Ancestors of Mandy Willard

James RANDAL (1723-1795)

and Elizabeth (c1725-1770)

and Elizabeth SOCK (1729-1795)

Elizabeth's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  Given that her first known child was baptised in Trotton, I wondered if she too may have been baptised there.  Between 1720 and 1730, sixteen Elizabeth's were baptised in Trotton.  She was buried on 2 March 1770 in Chithurst and the burial register recorded her name as Elizh. Randal.

Elizabeth Sock was baptised on 12 October 1729 in Easebourne, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Edward Sock and Elizabeth Beacon.  She died soon after her husband and was buried on 22 December 1795 in Chithurst.  The burial register records that Elizabeth was the wife of James Randal.

James Randal and Elizabeth may have had the following children:

1. James Randall was baptised on Wednesday 17 December 1749 at the parish church of St. George in Trotton, Sussex.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  James was the only one to have been baptised in the parish on that day and only eight were baptised there in 1749.  He was buried on 23 August 1770 in Chithurst and the burial register records that he was the son of James Randal.

2. Elizabeth Randal was baptised on 27 January 1750/1 in Treyford cum Didling, Sussex.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  She was the only one to have been baptised in Treyford in January 1750/1 and there were only five baptisms in the parish that year.

   As Elizabeth Randol, spinster, she married George Chandler by banns on 7 December 1773 in Harting, Sussex.  They were both then of Harting.  George signed his name and Elizabeth made her mark.  The witnesses to the marriage were John Aslett and John Guy who both signed their names.  The banns were published in Harting on 21, 28 November and 5 December 1773.

   George and Elizabeth had the following known child:

   1. Elizabeth Chandler was baptised on 23 October 1774 in Harting.

3. Ann Randal was baptised on Wednesday 12 April 1752 in Treyford cum Didling.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  She was the only one to have been baptised that day and there had only been six baptisms in the the parish in 1752.

   As Ann Randal she married James Older by banns on 10 November 1789 in Chithurst, Sussex.  Ann was then a spinster of Chithurst and James a bachelor of Easebourne, Sussex.  They both made their marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were Prudence Baxter and William Collins who both signed their names.  The banns were published in Chithurst on 27 September, 18 October and 8 November 1789.

4. John Randal was baptised on Sunday 10 March 1754 in Treyford cum Didling.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  John was the only one to have been baptised in the parish in March 1754 - only five baptisms took place in Treyford com Didling in 1754.

   As John Randall he married Hannah Privett by banns on 22 April 1774 in Iping, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Iping.  They both made their marks.  The witnesses to the marrage were Mary Randall (signed) and Thomas Jackson (marked).  The banns were published in Iping on 13, 27 March and 5 April 1774.

   In 1797, John was assessed for tax on Homehill in Chithurst at the rate of £1 0s 4d per annum.  He paid the same amount in 1798 and the property was then owned by John Stickler.  John was still the tenant at Homehill in 1799, 1800 and 1801.  By 1802 he was the owner occupier of Homehill and paid the same amount of tax.  John was still the owner occupier from 1803 until 1818.

   John and Hannah had the following known children:

   1. Ann Randal was baptised on 12 March 1775 in Iping.

   2. Sarah Randall was baptised on 15 February 1778 in Chithurst.  As Sarah Randal she may have married William Challen by banns on 1 October 1795 in Iping.  She was then of Iping and he of Woolavington.  They both made their marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were Ann Randell and William Collins who both signed their names.

   3. John Randall was baptised on 4 March 1781 in Chithurst and/or Iping.

   4. Lydia Randall was baptised on 15 September 1782 in Iping.  She may have been the mother of illegitimately born William Randal who was baptised on 4 June 1798 in Chithurst.  As Lydia Randal she may have married James Gitterel on 22 March 1801 in West Dean, West Sussex.  She was then of Binderton, Sussex and he of West Dean.

5. Mary Randal was baptised on Thursday 9 October 1755 in Treyford cum Didling.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  Mary was the only one to have been baptised in Treyford cum Didling in October 1755 - there were only six baptisms in the parish in 1755.

   Mary married James Moore.  The banns were published in Woolbeding and recorded that James Moore was of Woobeding and Mary Randoll of Bramshott in Hampshire.

   No Randal burials were recorded in the Treyford cum Didling burial register.

6. Sarah Randal was baptised on 30 January 1757 in Bepton, Sussex.  Neither of her parent's names were recorded in the baptism register, so I can not be sure she was part of this family, but the register did mention she was of Didling.  (Bepton boarders the parish of Didling.)  She was buried on 29 August 1780 in Chithurst and her name was recorded in the burial register as Sarah Randall.

7. Abraham Randal was baptised on 19 November 1758 in Bepton.  Neither of his parent's names were recorded in the baptism register, so I can not be sure he was part of this family.  He was buried on 7 April 1777 in Chithurst and his name was recorded in the burial register as Abraham Randall.

