Ancestors of Mandy Willard

James PARSONS (c1823-?)

and Louisa SIMMONS (1831-1890)

James Parsons and Louisa Simmonds married on 25 December 1850 in Henfield, Sussex.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

James Parsons was born about 1823 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  He was the son of John Parsons.  His mother may have been Elizabeth Hoad.  She married John Parsons on 13 February 1817 in West Grinstead.

Louisa Simmons was baptised on 3 July 1831 in Henfield.  She was the daughter of James Simmons and Frances Luxford.  Louisa died in 1890.  When the 1841 census was recorded she was 10 years old and living with her parents and elder sister, Eliza, at Black House in Henfield and her father was then an agricultural labourer.

The 1851 census records that James and Eliza were living with her parents at Black House in Henfield.  James and his father-in-law were both agricultural labourers.  In 1861 the couple and their 4 children were living in Nep Town, Henfield, and only a couple of doors away from Louisa's parents.  When the 1871 census was recorded the couple and their 7 children were living at Eastout in Henfield and James was still an agricultural labourer.  By 1881 the family had moved to Hundred Steddle Cottage in Henfield and they then had an unmarried 57 year old lodger, Stephen Thorpe, living with them.

 James Parsons and Louisa Simmons had 11 known children:

1. Eliza Parsons was born on 18 June and baptised on 10 August 1851 in Henfield.  She married John Silverson in 1872.  (They have their own page.)

2. Fanny Parsons was baptised on 11 December 1853 in Henfield.  She may have died aged 40 years and her death registered in the fourth quarter of 1895 in the Steyning registration district.  Poor Fanny was described as an idiot in the 1871-1891 census.  She was a 7 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 she was 17 years old.  She was 27 in 1881.  When the 1891 census was recorded she was living with the family of her elder sister, Eliza, on The Common in Henfield, and she was then aged 38 years.

3. George Parsons was born on 1 March and baptised on 13 April 1856 in Henfield.  In 1861 he was a 5 year old scholar.  He was a 15 year old agricultural labourer in 1871.

   George married Ann Hoad on 22 November 1879 in Henfield.

   Ann was born about 1856 in West Grinstead and was the daughter of James Hoad (c1815-?) and Sarah.  When the 1861 census was recorded she was 4 years old and living with her parents and elder siblings at Chucks in West Grinstead.  Her father was then an agricultural labourer.

   George and Ann had the following children:

   1. George Parsons was born in 1880 in Henfield

   2. Mary Ann Parsons was born in 1881 in Henfield.  She died in 1968.  Mary Ann married Henry Alfred Slater.  He was born in 1883 in Worthing, Sussex.

   3. William Parsons was born in 1884 in Henfield.

   4. Frank Parsons was born in 1886 in Henfield.

   5. Charlie Parsons was born in 1888 in Henfield.

   6. Louisa Parsons was born in 1890 in Henfield.

   7. Alice Parsons was born in 1892 in Henfield.

   8. Albert Parsons was born in 1893 in Henfield.

   9. Edwin Parsons was born in 1897 in Henfield.

   10. Henry Parsons was born in 1899 in Henfield.

4. William Parsons was born on 26 January and baptised on 13 March 1859 in Henfield.  In 1861 he was a 2 year old scholar.  He was a 12 year old scholar in 1871.  In 1881 he was an unmarried 22 year old gardener living with his parents and siblings.

5. Elizabeth Parsons was baptised on 14 September 1862 in Henfield.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1871.

6. Mary Anne Parsons was baptised on 9 April 1865 in Henfield.  In 1871 she was a 6 year old scholar.  She was 16 yeas old in 1881.

7. James Parsons was baptised on 4 October 1867 in Henfield.  He may have died young as he was not living with his parents when the 1871 census was recorded.

8. Jane Parsons was baptised on 13 June 1869 in Henfield.  She may have died aged 32 years and her death registered in the fourth quarter of 1901 in the Steyning registration district.  Poor Jane was described as an idiot in the 1891 census.  She was 2 years old in 1871.  In 1881 she was a 12 year old scholar.  She was living with the family of her elder sister, Eliza, in 1891 and she was then aged 22 years.  I not been able to find her in the 1901 census.

9. Martha Parsons was baptised on 13 June 1869 in Henfield.  She was 2 years old when the 1871 census was recorded.  In 1881 she was a 12 year old scholar.

10. Emma Parsons was baptised on 14 August 1871 in Henfield.

11. Alice Parsons was baptised on 8 October 1871 in Henfield.  When the 1881 census was recorded she was a 9 year old scholar.  She was a 19 year old general servant in 1891 and she was then living with the family of her elder sister, Eliza.  She died in 1948.

    Alice married Charles Duggan on 7 December 1898.

    Charles was born in 1868 in Dublin, Ireland and was the son of Timothy Duggan and Martha Kettle.  He died in 1934.

    Charles and Alice had the following children:

    1. Arthur Duggan

    2. Alice Duggan

    3. Charles Duggan

    4. Eva Duggan

    5. Robert Duggan

PARSONS          SIMMONS