Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Samuel WEEKS (1774-?)

and Jane GROVES (c1780-?)

Samuel Weeks may have married twice.  His second marriage as Samuel Wicks was to Jane Groves by banns on 22 October 1800 in Ticehurst, Sussex.  He was then said to have been a widower from Wadhurst and she was of Ticehurst.  The witnesses to their marriage were Hannah Weeks and Thomas Judge.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)  [Original entry needs to be checked, as the Sussex marriage index records her name as Groves, whereas some other web sites have her surname as Green.]

Samuel Weeks was baptised on 6 March 1774 in Wadhurst, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Weeks and Mary (c1736-1821).  He may have died in the first quarter of 1854 and his death registered in the Ticehurst registration district.

Jane Groves date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  Might she have been baptised on 30 July 1780 in Heathfield, the daughter of Edward Groves and Mary Dearing.

When the 1841 census was recorded Samuel aged 70 and Jane aged 65 were living at Park Pitt in Wadhurst.  He was then an agricultural labourer.  Three of their children were also with them on census night.

The 1851 census for Wadhurst records there was then a 79 year old Samuel Weeks living at Diproses, Wadhurst, with his son Thomas, and Samuel was then a road labourer.  Also part of his household was 27 year old John Weeks and his 22 year old wife Harriet and their infant son aged 3 days.  Jane may then have been a 74 year old nurse living in the home of 28 year old Isaac Holman and his 26 year old wife Harriet in London Road, Ore, Sussex.  Jane's place of birth was given as Heathfield, Sussex.

Samuel Weeks and Jane Groves had 7 known children:

1. Elizabeth Weeks was baptised on 30 May 1801 in Wadhurst.

   As Elizabeth Wicks she married Joseph Boorman on 26 May 1822 in Lamberhurst, Kent.

   Joseph was born in 1789 in Wadhurst and was the son of Joseph Boorman and Susanna Baldwin.

   Joseph and Elizabeth had the following children:

   1. Joseph Boorman

   2. Elizabeth Boorman

   3. Ann Boorman

   4. Hannah Boorman

   5. Jane Boorman

   6. James Boorman

   7. Harriett Boorman

   8. Philadelphia Boorman

   9. Alfred Boorman

   10. David Boorman

2. Thomas Weeks was baptised on 14 August 1803 in Wadhurst.  In 1841 he was a 35 year old agricultural labourer.  At the time of the 1851 he may have been the unmarried 45 year old brickmaker living with his father Samuel at Diproses.  In 1861 he was an unmarried 55 year old brickmaker and he was boarding in the home of John Vidler and his wife Rebecca at Swiftden in Etchingham.

3. Ann Weeks was baptised on 6 July 1806 in Wadhurst.

4. Samuel Weeks was baptised on 26 March 1809 in Wadhurst.  He married Frances Stephens in 1833.  (They have their own page.)

5. Mary Wicks was baptised on 23 October 1812 at the Independent Chapel in Burwash.

6. John Weeks was born on 6 December 1821 in Wadhurst and his birth was registered at the Shower's Green chapel.  He was said to have been 15 years old at the time of the 1841 census.

   John married Harriett Pettitt on 25 June 1848 in Frant, Sussex.  Their fathers were named as Samuel Weeks and Samuel Pettitt.

   Harriet may have been baptised on 20 March 1831 in Frant and have been the daughter of Samuel Petitt and Anne Inderfield.

7. Martha Weeks was born on 25 February 1826 in Wadhurst and her birth was registered at the Shower's Green chapel.  She was 14 years old at the time of the 1841 census.

   Martha married William Valentine on 31 July 1848 in Frant and her father was then named as Samuel Weeks.

   William and Martha had the following children:

   1. Amos Valentine was baptised on 12 February 1854 in Frant.

      Amos married Eliza.

      Eliza was born about 1856 in Pembury, Kent.

      In 1881 the couple and 4 children were living at Providence Place in the Bopeep district of Hastings.  Amos was then a 27 year old unemployed bricklayer's labourer and Eliza was 25.  Also with the family on census night was unmarried 33 year old lodger, James Boghurst.

      Amos and Eliza had the following children:

      1. Amelia J. Valentine was born about 1876 in Pembury.  She was 5 years old in 1881.

      2. William Valentine was born about 1878 in Pembury.  He was 3 years old in 1881.

      3. Eliza E. Valentine was born about 1879 in Pembury.  She was 2 years old in 1881.

      4. Lizzie Valentine was born about 1880 in Pembury.  At the time of the 1881 census she was 4 months old.

   2. Elizabeth Valentine was born about 1857 in Pembury.

   3. Jane Valentine was born about 1858.  She married Charles Simmons.

   4. Susan Valentine was born about 1860 in Pembury.

   5. Amelia Valentine was born about 1863 in Pembury.

Samuel may also have had a relationship with Philadelphia Akehurst, or it may have been another Samuel.  No marriage has been found.

Samuel and Philly had 1 known daughter:

1. 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?  Might her father have been John Weeks?

GROVES          WEEKS