John Funnell, Mountfield, Sussex.

[Funnell]

I have traced my tree to the marriage of John Funnell to Ann Hilder in Mountfield in 1780. The Parish record states he was "of this Parish".
However I cannot find any record of his birth. He died in 1825 and his age stated as 71. I was advised of a corresponding birth of a John Harvey Funnell in Whatlington in 1754 the base born son of Mary Funnell. A Mary Funnell also appears in Mountfield about the time of John's marriage. It is possible this Mary is the mother of John.
John was witness to her marriage to Samuel Reeve and later Samuel Reeve was a witness at John's marriage.
Can anyone look up the records for Whatlington for a death of a John Harvey Funnell or any other info that he continued to live there as opposed to my theory that he and Mary moved to Mountfield?
Thanks, Harry