William Fry [f.3.1]

William Fry was the first child of William Fry & Elizabeth Morphew born October 1819 at Laughton, Sussex and christened November 12th, 1820 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Hartfield, Sussex.

In 1841 William was a wheelwright living with his parents & brother George at Western Lane, Chailey, Sussex.

On September 1st, 1847 William married his cousin Anne Fry. The marriage took place at the Parish Church of St Andrew Holborn, London. It was noted on the marriage certificate that William, a farmer, was of full age & Anne was a minor & both gave their address as Holborn. Anne was born c1830 at East Grinstead, the daughter of John Fry, a farmer, & Caroline Stephens. Witnesses at the wedding were Samuel M Hicks, the parish clerk of Holborn, & George Hicks.

William & Anne's marriage certificate

At the time of the 1851 census they were living at Moor House, Lingfield, Surrey, where William was a farmer of 65 acres. They had a 2 year old son William, born at East Grinstead and a daughter Anne J, aged 1 month. There was a nurse Mary Neady with them at the time of the census.

In 1861 William & Anne had moved to Dennetts Rd, Deptford, Greenwich, Kent & William was described as a fund holder. With them were children (Anne) Jane (10), Esther (8), Catherine (6), John (4), Alfred (3) & Arthur E (1). They had a 22 year old housemaid, Eliza Allen. Son William was with his grandparents Elizabeth & William Fry at Goodwins Farm, East Grinstead, Sussex at the time of the census.

Anne died sometime before 1866 when William remarried.

The children of William Fry & Anne Fry were:

f.3.1.1 William Henry Fry born Jan-March 1849 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died June 21st, 1908 at Pancras Workhouse
f.3.1.2 Anne Jane Fry born April-June 1850 at Lingfield, Surrey; died Oct-December 1888 at Godstone, Surrey
f.3.1.3 Esther Charlotte Fry born May 17th, 1852 at Lingfield, Surrey; died May 12th, 1914 at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, Sussex
f.3.1.4 Catherine Fry born c1854 at Lingfield, Surrey
f.3.1.5 John Fry born April-June 1856 at Burstow, Surrey
f.3.1.6 Alfred Frederick Fry born Jan-March 1858 at Faygate, Horsham, Sussex; died January 1st, 1929 at Woocote-side, Epsom, Surrey
f.3.1.7 Arthur Edward Fry born Jan-March 1860 at Shipley, Sussex

William’s new wife was Harriett Sargent whom he married on September 20th, 1866 at Hastings, Sussex. Harriett was christened on October 13th, 1839 at Lingfield, Surrey, the daughter of Jane & James Sargent, an agricultural labourer.

In 1871 William & Harriett were living at Rats Farm, Netherfield, Battle, Sussex. William was now a farmer of 200 acres employing 3 men & 3 boys. At home were William’s children Annie J, Catherine, John, Alfred F, & Arthur E. His son William was a trooper at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge at the time of the census. William & Harriett had 3 children by this time – Edith Harriett (3), Agnes A (2) & Edwin G (5 months). There was also a 31 year old agricultural labourer living with them, Benjamin Jones.

By 1881 William & Harriett had moved to Boyles Farm, East Grinstead, Sussex. William was now a farmer of 160 acres employing 9 men & 1 boy. At home were Alfred Frederick, an agricultural labourer, Edith Harriett, Agnes Amelia, Edwin George & Louis (8).

On November 12th, 1888 daughter Edith Harriett married William Thomas Pledge, eldest son of W. Pledge of East Grinstead at St Swithun’s church, East Grinstead.

William, aged 72, was still farming at Boyles Farm in 1891. With him was Harriett & 3 children were still at home – Agnes, Edwin & Louis.

An advert in the Sussex Agricultural Express of August 26th, 1893 for the forthcoming sale in September of horses, cows, sheep & a portion of household furniture by William’s instruction shows his intention of imminently retiring from farming. Sadly he did not live to enjoy his retirement.

William of Boyles (otherwise Boyleys) Farm died on October 8th, 1893 at the Middlesex Hospital, London, aged 74. He was buried on October 12th at East Grinstead. Probate was granted on December 4th, 1893 to Evelyn Alston Head, gentleman & Charles Turner, surveyor. His effects were £2,168.4s.10d.

The Sussex Agricultural Express of October 14th, 1893 carried an obituary of William, who was well known & much respected. It noted that William had been suffering with an ailment to his leg which became worse, necessitating admission to Middlesex Hospital, London. Here his leg had to be amputated & it appears he was unable to recover from the major surgery. The article mentioned that in his younger days William had been a member of the London Police Force, before becoming a farmer & dairyman. Besides farming at Boyles Farm for many years, in the 1870s he held a long tenancy at Price’s Farm, Battle.

Harriett, aged 56, died in 1895 & was buried on November 13th, 1895 at St Swithin’s, East Grinstead.

The children of William Fry & Harriett Sargent were:

f.3.1.8. Edith Harriett Fry born April-June 1867 at Netherfield, Battle, Sussex; died Jan-March 1931 at Croydon, Surrey
f.3.1.9 Agnes Amelia Fry born July-September 1868 at Netherfield, Battle, Sussex; died March 1st, 1940 at East Grinstead
f.3.1.10 Edwin George Fry born October 25th, 1870 at Netherfield, Battle, Sussex; died April-June 1956 in Surrey
f.3.1.11 Louis Fry born January 8th, 1873 at Battle, Sussex; died August 4th, 1955 at Mill Hill House, Edenbridge, Kent