UNRAVELING
BOTTING FAMILY LINES –
William Botting of Chancton, Sussex,
and William Botting of Bines Mill, Storrington,
Sussex.
William Botting of Chancton: was believed to have lived
1769-1852 and married Sarah Farhall. He was born in West
Grinstead and died at Thakeham Cottage. They had at
least five known children – Sarah, Charles, Frances,
William and Joseph. At the time of William's death he
was a widower living with his spinster daughter Frances,
who died the same year.
The 1841 England Census shows William Botting, a farmer
in Upper Chancton, Washington, living with wife Sarah,
their children Frances and Joseph, and grandchildren
Charles and Edgar William (the children of his second
son Charles Botting and Jane nee Golds). Evidence from
newspapers suggests William Botting was also of Chancton
in 1825 and 1832. A further record, from the National
Archives, indicates he was also of Upper Chancton Farm,
Washington, in 1835.
A notice in the UK Gazette in 1843 announced the
dissolution by mutual consent of the partnership that
had existed between his sons William Botting and Charles
Botting of Thakeham Place Farm. By the 1851 Census
Charles was farming Upper Chancton Farm, and his brother
William and wife Mary-Ann were at the Thakeham Place
Farm. By the same Census their father, William Botting,
was shown as a retired farmer living at Thakeham
Cottage, with his unmarried daughter Francis. This
William Botting family was therefore, at this time,
tenant farmers at both Thakeham Place Farm and Upper
Chancton Farm.
When William Botting died in 1852 he left a will with
effects under 200 pounds to his wife and family. Some
researchers consider this William Botting to have been
the son of an Edward Botting of Ashurst, but as yet I
have found nothing to support that.
William Botting of Bines Mill, Storrington: My research
of Botting Family living during the late 1700’s and
first quarter of the 1800’s has found a William Botting
of Bines Mill, Storrington. He has been considered by
other researchers also to be the son of Edward Botting
of Ashurst. However, may I suggest that the
William Botting of Chancton was not that person William
Botting of Bines Mill, Storrington, as the records of
the latter follow a trail in the National Archives
starting in 1794 when he was described as being 'of
Owhurst, yeoman'. The record, describing a transaction
between a 'Jacob Pope' and a 'William Botting', may need
to be checked as I suspect Owhurst is in fact a
transcription error (and the original might read
Okehurst?).
The transaction between Jacob Pope and William Botting
of 1800 pounds for messuage, tenement and land in
Storrington, including Bine Place Farm or Mill Farm, is
one of many transactions of Botting properties between
1794 through to 1824. These typically were by way of
newspaper advertisements for the sale of 'freehold
estate in the town and parish of Storrington' of a
number of properties and land of a William Botting, and
which quote 'Mr William Botting, the proprietor of Bines
Mill, removing to a farm in the neighbourhood'. One of
the transactions made by William mentioned his
wife 'Sarah'. These raise at least two questions: 'who
was William Botting of Storrington and Bine Mills, who
had freehold land, a man of assets and money, at least
in 1824?', and, 'who was his father?'
Could it be suggested that although the William Botting
of Chancton was a tenant farmer in 1825 he appears to
have left little money or assets upon his death and was
therefore not the same William Botting of Storrington,
reported selling numerous freehold properties in
Storrington in 1824?
I invite any researcher who has an interest in these
'William Botting' lines of the Sussex Botting Family to
consider the above and perhaps shed some light on the
query. Please feel free to contact me through the
Contacts section of this website. I would love to
hear from you.
Sandra Mulcock,
New Zealand
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