Ancestors of Mandy Willard

William PARSONS (1792-1875)

and Hannah THORNS (1790-1858)

William Parsons and Hannah Thorns may have been my 4x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their possible place in my pedigree chart.)  They married by banns on 13 December 1812 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster.  The witnesses to their marriage were Ann Shaw and James Shaw.

William Parsons was baptised on 6 January 1793 in Cowfold.  He was the son of William Parsons (1766-1842) and Hannah Trusler (1770-1845).  William died aged 82 years and was buried on 10 December 1875 in Lower Beeding.

Hannah Thorns was baptised as Hannah Thomas on 31 October 1790 in Warnham, Sussex (as per a transcript of the baptism register).  She was the daughter of Ralph Thorns (1764-1835) and Sarah Hill (c1769-1835).  Hannah died aged 71 years and was buried on 24 January 1858 in Lower Beeding.  A note in a bible belonging to her nephew, Daniel Greenfield, recorded that she died on 20 January 1859 (thanks to Mike Reeves for passing on this information).  Her death was registered in the first quarter of 1858 in the Horsham registration district.

When the 1851 census was recorded William and Hannah, and their son James, were living in Dudney's Cottage in Cowfold.  William was then a 58 year old agricultural labourer and said he was born in Cowfold.  Hannah was a 62 year old a nurse and said she was born in Warnham.

 William Parsons and Hannah Thorns had 8 known children:

1. Elizabeth Parsons was baptised on 21 March 1813 in Shipley, Sussex.

   Elizabeth may have married William Mitchell by banns on 28 February 1835 in Cowfold.  He was then a bachelor of West Grinstead and she a spinster of Cowfold.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Cox and Eliza Parsons.

2. James Parsons was baptised on 19 February 1815 in Slaugham, Sussex.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 36 year old agricultural labourer.

3. Rebecca Parsons, my possible 3x Great Grandmother, was baptised on 16 February 1817 in Slaugham.  She married John Silverson in 1839.  (They have their own page.)

4. Harriott Parsons was baptised on 9 May 1819 in Bolney

5. Sarah Parsons was baptised on 11 November 1821 in Bolney.

6. Hannah Parsons was baptised on 14 March 1824 in Bolney, Sussex.  She died aged 68 years and her death was registered in the second quarter of 1892 in the Horsham registration district.

   Hannah married John Ray by banns on 9 March 1845 in Horsham.  He was a bachelor and sawyer and she was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Ray a sawyer and William Parsons a labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Parsons and Mary Parsons.

   John was baptised on 20 January 1816 in Horsham and was the son of James Ray (c1786-1860) and Harriet Steer.  He died aged 75 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1888 in the Horsham registration district.

   When the 1851 census was recorded the couple and 3 children were living in Roughey in the parish of Horsham.  John was then a 33 year old sawyer.  In 1861 the couple and 4 sons were living in New Town, Horsham.  John still a sawyer and he was then said to be 44 years old.  By 1871 the family were living in Queen Street, Horsham and John was a 55 year old sawyer.  In 1881 the couple were living alone at 13 Park Terrace East in Horsham.  John was a 65 year old sawyer and Hannah a 57 year old laundress.  Hannah was a 68 year old widow when the 1891 census was recorded and she was lodging in the home of 45 year old David Etheridge at 16 Rushams Road, Horsham.

   John and Hannah had the following known children:

   1. Frances Ray was baptised on 9 November 1845 in Horsham.  The 1851 census records that she was 5 year old Fanny Ray and she was then a scholar.

   2. Harriett Ray was was baptised on 3 October 1847 in Horsham.  In 1851 she was 3 years old.

   3. Robert Ray was baptised on 3 February 1850 in Horsham.  He was a year old at the time of the 1851 census.  In 1861 he was an 11 year old scholar and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

   4. John Ray was baptised on 9 January 1854 in Horsham.  In 1861 he was a 7 year old scholar.

   5. William Frederick Ray was baptised on 8 June 1856 in Horsham.  He was a 5 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 15 year old labourer.

   6. David Ray was baptised on 29 March 1859 in Horsham.  The 1861 census records that he was 2 years old.  In 1871 he was a 12 year old labourer.

