She is thought to have found letter-writing something of a task, but clearly possessed a fair number of books.9| ↳ other children
Richard Bourn = Elizabeth Penfold
| ↳ other children
| ↳ other children
| ↳ other children
Francis Edward Pollard = Mary Spence Watson
Susanna Bourn was born around 178991, in Warnham, Sussex.1
She married [I4] James Pollard on the 29th April 1813, by licence from the Archdeaconry of Lewes, at St Nicholas's parish church, Brighton, Sussex; she was described as a spinster, of St Nicholas's parish.2
Their children were: Ann (18161818), Eliza (18181859), Richard (18191854), Emma (18221826), Martha (18231859), Mary (18261851), [I3] William (18281893), Robert (18311856), and David (18341838), all births being registered by Surrey & Sussex quarterly meeting.3
In 1816, under her father's will, she inherited, jointly with her sister Mary Harding, as tenants in common, "All that my Messuage Buildings Malthouse Garden Orchard Croft of Land and Premises called [Gwyers?] situate lying and being in Billinghurst aforesaid and now in the occupation of Stephen Knight"; as well as an equal share with her siblings of the residue of her father's property, apart from that given to his wife.4
Susanna applied to join the Society of Friends in February 1820, and was eventually received into membership in September 1821. She attended Women's Monthly Meeting on a couple of occasions, in 1826 and 1827.5
In 1832 she was named in James's will.6
In 1841 she lived at Park Farm, Horsham, Sussex; her household included Edward and Ann Bourne, her nephew and niece, as well as her sister and brother-in-law, and a 19-year old girl of uncertain relationship. In December that year she represented Dorking, Horsham & Guildford Monthly Meeting at Quarterly Meeting in Horsham. She attended Monthly Meeting several times a year throughout the 1840s, and twice more attended Quarterly Meeting (1847 and 1848, the latter occasion in Brighton).7
In 1851 she still lived at Park Farm. She is described as the farmer of 140 acres, employing three labourers. Her daughter Mary, living with her, is said to have been born in Horsham. The household also included a bailiff, a house servant, and two farm servants.8
She is thought to have found letter-writing something of a task, but clearly possessed a fair number of books.9
Susanna removed from Park Farm, probably by October 1851, and certainly by June 1854, probably to live in Reigate. She died on the 4th May 1856, in the High Street, Reigate, Surrey, after twelve months of bronchitis and general decay. She was buried in the Friends' burial ground at Reigate, on the 11th May.10
Susanna Bourne was the youngest known child of (J2) Richard and (J7) Elizabeth Bourn.11
*** For an exhaustive treatment of the lives of James and Susanna Pollard, please see this pdf file (updated February 2023). ***
1 death certificate; TNA: HO 107/1648 f318 p8; TNA: RG 4/2729.
2 William Pollard: 'Some Descendants of James and Mary Pollard', Ms book now at West Sussex Record Office; Sussex Record Society Vol. XXVI,1919, p.341, Calendar of Sussex Marriage Licences; parish register; William Pollard: 'Some Descendants of James and Mary Pollard' gives her forename as 'Susanne', corrected from 'Susanna', and her last name as 'Bourne'. The Calendar of Sussex Marriage Licences gives her surname as 'Brown', and describes her as a spinster of Brighthelmston; the licence is dated two days before the wedding; bondsmen were her husband-to-be and a Stephen Bourn of Brighthelmston, gent.
3 William Pollard: 'Some Descendants of James and Mary Pollard'; Dictionary of Quaker Biography (Friends' House Library, typescript)
4 TNA: PROB 11/1576 copy will
5 Surrey Record Centre 6189 Boxes 7 & 9, 6189/155.
6 husband's will
7 HO 107/1097/3 f28 p7; East Sussex Record Office SOF 22/2; SRC 6189 Box 10
8 HO 107/1648 f318 p8; forename given as "Susana".
9 David M. Blamires: 'Towards a Biography of William Pollard'; Journal of the Friends' Historical Society, Vol. 55 Nos. 3 & 4, pp.112-123
10 sale catalogue; Horsham Museum Mss SP96; death certificate; William Pollard: 'Some Descendants of James and Mary Pollard'; SRC 6189/58 & Box 11.
11 HO 107/1648 f318 p8; East Sussex Record Office baptism index; RG4/2729, Leonard J. Maguire (1981) Records of the General Baptist Meeting House (now Unitarian), Horsham, Sussex. Vol. I, privately published.
