LEE family of Bognor

[rogden]

I am trying to find details of the LEE family of Bognor, Sussex and in particular the whereabouts in 1841, 1851 and 1861 and parentage of MARY ANN LEE.
I know her history onwards after her marriage to Jonathan BRADFIELD in 1865 at Brighton but I do not know anything about her before her marriage. In censuses from 1871 onwards she consistently claimed she was born in Bognor but she seemed economical with the truth about her age. It was only in the 1911 census and on her death in 1912 that her true birthdate could be established as 1840.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Roger

[janan]

Hi Roger

Welcome to Rootschat

There is this family in 1851

Bedford St, South Bersted

William Lee Head mar 50 Chimney Sweeper Kent Allington
Sarah do Wife 42 Sussex Salehurst
William do Son Un 24 Chimney Sweeper Sussex Bury
Joseph do Son 20 Ag lab Steyning
James do do 18 do Bognor
John do do 15 Chimney sweeper Bognor
Mary Ann do Dau 12 scholar Bognor
Emily do do 5 do do
Ellen do 2 do
HO107/1653/456 Pg30

Her marriage cert would hopefully confirm father

Jan

[janan]

1841
Bedford Row, South Bersted
William Lee 40 Chimney Sweep
Sarah do 30
William do 14
Joseph do 11
James do 9
John do 5
Henry do 3
Mary do 1
All born in county except William senior
HO107/1099/1/23 Pg7

Jan

[rogden]

Thank you Jan
Your leads look very promising. I know that the Bradfield ancestral line is correct and so will order the marriage certificate for Mary Ann LEE and Jonathan BRADFIELD to check that William LEE, chimney sweeper is the father of the bride. (The funny thing is that I've got the marriage certificates for Jonathan Bradfield's son and for his father but, for some forgotten reason, I never got Jonathan's and Mary Ann's certificate).
You have been most helpful.
Roger

[trish1120]

Hi Roger,
Let me save you 9 Pounds odd;
Source, Familysearch Pilot
Marriage;
1865, St Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex
Jonathan BRADFIELD, Age 21, Birth 1844, Father- Richard Jonathan Bradfield
Mary LEE, Age 22, Birth 1843, Father- William Lee

Another Record has the exact date, Married 03 September 1865;
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=492758.new#new

Trish

EDIT maybe she dropped her Age as Jonathan was younger!

[trish1120]

You may already have this but will post in case there is something you dont have

England/Wales Christening Records has this;
Jonathan BRADFIELD, Christened 22 June 1845, Broadwater by Worthing, Sussex Birth 01 June 1845
Father RICHARD Bradfield
Mother FRANCES

1851 Census
16 Prospect Row,
Worthing, Sussex
HO107/1651/120/20
Frances BRADFIELD, 32,Head, Widow, Laundress
JOHNATHEN Bradfield, 4, Son, Scholar
Fanny Bradfield, 3, Daug, At Home
All born Worthing, Sussex

1861 Jonathan is 16, born c 1845 and Fanny 14
RG9/614/39/34

1871 J's age is out and Marys POB wrong;
Jonathan is age 37, born c 1834, Worthing, Sussex
Mary is ok, born 1843, Boynar, Sussex
There is a Neice Emma LEE, born c 1861, Brighton, Sussex living with them.
RG10/1080/61/24

There is a Mary E LEE, born c 1860, age 5mths in the 1861 Census. She seems to be the Daughter of;
WILLIAM Lee, born c 1827, Hove Brighton, Sussex, a Chimney Sweep.
And EMMA, born c 1833, Cuckfield, Sussex
RG9/625/27/18

This seems to fit Marys Brother William in 1851 Census.
Also 2 Doors away in 1861 are;
William LEE, 60, Head, Mar, Sweep and Cutler
Sarah, 57, Wife, Charwoman
Ellen, 12, Daug, Scholar
Eliza, 9, Daug, Scholar
Stephen LEE, 55, Brother, Mar, Tin Plate Worker, born Kent, Faversham

Trish

[trish1120]

Mary Ann LEE, Christened 17 May 1840, East Bersted, Sussex
Parents THOMAS and SARAH
(Source Familysearch Pilot)

EDIT WILLIAM and SARAH, not Thomas

[janan]

Mary Ann LEE, Christened 17 May 1840, East Bersted, Sussex
Parents THOMAS and SARAH

Is Thomas your mistake Trish?

Jan

[toni*]

It was only in the 1911 census and on her death in 1912 that her true birthdate could be established as 1840.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Roger

the age at death is what the informant belived her to be

as is the age on the 1911 census