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I searched for George Jeffery earlier this year and after trawling the Census information only one fitted the bill and he appeared 1851 in Lewes, age 5, born in Little Horsted, son of John, agricultural labourer form Little Horsted age 44 and Mary from Glynde age 30. His parents and older two brothers appear previously in 1841 in Little Horsted. The family is again in Little Horsted in 1861, George is listed as age 18 and an agricultural labourer, then in Uckfield 1871 without George. In 1881 Mary Jeffery, George’s mother, is living with her daughter Mercy and son-in-law Alfred Gurr and next door but one is George and Caroline.

This does seem at odds with his father being a soldier and unfortunately I have no greater proof than not finding another George the right age, from the right place and with the right father’s name although, according to the BMD Index, there were five George Jefferys born in the Uckfield registration district between April 1843 and March 1852 (a period relating to the varying ages of George Jeffery shown on 1881 to 1901 Census), the chances of there being another with those same details is slim. The BMD index has a George Jeffery who died 1912 Uckfield district, age 67, this would correspond with the birth of 1845. Let me know if my logic is convincing.

If you don’t have access to Census records I can list the details for you.

I have information from various sources (Census, IGI, The Weald, FreeBMD) concerning Caroline’s father George, who married Jane Brook and her parents James Brook and his wife Harriet Simmonds. Also George Hazelden’s father George who married Ann Locke, George’s parents Joseph & Philadelphia and Ann’s parents William Locke who married Jane Burgess.

I wouldn’t mind knowing where George and Caroline were married and the date, please.

I haven’t gone as far as BMD certificates as there are other individuals in the family tree that are more of a priority and the cost can really add up!

Steve

Ben

I have some thoughts on James Boniface of West Grinstead. He wasn’t baptised as an infant, nor was his brother Richard, baptised at 14 years and my 4x Great grandfather Henry Ewens, the husband of their sister Lydia Boniface. Infants were normally baptised within a couple of months of birth so that if they died they could be buried at the local church but in their case I have a suspicion that they may have been born to catholic families.
West Grinstead has been a centre for Catholicism since the Caryll family purchased West Grinstead Park in 1638 and built a chapel. In fact so important was West Grinstead to the Catholics that there is the document West Grinstead Catholic Mission: registers 1705-1855 (Acc 12799) held at West Sussex Record Office, which I believe may hold some clues. The number of Catholics began to decline after 1753 when West Grinstead Park became the property of Merrik Burrell MP, as you may know Catholics were persecuted throughout this period and with their ‘champion’ gone I imagine many of them turned to the Church of England.
Here is some IGI & Parish Register info if you haven’t already found it:

Stephen Boniface bpt 1638 Woodmancote [IGI], married Jane Upten, 28/10/1673 Newtimber [IGI], Jane Upten bpt 23/03/1650 Hurstpierpoint daughter of Necolous Upten and Margra [IGI]

Thomas Boniface bpt 08/02/1679 Albourne son of Stephen Boniface and Jane [IGI], married Margaret

Richard Boniface bpt 05/10/1720 Albourne son of Thomas Boniface and Margaret, died 17/06/1787 Woodmancote [IGI], married Mary, 1746 West Grinstead [IGI] [This does not appear in the West Grinstead Parish register]

Lydia Boniface bpt 1751 West Grinstead daughter of Richard Boniface and Mary [IGI] [This does not appear in the West Grinstead Parish register]

Richard Boniface bpt 03/08/1760 West Grinstead (aged 14) son of Richard Boniface and Mary [West Grinstead General Register 1706-1812 par95/1/1/4 Fiche 1+], died 11/06/1807 [IGI]

James Boniface bpt 01/04/1766 West Grinstead (an adult) son of Richard Boniface and Mary [West Grinstead General Register 1706-1812 par95/1/1/4 Fiche 1+]

I hope this gives you another lead to follow if you haven’t yet found what you want.

Steve