Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Richard MILLS (1749-?)

and Susanna SEARS (1745-1810)

and Elizabeth HOSKINS (?-?)

Richard Mills and Susanna Sears were my 5x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married by banns on 13 November 1774 in the parish church of St. Mary's, Fittleworth, Sussex.  They were both said to be of Coldwaltham, Sussex and both made their X marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were Ann Ayling (mark) and Thomas Munfield (signed.)  As a widower Richard Mills married Elizabeth Hoskins by banns on 20 July 1812 in Pulborough.  She was a spinster.  The witnesses to the marriage were Hannah Tapley and James Collins.

Richard Mills may have been baptised on 8 July 1749 in Coldwaltham, Sussex and have been the son of John Mills (1704-?) and Sarah Woods (c1710-?).  But, there was also a Richard Mills of Coldwaltham who married Jane Lee by banns on 26 November 1770 in Fittleworth.  Richard and Jane had 3 children baptised in 1773, 1775 and 1778.

Susanna Sears or Susannah Sayers, I believe, was baptised on 24 May 1745 in Pulborough, Sussex and was the daughter of 5 127 John Sayers (1719-?) and 5 127 Ann Holt (c1720-?).  Susan was buried on 20 May 1810 in Pulborough, Sussex and unfortunately the burial register does not record her age.  Sometime back I came upon an Ancestral File in the Family Search web site that had 1745 Susanna married to Thomas Gravat (1741-?) in 1760.  But that would have made her about 15 going on 16 years old.  I think that Thomas married the Susannah Saires who was baptised in 1734 in Ashington, Sussex the daughter of Francis Sayers and Mary.  There was also a Susanna Sayers baptised in Billingshurst, Sussex in 1734, the daughter of Richard Sayers (1708-1781) and Susan Haylor (?-1773).

Elizabeth Hoskins's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  Neither Elizabeth or Richard appear to have been buried in Pulborough.

Richard Mills and Susanna Sears had 5 known children:

1. Sarah Mills was baptised on 6 August 1775 in Pulborough.

2. Richard Mills was baptised on 12 January 1777 in Pulborough.  He married Phebe White in 1798.  (They have their own page.)

3. James Mills, my 4x Great Grandfather, was born on 22 March 1779 in Wiggonholt.  He married Charlotte Brooks in 1801.  (They have their own page.)

4. Susan Mills was baptised on 11 November 1781 in Pulborough.

   Susan married Henry Etherton by banns on 20 October 1803 in Pulborough.  At the time of their marriage, Henry was of Wiggonholt and Susannah of Pulborough.  He signed his name, whilst she made her X mark.  The witnesses to the marriage were Mary Saunders and James Collins, who both signed their names.

   In 1841, the couple were living in Southwick, Sussex, together with Clement and his wife and son, and 15 year old John Evans.  Henry was then an agricultural labourer.  At the time of the 1851 census the couple were living on the Green in Southwick.  Henry was then 74 years old and gave his place of birth as Newhaven, Sussex.  Susanna was 70 years old.  Also with them on census night was their 6 year old grandson, William, and 66 year old lodger Henry Bray.

   Henry Etherton was baptised on 24 October 1780 in Newhaven, Sussex and was the son of John Etherton and Hester Hill.

   Henry and Susan had the following children:

   1. Esther Etherington was born about 1804 in Bury, Sussex.  She married James Woolgar in 1826.  (They have their own page.)

   2. Clement Etherton was born about 1810 in West Burton, Sussex.  He was an agricultural labourer in 1841.

      As Clement Etherington he married Mary Etherington on 28 March 1840 in Southwick.  Their fathers were named as Henry Etherington and William Etherington.

      Mary was born about 1820 in Worthing, Sussex.

      In 1851 the couple and 2 sons were living in Portslade.  At the time of the 1861 census the couple, 4 sons and a 66 year old lodger, Richard Tester, were living in Portslade Street, Portslade.

      Clement and Mary had the following children:

      1. Henry Etherigton was baptised on 30 August 1840 in Southwick.  At the time of the 1841 census he was 10 months old.  He was 10 years old in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 20 year old agricultural labourer.

      2. Susanna Etherington was baptised on 27 March 1842 in Southwick

      3. William Hethrington was baptised on 9 June 1844 in Southwick.  He was 6 years old in 1851 and with his paternal grandparents on census night.  In 1861 he was a 16 year shepherd living at home.

      4. Thomas Ethrington was baptised on 4 October 1846 in Southwick.  He was 4 years old in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 14 year old shepherd.

      5. Clement Etherington was baptised on 27 March 1859 in Portslade.  In 1861 he was 2 years old.

5. Ann Mills was baptised on 25 July 1790 in Pulborough.

The IGI records that a Mary Mills was baptised on 11 November 1781 in Pulborough, the daughter of Richard and Susan, BUT I have checked the Pulborough parish registers on microfiche and can not find this entry, Susan is there, but not Mary. 

Thomas Munfield

Thomas Munfield was a witness to the 1774 marriage of Richard and Susanna.  He was probably baptised on 18 December 1742 in Fittleworth, the son of Thomas Munfield and Mary Sturt, who had married on 9 April 1741 in Fittleworth.  Thomas senior was a Tailor, and he was probably baptised on 2 April 1712 also in Fittleworth.  His parents were Isaac Munfield and Elizabeth.  Isaac was baptised on 22 September 1681 in Graffham, Sussex, and was the son of Thomas Munfield and Ann Philp who married on 25 May 1665 in Graffham.  Thomas was then described as junior.  His parents were probably Thomas Mundfield and Mary Stowre who married on 26 June 1603 in Cocking, Sussex.

MILLS          SAYERS