Ancestors of Mandy Willard

George SWIFT (1679-1749)

and Mary CLARKE (?-?)

George Swift and Mary Clarke married on 12 April 1716 in Wadhurst, Sussex.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  George was the brother of my 8x Great Grandfather, John Swift.)

George Swift was baptised 23 November 1679 in Wadhurst.  He was the sixth son and ninth child of Samuel Swift (1636-1710) and Sarah Plasted (1641-?).  In 1720 he was described as a husbandman and in 1721 a farmer.  His will was dated 3 May 1748, in which he styled himself as George Swift the elder, Yeoman of Ticehurst.  The will was proved on 17 May 1749 and mentioned wife Mary, daughter Sarah wife of John Crouch of Ticehurst, and sons George, William and John.  George signed his will with his mark and it was witnessed by Thomas Eldridge (marked), Lawrence **mphies (marked) and Thomas Hurst.  He left 5 shillings to each of his 4 children.  (Click here to read my transcript of his will.)  However, I have checked the Ticehurst burial register and George's burial was not recorded.  George and family settled in Ticehurst sometime between 1721 and 1723.

Mary Clarke's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She died after 1749 as she was named as the sole executrix of her husband's Will.  her burial was not recorded in the Ticehurst registers between 1749 and 1780.

George Swift and Mary Clarke had 4 known children:

1. Sarah Swift was baptised on 11 May 1718 in Wadhurst.  She was buried on 17 March 1791 in Ticehurst and the burial register records that she was the widow of John Crouch from the Workhouse.

   Sarah married John Crouch on 25 April 1742 in Ticehurst.

   John was baptised on 6 December 1713 in Burwash and was the son of William Crouch and Mary Charter.  He was a labourer.  John was buried on 11 December 1787 in Ticehurst and the burial register records that he was a pauper.

   John and Sarah had 10 known children:

   1. Mary Crouch was baptised on 13 February 1742/3 in Ticehurst.  She may have married William Powell by banns on 2 August 1762 in Ticehurst.  William was a widower and they were both of Ticehurst.

   2. Sarah Crouch was baptised on 25 October 1744 in Ticehurst.

   3. Elizabeth Crouch was baptised on 2 February 1745/6 in Ticehurst and buried there on 2 April 1746.

   4. William Crouch was baptised on 15 May 1748 in Ticehurst.

   5. Ann Crouch was born on 22 January 1749/50 and baptised on 4 February 1749/50 in Ticehurst.

   6. John Crouch was baptised on 26 February 1751/2 in Ticehurst and may have been buried there on 15 April 1783.  The burial register records that John Crouch, junior, was from the Workhouse.

   7. Samuel Crouch was baptised on 7 January 1754 in Ticehurst.

   8. George Crouch was baptised on 28 March 1756 in Ticehurst.

   9. Nathaniel Crouch was baptised on 17 December 1758 in Ticehurst.

   10. Thomas Crouch was baptised on 20 April 1760 in Ticehurst.

       Thomas married Sarah Merricks on 12 May 1783 in Ewhurst, Sussex.

       Sarah was baptised on 1 January 1764 in Ewhurst and was the daughter of William Merricks (1737-1825) and Esther Vitlar (1733-?).

       Thomas and Sarah had 4 known children:

       1. Mary Crouch was baptised on 2 November 1783 in Ewhurst.  Mary married Thomas Baker on 17 July 1805 in Ewhurst.

       2. Elizabeth Crouch was baptised on 18 July 1785 in Ewhurst.

       3. Thomas Crouch was baptised on 27 May 1786 in Ewhurst.

       4. Thomas Crouch was baptised on 21 July 1787 in Ewhurst.

2. George Swift was baptised in June 1720 in Wadhurst.  I believe he was buried on 18 March 1787 in Ticehurst, but he did have a nephew George Swift born 1759 in Ticehurst.  He may have married Mary Lamberd on 25 June 1742 in Wadhurst and/or Elizabeth Walter on 20 April 1749 in Wadhurst.  But, George had 2 cousins:  George Swift born 1715 and George Swift born 1723.  Or this George may not have married.  However, as he was mentioned in this father's will, he must have died after 1749.

3. William Swift was baptised on 5 November 1721 in Wadhurst.  He married Ann Knight in 1758.  (They have their own page.)

4. John Swift was baptised on 3 December 1723 in Ticehurst.

   John married Elizabeth sometime before or about 1747, possibly Elizabeth Lawrence on 26 April 1747 in Pembury, Kent.

   John and Elizabeth had 8 known children:

   1. Elizabeth Swift was baptised on 14 February 1746/7 in Lamberhurst and probably died as an infant.

   2. George Swift was baptised on 4 June 1749 in Lamberhurst.  He was most probably named after his paternal grandfather who had died shortly before the baptism of young George.

   3. John Swift was baptised on 7 April 1751 in Lamberhurst.

   4. Elizabeth Swift was baptised on 21 October 1753 in Lamberhurst.  She may have married John Rochester on 21 December 1774 in Wadhurst.

   5. Mary Swift was baptised on 29 January 1758 in Lamberhurst.

   6. Ann Swift was baptised on 28 December 1761 in Lamberhurst.  She married John Axell on 12 June 1785 in Lamberhurst.

   7. Samuel Swift was baptised on 22 April 1764 in Lamberhurst.

   8. William Swift was baptised on 10 June 1770 in Lamberhurst.

CLARK          SWIFT