Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Robert STONER (1779-1852)

and Mary AKEHURT (1780-1861)

Robert Stoner and Mary Akehurst married by banns on 17 March 1806 in Upper Beeding, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Constable and Frances Constable.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Robert Stoner was baptised on 12 December 1779 in Cowfold, Sussex.  He was the son of Henry Stoner (1753-1828) and Phoebe Roberts (1755-1825).  Robert died aged 74 years and was buried on 20 June 1852 in Lower Beeding.

Mary Akehurst was baptised on 15 October 1780 in Cowfold, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Caleb Akhurst and Anne Gravely.  Mary died aged 80 years and was buried on 7 September 1861 in Upper Beeding.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple were both said to be 60 years old and Robert was a labourer.  They were living at Plummers Plain within the parish of Lower Beeding.  Also with them on census night was their son Edmund, 25 year old Harriot Comber and 2½ year old Mary Comber.  (Harriot was probably Robert and Mary's daughter Hannah.)

In 1851 the couple were still living at Plummers Plain.  Robert was then said to be a 73 year old agricultural labourer and Mary was 70.  They both said they were born in Cowfold.  Their son Edmund was at home on census night, along with their 11 year old granddaughter Mary Comber who was a scholar.

When the 1861 census was recorded Mary was an 80 year old widow living in Plummers Plain, along with unmarried 81 year old lodger Caleb Akehurst.  She was an almswoman and he an almsman.

Robert Stoner and Mary Akehurst had 6 known children:

1. Thomas Stoner was baptised on 24 July 1808 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that his parents were from Beeding.  He married Sarah Dinage in 1832.  (They have their own page.)

2. Jacob Stoner was born in Lower Beeding and baptised on 22 April 1810 in Cowfold, at which time his parents were from Beeding.

   Jacob married Elizabeth Comber by banns on 6 October 1833 in Upper Beeding.  The witnesses to their marriage were Mary Boniface and Henry Boniface.  (Henry Boniface married Mary Comber on 5 September 1822 in Upper Beeding.)

   Elizabeth may have been baptised on 18 February 1816 in Nuthurst, and have been the daughter of Peter Comber and Hannah White.

   The 1861 census records that 46 year old Jacob and 42 year old Elizabeth were living in Warninglid Road, Lower Beeding along with their 5 children.  Jacob was then an agricultural labourer and said he was born in Lower Beeding.

   Jacob and Elizabeth had the following children:

   1. William Stoner was born in Lower Beeding and baptised on 11 January 1835 in Slaugham.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 26 year old agricultural labourer and he was living at home with his parents.

   2. Walter Stoner was baptised on 17 August 1837 in Nuthurst.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 22 year old agricultural labourer living at home.  Walter married Jane Mayne

   3. Helen Stoner was born about 1841.

   4. Elizabeth Stoner was baptised on 3 April 1842 in Lower Beeding.

   5. Thomas Stoner was born about 1848/9 in Lower Beeding.  In 1861 he was a 13 year old agricultural labourer, living at home.

      Thomas married Elizabeth Millyard Comber on 9 October 1875 in Lower Beeding..

   6. Edward Stoner was born about 1848/9 in Lower Beeding.

   7. Mary Ann Stoner was born about 1851/2 in Lower Beeding.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1861.

   8. Sarah Stoner was born about 1855/6 in Lower Beeding.  She was 5 years old in 1861.

3. Hannah Stoner was baptised on 3 January 1813 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.

   Hannah married Charles Comber on 15 March 1835 in Slaugham.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Boniface and Mary Boniface.

   Charles was born about 1815.

   Charles and Hannah had the following children:

   1. Rebecca Comber was baptised on 2 December 1835 in Nuthurst.

   2. Mary Coomber was born on 31 January 1839 and baptised on 7 February 1839 in Horsham.

   3. Mary Ann Comber was baptised on 3 July 1853 in Lower Beeding.

4. Henry Stoner was baptised on 3 September 1815 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer from Beeding.

   Henry married Caroline Dinnage on 2 May 1840 in Nuthurst.  Their fathers were named as Robert Stoner and Jonathan Dinnage.

   Henry and Caroline had the following children:

   1. Jane Stoner

   2. James Stoner was born about 1844 in Horsham.

      James married Mary Ann Harding on 26 July 1862 in Lower Beeding.  He was 20 and she 19.  Their fathers were named as Henry Stoner and Thomas Harding.

      James and Mary Ann had the following children:

      1. Jessie Stoner was baptised on 8 March 1863 in Lower Beeding.  He was an unmarried 28 year old agricultural labourer in 1891 and living with his parents.

      2. Peter William Stoner was baptised on 18 February 1866 in Lower Beeding.

      3. George Allen Stoner was baptised on 7 February 1869 in Lower Beeding.  He was an unmarred 22 year old agricultural labourer in 1881 and living with his parents.

