Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Charles PARSONS (1808-1844)

and Mary MATTHEWS (1810-1880)

Charles Parsons and Mary Matthews married by banns on 18 September 1830 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Cowfold.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Attree and Henry Hill.  The banns were published in Cowfold on 29 August, 5 and 12 September 1830.  Thomas may have been Mary's half brother.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)  Another Charles Parsons married Mary Ann Newnham on 28 May 1833 in Cowfold.  That Charles was from Henfield.

Charles Parsons was baptised on 4 September 1808 in Cowfold.  He was the son of William Parsons (1766-1842) and Hannah Trusler (1770-1845).  Charles died aged 35 years and was buried on 30 June 1844 in Cowfold.

Mary Matthews was baptised on 14 January 1810 in Cowfold.  She was the daughter of Charles Matthews and Elizabeth Brown (?-1828).  Mary died aged 70 years and was buried on 29 October 1880 in Cowfold.  The burial register recorded her name as Mary Hill.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and their 6 children were living at Chatfields in Cowfold.  Charles was then a farm labourer.

In 1851 Mary was a 41 year old widow and still living at Chatfields along with 3 of her children.

As Mary Parsons, widow, she married George Hill by banns on 14 February 1852 in Cowfold.  He was a bachelor and labourer.  Their fathers were named as Henry Hill the parish clerk and Charles Matthews a labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were Henry Stenning and Eliza Parsons.

George Hill was baptised on 27 January 1828 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that his father was the Clerk of the Parish.  He was the son of Henry Hill and Mary.

When the 1861 census was recorded, Mary was a 51 year old cook and living with her 33 year old husband George at Potters House in Cowfold.  Also with them was their 6 year old son John.  The census recorded their surname as Hills.  Their next door neighbours at Potters House were the family of Henry Richardson.

 Charles Parsons and Mary Matthews had 7 known children:

1. William Matthews was baptised on 12 April 1829 in Cowfold.  Only his mother's name was recorded in the baptism register.  The 1841 census recorded that he was 12 year old William Parsons.

2. Ann Parsons was baptised on 24 December 1830 in Cowfold, at which time her father was a labourer.  She died aged 3 days and was buried on 30 December 1830 in Cowfold.  The burial register noted that she was the daughter of Charles and Mary.

3. Eliza Parsons was baptised on 8 January 1832 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was 10 years old in 1841.  In 1851 she may have been an unmarried 21 year old general servant living in the home of John Jenkyn a 61 year old clergyman at West Lane in West Grinstead.

4. Ellen Parsons was baptised on 19 January 1834 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She married John Stringer in 1851.  (They have their own page.)

5. Henry Parsons was baptised on 19 June 1836 in Cowfold, at which time his father was a labourer.  He was 5 years old at the time of the 1841 census.  In 1851 he was a 14 year old butcher's boy living at home with his mother.

6. Mary Parsons was baptised on 6 May 1838 in Cowfold, at which time her father was a labourer.  In 1841 she was 3 years old.  She was 12 yeas old in 1851.

   Mary married Henry Richard Burgess on 14 March 1864 in Cowfold.  He was a bachelor and miller from Clayton.  She was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Burgess a miller and Charles Parsons a labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were Henry Parsons and Emily Parsons.

7. Emily Parsons was baptised on 29 November 1840 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was 7 months old when the 1841 census was recorded.  In 1851 she was a 10 year old scholar.

   Emily married George Laker on 15 January 1870 in Cowfold.  He was a bachelor and drayman from Brighton and Hove.  She was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Peter Laker and Charles Parsons.  The witnesses to their marriage were Benjamin Mathews, Susan Harrison, Caroline Kettle, George Vinall, E. Wells and John Hill.  

George Hill and Mary Matthews had 1 known child:

1. John Hill was baptised on 22 October 1854 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.

1841 Census - Chatfields, Cowfold, Sussex (HO107/1098, folio 21, page 11)

Chas Parsons, 30, Farm Labr, born in Sussex

Mary Parsons, 30, born in Sussex

Willm Parsons, 12, born in Sussex

Eliza Parsons, 10, born in Sussex

Esther Parsons, 7, born in Sussex

Henry Parsons, 5, born in Sussex

continued on next page....

Mary Parsons, 3, born in Sussex

Emily Parsons, 7 months, born in Sussex

1851 Census - Chatfields, Cowfold, Sussex (HO107/1642, folio 372, page 16)

Mary Parsons, Head, W, 41, Charwoman, born Cowfold, Sussex

Henry Parsons, Son, 14, Butcher's Boy, born Cowfold, Sussex

continued on next page....

Mary Parsons, Daur, 12, born Cowfold, Sussex

Emily Parsons, Daur, 10, Scholar, born Cowfold, Sussex

1861 Census - Potters House, Cowfold, Sussex (RG9/582, folio 114, page 32)

George Hills, Head, 33, Ag Lab, born Sussex Cowfold

Mary Hills, Wife, 51, Cook, born Sussex Cowfold

John Hills, Son, 6, Scholar, born Sussex Cowfold

MATTHEWS          PARSONS