Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Henry SETFORD (c1794-1838)

and Hannah SAWYERS (1814-1882)

Henry Setford and Hannah Sawyers were my 3x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married by banns on 14 February 1832 in Chailey, Sussex.  They were both then of Chailey.  The witnesses to their marriage were Simeon Moon and Mary Ann Sawyers.  (Simeon Moon was the father of Frances Moon who married Henry Cronk in 1871 in Brighton.)

Henry Setford was born about 1794.  He was a labourer.  Might he have been the son of Henry Setford who was born in 1773?  Henry died aged 44 years and was buried on 5 May 1838 in Newick, Sussex.  There was another Henry Setford born about 1788 in Horsted Keynes, who like 1794 Henry, does not appear to have been baptised.

It would seem highly unlikely that Henry was the son of Joseph Setford (1757-1834) and Barbara Hollingdale, as they had a daughter born on 19 April 1794 and possibly sons in 1793 and 1795, neither of whom were named Henry.  Unless Henry and Barbara were twins.

Hannah Sawyers was baptised on 3 July 1814 in Newick, Sussex.  She was the daughter of William Sawyers (1783-1848) and Mary Ann Pearce (c1778-1863).  She died aged 69 years and was buried on 8 April 1882 in Chailey.  In 1841, Hannah was a charwoman living at Fonthill in Newick with her 3 sons, her parents and 20 year old Barbara Pannett.  (Barbara was the granddaughter of Joseph Setford and Barbara Hollingdale.)

After Henry's death Hannah Setford, widow of Newick, married William Sturt on 5 November 1845 in Newick.  He was a bachelor and labourer of Newick.  His father's name was not recorded on the marriage certificate.  They were both of full age and both made their X marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were ??, Charlotte Sawyers (signed) and Walter Sawyers (marked).

William Sturt was born about 1812-14 and possibly in East or West Grinstead or Lindfield, Sussex.  He died aged 80 years and was buried on 13 February 1892 in Chailey.  William was an agricultural labourer.  See notes below for details about other William Sturts.

When the 1851 census was recorded the couple were both aged 38 years and living in Tut's Cottage, Chailey.  William was then an agricultural labourer.  Hannah's 3 sons were living with them and their surnames were recorded as Sturt rather than Setford.

When the 1861 census was recorded the couple were both aged 47 years and living on South Common, Chailey.  William then gave his place of birth as East Grinstead, Sussex and Hannah as Newick.  Also with the couple was Hannah's 84 year old widowed mother.

The 1871 census records William was 57 and born in West Grinstead and Hannah was 56.  They were living in Chailey and William was an agricultural labourer.  Also with them were 2 lodgers, namely unmarried 58 year old Thomas Nye and 69 year old widower Thomas Allcorn.

In 1881 the couple were both aged 67 years and living at 1 Turners Cottage, South Street, Chailey.  William then gave his place of birth as West Grinstead.  Also living with them was 3? year old unmarried lodger William Cruse who had been born in Chailey and was an agricultural labourer.

When the 1891 census was recorded William was an 80 year old labourer and living alone in South Street, Chailey.  He then gave his place of birth as Lindfield, Sussex.  He was living next door to the family of his step son James Setford.

Henry Setford and Hannah Sawyers had 4 known children:

1. William Setford was baptised on 24 June 1832 in Chailey.  He died aged 75 years and his death was registered in the second quarter of 1907 in the Lewisham registration district.  He was 9 years old in 1841.  The 1851 census recorded that he was 18 year old William S. Sturt and he was an agricultural labourer.  In 1861 he was a lodger at Fonthill, Newick.

   William married Harriet Muddle on 4 September 1864 in Newick.  He was then a bachelor and gardener of Newick.  She was a spinster of the parish of St. Pauls in Canterbury, Kent.  They both signed their names.  The witnesses to the marriage were Francis Lindall and Elizabeth Gastman.

   Harriet was baptised on 17 July 1836 in Uckfield, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Joseph Mudle and Ann.  She died aged 61 years and her death was registered in the first quarter of 1897 in the Lewisham registration district.

   In 1881 the family were living in Lewisham, Kent.

   William and Harriet had 2 known children:

   1. Annie Margaret Setford was baptised on 9 March 1865 in Newick and buried there on 21 March 1865, aged 1 month.

   2. Walter Setford was born about 1868 in Hampstead, Middlesex.

2. James Setford was baptised on 11 May 1834 in Chailey.  He married Martha Page in 1865.  (They have their own page.)

3. Harry Setford was baptised on 7 August 1836 in Chailey and buried there on 24 March 1837, aged 9 months.

4. Thomas Setford, my 2x Great Grandfather, was born on 22 January 1838 in Chailey.  He married Catherine Tullett in 1862.  (They have their own page.)