Richard Bourn was born in about 1754.1
Described as a bachelor in the parish of Wisboro' Green, as well as of Slinfold, he married (J7) Elizabeth Penfold on the 8th May 1781 at Slinfold, by licence. Their children were: James (17831789), Sarah (17851861), Ann (17871787) Richard (17881810), (J1) Susanna (cal 17911856), Mary (c. 1792 1872), Stephen (cal 1794 1865), and William (cal 1796 1874). All were probably born at Warnham, and the births of most were registered at Horsham General Baptist church.2
In January 1784 he was one of the witnesses at the wedding of his sister Mary, at Billingshurst. In 1786 and 1787 he signed the Warnham parish accounts as a parishioner, and was one of the two Overseers in the year 1787/8.3
In 1790 Richard Bourn was a farmer in Billingshurst, Sussex. In June that year a Richard Bourne of Wisborough employed a labourer named James Holder.4
In September 1791 he purchased a messuage in Horsham, "parcel of the tenement called Perry Place", from Robert Hurst. By 1806 this property was rented to an widow named Elizabeth Terry; its ownership gave Richard Bourn the right to vote, and in the election that year he voted for Wilder and Jones. At that date he himself was described as a farmer of Warnham.5
From 1807 through 1809 he was assessed for £1 8s. 6d. land tax, on the property he owned and occupied at Little Rowfold, Billingshurst; from 1810 through 1815 his property there was occupied by Levi Wadey.6
Some time between his wife's death in 1811 and February 1813 he married, secondly, Mary ____.7
He made his will on the 20th February 18138:
This is the last
Will and Testament of me Richard Bourne of Warnham in the County of
Sussex yeoman made published and declared the twentieth day of February in the
Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirteen First I nominate
constitute and appoint my Nephew James Trower of Kirdford in the said County of
Sussex yeoman and David Rowland of Horsham in the said County Maison [?]
Executors And I will and direct that all my just Debts Funeral Expenses and the
Charges of proving and establishing this my Will be fully paid and discharged by
my said Executors out of my Personal Estate as soon as conveniently may be after
my decease I give and devise unto my Son Stephen Bourne All that my Messuage Barn Buildings Farm and Lands
called Little Rowfold containing by Estimation twenty Acres more or less situate
lying and being in the Parish of Billingshurst in the County of Sussex and now
in the tenure or occupation of Levi Wadey his undertenants or Assigns to hold
the same to him my said Son Stephen Bourne his Heirs and Assigns for Ever I give
and devise unto my son William All that my
Messuage Barn Buildings Farm Lands and Premises called Smithaw containing by
Estimation thirteen Acres more or less situate lying and being in the Parish of
Slinfold in the said County of Sussex and now in my own occupation to hold the
same to him my said Son William Bourne his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject
nevertheless and I do so hereby charge the said Heredits and Premises
so devised unto my said Son Stephen Bourne as aforesaid with and to the payment
of a clear yearly Rent Charge or Annual Sum of twenty Pounds of lawful Money of
Great Britain and the said Heredits and Premises so devised unto my
said Son William Bourn as aforesaid with and to the payment of a clear yearly
Rent charge ^or
annuity Sum of ten Pounds of like lawful Money the said Rent Charge
to be paid and payable to my wife Mary and her Assigns for and during the Term
of her natural life by two equal half yearly Payments in each and every Year
without any Deduction or [illegible word] out of the same or any part thereof
for or by reason of any Parliamentary or other Taxes or Impositions whatsoever
the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the expiration of six Calendar
Months next after my decease And I so hereby declare that in case the said
Yearly Rents or Annual Sums of twenty Pounds and ten Pounds respectively or any
part thereof shall be in arrear and unpaid for the space of twenty one days next
after either ^or
any of the said days or times whenever the same ought to be paid as
aforesaid, that there and ad at any time or times thereafter when and as often
as the case shall so happen it may and shall be lawful to and for my said Wife
Mary and her Assigns unto and upon the said Heredits and Premises
hereinbefore respectively charged with and made liable to the payment of the
said Yearly Rents or Annual Sums of twenty Pounds and ten Pounds respectively to
enter and distrain for the said Yearly Rents or Annual Sums of twenty Pounds and
ten Pounds respectively or so much thereof as shall then be in Arrear and unpaid
as aforesaid and the Distress and Distresses then and there found
^and taken respectively to
load and carry away impound detain and keep until the said Yearly Rents or
Annual Sums of twenty Pounds and ten Pounds respectively and all Arrears thereof
