Ancestors of Mandy Willard

James WILLARD (1796-1872)

and Mary BRIGGS (c1796-1868)

James Willerd and Mary Briggs married by banns on 4 March 1818 at the parish church of St. Mary's in Thakeham, Sussex.  They were both then of Thakeham and both made their X marks.  James was a bachelor and Mary a spinster.  The witnesses to the marriage were Leonard Matthews and William Terry.  (James and Mary were not my direct ancestors.  James was the nephew of my 4x Great Grandfather and grandson of my 5x Great Grandfather.)

James Willard was born on 20 September 1796.  He was baptised on 8 January 1797 in Pulborough, Sussex and was the illegitimate son of Ann Willard (1776-1863) and Leonard Short (1778-?)  James was an agricultural labourer.  He died aged 76½ years on 23 January 1872 was buried on 30 January 1872 in Pulborough.

Mary Briggs may also have been baptised on 8 January 1797, but in the neighbouring parish of Billingshurst, Sussex and she may have been the daughter of Benjamin Briggs and Hannah Botten.  Mary died aged 75 years (as per the burial register, but 70 on her headstone) on 3 May 1868 at Toat in Pulborough and was buried in the parish churchyard on 8 May 1868.  Benjamin and Hannah married on 27 May 1793 in Billingshurst and had a daughter, Hannah, baptised there on 27 October 1793.  However, another Mary Briggs married James Baker on 8 June 1819 in Billingshurst, so she may have been the daughter of Benjamin and Hannah.

A removal order was issued on 4 March 1818 removing James Willard, married, and Mary Willard from Thakeham to Pulborough.

James and Mary's headstone reads:

In memory of

MARY WILLARD

who died May 3rd 1868

aged 70 years

A loving and affectionate wife

A kind and fond mother

A friend to the helpless

Also of

JAMES WILLARD

who died January 23rd 1872

aged 76 years

Employed on TOTE FARM for 32 years

The needy shall not always be

The expectation of the poor shall not

Perish forever

Psalm 916(?) verse 18

Also in memor of

HENRY son of the above

who died PECKHAM RYE

October 3rd 1882

aged 60 years

James Willard and Mary Briggs had 9 known children:

1. Emma Willard was baptised on 6 February 1820 in Pulborough.  She had an illegitimate daughter:

   1. Ellen Willard was baptised on 11 July 1841 in Pulborough.  When the 1851 census was recorded she was 9 years old and living with her mother and step father.

      Ellen married Robert Scutt on 19 October 1861 in Pulborough.  She was then a 21 year old spinster and he a 25 year old bachelor and labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were Edward Woolven and Jesse Greenfield.

      Robert was baptised on 12 July 1835 in Pulborough and was the son of Samuel Scutt (1804-?) and Jane Hayler Scutt (1812-?).  Robert died in 1895.  When the 1881 census was recorded he was the publican of the Russell Arms at 2 Upper Russell Street in Brighton, Sussex.

      Robert and Ellen had 8 known children.

   As Emily Willard, she married James Penfold on 16 November 1844 in Pulborough.  They were both then aged 24 years, he was a bachelor and she a spinster.  The witnesses to the marriage were James Willard and Emma Netley.

   James was baptised on 16 July 1820 in Pulborough and was the son James Penfold and Sarah Collins.

   In 1851 the family were living at Frog Hole in Pulborough and James was a farm labourer.  When the 1861 census was recorded the family were living at Frog Hole in Pulborough.  James was then a 40 year old brickmaker and Emily a 41 year old monthly nurse.  Also with them on census night was and unmarried 37 year old visitor, Thomas Elliott

   James and Emma had 6 known children:

   1. William Penfold was baptised on 19 April 1846 in Pulborough, at which time his father was a labourer.  In 1851 he was 5 years old.  He was a 15 year old plough boy in 1861.

   2. Sarah Ann Penfold was baptised on 25 June 1848 in Pulborough, at which time her father was a labourer.  She was 3 years old in 1851.  In 1861 she was a 12 year old scholar.

      Sarah married George Jeal by banns on 7 April 1866 in Pulborough.  He was then a 25 year old bachelor and labourer and she was a 19 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as George Jeal and James Penfold who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Robert Scutt and ? Scutt.

