Mary Anne Fry was the seventh child of John Fry & Caroline Stephens born September 14th 1823 at East Grinstead & christened November 23rd, 1823 at the Zion Chapel of the Countess of Huntingdon, East Grinstead.
In 1841 she was living with her parents at Bower Farm, Hammerwood.
Later in 1841, on the 9th of November Mary Ann married James Hollands in Cowden, Kent. James was christened December 20th, 1818 in West Hoathly, Sussex, the son of Sarah Anson Heasman & Henry Hollands, a miller.
At the time of the 1851 census James & Mary Ann were living at Bexhill, Sussex & James was a master miller. They had 3 sons by this time – James (8), George (7) & Charles (5). James had a grinder working for him, Abraham Betchley.
By 1861 Mary Ann & James were living at Furnace Mill, Cowden, Kent where James was a miller. Sons George & Charles were also millers, & they now had Henry (7), Albert (5), Martha (3) & Fred (2). They had a 15 year old house servant, Elizabeth Isted. James & Mary Ann had had another son, Arthur, in 1851 who at the time of the census was boarding with John Finch, a farmer, & family at East Grinstead. Son James, also a miller, had married Hannah Edwards Kenward in 1860 & they, & baby daughter Fanny, were living with Hannah’s parents at White Horse Inn & Farm House, Hartfield, Sussex.
In 1861 James was co-executor of John Fry’s will – Mary Ann’s father.
James was still the miller at Furnace Mill in 1871. At home with him & Mary Ann were Arthur (19), a butcher, Albert (15), Martha (13), Fred (12) & Lewis (8). Also with them were grandchildren Fanny K Hollands (10) (daughter of James & Hannah) & Rosetta Hollands (6). Widowed Edward Kenward (72), Hannah’s father, was also visiting.
In 1875 a fire occurred at Furnace Mill which caused a large amount of damage amounting to an estimated £400. The fire was believed to have been started unintentionally by one of James’ sons who had been working in the mill with a candle. (Kent & Sussex Courier, September 10th, 1875) It was mentioned in the article that the mill belonged to Rev. Thomas Harvey.
In 1879 James & son Arthur had a narrow escape! As they were leaving the fair at East Grinstead to drive home, their cart overturned, pitching them into the road & resulted in them having severe cuts to their heads. They were both taken back into town to stay overnight as their injuries were thought too severe to allow them home until the next day. Things could have been much worse as apparently the horse had been very close to a 10-15 feet drop! (Kent & Sussex Courier, April 25th, 1879)
Mary Ann & James were still living at Furnace Mill in 1881 & James was being helped with milling by sons ‘H. J.’ (presumably Henry John) & Albert. Children Martha & Lewis were also still at home. They also had a boarder who was a millwright.
James died on April 11th, 1885 at Cowden, Kent, aged 67. His will was proved by William Austen Pearless of East Grinstead, solicitor & his estate valued at £1,662.6s.2d.
Mary Ann, aged 65, died on July 16th, 1888 at Cowden, Kent.
The children of Mary Ann Fry & James Hollands were:
f.2.7.1 James Hollands christened April 23rd, 1843 in Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.2 George Hollands christened December 24th, 1843 in Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.3 Charles Hollands born July-September 1845 & christened August 22nd, 1846 in Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.4 Mary Ann Hollands born July-September 1847 in Cowden, Kent; buried October 14th, 1847 at Cowden
f.2.7.5 Arthur Hollands born Jan-March 1852 at Bexhill, Sussex; died 1947 in Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.6 Henry John Hollands born Jan-March 1854 at Bexhill, Sussex; died Jan-March 1931 at Kettering, Northants
f.2.7.7 Albert Hollands born Oct-December 1855 & christened January 16th, 1856 at Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.8 Martha Hollands christened August 30th, 1857 at Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.9 Frederick Hollands christened April 24th, 1859 at Cowden, Kent
f.2.7.10 Lewis Hollands born Oct-December 1862 & christened January 14th, 1863 at Cowden, Kent