Ancestors of Mandy Willard

James STRINGER (1790-1871)

and Sarah KNIGHT (1797-1861)

James Stringer and Sarah Knight married by banns on 16 September 1820 in Lancing, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and she a spinster, and they were both of Lancing.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

James Stringer was baptised on 2 June 1790 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  He was the son of Jenner Stringer (1746-1834) and Sarah Newman (1747-1813).  The death of 90 year old James Stringer was registered in the second quarter of 1871 in Brighton, Sussex, therefore, born about 1781, but as will be seen, James was not very consistent at giving his age in the census, so the 1871 death may very well have been that of James born in 1790.

Sarah Knight was baptised on 31 December 1797 in Lancing, Sussex.  She was the daughter of James Knight and Mary Budd.  The death of a Sarah Stringer was registered in the first quarter of 1861 and another in the third quarter of 1861, both in Brighton.  She was alive when the 1861 census was recorded on 7 April, therefore, I am assuming she died sometime between the end of June and beginning of October, but I could be wrong.

The 1841 census recorded that James was a 50 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah 45.  They were living at Work House in West Grinstead along with 7 children.  (The 1841 census rounded the ages of adults to the nearest 5 years.)

When the 1851 census was recorded James was a 63 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah was 59 (therefore, born about 1788 and 1792).  James gave his place of birth as West Grinstead and Sarah as Lancing.  Six of their children were at home on census night.

In 1861, the couple along with 5 children and 6 year old scholar and granddaughter Mary Stringer, born in West Grinstead, were living at 76 Hanover Street in Brighton, Sussex.  James was then said to be a 77 year old labourer born in West Grinstead and Sarah was 74, born in Lancing (therefore, born about 1784 and 1787).

The 1871 census recorded that James was a 70 year old widower and labourer (born 1801!!) and living at 76 Hanover Street, Brighton, along with 16 year old granddaughter Mary Stringer who was a servant, daughters Susan and Mary Ann, son-in-law Samuel Simmons granddaughter Sarah Lamper and his daughter's sister-in-law Elizabeth Lamper.

James Stringer and Sarah Knight had 10 known children:

1. Jenner Stringer was baptised on 21 January 1821 in Lancing.  He was 20 years old in 1841 and living at home.

   Jenner married Ann Sayers on 18 November 1848 in West Grinstead.  He was a 28 year old bachelor and labourer and she was a 21 year old spinster from Hurstpierpoint.  Their fathers were named as James Stringer and William Sayers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Richard Richardson and Sarah Stringer.

2. Edward Stringer was baptised on 21 September 1823 in Lancing.  He was 15 years old in 1841 and at home.

3. Samuel Stringer was born on 29 August 1825 and baptised on 2 April 1826 in Sompting.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer from Cokeham.  He was an unmarried 25 year old agricultural labourer in 1851 and the eldest of his siblings living at home.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 36 year old labourer and living with his parents.  His place of birth was then noted as West Grinstead.

4. Sarah Stringer was baptised on 24 February 1828 in Nuthurst.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  In 1841 she was 14 years old.  She was an unmarried 23 year old in 1851 and living at home.

   Sarah had the following daughter:

   1. Mary Stringer was baptised on 28 October 1855 in West Grinstead.

   In 1861 Sarah was an unmarried 36 year old laundress and living with her parents.  Her place of birth was then noted as West Grinstead.  In 1871 she would seem to have been 43 year old Sarah Simmons with husband 44 year old Samuel Simmons and they were living with her father in Brighton.  Sarah was then a laundress and Samuel a bricklayer who had been born in Brighton.

5. John Stringer was baptised on 23 May 1830 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  He married Ellen Parsons in 1851.  (They have their own page.)

6. William Stringer was baptised on 30 December 1832 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  He died aged 2 years and was buried on 11 February 1835 in West Grinstead.

7. Susan Stringer was baptised on 22 March 1835 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was 7 years old in 1841.  The 1851 census records that she was a 17 year old scholar.  In 1861 she was an unmarried 26 year old and living with her parents.  She was said to have been an unmarried 39 year old servant in 1871 and living with her father.

8. Harriett Stringer was baptised on 6 April 1837 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was  a labourer.  She was 5 years old in 1841.

9. Sidney Stringer was baptised on 16 February 1840 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.   At the time of the 1841 census he was 2 years old.  He was a 12 year old scholar in 1851.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 21 year old labourer and living with his parents.

10. Mary Ann Stringer was baptised on 7 August 1842 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was a 19 year old servant in 1861 and living with her parents.  In 1871 she was living with her father as 29 year old Mary Ann Lamper, along with 20 year old sister Elizabeth Lamper (I assume she was sister-in-law) and 5 year old daughter Sarah Lamper.  Mary Ann was then a ??? maker.

1851 census - New House, West Grinstead, Sussex (HO107/1648, folio 21, page 7)

James Stringer, Head, Mar, 63, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Sarah Stringer, Wife, Mar, 59, born Sussex, Lancing

Samuel Stringer, Son, U, 25, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, Sompting

Sarah Stringer, Daur, U, 23, born Sussex, Nuthurst

John Stringer, Son, U, 21, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Susan Stringer, Daur, U, 17, Scholar, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Sidney Stringer, Son, 12, Scholar, born Sussex, West Grinstead

Mary Ann Stringer, Daur, ? (could be 6 or 8), born [blank]

KNIGHT          STRINGER