Ann Longhurst

[Phoenix]

I've been looking for Ann's baptism for over forty years.

Here is her burial, in Wonersh in June 1845, aged 79:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/4786/images/40761_312088-00713?pId=891859


Her husband stated she was 79 when he registered her death.


Here she is in 1841, with her husband James Hedger, and the family of her daughter Milly, who had died three years earlier:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8978/images/SRYHO107_1045_1046-0149?pId=10021595


Her first child, Bett, was born VERY shortly after the marriage, in Cranleigh.


Mary, Amelia (Milly) and James were all born in Albury, and Lucy, the youngest was born in Wonersh in 1804, where the family still were forty years later. All these villages are very close together.



When Ann had to get married, in 1792, she was of Cranleigh.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/4779/images/40761_311933-00604?pId=6328119



Neither she nor her husband could write, so I take a birth date of 1766 with a pinch of salt. He was baptised 1770, so I feel all I can say is that she was born 1769 or earlier.


And that she is NOT the child of Richard Longhurst and Elizabeth Boxall, as that link on Ancestry trees appears to refer to the baptism of a daughter, Mary.


I don't think I'll ever be able to solve this mystery. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[ElizabethHerts]

Could Ann have married a Mr Longhurst prior to her marriage with James Hedger?
Edit: No, I see she was a spinster.

There are a couple of marriages on FMP but I can't view any images as I haven't renewed my subscription.

[Phoenix]

She is saying she is a spinster at marriage, Elizabeth. Unfortunately the witnesses are her husband's brother, and a serial witness.

An Elizabeth Longhurst married a Humphrey Charman in Cranleigh the previous year. Unfortunately, she appears to have had a single child, William, and was possibly buried in Abinger in 1799, so I have no idea of her age, or if this was a pure coincidence.

[ElizabethHerts]

You might have seen this and it mightn't be any use, but worth a look:

https://www.longhurst.ca/Longhurst/Longhurst_htmls/02_Descendants_of_John_Longhurst_revised.html

[kiterunner]

So she could be the Ann Longhurst who was christened May 15 1767 in Ockley, Surrey, according to that document (the one linked to by Elizabeth).

[Phoenix]

She could, Kite, but an Ann Longhurst spinster of Ockley married a John Weller of Capel in Ockley by licence in 1798. Witnesses by a William Weller, and she could write her name.

[kiterunner]

There is an Edward Longhurst of Cranley who marries a Joan Parkhurst 20 May 1782 at Ewhurst, and they have a daughter Amelia who is baptised 2 Aug 1795 at Ewhurst:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/4779/images/40761_311959-00352?treeid=&personid=&rc=&queryId=4c4bd827-9779-4f44-bc70-4559b3dc3ddb&usePUB=true&_phsrc=UMN121522&_phstart=successSource&pId=3002516

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/175344846:9841?tid=&pid=&queryId=52dbf345-8b5b-4f65-9905-848e601f3666&_phsrc=UMN121524&_phstart=successSource

Could possibly be related to Ann?

[Phoenix]

I keep on coming back to Edward. He appears to be the son of James and Ann, bp 1761 in Ewhurst. But there have to be (at least) two of them

A Lucy Longhurst, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth is bp in 1783 in Shere.

[kiterunner]

I suppose you have already looked through lots of wills from the area in case she is mentioned?

[Phoenix]

All I can find on the Surrey History Centre site is this:

"Informations of James Edwards and James Hedger both labourers of Wonersh: accusing Charles Edser of stealing 2 ducks belonging to Richard Sparkes, employer of Hedger. Edser requested it be noted he picked up both ducks from the highway and both were dead" from Quarter Sessions in 1821.

[Sussex Maid]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a baptism in Rudgwick on 10 August 1766 for an Ann Longhurst daughter of James Longhurst.
I have come across baptisms in Rudgwick for residents of Ewhurst and Cranleigh, so thought it might be worth looking at.

[vita]

All I can find on the Surrey History Centre site is this:

"Informations of James Edwards and James Hedger both labourers of Wonersh: accusing Charles Edser of stealing 2 ducks belonging to Richard Sparkes, employer of Hedger. Edser requested it be noted he picked up both ducks from the highway and both were dead" from Quarter Sessions in 1821.

Well love a duck! And I did
Hope to keep my crime well hid.
But Richard Sparkes was keen and bright,
Saw me leave in dead of night.

But a man must forage where he's able
To put some food upon the table.
Times are hard and getting harder,
Nothing much left in my larder
But one sad sprout and a shriveled carrot
Along with a mouldy, long-dead parrot.

So please M'Lud don't be unkind.
Let me keep my roadkill find.
For I'll be out tonight again
Loitering round the poultry pen

And if a bird should meet early demise
And drop down dead before my eyes
Then its purely chance and fickle fate
It ends up on my dinner plate.

(with apologies to Phoenix for hijacking thread)

[Jenoco]

I love it, Vita. :)

[Janet]

Me too!

Sorry, Phoenix. Did you find anything you were looking for?

[Phoenix]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a baptism in Rudgwick on 10 August 1766 for an Ann Longhurst daughter of James Longhurst.
I have come across baptisms in Rudgwick for residents of Ewhurst and Cranleigh, so thought it might be worth looking at.

Thank you, Sussex Maid! All the villages are close to the border, so that is entirely possible.

[Phoenix]

Oh,Vita, that wicked pen of yours!

[vita]

Oh, Vita, that wicked pen of yours!

'Wicked pen' - love it !
Thanks too Jenny & Janet - funny what inspires, isn't it?