Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Nicholas MATTHEW (1732-1782)

and Elizabeth NORMAN (1725-?)

Nicholas Matthew and Elizabeth Norman married by banns on 2 May 1758 in Slaugham, Sussex.  He was then a farmer and she a spinster and they were both of Slaugham.  The witnesses to their marriage were Richard Flint and William Hale.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  Nicholas was the brother of my 5x Great Grandmother, Mary Matthew (1723-1815), whilst Elizabeth was the sister of another of my 5x Great Grandmothers, Ann Norman (1723-1804).)

Nicolas Matthew was baptised on 14 May 1732 in Twineham, Sussex.  He was the son of James Matthew (1682-1754) and Mary Woolven (1687-?).  He may have been buried on 20 December 1782 in Shermanbury.

Elizabeth Norman was born on 21 November 1725 and baptised on 26 November 1725 in Henfield.  She was the daughter of John Norman (1698-1762) and Susan Richardson (1699-1762).

Nicholas Matthew and Elizabeth Norman had 2 or 3 known children:

1. Nicholas Matthews may have been part of this family.  He died aged 83 years and was buried on 31 December 1843 in Shermanbury, therefore, born about 1760.

   Nicholas married Elizabeth before 1791.  No possible marriage has been found for them in the Sussex marriage index.

   When the 1841 census was recorded, 80 year old Nicholas was an agricultural labourer living at Wineham in Shermanbury along with 65 year old Elizabeth.  She may have died aged 83 years and have been buried on 24 October 1855 in Shermanbury.  At the time of the 1851 census, 78 year old Elizabeth was living alone in Wyneham Lane, Shermanbury.  She then gave her place of birth as Albourne.  She may have been baptised as Elizabeth King on 31 May 1772 in Albourne, the daughter of William King and Martha Winter.

   Nicholas and Elizabeth had 14 known children:

   1. James Matthews was baptised on 20 November 1791 in Albourne, Sussex.  He died aged 70 years and was buried on 12 November 1861 in Shermanbury.

   2. Elizabeth Matthews was baptised on 21 April 1793 in Albourne.  Elizabeth may have married John Standford by banns on 8 April 1817 in Shermanbury.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Shermanbury and both made their marks.  The witnesses to their marriage were Elizabeth Walder and James Dewdney who both signed their names.

   3. William Matthews was baptised on 17 January 1795 in Shermanbury.  He died aged 64 years and was buried on 18 February 1859 in Shermanbury.

      William married Abigail Sayers by licence on 20 May 1822 in Twineham, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Twineham.  The witnesses to their marriage were Edmund Davey and ? Botting.

      Abigail was baptised on 23 September 1805 in Twineham and was the daughter of John Sayers and Sarah.

      Their son John Matthews married Ann Mansbridge in 1844.

   4. Henry Matthews was baptised on 5 February 1797 in Shermanbury.

   5. Catherine Matthews was baptised on 5 February 1797 in Shermanbury.

      Catherine married Henry Newman by banns on 29 May 1817 in Shermanbury.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Shermanbury and both made their marks.  The witnesses to their marriage were Nicholas Matthews (marked) and James Dewdney who signed his name.

   6. Sarah Matthews was born in 1799 in Shermanbury.

   7. John Matthews was baptised on 18 January 1801 in Shermanbury.

   8. Ann Matthews was baptised on 15 August 1802 in Shermanbury.

   9. Mary Matthews was baptised on 25 March 1804 in Shermanbury.  She died aged 17 years and was buried on 20 September 1821 in Shermanbury.

   10. Peter Matthews was baptised on 13 March 1808 in Shermanbury.  Peter married Sarah Anscombe by banns on 25 November 1834 in Shermanbury.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Shermanbury and both made their marks.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Matthews and Caroline Matthews and they both made their marks.

   11. Stephen Matthews was baptised on 1 July 1810 in Shermanbury and buried there on 4 August 1810.

   12. Jane Matthews was baptised on 17 November 1811 in Shermanbury.

   13. Nicholas Matthews was baptised on 27 March 1814 in Shermanbury, at which time his father was a labourer.  He was buried in Shermanbury on 1 April 1814.

   14. Caroline Matthews was baptised on 10 January 1819 in Shermanbury, at which time her father was a labourer.

       Caroline married William Wheeler on 11 February 1839 in Shermanbury.

       William was baptised on 30 September 1810 in Bolney, Sussex and was the son of William Wheeler (c1781-?) and Mary Sanders (c1784-?).

       In 1851 the couple and 6 children were living in Wyndham Lane, Shermanbury.  William was a 40 year old sawyer and Caroline was 31.

       The 1891 census recorded the couple were living in West Street, Clayton.  William was an 80 year old sawyer and Caroline was 72.  With them was their 45 year old widower son Matthew Wheeler and 2 grandchildren, namely William Wheeler aged 22 and 18 year old Albert Wheeler who were all farm labourers.

       William and Caroline had the following children:

       1. Michael Wheeler was born about 1840 in Shermanbury.  In 1851 he was an 11 year old scholar.

          Michael married Fanny Gumbrell on 2 August 1863 in Poynings.  He was then a 24 year old bachelor and blacksmith from Brighton and she was a 29 year old spinster of Poynings.  Their fathers were named as William Wheeler a blacksmith and Thomas Gumbrell a cordwainer.  The witnesses to their marriage were W. Wheeler and M. Gumbrell.

          Fanny was born on 2 January 1844 and baptised on 11 February 1844 in Poynings.  She was the daughter of Thomas Gumbrell (1805-1861) and Sarah Simmons (1811-1883).

          In 1871 the couple and young son were living at Pottersfield in Albourne, Sussex.  Michael was then a 31 year old blacksmith from Shermanbury and Fanny was 27 and from Poynings.

          By 1881 the couple had moved to Tollbar Cottage in Bolney, Sussex.  He was a 41 year old blacksmith and Fanny was 37.  With them were their 2 children and 1 year old niece Norah Gumbrell.

          At the time of the 1891 census the couple and 11 year old niece Norah W. Gumbrill were living at 3 Prospect Cottage in Clayton, Sussex.  Michael was a 51 year old blacksmith and Fanny was 47.

          Michael and Fanny had the following children:

          1. Arthur Sydney Wheeler was born about 1867 in Brighton.  He was 4 years old when the 1871 census was recorded.  In 1881 he was 14 years old.

          2. Mahala Wheeler was born about 1872 in Aldingbourne.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1881.

       2. Caroline Wheeler was baptised on 21 February 1841 in Shermanbury.  She was a 10 year old scholar in 1851.

       3. Ellen Wheeler was baptised on 17 July 1842 in Shermanbury and buried there on 28 April 1844.

       4. Matthew Wheeler was baptised on 23 June 1844 in Shermanbury.  He was a 7 year old scholar in 1851.

       5. Joseph Wheeler was baptised on 30 August 1846 in Shermanbury.  He was 6 years old in 1851.

       6. William Wheeler was born about 1848 in Shermanbury.  He was 3 years old in 1851.

       7. Irad Wheeler was baptised on 5 May 1850 in Shermanbury.  He was a year old when the 1851 census was recorded.

       8. Albert Wheeler was baptised on 4 April 1852 in Shermanbury.

       9. Leonard Wheeler was baptised on 2 April 1854 in Shermanbury.

       10. George Henry Wheeler was baptised on 2 August 1857 in Shermanbury.

2. William Matthews was baptised on 24 July 1763 in Slaugham and buried there on 31 July 1763.

3. Elizabeth Matthews was baptised on 1 September 1764 in Slaugham.

MATTHEWS          NORMAN