8. Jeremiah Randal was baptised on 1 March 1762 in Treyford cum Didling.  Neither of his parent's names were recorded in the baptism register, so I can not be sure he was part of this family.  He may have died before 1794 as he was not mentioned in his father's will, although his wife and son were.

   As Jeremiah Randall he married Catherine Peters by banns on 23 February 1790 in Chithurst.  He was then of Trotton and she of Chithurst.  They both made their marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were Charlotte Parsons and William Collins who both signed their names.  The banns were published on 10 and 31 January and 21 February 1790 in Chithurst.

   They had 1 known son:

   1. Richard Randall was baptised on 7 April 1791 in Trotton.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register and Jeremiah was then said to be a labourer.

9. Lydie Randal, my 4x Great Grandmother, was baptised on Sunday 20 November 1763 in Chithurst.  Both her parents were named in the baptism register.  She was the one to have been baptised in Chithurst in November 1763.  Her baptism in the name of Lyddy Randal was also recorded on the same day in the Trotton baptism register and her father was then said to be of Chithurst.  Her baptism in Trotton was the only one recorded in November 1763 and there had only been six baptisms there in that year.  Lydia married John Pearson in 1783.  (They have their own page.)

   There were only two Randall burials recorded in the Trotton parish registers and they were back in 1614 and 1618.

10. Diana Randal was baptised on 1 October 1765 at the parish church of St. Mary in Chithurst.  Both her parents were named in the baptism register.

    As Diana Randall she may have married William Bennett on 21 November 1788 in Monxton, Hampshire.  However, Monxton is about 45 miles away from Chithurst, although the modern day road between the two places is fairly direct.  But, she was named as Dina Randolle in her father's will of 1794.

11. Rebecca Randal was baptised on 28 October 1767 in Chithurst.  Both her parents were named in the baptism register.

    As Rebecca Randal she married William Gosden by banns on 12 October 1789 in Rogate, Sussex.  They were both then of Rogate.  The witnesses to the marriage were William Lintott and Ann Gosden.  (William Lintott may have been William Gosden's step father or a step brother, as his widowed mother had married William Lintott on 20 February 1781 in Rogate.)

    William Gosden seems to have been baptised twice, firstly on 31 March 1765 and then on 16 June 1765, both times in Rogate.  He was the son of Edward Gosden (1734-1778) and Diana Boxall (?-1784).  In 1795 William was assessed for land tax on the property Homehill in Chithurst, at £1 0s 4d.  His father-in-law had been the tenant of the property since 1783.  William paid the same amount of tax in 1796, but in 1797 the property had passed to John Randall.  In 1797 William was the tenant of Northlands in Chithurst, owned by William Collins.  He was then required to pay a tax of £2 8s 6d per annum.  William paid the same tax Northlands from 1798 until 1804.

    William and Rebecca had the following children:

    1. William Gosden was born and baptised on 25 December 1789 in Rogate.

    2. Thomas Gosden was baptised on 2 June 1792 in Chithurst.

    3. Richard Gosden was baptised on 31 May 1795 in Iping.

    4. Mary Gosden was baptised on 5 May 1799 in Iping.

Things to check about the above family

I have taken James's 1723 baptism from a transcript of the Haslemere parish registers, which can be found on "English Parish Records:  Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex" published on CD by Ancestry.com (I have this CD).  The original register needs to be checked and that of Witley, as his parents were said to be of that parish.  James would seem to have been 1 of 10 children baptised to John and Mary between 1703 and 1726 and yet the only burials recorded during that time in Haslemere were of Eliza Randal spinster of Whitly on 26 September 1706, Elizabeth Randal wife of John Randal senior of Wittley on 30 January 1711/2 and of John Randoll of Whitley on 9 May 1723 - I assume him to be the widower of Elizabeth and they the possible grandparents of 1723 James.

I have no proof that 1723 James was the one who married Elizabeth and eventually settled in Chithurst, Sussex.  There were also the following:

1. James Randale was baptised on 26 July 1724 in Boxgrove, Sussex.  He was the son of Henry Randale and Mary.  They had married on 10 September 1715 in Boxgrove as Henry Randal and Mary Trusler, widow.  A James Randall was buried in Boxgrove on 21 March 1804, but his age at death was not recorded in the burial register.  Henry Randale, labourer, was buried in Boxgrove on 8 February 1748/9.

2. James Randoll was baptised on 25 September 1725 in Midhurst, Sussex.  He was the son of Robert Randoll and Elizabeth.  They may have married by licence as Robert Randol of Subdeanery and Elizabeth Royle of St. Pancras on 12 May 1709 in Hunston, Sussex.  Their marriage licence was issued on 11 May 1709 by the Deanery of Chichester which recorded that Robert Randoll was a bachelor and Elizabeth Roil a spinster.  A James Randal was buried in Midhurst on 10 November 1793.