   7. George James Ray was baptised on 6 July 1862 in Horsham.

   8. Ellen Eliza Ray was baptised on 28 January 1866 in Horsham.  She died aged 3 years in the Horsham Union Workhouse and was buried on 4 December 1868 in Horsham.

7. Charlotte Parsons was baptised on 4 June 1826 in Woodmancote, Sussex.

   Charlotte married Walter Woollvin by banns on 13 January 1852 in Lower Beeding.  He was a bachelor and labourer and she was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as John Woollvin and William Parsons who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Smith and Fanny Smith.

   Walter was baptised on 21 September 1817 in West Grinstead and was the son of John Woolven and Barbara Pooley.

8. Frances Parsons was baptised on 7 December 1828 in Woodmancote.  She died aged 59 years and was buried on 16 October 1888 in Horsham.

   Frances married James Champion on 11 June 1848 in Horsham.  He was then a bachelor and labourer and she was a spinster.  Their fathers were named as Charles Champion and William Parsons.  The witnesses to their marriage were George Champion and Hannah Botting.

   James was baptised on 11 April 1825 in Horsham and was the son of Charles Champion (c1790-1850) and Ann Mitchell (c1796-1828).  He died aged 85 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1910 in the Horsham registration district.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was 14 years old and living with his father and elder brother, George, and possibly his grandmother, 87 year old widow Elizabeth Champion, in East Street, Horsham.  (Elizabeth may have died aged 89 years and have been buried on 14 February 1847 in Horsham, therefore, born about 1754-8.)  In 1891 James was a 66 year old widower and bricklayer, living with the family of his son William, at 28 St. Leonards Road, Horsham.  He was still with his son William in 1901 and at the same address.

   When the 1851 census was recorded the family were living in East Street, Horsham.  That census records Frances was born in Woodmancote.  In 1881 the couple were living at 25 Park Terrace East in Horsham.  Also with them on census night were 4 of their sons and a married daughter and her husband.

   James and Frances had the following children:

   1. Charlotte Parsons was baptised on 11 June 1848 in Horsham, and it was noted in the baptism register that she was the baseborn daughter of Frances Parsons.  The 1851 census records that she was 3 year old Charlotte Champion.

   2. James Champion was baptised on 14 July 1850 in Horsham, at which time his father was said to be a labourer.  He died aged 44 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1894 in the Horsham registration district.  He was 10 months old at the time of the 1851 census.

      James married Eliza Belton by banns on 30 August 1873 in Horsham.  He was then a bachelor aged 23 years and a bricklayer.  Eliza was a 19 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Champion a bricklayer and Charles Belton a labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were James Champion and Francis Champion.

      Eliza Bolton was baptised on 12 February 1854 in Petworth, the daughter of Charles and Ann.  She was a witness to the marriage of her sister, Ellen Belton to Albert Goldsmith on 5 February 1887 in Horsham.  Eliza and Ellen were sisters and the daughters of Charles Belton (1831-1894) and Hannah Wadey (1834-1908).  When the 1861 census was recorded Eliza was a 7 year old scholar and she was living with her grandparents, Charles Burchell (c1817-?) and Eliza (c1813-?) (previously Belton, nee Tickner) at Pond Cottage in Barlavington.  In 1871, she was still living with her grandparents at Roughy Place, Crawley Road, Horsham, and she was then a 17 year old servant out of place.

      When the 1881 census was recorded the couple and their 3 children were living at 30 Brighton Road, Horsham.  James was then a bricklayer and beerhouse keeper.  Also with them on census night was his sister Annie, 62 year old grandmother Eliza Burchell  (born Petworth) who was a housekeeper and 56 year old unmarried lodger John Potter.  By 1891 the family had moved to New House Farm in Roffey within the parish of Horsham.

      James and Eliza had the following children:

      1. Charles Morry Champion was baptised on 29 November 1874 in Horsham, at which time his father was a bricklayer.  He was 6 years old in 1881.  In 1891 he was a 16 year old bricklayer's apprentice.

      2. James Champion was baptised on 26 November 1876 in Horsham, at which time his father was a bricklayer.  He was 4 years old in 1881.

      3. Louisa Champion was baptised on 20 October 1878 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that her father was a bricklayer.  At the time of the 1881 census she was 2 years old.  In 1891 she was a 12 year old scholar.  When the 1901 census was recorded she was an unmarried 23 year old cook (domestic) in the home of unmarried 61 year old Adolphus Candle, a medical practitioner in the High Street, Henfield.

