Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John STRINGER (1830-?)

and Ellen PARSONS (1834-1913)

John Stringer and Ellen Parsons married on 11 October 1851 in Cowfold, Sussex.  John was a bachelor and labourer and Ellen was a 20 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as James Stringer and Charles Parsons (deceased) who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Henry Stenning and Eliza Parsons.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

John Stringer was baptised on 23 May 1830 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  He was the son of James Stringer (1790-1871) and Sarah Knight (1797-1861).  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  He was 10 years old when the 1841 census was recorded and living at home with his parents in West Grinstead.  In 1851 he was a 21 year old agricultural labourer living with his parents in West Grinstead.

Ellen Parsons was baptised on 19 January 1834 in Cowfold, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Charles Parsons (1808-1844) and Mary Matthews (1810-1880).  The death of 80 year old Ellen Stringer was registered in the second quarter of 1913 in the Horsham registration district.

In 1861 the couple and their 4 daughters were living in Partridge Green, Sussex and John was a 33 year old agricultural labourer.  Also with them on census night were 3 lodgers who were all railway labourers.

The family were still living in Partridge Green when the 1871 census was recorded.  John was a 40 year old farm labourer and Ellen was 38.  On census night 4 of their children were at home, namely William, Fanny, Samuel and Frederic.

In 1881 the couple and 5 children were living in Partridge Green.  John was a 50 year old agricultural labourer and Ellen was 47.  Their children at home were William, Frederick, Florence, Edith and John.

The 1891 census sees the couple and 3 children still living in Partridge Green.  John was a 60 year old farm labourer and Ellen was 58.  Their children at home were Samuel, John and Charles.

By 1901 the couple were living alone in Partridge Green.  John was a 70 year old game keeper and Ellen was 68.

John Stringer and Ellen Parsons had 12 known children:

1. Elizabeth Stringer was baptised on 23 May 1852 in Cowfold.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was a 10 year old scholar in 1861.

2. Emily Stringer was baptised on 29 October 1854 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  In 1861 she was a 7 year old scholar.

3. Mary Jane Stringer was baptised on 31 May 1857 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was a 4 year old scholar in 1861.

4. Ellen Stringer was baptised on 27 November 1859 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  In 1861 she was a year old.

5. William Parsons Stringer was baptised on 30 March 1862 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  He died aged 24 years and was buried on 7 November 1886 in West Grinstead.  At the time of the 1871 census he was a 9 year old scholar and the eldest of his siblings living at home.  He was a 19 year old gardener in 1881.

6. Fanny Stringer was baptised on 30 October 1864 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that her father was a labourer.  She was a 6 year old scholar in 1871.

7. Samuel Stringer was baptised on 23 February 1867 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  He was a 4 year old scholar in 1871.  In 1891 he was a single 24 year old miller and living at home with his parents.

8. Frederick Stringer was baptised on 29 May 1870 in West Grinstead.  The baptism register noted that his father was a labourer.  When the 1871 census was recorded he was 11 months old.  In 1881 he was a 10 year old scholar.

9. Florence Stringer was born about 1873 in West Grinstead.  She was an 8 year old scholar in 1881.

10. Edith M. Stringer was born about 1875 in West Grinstead.  She was a 6 year old scholar in 1881.

11. John Stringer was born about 1879 in Shermanbury.  He was 2 years old at the time of the 1881 census.  In 1891 he was a 12 year old scholar.

12. Charles S. Stringer was born about 1881 in West Grinstead.  He was a 10 year old scholar in 1891.

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]

PARSONS          STRINGER