      George was baptised on 24 May 1840 in West Chiltington, Sussex and was the son of George Geal (c1814-?) and Emily Morgan (c1819-?).

      George and Sarah had the following child:

      1. Alice Mary Geal was baptised on 26 August 1866 in Pulborough.  She married Friend Adams.  He was baptised on 10 January 1869 in Southwater, Sussex and was the son of Friend Adams and Emily Randall.

   3. Henry Penfold was born about 1849 and baptised on 29 September 1850 in Pulborough.  In 1851 he was 2 years old.

   4. Harriet Penfold was baptised on 29 September 1850 in Pulborough.  At the time of the 1851 census she was 7 months old.  She was a 10 year old scholar in 1861.

   5. Marian Penfold was baptised on 12 March 1854 in Pulborough.  She died in 1926 in Chiddingfold, Surrey.  In 1861 she was a 7 year old scholar.

      Marian married Ephraim Carter on 30 September 1871 in Storrington, Sussex.  He was a 23 year old bachelor and labourer and she was a 19 year old spinster.  Their fathers were named as Charles Carter and James Penfold who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were George Geal and Sarah Ann Geal.

      Ephraim was born in 1848 in Nuthurst and was the son of Charles Carter (1824-1905) and Phoebe Stone (c1826-1897).  He died on 1937 in Chiddingfold.  His brother Amos Carter married Diana Tullett in 1878.

      Ephraim and Marian had the following children:

      1. Mary Ann Carter

      2. James Carter

      3. Louisa Carter

      4. Ephraim Carter

      5. Emily Eliza Carter

      6. Alfred Carter

      7. Marian Alice Carter

      8. Catherine Carter

      9. Rosa Jane Carter

      10. Charles Carter

      11. George Carter

   6. Mary Jane Penfold was baptised on 4 May 1856 in Pulborough.  In 1861 she was 5 years old.

2. Henry Willard was baptised on 11 August 1822 in Pulborough.  He died aged 60 years on 3 October in Camberwell, London and was buried on 10 October 1882 in Pulborough.

   Henry married Jane Short on 12 May 1849 in West Chiltington. 

   Jane was baptised on 15 March 1829 in West Chiltington and was the daughter of Samuel Short and Lucy Harding (they had married on 5 February 1814, when Samuel was a bachelor of Shipley and Lucy a spinster of West Chiltington).

3. William Willard was baptised on 24 October 1824 in Pulborough and buried there on 19 January 1829, aged 4 years.

4. James Willard was baptised on 7 January 1827 in Pulborough.  He died aged 64 years in Nutbourne and was buried on 16 May 1891 in Pulborough.

   James married Jane Richardson on 22 July 1854 in Pulborough.  The witnesses were William Richardson and Jesse Greenfield. 

   Jane was baptised on 30 August 1827 in Stopham, Sussex and was the daughter of William Richardson and Mary.

   James and Jane had 6 known children.

5. George Willard was baptised on 8 February 1829 in Pulborough and buried there on 10 November 1841, aged 12 years.

6. Sarah Willard was baptised on 10 July 1831 in Pulborough.

   Sarah married Richard Moseley on 1 February 1851 in Pulborough.  He was then a 28 year old bachelor of Stedham, Sussex and she was a 21 year old spinster of Pulborough.  The witnesses were James Ovington and James Willard.

   Richard was baptised on 11 July 1821 in Easebourne, Sussex and was the son of James Moseley and Mary White.

   Richard and Sarah had 11 known children.

7. Walter Willard was baptised on 8 June 1834 in Pulborough.

8. Harriet Willard was baptised on 7 January 1837 in Pulborough.

   Harriet married George Cheasmar on 24 May 1856 in Pulborough.  He was then a 29 year old bachelor and she a 21 year old spinster and they were both of Pulborough.  The witnesses were Charlotte Rapley and Jesse Greenfield.

   George was baptised on 21 January 1827 in Wisborough Green, Sussex and was the son of William Cheasmar and Esther Moore.

   George and Harriet had 8 known children.

9. Ellen Willard was baptised on 10 November 1839 in Pulborough and buried there on 5 December 1839.

BRIGGS          WILLARD