Ancestors of Mandy Willard

William SMART (1786-1858)

and Charlotte COMBER (1788-1870)

William Smart and Charlotte Comber married by licence on 7 February 1815 in Shipley, Sussex.  Their marriage licence was issued on 4 February 1815, which noted that he was then a 26 year old bachelor and farmer from Malling, Sussex and she was a 24 year old spinster from Shipley.  Surety for their marriage licence was provided by William himself and Richard Comber a farmer of Nuthurst.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

William Smart was baptised on 22 January 1786 in Horsham, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Smart (c1761-1823) and Elizabeth Older (1753-1817).  William died aged 72 years and was buried on 21 January 1858 in Horsham.

Charlotte Comber was baptised on 26 October 1788 in Nuthurst, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Richard Comber (c1750-1841) and Mary Smart (1762-1844).  Charlotte died aged 83 years and was buried on 4 April 1870 in Horsham.

When the 1841 census was recorded William and Charlotte were both said to be 50 year old.  He was then a farmer and they were living at Coltstaple in Horsham.  With them on census night were 6 of their children, and 3 agricultural labourers, namely Peter Pronger aged 20, Abel Penfold aged 17 and 12 year old James Wood.  The family also had a servent, 15 year old Harriet Manvell.

In 1851, the couple were living at Coltstaple in Horsham.  William was then a 65 year old farmer of 230 acres, employing 6 labourers.  His place of birth was given as Horsham.  Charlotte was 64 and said she was born in Nuthurst.  With them on census night were 3 of their children and 4 servants, namely, 15 year old house servant Helen Randall, 22 year old James Peac??, 18 year old Henry Court and 13 year old Richard Garton who were all agricultural labourers.

For some strange reason, the 1861 census recorded Charlotte's name as Elizabeth.  She was then the head of her household at Coltstaple Farm and she was a 74 year old widow and farmer of 148 acres, employing 2 labourers and 3 servants.  With her on census night were 3 of her children and 4 servants, namely, 15 year old Jane Linfield, 20 year old Michael Nicholson, 14 year old John Tompsett and 17 year old Henry Mansbridge.

William Smart and Charlotte Comber had 8 known children:

1. William Smart Comber was born about 1808 in Nuthurst, although I have not found his baptism in a transcript of the Nuthurst registers.

   William married twice.  A marriage licence was issued on 23 September 1837 by the Archdeaconry of Chichester to William Smart Comber and Sarah Redford.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Horsham.  The IGI notes they married on 27 September 1827 in Horsham.

   Sarah may have been baptised on 13 September 1810 in Horsham, and have been the daughter of Thomas Redford and Elizabeth Thorns.  She died between 1842 and 1851.

   In 1851, William Smart was a 43 year old widower living at Gratwick in Cowfold, where he was a farmer of 286 acres employing 4 labourers.  With him on census night was his sister Jane, 2 youngest daughters and 2 servants, namely Ellen Streeter a 20 year old house servant and Henry Parsons a 16 year old farm servant.

   William and Sarah had the following children:

   1. Fanny Smart was born on 24 April 1838 and baptised on 20 May 1838 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a farmer.  The 1851 census records that Fanny Smart was a 12 year old scholar and living with the family of her Uncle Julius and Aunt Mary in West Street, Horsham.  In 1861 she was 22 years old and living with her father.

   2. Jane Smart was born on 1 October 1839 and baptised on 27 October 1839 in Horsham.  In 1851 she was a 10 year old scholar.  She was 21 years old in 1841 and living with her father.

   3. Ann Smart was baptised on 7 September 1842 in Worth, Sussex.  In 1851 she was an 8 year old scholar.  She was 18 years old in 1861 and living with her father.

   As William Smart Comber he next married Ann Burtenshaw by licence on 27 March 1853 in Horsham.  He was a widower and farmer from Lancing, Sussex and she was a widow.  William's father was not named, but Ann's was Edward Bristow.  The witnesses to their marriage were Frederick Older Float and Ann Smart.  As Ann Bristow she had previously married Richard Vincent Burtenshaw by licence on 23 June 1825 in West Grinstead.  Their marriage licence was issued on 21 June 1825 by the Archdeaconry of Chichester, which noted that he was a 20 year old bachelor who married with the consent of Catherine Ede and Ann was a 21 year old spinster.

