baptisms of George LONGLEY & Mary SPARKES

[Westy11]

Hoping for some assistance please.

In working backwards I am now at the point of knowing George LONGLEY & Mary SPARKES married at Watling on 27 Mar 1749.

I have only seen a transcription of the marriage and no idea if the couple or one of the couple were of the Parish or anything else about them.

George & Mary's first child, George was baptised at Watling 30 Jun 1749 and was buried two months later also at Watling.

The couple moved to Herstmonceux  and a steady stream of child baptised there. [Martha 1750, Mary 1752, Henry 1754, Sarah 1757, Charles 1759, George 1762, Molly 1764, Keturah 1787 & Hester 1771.]

There was a George LONGLEY baptised at Lancing 27 Dec 1721 and parents of Samuel and  Mary.

The issue with this one is that George LONGLEY & Mary SPARKES do not seem to have a child named after the grandfather Samuel.  I know this is not mandatory however its unusual.

I am at a bit of a loss as to locating where the couple were born and hoping for some assistance please.

Westy

[jonw65]

Hi Westy
To start you off, the marriage says they were both of Wartling. By Banns.
Image
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XHL9-6CF?i=369&cat=214898

John

[jonw65]

We have also to remember that coverage of Sussex parishes on FamilySearch is far from complete.
The indexes of the Sussex Family History Group would also be useful.

Just in case there is any connection, there is a double baptism at Wartling, 26 Feb 1746/7 of William and George, sons of John and Elizabeth Longley.
I have not been able to pin down a marriage for that couple. Curiously, on the same day in Wartling is a marriage of William Longley of Herstmonceux (not sure how they have spelt it) and Elizabeth Jarret of Wartling!

There are then a few more baptisms indexed to John and Elizabeth Longley in Herstmonceux
John, 23 Dec 1747
Elizabeth, 2 June 1749
Martha, 6 July 1750
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1LQ-6YP?i=151&cat=243685

There was a George LONGLEY baptised at Lancing 27 Dec 1721 and parents of Samuel and  Mary.

There is a will of a Samuel Loungley (Longley) of Lancing, proved at Chichester in 1729. Possibly he was the father of Samuel and grandfather of George?
Not terribly useful perhaps, but here it is!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X49N-2W?i=679&cat=1022203

John

[jonw65]

Hi
Some good news (I hope!)
Another will.
John Longley of Wartling, blacksmith, proved at Lewes 28 June 1760. Will dated 20 Nov 1755.
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_PBT_1_1_60_227

We can see it on FamilySearch
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XHH-KPT?i=393&cat=685691

A quick look -
Wife Dorcas.
Sons Thomas, John, William, George, James
Brother Thomas

[jonw65]

A burial of Dorcas Longley, 29 April 1776 at Herstmonceux.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1LQ-FSJ?i=215&cat=243685

Will of Dorcas Longley of Chiddingly, widow, proved 4 July 1776 at Lewes. Dated 9 July 1771
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_PBT_1_1_63_565

Here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D189-JCX?i=809&cat=685691

Shock! From the will it appears that Dorcas was married before. And likely was not the mother of John Longley's children.
In fact the marriage of John and Dorcas was 7 May 1754, at Chiddingley.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N295-TXV

John

[jonw65]

It could be that the first wife of "our" John was Martha

30 June 1723 (proved at Lewes 4 Nov 1727)
Probate of will of Thomas Vallance of Wartling, yeoman, to son-in-law John Longley of Wartling, blacksmith, and wife Martha
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_SAS-JC_9_130

28 October 1727
Copy of court roll of manor of Wartling of a court of Fulwar Craven, before Richard Newdegate, steward,: presentment of death of Thomas Vallance and admission of John Longley and wife Martha
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_SAS-JC_9_131

30 October 1760
Manor of Wartling: copy of court roll of court of Lord Craven: presentment of devise in will of Thomas Vallance to John Longley and wife Martha for their lives with remainder, and since Martha is long since dead and John Longley had died since the last court; admission of James Longley, yeoman, younger son and heir
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_SAS-JC_9_134

[jonw65]

Fetch up the will of Thomas Vallance (Valence) for you. I though it would be a long one, but it isn't!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LNW-VBL?i=570&cat=685691

[Westy11]

Hello John,

Very much appreciated and thanks so very much for your assistance.

I admit to being confused given the finds 'hint' at connections but don't express real connections.

Westy

[jonw65]

Hi Westy
They must be new on there? I have only tried out a few so far. Haven't produced a baptism for George! Parents seem to have married in 1719.
I am thinking that Mary Sparkes may be difficult.
John