Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Robert WILLARD (1735-1811)

and Mary WILD (c1740-1792)

Robert Willard and Mary Wild were my 5x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married by banns on 29 September 1762 at the parish church of St. Giles in Graffham, Sussex.  They were both then of Graffham.  The names of the witnesses to their marriage were not recorded in the copy of the Graffham register.  (Robert's paternal grandparents had also married on 29 September, but in 1707.)

Robert Willard was baptised on 7 September 1735 in Pulborough, Sussex.  He was the eldest son of Robert Willard (1709-?) and Mary Larence (?-1745).  He was buried on 10 May 1811 in Pulborough.

Mary Wild's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She may have been born about 1740 and have been the daughter of Daniel Wild (1711-1757) and Mary Cobby (1715-?).  (Daniel and Mary had 2 children baptised in Graffham in 1738 and 1742.)  Mary was buried on 5 February 1792 in Pulborough.  Another Mary Wild possibly of similar age, married James Bryder by banns on 29 May 1764 in Kirdford.  She was a spinster and he a carpenter.  They were both of Kirdford.

Robert Willard and Mary Wild had 9 known children:

1. Daniel Willard was baptised on 11 November 1764 in Graffham.  He may have been buried on 11 January 1790 in Pulborough, but this burial may refer to his Great Uncle Daniel Willard who was born in 1715.

2. Elizabeth Willard was born on 3 December 1766 and baptised on 7 December 1766 in Graffham.

   Elizabeth had an illegitimate son by Richard Braby:

   1. William Willard was baptised on 15 February 1789 in Pulborough.  He married Elizabeth Harwood in 1814.  (They have their own page.)

   A warrant was issued by Pulborough overseers on 16 October 1788 for the putative father as Elizabeth Willard was a pregnant single woman.

   Elizabeth married John Barnard by banns on 15 October 1796 in Pulborough.  They were both then of Pulborough and both made their X marks.  The witnesses to the marriage were John Knight and Hannah Knight who both signed their names.

   John and Elizabeth had 1 known son:

   1. Charles Barnard was baptised on 16 April 1797 in Pulborough.

3. Sarah Willard was baptised on 19 February 1769/70 in Graffham.  She may have died aged 45 years and have been buried on 27 September 1815 in Pulborough, but I am not sure if they were the same Sarah.

4. Joseph Willard was baptised on 3 March 1771/2 in Graffham and buried there on 28 May 1772.

5. Mary Willard was baptised on 3 March 1771/2 in Graffham and buried there on 28 May 1772.

6. John Willard, my 4x Great Grandfather, was baptised on 13 June 1773 in Pulborough.  He married Jane Godden in 1793.  (They have their own page.)

7. Ann Willard was baptised on 10 March 1776 in Pulborough.

   Ann had an illegitimate son:

   1. James Willard was baptised on 8 January 1797 in Pulborough.  He married Mary Briggs in 1818.  (They have their own page.)

   A bastardy order/bond was issued by Pulborough overseers on 11 April 1796 to Ann Willard of West Chiltington at her brother John Willard's house, in respect of a 4 month old male bastard who was born on 20 September 1796.

   Ann married Leonard Short on 5 April 1798 in West Chiltington.  (They have their own page.)

8. Avice Willard was baptised on 2 August 1778 in Pulborough.  As Eavis Willard she may have married Samuel French on 29 March 1807 at St. Nicholas in Brighton, Sussex.

9. Charlotte Willard was baptised on 25 March 1781 in Pulborough.  She was a witness to her elder sister's marriage in 1798.  Charlotte may have married William Aird on 27 August 1804 at St. Nicholas in Brighton.

A removal order was issued on 11 July 1807 removing Robert Willard from Storrington to Pulborough (or vice versa) - I'm not sure who this Robert was.

WILD          WILLARD