Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John WEEKS (1776-?)

and Philadelphia AKEHURST (1772-?)

John Weeks and Philadelphia Akehurst married by banns on 19 April 1797 in Wadhurst, Sussex.  At the time they were both of Wadhurst and both made their marks.  The witnesses were Thomas Pattenden (marked) and John Cooper (signed).  (They were not my direct ancestors.  One of their grandsons married the sister of my direct ancestor.)

John Weeks was baptised on 18 February 1776 in Wadhurst.  He was the son of Thomas Weeks and Mary (c1736-1821).  A John Weeks was a Deacon in the Shovers Green Strict Baptist Church (also known as the Church of Christ) and was one of four Deacons to sign their First Declaration on 7 July 1816.  It is likely that 1776 John was the Deacon.

Philadelphia Akehurst may have been baptised on 6 August 1772 in Mayfield as the daughter of William Akehurst (1745-1822) and Mary Eastwood (1742-1827).  Or she may have been baptised in November 1777 in Wadhurst, as the daughter of William Akehurst (1741-?) and Elizabeth Wren.  A transcript of the Shovers Green Baptist Chapel registers held at the East Sussex Record Office, states that 1772 Philadelphia was the mother of a child by Samuel Weeks.  Whereas, I have been given details from "Dr. William's Library of Nonconformist Registers, that states 1772 Philadelphia was the wife of John Weeks.

John Weeks and Philadelphia Akehurst had 7 or 8 known children:

1. Mary Weeks was baptised on 6 August 1797 in Mayfield, Sussex.

2. Philadelphia Weeks was baptised on 14 July 1799 in Wadhurst.

3. Ann Weeks was baptised on 25 July 1802 in Wadhurst.

4. William Weeks was baptised on 28 July 1804 in Wadhurst.  He married twice, firstly to Ann Piper in 1825 and then to Caroline Baldock, widow in 1845.  (They have their own page.)

5. John Weeks was baptised on 11 January 1807 in Wadhurst.  When the 1861 census was recorded he may have been 54 year John Weeks living with wife Harriott aged 55 in Savages Pit Cottage.  He was then an agricultural labourer and they were both born in Wadhurst.

6. James Weeks was born on 1 November 1809 in Wadhurst and baptised on 2 September 1810 at the Independent or Calvanistic Chapel in Burwash, Sussex.

7. Samuel Weeks was born on 10 September 1813 in Wadhurst.  He married Barbara Wells in 1834.  (They have their own page.)

8. Hannah Weeks was born on 18 July 1815 in Wadhurst and baptised on 20 August 1815 at the Independent Chapel in Burwash, Sussex.  Her mother was said to have been the daughter of William Akehurst and Mary Eastwood.  This would mean Philadelphia was baptised on 6 August 1772 in Mayfield and, therefore, about 43 at the birth of Hannah.  Her father was named as Samuel Weeks, but might this have been error?

9. George Weeks was born on 3 June 1816 in Wadhurst.  He married Matilda Weston in 1835.  (They have their own page.)

AKEHURST          WEEKS