Person:William Patching (2)

William Patching’s origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 1st November 1735, when he married Mary Longhurst in London. They were both said to be of the parish of Horsham in Sussex when they married, and they returned there after their marriage.

William and Mary had three children baptised at Horsham between 1737 and 1740, although their eldest child (and only son) died when only three months old.

In 1751 Mary and her brother Walter and sister Martha were all named in a bond concerning some land at Fishbourne near Chichester, about thirty miles from Horsham, but which appears to have had some connection to their parents. Mary was described in the bond as the wife of William Patching, gentleman.

William was buried at Horsham on 9th April 1758. Mary survived him by just over a year. William’s two daughters, Mary and Sarah inherited his house on East Street in Horsham between them.

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

   Christnings 1708 / Aprill 16 William Son of Thomas Paching by Mary

   Possible baptism, being in the same parish that the adult William lived in and at a plausible time. Further evidence needed to be confident.

2.   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

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

   Burials 1758 / April 9 William Patching