Hello Matt
According to SMI James and Elizabeth married Lewis St Michael,24 Mar 1803,BOTP by Banns
omega
Hi omega
Sorry that was a typo in my posting, I was looking at a different part of my Holden tree when typing! You are quite correct though, the marriage did take place in Lewes. I'll amend the original post.
Given that when they married both James and Elizabeth are described as being "BOTP" it seems likely that they'd both been settled in the parish for a while.
Oddly though both the candidates I've found could be my Elizabeth since I've not yet found a burial for either (I'm still checking though) given that Brighton and Lewes are only 6 miles apart.
The only other thing I think I've established is that James Reed, father of the Elizabeth christened in Lewes in 1788, was probably christened in South Malling in 1763 (son of another James).
I'm now discounting the marriage of James Reed and Mary Churchill for now as Storrington is about 20 miles from Lewes. I have five children christened to James and Mary at the moment Jane (1778), James (1779), Mary (1782) all christened in Storrington, then Hannah christened in Petworth in 1784, followed by Elizabeth in Lewes in 1788.
As said I'm discounting the marriage of James and Mary, and the first four of those christenings for now given that Lewes is 20 miles away from the Storrington/Petworth area. Also if James was christened in South Malling (which looks more likely now) then he'd only 14 when the marriage of James Reed and Mary Churchill took place in Storrington in 1777.
Annoyingly the names of James and Elizabeth's children don't seem to yield any clues but I'll list them here in case you or anyone spot anything.
John Holden - chr 26 April 1806 Brighton
Henry Holden - chr 12 June 1808 Brighton
Sarah Holden - chr 29 September 1811
George Holden - chr 14 August 1814 Brighton - my ancestor
Hannah Holden - chr 11 May 1817 Brighton
Thomas Holden - chr 30 April 1820 Brighton
I think there was also a Thomas christneed in December 1815 but I can't find the date for him in my notes (he probably died before 1820 though).
So as you can see not even the names of the children of James and Elizabeth give any clues in regards to her family. They do however help identify James's family though. I believe he was christened in Brighton in 1778 son of John and Susanna. Just like James and Elizabeth they also had children named Thomas, Henry, and John.
I think the Elizabeth who was christened in Lewes is most likely the lady I'm looking for given that they married in Lewes and were both described as being of that parish, yet the children were christened in Brighton and so the other Elizabeth is also a possibility.
I'm going to see if I can find any more clues on the Reeds in Lewes and also any wills to see if they provide any clues.
Any more suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
Matt