Person:James Green (110)

James Green's origins and indeed his first name are uncertain. From about 1836 until his death in 1848 it is clear that there was a fisherman known as James Green living in Sidlesham with his wife, Jane, and their children. From the 1841 census we know that James was from Sussex, and his burial record in 1848 tells us he was probably born about 1799. However, no plausible marriage for a James Green and Jane has yet been found. The 1841 census has children called Frances, George and Alfred living with the couple, and these children's baptisms give their parents' names as Henry and Jane, not James and Jane. This then points to the marriage in 1827 of Henry Green and Jane Clear at the nearby parish of Earnley. In the censuses, James's wife Jane maintained she had been born about 1810 in Sidlesham, which fits with the baptism of a Jane Clear at Sidlesham in 1810.

It therefore seems likely that this man was known as Henry Green from his marriage in 1827 through to the baptism of his third child in 1833, after which point he became known as James Green from the baptism of his fourth child in 1836 until his death. Whilst it is possible that maybe Jane had two husbands named Green, no evidence has been found for the death or burial of Henry and subsequent marriage to James. We therefore conclude that Henry and James are the same man. This is further supported by the fact that the daughter Frances baptised as daughter of Henry and Jane in 1828 married in Sidlesham in 1847 giving her father's name as James.

Whatever his name, he was buried at Sidlesham on 20th January 1848. Jane was left with seven children to support (although the eldest was already married). Jane remarried the following year.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1103; Book 5; Folio 9; Page 11, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Mill, Sidlesham, Sussex
   James Green, male, 40 [1796-1801], Fisherman, born in county
   Jane Green, female, 30 [1806-11], born in county
   Frances Green, female, 12 [1828/9], born in county
   George Green, male, 9 [1831/2], born in county
   Alfred Green, male, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   Mary Green, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   William Green, male, 1 [1839/40], born in county

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Sidlesham (St Mary) burials, in Sussex, England. Online Parish Clerks.

   No. 535
   Name: James Green
   Abode: Sidlesham
   When buried: 30 Jan 1848
   Age: 48 [1799/1800]
   By whom the Ceremony was performed: William Bruton

3. ↑ See marriage and baptisms of first three children.