More Personal Archives - Directories

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Sussex Researchers

A few years ago, I did my Local History Certificate at Sussex University followed by the DA 301 with the Open University - to this end, I did a lot of research, photocopying everything in site.

I have just re-located where I stored all this information which include:

Lewes in 1871 - A Household and political Directory

1852 Osbornes Directory of Hastings & St Leonards
1855 Post Office Street Directory of Hastings & St Leonards
1862 Post Office Street Directory of Hastings & St Leonards
1872 Parsons Street Directory of Hastings & St Leonards
1881 Parsons Street Directory of Hastings & St Leonards
1861/1871/1881 Census for Hastings, GEORGE STREET ONLY
1861/1871/1881 Census for Hastings ROBERTSON STREET ONLY

NEW* Pigot's Trade Directory of Sussex 1832-3-4

Monumental Inscriptions
Slaugham Monumental Inscriptions (1895)         
Newtimber Monumental Inscriptions (1896)         
Hailsham Monumental Inscriptions (1896)         
Dicker Independent Chapel MI’s            
Hurstrmonceux Cong. Chapel MI’s and Graves      
St Mary in Castle & Wallinger Walk MI's         
Wadhurst, Shovers Green Chapel MI’s         
Wadhurst, Pell Green Chapel MI’s         
Bodle Street Green – Ebenezer Bapt Chapel Records      
St Johns Cong. Chapel – Burgess Hill MI’s         

A copy of the book - "The what it cost the day before Yesterday Book"  by Harold Priestley, covering the price of goods, cost of living, wages, etc from 1850 to 1978

Willing as usual to do lookups in these

Chris in 1066Land  

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there Ruth

In reply to your personal message:

Thanks very much for the offer.  I'd be most grateful for any information you have in the Hastings directories on James LANSDELL and his family.  James was born about 1822, probably in Battle, and was resident in 15 Wellington Square, Hastings in the 1860s.  He disappeared (causing a police search) in 1866 but I believe he must have turned up again as he proved his father's will a few months later.  I assume that the following entry in the 1881 census is his family:

RG 11/1024 f.42 p.10
13 Wellington Sq, Hastings St Mary in the Castle, Sussex
Caroline LANSDELL, Head, W, Female, 59, Battle, Sussex, England, Income From Property
James H. LANSDELL, Son, U, Male, 27, Hastings, Sussex, England, Solicitor
Rachel J. LANSDELL, Daur, U, Female, 24, Hastings, Sussex, England
John ALDERTON, Brother Vist, M, Male, 57, Battle, Sussex, England, Retired Chemist
Mary A. ALDERTON, Vist, M, Female, 60, Walsall, Stafford, England, Retired Chemists Wife
Maria KNOWLES, Serv, U, Female, 22, Chatham, Kent, England, Cook Domc Serv
Julia DANIELS, Serv, U, Female, 21, Mountfield, Sussex, England, Housemaid Serv


1855 Post Office Directory
Lansdell J, 12 Pelham Crescent
Lansdell James, Farmer, Silver Hill, Hastings

1862 Post Office Directory
Lansdell James, Lodging Houses 1 – 7 Breeds Place, 12 Pelham Crescent & 12 Wellington Square
Lansdell James, jun, esq, 15 Wellington Square

1872 Parsons Directory
Lansdell, Mrs J, Lodging House Keeper, 1 to 7 Breeds Place, Hastings.
Lansell Susannah, Lodging House, 6 Carlisle Parade
Lansdell Mrs, 15 Wellington Square, Hastings

1881 Parsons Directory
13 Wellington Square
Lansdell Mrs
Lansdell J H Esq, Solicitor
Lansdell M J Architect.

In 1881 their names do not appear in Pelham Crescent, Silver Hill, Breeds Place and Carlisle Parade; although all properties are shown as Lodging Houses.  Maybe this was the source of income that Caroline lived on as shown in the 1881 census.

