Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Francis HICKS (1810-1875)

and CarolineFENNER (?-1845)

and Marion LEE (c1814-?)

Francis Hicks married twice.  Firstly to Caroline Fenner on 15 October 1832 in Tonbridge, Kent.  He next married Marion Lee on 6 December 1851 in Croydon, Surrey, at which time he was said to have been the son of Francis Hicks.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Francis Hicks was baptised on 7 October 1810 in Seal, Kent.  The IGI records that he was the son of John Hicks and Mary.  Various databases at Ancestry.co.uk note that he died in June 1875 in St.Leonards or Hastings, Sussex.

Caroline Fenner's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  A database at Ancestry.co.uk has that she was born on 21 August 1816 in Mayfield, Sussex and baptised on 22 September 1816, the daughter of Jesse Fenner (1792-1880) and Hannah Weston (1796-1852), which would make her just 16 when she married in 1832.  Another Ancestry database indicates that she died aged 37 years in 1845, making her birth about 1808.

Marion Lee was born about 1814 in Salehurst, Sussex.

When the 1851 census was recorded, Francis was a 40 year old widower and farmer of 60 acres, employing 4 labourers.  He gave his place of birth as Seal.  At the time of the census he was living at Quanden (think that's what it says) Farm in Brasted, Kent, along with his 4 children and 3 servants, namely 16 year old Samuel Knight, John Hoskins and William Attcock who were both 13.

At the time of the 1861 census Francis was a 50 year old baker living in Reigate Foreign, Surrey along with his 49 year old wife Marion and their 3 children.  Their surname was spelt Wicks in the census.  Francis gave his place of birth as Seal and Marion as Salehurst.

In 1871, Francis was said to have been married, 57 years old, born in Seal and his occupation was "In Charge of House".  He was living at Beaufort House in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Hastings, Sussex with 3 of his children.  Marian was then also married and 57 years old.  She was living at 46 Eversfield Place in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene where she was a cook domestic and servant in charge.  Her place of birth was given as Salehurst.

Francis Hicks and Caroline Fenner had 4 known children:

1. Frederick Hicks was born about 1833 in Speldhurst, Kent.  He was an 18 year old farmer's son in 1851.  Was he born Stephen Frederick Hicks?

2. Ellen Hicks was baptised on 4 October 1835 in Seal.  She was 15 years old in 1851.  In 1861 she was an unmarried 27 year old servant and dairy maid living in the home of Brook William Bridges who was a 59 year old baronet, M.P., magistrate and farmer of 300 acres, at Goodnestone in Kent.  Ellen's place of birth was recorded as Seal.

3. Caroline Elizabeth Hicks was baptised on 4 August 1839 in Brasted.  She was 13 years old in 1851.

4. Frances Mary Hicks was baptised on 4 August 1839 in Brasted.  She was 11 years old in 1851.  In 1861 she was most probably 21 year old Fanny Hicks living in East Grinstead, Sussex as a housekeeper to a coach builder.  She then gave her place of birth as Sevenoaks, Kent.

Francis Hicks and Marion Lee had 4 known children:

5. Rosalee Hicks was born in the second quarter of 1852 in Brasted.  She was an 8 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 she was said to have been an unmarried 22 year old servant and living with her father.

6. Edward Allen Hicks was born in the first quarter of 1855 in Westerham, Kent.  He was a 6 year old scholar in 1861.  The 1871 census recorded that he was a 19 year old groom and living with his father.

7. Henry Charles Hicks was born in the third quarter of 1858 in Horley, Surrey.  He was 2 years old when the 1861 census was recorded.

8. Walter Hicks was baptised on 16 July 1861 in Reigate, Surrey.  In 1871 he was a 10 year old scholar and living with his father.

FENNER          HICKS          LEE