3. James Randal was baptised on August 1727 in Kirdford, Sussex.  He was the son of William Randal.  As William Randall he may have married Mary Martyn on 20 February 1714/5 in Kirdford.  A James Randall married Mary Denyer on 26 May 1753 in Kirdford.

So why do I think that "my" James was the one baptised in Haslemere?  Well, it's down to the name Lydia (given to my 4x Great Grandmother in 1763).  Other Lydia's were:

1. Lidia Randall was baptised on 11 December 1772 in Haslemere.  She was the daughter of Jeremiah Randall and Mary.  Jeremiah was baptised in 1726 in Haslemere and was a brother of 1723 James.  1723 James may also have named a son Jeremiah in 1762.

2. Lydia Randall was baptised on 15 January 1781 in Petworth, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Jeremiah Randall (1755-?) and Mary.  This Lydia was probably a niece of 1723 James.

3. Lydia Randall was baptised on 15 September 1782 in Iping, Sussex.  She was the daughter of John Randall and Hannah Privett, and granddaughter of 1723 James.

4. Lydia Randall was baptised on 25 January 1789 in Haslemere.  She was the daughter of John Randall and Elizabeth.  John was born in 1756 and was the son of Abraham Randal who was also a brother of 1723 James.  And 1723 James may have named a son Abraham.

I have taken the baptism dates for James and Elizabeth's children from the IGI and transcripts of the Trotton and Treyford cum Didling parish registers - produced on CD by The Parish Register Transcript Society, copies of which I have.  I need to check all the baptism dates against original registers and also try and find any burials.  Going back to the Haslemere registers, 1723 James's father was said to be a labourer, whereas he was a husbandman.

I have tried to search the A2A database for anything that might mention the Randal family in the Chithurst area, but nothing was found.  The West Sussex Poor Law database records that a settlement certificate was granted to John Randoll on 23 February 1750, parish mentioned was Cocking, Sussex.  John was then said to be a married victualler of St. Pancras (I assume this to be Chichester).  His wife was Ann and their children were Thomas, Robert and Ann.  Son Thomas may have been baptised on 29 September 1749 in Chithurst.  On seeing this I wondered if John was a brother of 1723 James, but I now don't think there was any connection between the two men.  John and Ann went on to have 5 children baptised in Cocking:  Mary in 1752, Elizabeth in 1753, John in 1755, Phoebe in 1759 and Daniel in 1762.  I think it possible that John was a brother of the James baptised 1725 in Midhurst, sons of Robert and Elizabeth.  A John Randall was buried in Cocking on 14 April 1766.

I also have transcripts of the Elsted parish registers - produced by The Parish Register Transcript Society.  No Randall events have been found in those registers.  (Please see the Sussex Family History Group's excellent parish register map.)

I hope this explains how and why I think what I do about the family of James and Elizabeth.  As soon as I can, I shall take a trip down to the Records Office at Chichester.

Chithurst Land Tax 1780, 4 shillings in the pound

Mr. Richard Randoll for Cobbed hall, 10s. 4d.

Chithurst Land Tax 1781, 1782, 1783,1784

For Cobbed hall, 10s. 4d. owned by John Quantock, occupied by Richard Randol

Elizabeths' baptised in Trotton:

23 September 1720 daughter of Nicholas Lintot, farmer

20 January 1720/1 daughter of John Mills, labourer

27 August 1721 daughter of John Talbot, taylor, she may have married Joseph Goldring by banns on 23 January 1758/9 in Trotton

27 August 1722 daughter of Henry Fry, farmer

22 November 1722 daughter of Robert Pink, labourer, baptised at Tuxlith

16 January 1722/3 daughter of John Wilson, junior, wheeler

15 November 1724 daughter of Thomas Rudman alias Mason

6 March 1725/6 daughter of John Belsar, from Iping, baptised at Tuxlith (John Betsor married Anne Kemp on 28 October 1712 in Chithurst)

27 November 1726 daughter of Thomas Burrow, labourer, baptised at Tuxlith

10 December 1727 daughter of James Weeks, baptised at Tuxlith, buried 13 July 1740

17 January 1727/8 daughter of William Wilson, wheeler, buried 28 April 1737

29 March 1728 daughter of Edmund Kemp, labourer

22 December 1728 daughter of John Beal, labourer

22 June 1729 daughter of John Larby, carpenter, baptised at Tuxlith, buried 15 April 1742

26 October 1729 daughter of Oliver Boxal, labourer, baptised at Tuxlith, she may have married Henry Eames by banns on 4 June 1759 in Trotton

22 November 1730 daughter of John Purslow, baptised at Tuxlith

Details about Chithurst can be found at:

GENUKI:  Chithurst, Sussex - http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/SSX/Chithurst/  (after view the page, pleased click on your back button to return to my web page)

Walking-by-the-Rother - http://www.walkinginwestsussex.co.uk/Walk1.htm (this gives a map of the area and many photographs)

British History Online:  Chithurst - http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=41684

RANDALL