Chris in 1066Land

[Chris in 1066Land]

Ruth

Things are just starting to drop into place - Let me explain

For a number of years, I have been doing research on an area of land called 'The America Ground' which was the Roman Harbour of Hastings until it was filled in by the great storms of 1287.  The land then stood empty (Hastings moved lock stock and barrel to a new sight and harbour) till about 1800 when a rope walk was established, and soon, thanks to the building of nearby Pelham Crescent and Burtons St Leonards - a vast number of squatters soon occupied this land - as many as 1000 by 1828 when the crown did a survey of the land and its inhabitants. (No one was paying any rates)
Most of the buildings on this land plus the Rope Walk were owned by Mark Boykett Breeds (Merchant), Thomas James Breeds, Merchant and Thomas Breeds, Merchant; they also owned a local Brewery and a Bank, together with other land in Hastings. - Incidentally this piece of land by 1881 had become 'The Regent Street of Hastings', following the crown clearance of the squatters in 1835 and redevelopment by Patrick Robinson in 1850.

Whilst transcribing this 1828 Crown Census document tonight, I came across the following:

Description of Building - An Open Shed, with Carpenters Shop Over; and Large Yard with Sawpit; rented from Thomas Breeds by James Lansdell.
Annual value of the premises is £20.
Note in Margin - This tenant is Son in Law to Mr Breeds and his agreement was to remove the Building whenever desired, and therefore this is a ground rent only.

What do you make of that ?

Chris in 1066Land  

[Ruth]

Chris

That's excellent!  Thank you ever so much.

The James Lansdell in your second email must be the other James' father (bap. 14 Jan 1786, Bexhill and d. 29 Jun 1865, Battle - my 1st cousin 6x removed...).  He was a carpenter and builder so the carpenter's shop and sawpit fit nicely with him.  I haven't found information on his wife yet as she appears to have died pre-1841.  It's most interesting to find this connection with such a significant family in Hastings.  You've given me a lot more to work on!

I note that there's a will for Thomas Breeds, brewer and merchant of Hastings, dated 1840, on www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk.  I think I'll start there...

Ruth

P.S.  Just found a potential marriage for James to Martha Breeds on the IGI - it's patron submitted, but seems likely given your information.  Martha was baptised on 11 Jan 1793 at St Clement's, Hastings, daughter of Thomas and Martha Breeds.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Ruth

Thats Great - now that we have established a connection with the Breeds Family.

Martha Breed is indeed the wife of James Lansdell, in fact Breeds Place in Hastings got its name from Martha Breed when it was developed by non other than James Lansdell.

If you send me your e-mail address by private message - I will send you a Gold Mine - a few years ago I went to a lecture on the life of the Breed Family, given by one of their descendents, had a tape recorder in my pocket, recorded it all, then typed it out - very many pages, but unfortunately no pictures - but I have loads of them anyway.

So, what do you think of that

Chris in 1066Land

[Ruth]

Chris

That's wonderful!  Thank you ever so much for your help with this.

I'm sending you my email address by private message as suggested.

Thanks again.

Ruth

[twink]

The Breeds you mentioned seem to be relatives of my Breeds.  I have a Breeds family tree that was given to me by a Mr Breeds (former Major) who is also in it.

[twink]

ops - forgot to add - available to anyone who would like a copy.

[twink]

on the tree:

Martha b. 1793 married a James Llansdell (Builder)
apparently Breeds Place, Hastings is named after her.

She had brother - Thomas b. 1795 and James b. 1800.  
James was a merchant brewer - alderman, Freeman, Hastings - married Ann Wilson of Newington Surrey.

Father of above:
Thomas bpt. 1766. He was a sailmaker and shipping merchant. Alderman and Freeman, Hastings. he married Martha Cunningham of Southwark in 1786.

His brothers/sisters:

Boykett bur. 1763
Thomas James bpt. 1769
Susannah 1772
Mark Boykett bapt 1774 m. Elizabeth Edmund 1793
Sarah bur. 1776
Sarah 1777
Elizabeth Blanden 1781
Ann Perego 1783

Parents of above: Boykett (Widower) m Sarah Wilks (of Battle) in Hastings 1762.

Parents of above Boykett:

Thomas Breeds and Martha Boycolt (Boyket) married 1733.

Whew.