and all Costs Charges and Expences relating to or attending the said Distress
and Distresses respectively shall be fully satisfied and paid and in default
thereof in due time after such Distress or Distresses shall be so taken to
appraise sell and dispose of the same according to Law in like manner as in
Distresses taken for Rent reserved by Lease or Common Devise to the end and
extent that she my said Wife and her Assigns may be fully satisfied and paid the
said Yearly Rents or Annual Sums of twenty Pounds and ten Pounds respectively
and all Arrears thereof and all Charges and Expenses relating to or attending
the recognizing or obtaining any payment of the same Sums respectively and I
give and devise unto my said Wfe ^Mary All that my Messuage Garden Orchard and
Premises situate ^lying and being in Warnham Street in the Parish of Warnham
aforesaid which I lately purchased of William Honeywood and now in the tenure or
occupation of James Ellis his Undertenants or Assigns To hold to her my said
Wife Mary and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life, and from
and after the decease of my said Wife Mary I give and devise the same Heredits
and Premises unto and equally between my said two Sons Stephen Bourne and William
Bourne Share and Share alike as tenants in common and not as joint Tenants and
to their several and respective Heirs and Assigns for ever I give and devise
unto my daughters
Susanna Bourne and Mary Harding All that my Messuage Buildings Malthouse Garden
Orchard Croft of Land and Premises called Gwyers
situate lying and being in Billingshurst aforesaid and now in the occupation of
Stephen Knight his Undertenants or Assigns To hold to them my said two Daughters
Susanna Bourne and Mary Harding as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants
and to their respective Heirs and Assigns for ever And I give and bequeath to my
said Son Stephen Bourne the Lease of the Farm which I
^now hold and
occupy under Sir Bysshe Shelley Baronet in the Parish of Warnham aforesaid upon
condition that he take the Stock Crops and Husbandry Tackle of and belonging to
the same Farm and also of and belonging to my Farm called Rowfold at a fair
Valuation of two Persons one to be chosen by my said ^Son
& the other by my said Executors and if they disagree thereby a
third person to be appointed by such referees. And that my said Son shall pay to
my Executors the Amount or value thereof to be applied in manner hereinafter
mentioned but such Valuation shall not include the [Dung?] or the Dressings and
half Dressings thereby which [Dung?] Dressings and half Dressings I give to my
said Son Stephen Bourne And it is my will and desire that my said Son William
Bourne shall have and take the Stock Crops and Husbandry Tackle on
the said Farm called Smithaw so devised to him as aforesaid at a like valuation
and shall pay for the same to my said Executors to be applied by them in manner
hereinafter mentioned but that such Valuation shall not include the [Dung?]
Dressings and half Dressings on the said Farm which [Dung?] Dressings and half
Dressings I give to my said Son William Bourne and in case my said Sons Stephen
Bourne and William Bourne or either of them shall refuse to take such Stock
Crops Tackle and Effects at a valuation as aforesaid then I direct my Executors
to sell the same and to apply the Money arising therefrom in manner herein after
mentioned And all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects
whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath to my said Executors or
the Survivor of them his Executors or Admins upon Trust that they or
the Survivor of them or the Executors or Admins of such Survivor do
and shall within three Calendar Months next after my decease sell and dispose of
the same and the Money to arise therefrom pay to and devise between my Sons and
Daughters in manner hereinafter mentioned It is my will and intention that my
Property except that given to my Wife shall be divided as equally as possible
between my Sons and Daughters And for that purpose I order and direct my said
Executors or the Survivor of them or the Executors or Admors of such
Survivor within such space of three Calendar Months next after my decease to
cause the Estates and Property hereinbefore given to my said Children
^respectively to be valued by
a competent and indifferent Person And upon such Valuation being made then upon
Trust that they my said Executors or the Survivor of them his Executors or Admors
do and shall distribute and divide the Money to arise from the residue of my
Estate as aforesaid and also the Money to be received by them from my said Sons
Stephen and William for the valuation of the said Stock Crops Husbandry Tacke
and Effects so and in such manner as that my said Sons Stephen and William and
my Daughters Sarah Moase to whom I have already given five hundred Pounds which
is to be taken as part of her Share and Susannah Bourne and and Mary Harding may
