1798 in Cocking and buried there on 31 January 1806.

   2. Mary Hewett was baptised on 29 December 1799 in Cocking.  She married George Hourick by banns on 29 January 1821 in Cocking.  She was then of Cocking and he of Bepton, Sussex.  They both made their X marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were John Eames and Phillis Frost who both made their X marks.

   3. Sal Hewett was baptised on 6 March 1803 in Cocking.

   4. Sophia Hewett was baptised on 19 June 1805 in Cocking.

   5. Elizabeth Hewett was baptised on 21 August 1808 in Cocking and buried there on 6 May 1809.

   6. John Hewett was baptised on 12 August 1810 in Cocking.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was a 30 year old agricultural labourer living in Mill Lane, Cocking, along with Mary (25), Stephen (6), John (4), Mary (3), Pet or Rob Pollard (70) and Jane Pollard (65).  John married Mary Harber on 17 July 1834 in West Dean, near Chichester, Sussex.

   7. Jane Hewett was baptised on 21 June 1813 in Cocking.  She married Richard Pollard by banns on 29 November 1832 in Cocking.  She was a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Cocking.  The witnesses to the marriage were Ann Pollard, John Pollard and William Baigent.

   8. Thomas Hewitt was baptised on 22 April 1821 in Cocking, at which time his father was described as a labourer.  He married twice.  Firstly to Harriet who was born about 1827 in Fishbourne, Sussex.  He then married Elizabeth Townsend on 18 September 1843 in Cocking.  Thomas was an agricultural labourer.

4. James Huet was baptised on 5 May 1770 in Cocking.  His parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.  He may have been buried on 10 April 1772 in Cocking.

5. Ann Hewet was baptised on 30 April 1773 in Cocking.  Her parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.  She married Edmund Baxter in 1796.  (They have their own page.)

6. William Hewit was baptised on 1 January 1777 in Cocking.  His parent's names were recorded as Thomas and Mary in the baptism register.  William married Elizabeth Bridger by banns on 14 December 1813 in Lodsworth, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor of Cocking and she a spinster of Lodsworth.  The witnesses were William Marshall and William Comper.  They had the following children:

   1. William Hewitt was baptised on 10 May 1818 in Cocking.

   2. Harriet Hewett was baptised on 11 February 1821 in Cocking.  She married Charles Howard on 16 November 1844 in Mid Lavant, Sussex.

   3. Elizabeth Hewitt was baptised on 6 July 1823 in Cocking.

   4. Henry Hewitt was baptised on 8 May 1825 in Cocking.

   5. Hannah Hewett was baptised on 10 February 1828 in Cocking.

   6. James Hewett was baptised on 19 June 1830 in Cocking.  He married Mary Ann Hale on 16 July 1868 in Mid Lavant.

   7. Martha Hewett was baptised on 22 September 1833 in Cocking.

   When the 1841 census was recorded William was a 65 year old agricultural labourer living in Cocking along with Charlotte (45), Henry (15), James (11), John Burrows (25) and Harriet Burrows (21).

Could the following be connected to the above family:

1. John Hewitt was buried on 21 March 1767 in Cocking.

2. Mary Hewit was buried on 1 November 1770 in Cocking.

3. Henry Hewett aged 8 years was buried on 14 March 1810 in Cocking.

HEWETT