      4. Edward Stoner was born about 1873 in Nuthurst.  He was an 18 year old agricultural labourer in 1891.

      5. Annie Elizabeth Stoner was baptised on 28 November 1875 in Lower Beeding.  She was 15 years old in 1891.

      6. Emma Mercy Stoner was baptised on 3 August 1879 in Lower Beeding.  She was a 10 year old scholar in 1891.

      7. Frederick R. Stoner was born about 1883 in Nuthurst.  He was an 8 year old scholar in 1891.

      8. Alice H. Stoner was born about 1887 in Nuthurst.  She was 4 years old at the time of the 1891 census.

   3. William Stoner.  He married Harriet Harding.

   4. Edward Stoner.  He married Leah Knight.

   5. Mary Ann Stoner

   6. Jonathan Stoner.  He married Jane Feist.

5. Rebecca Stoner was baptised on 3 December 1820 in Nuthurst.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer of Nuthurst.

   Rebecca married Thomas Gravett before the recording of the 1841 census.

   Thomas was born about 1808.

   In 1841 the couple were living with the family of Rebecca's brother, Thomas, at Monks Gate Common in Nuthurst.  In 1851, the couple and their 3 children were living at Nyes and Kings House in Newdigate.  Thomas was a 44 year old agricultural labourer and gave his place of birth, as what looks like, Sillington, Sussex (could that be Tillington or Sullington?).  Rebecca's age was recorded as 31 and her place of birth was given as Nuthurst.  Also with the family on census night was 74 year old widower and lodger Charles Couldrey who was an agricultural labourer and Chelsea Pensioner who had been born in Newdigate.

   Thomas and Rebecca had the following children:

   1. Peter Gravatt was baptised on 26 January 1845 in Nuthurst.  He was a 6 year old scholar in 1851.

   2. Rebecca Gravatt was baptised on 21 November 1847 in Nuthurst.  In 1851 she was 3 years old.

   3. Matthew Gravett was born on 15 December 1849 and baptised on 16 December 1849 in Newdigate, Surrey.  He was a year old at the time of the 1851 census.

   4. Thomas Gravett was baptised on 28 January 1852 in Newdigate.

   5. James Gravitt was baptised on 23 January 1853 in Newdigate.

   6. John Gravatt was baptised on 15 July 1855 in Horsham.

   7. Frank Gravatt was baptised on 26 July 1857 in Horsham.

   8. Ruth Grevatt was baptised on 13 October 1861 in Broadwater.

   9. Joshua Grevatt was baptised on 13 September 1863 in Broadwater.

6. Edmund Stoner was baptised on 7 November 1825 in Nuthurst.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer of Beeding.  The death of 83 year old Edmund Stoner was registered un the third quarter of 1905 in the Horsham registration district.  He was a 17 year old labourer in 1841 and living at home with his parents.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 27 year old agricultural labourer and he was living with his parents.

   Edmund was a witness to the marriage of William Akehurst, bachelor and Sarah Lindfield, widow, who married on 12 April 1847 in Lower Beeding.

   Edmund married Sarah Goldsmith in the second quarter of 1851 in the Cuckfield registration district.

   Sarah was baptised on 21 May 1820 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John Goldsmith (c1783-1859) and Esther Gatton (c1785-1868).  The death of 51 year old Sarah Stoner was registered in the first quarter of 1874 in the Horsham registration district.

   When the 1861 census was recorded the couple were living in Warninglid Lane in Lower Beeding.  Edmund was then said to be a 38 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah was 39.  Their 2 daughters were with them on census night.  In 1871 Edmund was a 49 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah was 50.  They were living with their daughter Esther at Rangers Lodge in Lower Beeding.

   Edmund and Sarah had 2 known daughters:

   1. Caroline Stoner was baptised on 8 August 1852 in Lower Beeding.  She was 8 years old in 1861.  In 1871 she was an 18 year old general servant living in the home of Thomas Gravely in Crawley Street, Crawley.  Caroline married Benjamin Funnell.

   2. Esther Stoner was was baptised on 29 April 1855 in Lower Beeding.  She was 6 years old in 1861.  She was 16 years old in 1871.

   Edmund married Harriet Goldsmith nee Rapley on 12 June 1875 in Colgate              .

   Harriet was baptised on 6 June 1830 in Shipley, and was the daughter of Henry Rapley and Sophy.

   Harriet first married Joseph Goldsmith on 22 January 1848 in West Grinstead.  He was said to be a 23 year old bachelor and labourer and she an 18 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as John Goldsmith and Henry Rapley who where both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Edmund Stoner and Sarah Goldsmith.

   Joseph was baptised on 8 June 1823 and was the son of John Goldsmith (c1783-1859) and Esther Gatton (c1785-1868).  He died aged 50 years and his death was registered in the second quarter of 1874 in the Horsham registration district.

   When the 1881 census was recorded, Edmond was a 56 year old farm labourer living at Brick Yard Cottage, Colgate within the parish of Lower Beeding.  Also with him was his 53 year old wife Harriett, 20 year old wife's son John Goldsmith, 17 year old daughter Mary Goldsmith and 9 year old son Harry Goldsmith.

AKEHURST          STONER