have an equal distribution Share thereof by adding to the valuations of the
Property so given to them respectively by this my Will and to the said Sum of
five hundred Pounds so given to my said Daughter Sarah Moase such Sums of Money
as will exhaust the Money in the hands of my Exors and will when
added to the Valuations of the said property so given to my Children
respectively make the benefit derived for each of them equal the one with the
other And I do hereby also direct and declare that they my said Executors and
the Survivor of them his Executors or Admors shall be charged and
chargeable only for such and so much Money as they and each of them shall
respectively actually receive by virtue of or under this my Will and that the
one of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the other or others of
them but each for his own Acts and Deeds only And, also that they may said
Executors shall and may lawfully
^may by with and out of the
Monies which shall come to their hands by virtue of this my Will retain to and
reimburse themselves ^respectively
all such loss costs charges and Expences which they or either of them shall or
may suffer sustain expend disburse or be put unto by reason or means or on
account of this my Will or in about and touching
and ^or
concerning the management or execution thereof together with a reasonable
Allowance to the said James Trower and Daniel Rowland for their loss of time and
other Trouble And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other
Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be and contain
my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Richard Bourne the
Testator have to this my last Will and Testmt contained in four
Sheets of Paper to the first three Sheets thereof set my hand to this fourth and
last Sheet my hand and seal the day and year first above written // Richard
Bourn // SS // Signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Bourne
the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in
his presence, at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our Names as Witnesses // Martha Keene // Chas Robertson
// Cha Elphick.//
In February 1814 he was a signatory to a letter in support of a Spring Fair at Horsham, for South Down Tags, to be held in April.9
Richard Bourn of Warnham probably died on the 14th August 1815, and was buried at Horsham General Baptist Church on the 18th.10
His will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at London on the 12th January 1816 by James Trower the nephew and Daniel Rowland, the executors.11
Richard Bourn was the only known son of (J3) Richard and (J4) Hannah Bourn.12
1 TNA: RG 4/2729 f44; Leonard J. Maguire (1891) Records of the General Baptist Meeting House (now Unitarian), Horsham, Sussex. Vol. I., privately published
2 WSRO PR 176/1/1/4; 1851 census; East Sussex Record Office baptism index; RG4/2729; Maguire; TNA: PROB 11/1576 copy will
3 Billingshurst marriages; letter to me from John Caffyn, 2001-08-10, citing WSRO PAR 203/31/1
4 WSRO NC/GB4/7/6; A2A
5 source mislaid; pollbook
67 Billingshurst Land Tax data on Find My Past
8 PROB 11/1576 copy will
10 RG 4/2729 f44
11 PROB 11/1576 copy will; TNA: IR 27/156
12 WSRO PAR 106/1/1/3
Richard Bourn was born in about 1720.1
He married [J4] Hannah ____ before 1747. They had four known children: Hannah (cal 1747 1815), Sarah (cal 1750 1823), [J2] Richard (cal 1754 1815), and Mary (? after 1784).2
From 1780 through 1806 he was assessed for £1 8s. 6d. land tax, on his property at Little Rowfold, and from 1781 through 1806 £2 for his property at Little Daux, Billingshurst, Sussex; from 1797 through 1800 he was recorded as occupier of both properties, but from 1801 through 1806 the Little Daux property was occupied by John Trower, and from 1803 through 1806 the Little Rowfold property was occupied by his son Richard.3
He made his will on the 2nd June 1801, and died some time in the first half of 1807, and his body was buried in Grave 12M of the Billingshurst General Baptist burial ground:4
This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Bourn of
Billingshurst in the County of Sussex yeoman touching the disposition of the
temporal Estate wherewith it had pleased God to bless me as follows (that is to
say) First I will order and direct that all my Just Debts funeral Expences and
the Expence of proving this my will be fully paid and satisfied by my Executors
in Trust and Trustees hereinafter named Next I give and bequeath unto my
grandson Benjamin Bourn Son of my Daughter Mary Potter the Sum of Twenty Pounds
to be paid to him within Six Months next after my decease by my Executors in
Trust and Trustees hereinafter named Also I give and devise unto my Daughter
Hannah Trower Wife of John Trower of Billingshurst in the said County Farmer All
that my Messuage or Tenement Farm Lands Hereditaments and Premises called Little
Docks in the Parish of Billingshurst aforesaid To hold unto my said Daughter
