HENSONs of West Sussex

[Dorothy]

I've been searching for my Ggrandfather's birthplace and parents for a long time. On his marriage cert. in Edinburgh- Nov. 1861 his parents were stated as being Alfred Henry HENSON and Harriet KIPPEN ....father deceased . On the 1891 census his birthplace was Kent but years of research there was unsuccessful. Recently I found he and his family suddenly named WILLIAMS on the 1871 & 1881 but all the 9 children are in fact HENSON as they are on their birth certs......as well as the 1891 census and 1901 when he was dead. Clapham SSX was on the 1881 census of South Shields so I switched to searching in Sussex and found a marriage for Henry HENSON and Harriet CHARLES not KIPPEN in 1824. Supposedly ( Alfred) George was b. 1830/31 and subsequent names of Henry & Harriet's children born in Clapham -Jane b. 1827, 3 baptised in West Tarrington from 1830 , 1832 , and 1834, others in Durrington from 1836 to 1845 have similar names to my family names. I have joined the SFHG and have had a great deal of help already. I certainly would like to get to the bottom of my biggest problem:-) Any help or suggestions will be gratefully received Dorothy on Vancouver Island

[Jane M]

Hi Dorothy,
What a mystery you have there and boy did they move around, I don't envy you.
Following are the only marriages I found in the name of Henry Henson of the right time. Some of the information might help you.
The licence gives extra information & interesting to note that Henry was a widower! Did your Henry marry twice?
No marriage's in the name of Alfred Henson at all in Sussex. In fact the Henson name is not that big in Sussex, only 64 marriages between 1543-1836 and mostly in West Sussex.
Sorry I can't help further,
Jane

Extract from the Sussex Marriage Index:
Place: Clapham, West Sussex, Date: 1 Nov 1824:
Subject: Henry HENSON, bach
Spouse: Harriet CHARLES, sp botp
Extra Information: w: Wm HENSON Amy STANDEN

Extract from the Sussex Marriage Index:
Place: Archdeaconry of Chichester Marriage Licence, Date: 11 Jun 1835:
Subject: Henry HENSON, widr Warnham
Spouse: Elizabeth HARDING, Horsham

Extract from the Sussex Marriage Index:
Place: Horsham, West Sussex, Date: 22 Jun 1835:
Subject: Henry HENSON, widr Warnham
Spouse: Elizabeth HARDING, sp otp (lic)
Extra Information: w: Jas & Susannah HARDING

[Dorothy]

Thanks, Jane. I know that Henry and Harriet had children up to 1845 so he wasn't the widower Henry that married in 1835. The Amy STANDEN who was a witness to their marriage could well have been his sister Amy nee HENSON along with another witness, a William WILSON ..hopefully a brother. With help from Linda M. I have that on Amy's marriage in 1820 info.from banns states that consent was given by her father William HOLDEN ....this adds to the huge puzzle!

( Alfred) George's children included Jane , Francis , Mary Ann and Henry which were his siblings names .

[davehens]

Hi Dorothy and Jane

I was just idly browsing the web when I decided to do a search on Henry Henson and I came across Jane's reply. Her Henry Henson may not be the one you are looking for but this one is my great-great-great grandfather and all I had found out up to now was that he was married to an Elizabeth Harding from John Henson's birth certificate (his son).

At the time of John's birth (1838) Henry was a coachman working in Sullington in Sussex.

I did not know that he had been a widower.

Regards,
Dave.

[Dorothy]

I'm so glad that you found out that snippet , Dave. Good luck with your search!

Dorothy

[David Bishop]

Hello.
Hope you don't mind me latching on to this string, I see it started some while ago! I have recently started my researching my wife's ancestors. Am back to Henry Henson b1796 who married Elizabeth b1816 I think. They had Henry James John and William.
Could this possibly be the same branch.

[Dorothy]

I have a Henry HENSON b. 1750 who married an Elizabeth ( Elisa on the IGI or Eliza) He was buried in Angmering in 1779 They had Anne b. 1768 who married an Abraham SAKER in 1792 in Angmering , Thomas b. 1770 buried 1787 in St Margaret's , Angmering , William b. 1772 who married Amy ( Emy , Amey) BLUNDING b. Lancing SSX , James was christened on April 17th , 1775 in Angmering ...may be buried in Horsham ? and George christened January 25th , 1778 and was married to Elizabeth HOLDEN ( b. in Slinfold in 1780 ) on Sept. 24th , 1800. They had 10 children and my GG grandfather Henry was their 3rd child b. 1805 in Durrington who married Harriet CHARLES (christened in Lancing in 1808 ) November 1st , 1824.
Dorothy