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James Bashford 1784 - 1873

James Bashford was most likely born in 1784 in Sompting Sussex. We have not found his baptismal record. He is the first child and eldest son of Josiah Bashford and Sarah Moone.

James - at the age of 8 - moved with the family to Billinghurst, returning to Sompting some time between September 1794 and Jun 1797.

James marries Mary Steer on April 20 1809 in Sompting Sussex. We have not identified Marys parentage at this pointThe marriage was witness by James and Sarah Steer. Mary is the daughter of Thomas Steer and Fanny Goble. Their eldest child - Mary is baptised in August 1809, so it obviously Mary was heavily pregnant at the time of the marriage.

Between 1809 and 1825 James and Mary had nine children. All of the children were born and baptised in Sompting.

• Mary Bashford Born 1809. Died ?  
• James Bashford Born 1811. Died ?. Married ?
• George Bashford Born 1813. Died ?1890
• Jane Bashford Born 1814. Died ?
• Frances Bashford Born 1816. Died ?1817. Married Stephen Slaughter 
• Sarah Bashford Born 1818. Died ?1907
• John Bashford Born 1820. Died ?1858. Married Sarah Kimber
• Josias James Bashford Born 1823. Died ?. Married Ann White
• Thomas Bashford Born 1825. Died ?1906. Married Harriet Hacker

Like his brother Josias, James was a Market Gardner who became increasingly prosperous through the mid 1800s:

• 1841 Census -

  Josias

  James is recorded as a

  Gardener and the family is

  gardener. James and Mary are recorded as living

  on

  at Sompting St

  , New Shoreham

  , Sompting. Three of their children are living with them - John, Josias and Thomas

• 1851 Census -

  Josias

  James is recorded as a

  Gardener of 4 acres employing 2 men and the family is still living Sompting St, Sompting1861 Census - Josias

  gardener - with 59 acres and employing 3 men. James and Mary are recorded as living at Sompting Street, Sompting. Three of their children living with him - George, Sarah and Thomas

• 1853 - Mary dies and is buried in Sompting on 2 February 1853

• 1861 Census - James is a widower and is recorded as a

  market gardener employing 3 people and the family was living at 20 High St West Tarring

  gardener. He is living at Cokeham Farm House with his son George and his daughter Sarah who is acting as his housekeeper. There are 2 grand children living with him - George Bashford 16 (most likely Janes son) and Sarah 10 (most likely Sarahs daughter)

• 1871 Census -

  Josias

  James is

  recorded as

  still a market gardener

  of 15 acres employing 7 men and 3 boys. and the family is living at 24 South St, West Tarring

It is known that at least 2 of his sons emigrated to Australia in the 1860s

• George William to Queensland abt 1863
• Reuben to Queensland / Northern NSW after 1871 and worked on his brothers railway contact

• - this time employing 4 men. He is living at Hams House, Sompting. His son George and daughter Sarah are still living with him, and living next door is son Josias and his wife Ann, and their daughter Mary. Josias is working as a garden labourer - one can assume working for his father and brother.

James dies August 1873 and is buried in Sompting on 26 April 1873. His leaves and estate of £200 with is son George as his sole executor. 

It appears that after his death the family business market garden was passed on to his son Charles and potentially his daughter Eleanor who are recorded in the 1881 census as follows

George as we find the following

• 1881 Census - George Bashford - living at Cokeham - Market Gardener of 25 8 acres - employing 8 men and 3 boysEleanor Bashford - 111 North Ste, West Tarring - Market Gardener of 6 ½ acres employing 7 men and 2 boys 4 men. His sister Sarah is living with him, and his brother Josias is still living next door  with his wife Ann and daughter Emma 25. Josias is still employed as a Garden labourer
• 1890 - George dies leaving an personal estate of £91 1s - apparently Market Garden business is left to sister Sarah
• 1891 Census - Sarah Bashford - living at Briar House, Sompting - Market Gardener. Her neice Minnie is living with her and her brother Josias is again living next door with his wife Ann and daughter Emma and is still employed as a Market Gardeners Labourer.
• 1901 Census - Sarah Bashford is living at Ball Cottage Sompting. Her widowed brother Thomas is living with her as is her neice Minnie. Thomas is recorded as a retired Market Gardener
• 1906 Thomas dies and is buried on ? in ?
• 1907 Sarah dies and is buried on ? in ?

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