Census Transcripts

1841 - Fonthill, Newick, Sussex (HO107/1110/3, folio 11, page 14)

Charles Harton, 39, Ag Lab, born in Sussex

Phoebe Harton, 37, born in Sussex

James Harton, 11, born in Sussex

William Sawyers, 35, Ag Lab, born in Sussex

next household at Fonthill

Hannah Setford, 25, Charwoman, born in Sussex

William Setford, 9, born in Sussex

James Setford, 7, born in Sussex

Thomas Setford, 3, born in Sussex

William Sawyers, 55, Ag Lab, born in Sussex

Mary Ann Sawyers, 65, born in Sussex

Barbara Pannett, 20, Dressm., born in Sussex

1851 - Tut's Cottage, Chailey, Sussex (HO107/1643, folio 162, page 15)

William Sturt, Head, Mar, 38, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Hannah Sturt, Wife, Mar, 38, born Sussex, Newick

William S. Sturt, Son, U, 18, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, Chailey

James S. Sturt, Son, U,16 Ag Labourer, born Sussex, Chailey

Thomas S. Sturt, Son, U, 13, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, Chailey

1861 - South Common, Chailey, Sussex (RG9/585, folio 8, page 9)

William Sturt, Head, Mar, 47, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, East Grinstead

Hannah Sturt, Wife, Mar, 47, born Sussex, Newick

Mar A. Sawyers, Mother in Law, W, 84, Formerly Washerwoman, born Sussex, Fletching

1871 - Chailey, Sussex (RG10/1066, folio 8, page 10)

William Sturt, Head, Mar, 57, Ag Lab, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Hannah Sturt, Wife, Mar, 56, born Sussex, Newick

Thomas Nye, Lodger, Unm 58, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Hamsey

Thomas Allcorn, Lodger, Widr, 69, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Hamsey

1881 - Turners Cottage, South Street, Chailey, Sussex (RG11/1068, folio 7, page 6)

William Sturt, Head, 67, Ag Lab, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Hannah Sturt, Wife, 67, born Sussex, Newick

William Cruse, Lodger, Unm, 3?, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Chailey

1891 - South Street, Chailey, Sussex (RG12/796, folio 4, page 1)

William Cruse, Head, M, 65, Bricklayer, born Sussex, Chailey

Eliza Cruse, Wife, M, 63, born Sussex, Chailey

Esther Cruse, Daur, S, 24, born Sussex, Chailey

Alfred Cruse, Son, S, 20, Bricklayers labourer, born Sussex, Chailey

William Cruse, Grandson, 12, Scholar, born Sussex, Barcombe

next household...

James Setford, Head, M, 56, Labourer, born Sussex, Chailey

Martha Setford, Wife, M, 46, born Sussex, Lewes

Annie Eliza Setford, Daur, S, 14, General Serv, born Sussex, Chailey

Albert Setford, Son, 11, Scholar, born Sussex, East Chiltington

William Cruse, Boarder, S, 43, General Dealer, born Sussex, Chailey

next household...

William Sturt, Head, Widr, 80, Labourer, born Sussex, Lindfield

William Sturt

I have yet to try and track down the birth/baptism of the above William Sturt, but have started to make a collection of other William's born about the same time in order to try and confirm who was whom.

1. William Sturt was baptised on 8 April 1809 in Arundel, Sussex to James Sturt and Elizabeth Weare.

2. William Sturt was born about 1810 in Ashurst, Sussex.  He was the father of Harriet Sturt born 1848, who in 1868 married George Dumbrell born 1844 in Ashurst.  Harriet's birth certificate names her mother as Susan Gates and records her father's occupation as Blacksmith.

   William Sturt, bachelor married Susan Frances, spinster by banns on 14 September 1833 in Ashurst.  At the time they were both of Ashurst.

   QUESTION:  Could Susan Frances and Susan Gates be one and the same?

3. William Sturt was baptised on 7/17 February 1811 in Shermanbury.  He was the son of Henry Sturt and Jane Burtenshaw who had married by licence on 11 February 1793 in Shermanbury.  In 1851 widow Jane Sturt aged 75 and born in Shermanbury, was living in Ditchling, Sussex along with 2 unmarried sons, John Sturt born about 1803 and Samuel Sturt born about 1820.

   William Sturt, bachelor married Charlotte Smart, spinster by banns on 17 July 1833 in New Shoreham, Sussex.  At the time they were both of New Shoreham.

   QUESTION:  Could 1811 Shermanbury William be the one who married in 1833?

4. William Sturt was baptised on 13 March 1814 in Rudgwick, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Sturt and Elizabeth Field.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 34 year old servant living in Albury, Surrey.

5. William Sturt was baptised on 4 October 1782 in West Grinstead.  He was the son of Henry Sturt (1754-1829) and Ann Trower (1753-1828).

   William first married Elizabeth Faulconer by licence dated 7 December 1813, which stated he was a yeoman of Street and she a spinster of Plumpton.  They were both over 21 years of age.

   As a widower and gentleman of Street he married Susannah Hollingdale by licence on 25 May 1842 in Little Horsted, Sussex.  She was then a spinster of Little Horsted.  They were both of full age and were married by Joseph Simpson, Rector.  Their fathers were named as Henry Sturt, farmer and Henry Hollingdale, farmer.  The witnesses to the marriage were William Sturt, junior and Harriet Faulconer.

   In 1851 William and Susanna were living at Streat Place, where William was a farmer of 1000 acres employing 17.  Susanna's place of birth was then given as Plumpton.

   William died on 6 July 1852.  The IGI also records he married Susan Scrase in about 1842.

   QUESTION:  Was witness William Sturt, junior the son of William Sturt, senior?  If so what became of him?

SAWYERS          SETFORD