Hannah her Heirs and Assigns for ever charged and chargeable nevertheless and I
do hereby charge the same with the Payment of One Hundred and Sixty three Pounds
to my said Trustees hereinafter named within Six Months next after my decease
for the Purposes hereinafter mentioned Also I give and bequeath unto my said
Daughter Mary Potter Wife of John Potter of Wisborough green in the said County
Farmer the Sum of Thirty Pounds to be paid to her within Six Months next after
my decease by my Executors in trust and Trustees hereinafter named over and
above the Sum of Four Pounds
Hundred Pounds principal Money due to me upon a Bond from the said John Potter
which I do hereby direct shall be given up and called ^at the time of
Payment of the said Thirty Pounds Also I give and bequeath unto my good Friends
Thomas Evershed of Pallingham in the Parish of Wisboroughgreen aforesaid
Gentleman and Thomas Turner of Billingshurst aforesaid Yeoman the Sum of Three
Hundred and Thirty seven Pounds which with the sum of One Hundred and Sixty
three Pounds so given and bequeathed to them as aforesaid make together the Sum
of Five Hundred Pounds To hold to them the said Thomas Evershed and Thomas
Turner their Executors Administrators and Assigns upon this Special Trust and
Confidence nevertheless (that is to say) that they my said Trustees or the
Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor do and
shall as ^soon as conveniently may be after my decease put and place
the same out at Interest upon Government or other good and sufficient Security
or Securities in their own Names and in such Manner as they shall think proper
And also in trust that they do and shall receive the Interest and Dividends
thereof from time to time as the same shall become due and payable and pay apply
and dispose of the same for and towards the Support and maintenance of my
Daughter Sarah Bourn for and During the Term of her natural Life and from and
immediately after her decease I do hereby give and bequeath the said Principal
Sum of Five Hundred Pounds so put and placed out for my said Daughter Sarah as
aforesaid unto my Son Richard Bourn and my said Daughters Hannah Trower and Mary
Potter to be paid to and equally divided between them their Executors and
Sministrators Share and Share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint
Tenants and which I do hereby direct my said Trustees to Pay assign and transfer
to them accordingly and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my personal
Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever of and of what nature or kind
soever that I may die possessed of or intitled unto I do hereby give and
bequeath the same and every Part thereof unto my said Son Richard Bourn and my
said Daughters Hannah Trower and Mary Potter to be equally divided between them
Share and Share alike To hold to my said Son and Daughters their Executors and
Administrators as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and I do hereby
order and direct that my said Trustees or either of them shall not be liable to
answer or make good any Loss or Losses that shall or may happen in placing out
my Trust Monies as aforesaid unless the same shall appear to happen by or
through their or either of their wilful Neglect or Default nor shall either of
my said Trustees be answerable only for his own separate Acts Deeds Receipts and
Disbursements And that they shall be reimbursed out of my said Estate and
Effects all reasonable Costs Charges and Expences they shall be put unto in the
Execution of the aforesaid Trust And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and
appoint the said Thomas Evershed and Thomas Turner joint Executors of this my
Will hereby revoking and and [sic] making void all former and other Will and
Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be and
contain my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I
the said Richard Bourn have to this my last Will and Testament written and
contained in two Sheets of Paper set my Hand and Seal at the Top of the first
sheet where the same are affixed together and my Hand at the Bottom thereof and
my Hand and Seal to this second and last Sheet this second Day of June One
Thousand Eight Hundred and One
|
Signed sealed published and declared by the said
Jos Dendy Chas. Elphick Wm. Ellis |
Richd Bourn |
Described as a yeoman, of Billingshurst, Sussex, his will was proved in the consistory court of the Archdeaconry of Chichester on the 6th June 1807. His estate was valued at under £800 (£27,168 at 2005 values).5
12 Leonard J. Maguire (1985) The General Baptist Meeting House now known as the Free Christian Church (Unitarian) Billingshurst
3 Billingshurst Land Tax data on Find My Past
4 Maguire; will; TNA: IR 26/316/81
5 will; IR 26/316/81
Clearly the priority would be identifying [J3] Richard Bourn's parentage, through either registers of baptism or probate records.
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