   Ann Bristow was baptised on 11 February 1804 in Shipley and was the daughter of Edward Bristow and Olive Nichols.

   When the 1861 census was recorded, William Smart was a 53 year old farmer of 330 acres, employing 4 men and 3 boys.  He was living with his 56 year old wife, Ann, and his 3 daughters at Courthouse Farm in Rusper, Sussex.  William's place of birth was given as Nuthurst and Ann's as Shipley.  Also with the family on census night were 3 servants, namely Amos Burridge an 18 year old second carter, James Shield a 16 year old carter boy and 15 year old Henry Smith who was a second carter boy.

2. Frances Smart was baptised on 3 December 1815 in Horsham.

   Frances married James Potter by licence on 20 June 1837 in Horsham.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Smart and Mary Potter.

   James and Frances had the following child:

   1. Ann Potter was born on 25 September 1837 and baptised on 3 December 1837 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a farmer.

3. Mary Smart was baptised on 8 August 1817 in Horsham.  The 1841 census recorded that she was 20 years old and the eldest of her siblings living at home.

   Mary married Julius Russell by licence on 13 May 1845 in Horsham.  He was then a bachelor and linen draper from Linfield, Surrey (Lingfield).  Their fathers were named as John Clifford Russell a shoemaker and William Smart a farmer.  The witnesses to their marriage were Albian Russell, Jane Russell, Jane Smart and George Smart.

   Julius was born about 1819/20 in Chiddingly, Sussex.  The 1841 census records that he was a 20 year old journeyman draper living in West Street, Horsham, in the home of his 35 year old cousin John Thorpe.

   In 1851 the couple were living in West Street, Horsham.  Julius was then a 31 year old master grocer employing 1 man.  Mary was 33.  With them on census night were 2 of their children, 12 year old niece Fanny Smart, 18 year old grocer's shopman William Leppard and 17 year old house servant Emily Harding.

   Julius and Mary had the following children:

   1. Mary Jane Russell was baptised on 16 April 1848 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a grocer.

   2. William Smart Russell was baptised on 24 Mary 1850 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that his father was a grocer.

   3. Charlotte Elizabeth Russell was baptised on 6 June 1852 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a grocer.

   4. John Clifford Russell was baptised on 17 September 1854 in Horsham.

   5. Ellen Russell was baptised on 15 February 1857 in Horsham.

4. George Smart was born on 9 May 1819 and baptised on 24 September 1819 in Horsham.  He was said to be 18 years old when the 1841 census was recorded and he was then living with his parents.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 31 year old farmer's son and he was living with his parents.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 41 year old bailiff and he was living with his mother.

5. Jane Smart was baptised on 25 April 1821 in Horsham.  The 1841 census recorded that she was 17 years old and living at home with her parents.  When the 1851 census was recorded she was living with her brother William as his housekeeper.  She was then un unmarried 29 year old.

   Jane married John Coates by licence on 24 May 1853 in Horsham.  He was then a 31 year old bachelor and farmer from Shipley.  Jane was a 32 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as John Coates and William Smart who were both farmers.  The witnesses to their marriage were George Smart, Julius Russell, Ann Smart, Elizabeth Smart and Hanna Smart.

6. Ann Smart was baptised on 8 August 1824 in Horsham.  The 1841 census recorded that she was 15 years old and living at home.  In 1851 she was and unmarried 26 year old and living with her parents.  She was an unmarried 36 year old in 1861 and living with her mother.

   Ann married John Lawman as his third wife on 4 August 1863 in Hove, Sussex.  John's second wife had been Ann's cousin Elizabeth Smart (1821-1857).

   John and Ann had the following son:

   1. Arthur John Lawman was born on 8 February 1867 in Horsham and died on 29 November 1923 in Bournemouth, Hampshire.  (Thanks to P. A. Lawman for this information.)

7. John Smart was baptised on 16 August 1826 in Horsham.  The 1841 census recorded that he was 12 years old and living at home.

8. Elizabeth Smart was baptised on 12 September 1828 in Horsham.  The 1841 census recorded that she was 10 years old.  She was an unmarried 22 year old in 1851 and living at home.  In 1861 she was an unmarried 32 year old living with her mother and elder siblings.

COMBER          SMART