      4. Eliza Champion was baptised in Feburary 1881 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that her father was a bricklayer.  In 1891 she was a 10 year old scholar.

      5. William Champion was born about 1883 in Horsham.  He was an 8 year old scholar in 1891.

      6. Albert Champion was born about 1885 in Horsham.  He was a 6 year old scholar in 1891.

      7. Emma Champion was born about 1887 in Horsham.  In 1891 she was 4 years old.

      8. Edward Champion was born about 1889 in Horsham.  At the time of the 1891 census he was 2 years old.

      9. Alice Mary Champion was baptised on 3 September 1893 in Horsham, at which time her father was a bricklayer and the family were living in Roffey.

   3. Fanny Champion was baptised on 12 September 1852 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that her father was a bricklayer.  She died aged 25 years and was buried on 19 December 1877 in Horsham.

   4. Caroline Champion was baptised on 18 March 1855 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that her father was a bricklayer.  Caroline married William Styles.  When the 1881 census was recorded the couple were living with her parents in Horsham.  William was then a 32 year old hotel servant and he had been born in the parish of St. George, Hannover Square, London.

   5. Annie Champion was baptised on 12 September 1858 in Horsham, at which time her father was a bricklayer.  At the time of the 1881 census she was an unmarried 23 year old domestic servant, living in the home of her brother James.  Annie married James William Harman by banns on 16 June 1882 in Horsham.  She was then a 23 year old spinster and he was a 27 year old bachelor and railway porter from Lavington.  Their fathers were named as Reuben Harman a labourer and James Champion a bricklayer.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Henry Champion and Charlotte Moorey.

   6. William Henry Champion was baptised on 9 December 1860 in Horsham.  In 1881 he was an unmarried 20 year old bricklayer and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

      William Henry married Ellen Rapley by licence on 4 April 1883 in Horsham.  He was then a 23 year old bachelor and bricklayer.  Ellen was a 25 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Champion a bricklayer and Reuben Rapley a butcher.  The witnesses to their marriage were Edward Thomas Champion and Emma Rapley.

      Ellen was born on 3 July 1857 and baptised on 5 December 1858 in Shipley and was the daughter of Reuben Rapley (1833-?) and Emily Redford (1831-?).  (Reuben was baptised on 28 July 1833 in Shipley, the son of William Rapley and Sarah, possibly Sarah Pierpoint.  Emily was baptised on 7 August 1831 in Shipley and was the daughter of Henry Redford and Rhoda Harden.)

      When the 1891 census was recorded the couple were living at 28 St. Leonards Road, Horsham, along with their 3 children and William's father.  The couple and their 2 sons and William's father were still at the same address when the 1901 census was recorded.  William was then a 40 year old bricklayer.

      William and Ellen had the following children:

      1. William Henry Champion was baptised on 25 May 1884 in Horsham, at which time his father was a bricklayer.  He was 6 years old at the time of the 1891 census.  In 1901 he was a 16 year old bricklayer.

      2. Grace Champion was baptised on 2 May 1886 in Horsham.  The baptism register records that her father was a bricklayer and that the family were living at 28 St. Leonard's Road in Horsham.  She was 5 years old in 1891.  In 1901 she was a 15 year old domestic housemaid in the home of 79 year old widow Frances Boxall at 4 Arthur Road in Horsham.

      3. Harold Bertie Champion was born in the first quarter of 1891 in Horsham.  He was was 2 months old when the 1891 census was recorded.  In 1901 he was 10 years old.

   7. Charles Champion was baptised on 14 December 1862 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that his father was a bricklayer.  He was a 17 year old bricklayer in 1881 and living at home.

   8. Mary Elizabeth Champion was baptised on 25 December 1864 in Horsham, at which time her father was a bricklayer.  She died aged 14 years and was buried on 22 January 1878 in Horsham.

   9. Edward Thomas Champion was baptised on 17 March 1867 in Horsham, at which time his father was a bricklayer.  He was a 14 year old bricklayer's labourer in 1881.

   10. John Champion was baptised on 25 July 1869 in Horsham.  The baptism register recorded that his father was a bricklayer.  In 1881 he was an 11 year old scholar.

PARSONS          THORNS