Person:Martha Andrews (25)

Martha Andrews’ origins have yet to be established. The age given when she died suggests that she was born around 1677.

Her first confirmed sighting is on 20th November 1701, when she married a blacksmith and ironmonger called Walter Longhurst at the church of St Paul Covent Garden in the western suburbs of London. Their marriage record describes Walter as being of Horsham in Sussex, whilst Martha was described as being of Petersfield in Hampshire at the time of their marriage.

Walter and Martha settled in Horsham after their marriage, having a son in 1702 whom they named Thornden Longhurst. Thornden’s unusual first name was the surname of Walter’s late uncle, from whom he had recently inherited a house in Chichester and a farm at New Fishbourne. Thornden was followed by a son called Walter in 1704 and a daughter called Martha in 1705. They also had a daughter called Mary, although no baptism record has yet been found for her. In 1703 Walter was named as the occupier of a barn and eighteen acres of land on the north side of Horsham Heath.

In 1706, their son Thornden died aged three whilst they were away from Horsham visiting Havant in Hampshire, where Martha appears to have had relatives.

In 1725 it appears that Martha sued Walter. The circumstances of the case have yet to be established. Martha seems to have had a Thomas Vosse of Havant acting on her behalf in the case.

Walter died in September 1741. Martha survived him by nine years. She died in 1750, being buried at Horsham on 12th October. She was said to be 73 years old. She left a will, although this has yet to be researched. The year after her death Martha’s three surviving children were named in a bond concerning the farm at New Fishbourne. One of the other parties to the bond was a James Andrews of Havant, who may therefore have been a relative of Martha’s.

1.   Discovery Catalogue (The National Archives, Kew)
   C11/2688/8.

   Short title: Longhurst v. Longhurst
   Document type: Bill and answer
   Plaintiffs: Martha Longhurst (wife of Walter Longhurst of Horsham, Sussex, by Thomas Vosse, gent of Havant, Hampshire).
   Defendants: Walter Longhurst and Thomas Hunt
   Date of bill (or first document): 1725

2. ↑ Horsham, Sussex: Parish Registers (West Sussex County Council, Chichester).

   Burialls 1750 / October 12 Martha Longhurst Widdow

3. ↑ The History and Antiquities of Horsham (Dorothea E. Hurst, Horsham, 1889)
   Page 74.

   Among several lists of monuments at Horsham parish church which had previously been noted but were by then (1889) lost:
   The following lines are noticed in the Burrell MSS., which have long since disappeared:
   …Mrs. Martha Longhurst, died 1750, aged 73 [1676/7]

4.  
   Acc1357 – Deeds of Nursery Farm and other lands in New Fishbourne / Add Mss 1127.

   Title: Bond in £126
   Date: 26 Jun 1751
   From Walter Longhurst of Horsham, maltster, carrier and chapman, Henry Waller of the same, butcher, and William Patching of the same, gentleman, to Deborah Ventham of Havant (co. Hants), wid., to perform the covenants in an indenture of even date between
   (a) John Hurst of Emsworth in Warblington (co. Hants), yeoman,
   (b) James Andrews of Havant aforesaid, brewer,
   (c) said Walter Longhurst (described as only son and heir at law of Walter Longhurst of Horsham, ironmonger, by Martha his wife, formerly Martha Andrews, both deceased), said Henry Waller and wife Martha (formerly Martha Longhurst, one of the daughters of said Walter Longhurst deceased and wife Martha), and said William Patching and wife Mary (formerly Mary Longhurst, the other daughter of said Walter Longhurst deceased, and wife Martha)
   (d) John Bide of Havant aforesaid, merchant,
   (e) said Deborah Ventham
   Signatures and papered seals
   Witnesses – John Dear, J. Newland

5.   West Sussex Archives Catalogue (West Sussex County Council, Chichester)
   Acc1357 – Deeds of Nursery Farm and other lands in New Fishbourne / Add Mss 1127.

   Title: Bond in £126
   Date: 26 Jun 1751
   From Walter Longhurst of Horsham, maltster, carrier and chapman, Henry Waller of the same, butcher, and William Patching of the same, gentleman, to Deborah Ventham of Havant (co. Hants), wid., to perform the covenants in an indenture of even date between
   (a) John Hurst of Emsworth in Warblington (co. Hants), yeoman,
   (b) James Andrews of Havant aforesaid, brewer,
   (c) said Walter Longhurst (described as only son and heir at law of Walter Longhurst of Horsham, ironmonger, by Martha his wife, formerly Martha Andrews, both deceased), said Henry Waller and wife Martha (formerly Martha Longhurst, one of the daughters of said Walter Longhurst deceased and wife Martha), and said William Patching and wife Mary (formerly Mary Longhurst, the other daughter of said Walter Longhurst deceased, and wife Martha)
   (d) John Bide of Havant aforesaid, merchant,
   (e) said Deborah Ventham
   Signatures and papered seals
   Witnesses – John Dear, J. Newland