James Bashford 1784 - 1873

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 point. 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 ?
• George Bashford Born 1813. Died ?
• Jane Bashford Born 1814. Died ?
• Frances Bashford Born 1816. Died ?. Married Stephen Slaughter
• Sarah Bashford Born 1818. Died ?
• John Bashford Born 1820. Died ?. Married Sarah Kimber
• Josias James Bashford Born 1823. Died ?. Married Ann White
• Thomas Bashford Born 1825. Died ?. Married Harriet Hacker

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

• 1841 Census - Josias is recorded as a Gardener and the family is recorded as living on Sompting St, New Shoreham
• 1851 Census - Josias is recorded as a Gardener of 4 acres employing 2 men and the family is still living Sompting St, Sompting
• 1861 Census - Josias is recorded as a market gardener employing 3 people and the family was living at 20 High St West Tarring
• 1871 Census - Josias is recorded as 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

Josias died on 24 May 1880 in East Preston, Sussex, he was buried int he St Andrews Churchyard at West Tarring on 28 May 1880

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

• Charles Bashford - High St, West Tarring - Market Gardener of 25 acres - employing 8 men and 3 boys
• Eleanor Bashford - 111 North Ste, West Tarring - Market Gardener of 6 ½ acres employing 7 men and 2 boys 

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