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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Sussex => Topic started by: Bellou on Wednesday 24 July 24 15:21 BST (UK)
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Martha Gunn {nee Killick) is the famous dipper from Brighton. She was born in 1726 and died in 1815. A great age at that time . 2026 is the 300 year anniversary of her birth . We have set up a group to celebrate Martha and her band of bathers . Anyone related to this family want to join in ? We know she has descendants ll over the world ! We are hoping to raise money for a memorial and a celebration!
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is the famous dipper
??? what does that mean
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Martha Gunn - dipper -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Gunn
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She was born in 1726
Is this her?
Baptism at St Nicholas Brighton, 19 September 1731
Martha daughter of Friend Killick & Anne
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DYV7-N7M
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If that is the correct Martha
Friend and Anne (Bridger) married in Brighton in 1716
Killick baptisms with father Friend following, including
John in August 1725
Robert in April 1727
Mary in June 1729 (Friend & Anne)
Which may throw further doubt on Martha being born in 1726
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We nowset up the Martha Gunn Trust and have a website www.themarthagunntrust.co.uk . Do check it out. We also have a facebook group Celebrate Martha Gunn . We are fundraising and organising events . Great to hear from anyone related to the Gunn family or any of the Brighton Bathers including Collins, Cobby, Wingham, Taylor , Howell .
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Have you noted Jonwarrn's comments on Marthas baptism and therefore her probable year of birth.
ADDED. I see that newspapers quote her as being in her 89th year or 90 years old but I doubt they had any proof of her real age. It is common for ages given at death to be wrong as they are purely dependent on the knowledge of the informant
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She is a distant relative of my husband I have her baptism as 19 Sep 1731 so I doubt if the 1726 birthdate is correct.
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Agreed Rosie99 - ages, years of birth can be notoriously suspect. Spotted this in "The European Magazine, Obituaries, July 1813"
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Martha Gunn - dipper -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Gunn
The WIKI item includes a picture Martha with a child in her arms. I'd spotted early mention of it and found it up for sale "... for ready money only ... on 17 January 1799 according to "J. Todd's Print Catalogue" of the time - see snippet.
The Hull Advertiser, 17 May 1806, has it in the possession of The Prince of Wales.
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It does appear as though her birth is probably being based on newspaper reports and not parish registers.
Bellou, what evidence do you have that she was born 1725/6.
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In fairness the burial record (8 May 1815, death on 2May 1815) also lists her age as being 88 but I think this is probably inaccurate too! :-)
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Last child of Stephen and Martha Gunn may be Elizabeth Brappel, baptised 7 April 1774
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5e29f296f493fd5a052f7a98
Even if Elizabeth was baptised a little late, it does seem the idea of a 1726 birth for Martha is a bit of a stretch.