John Lisher (bef. 1742 - bef. 1821)

Born before 19 Apr 1742 in Broadwater, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Austin) Lisher — married 14 May 1767 in St Mary's Church, Sompting, Sussex, England

Husband of Jenny (Marks) Lisher — married 7 Oct 1782 in Sompting, Sussex, England

Descendants

Died before 29 Mar 1821 at about age 78 in Sompting, Sussex, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Connaughton [send private message]

Biography

"John son of Mary Lisher, a Bastard child" was how his baptism was recorded in St Mary's parish Church, Broadwater on 12 April 1742. In spite of research into bastardy registers of Broadwater and the Quarter session records, his father remains unknown. This would indicate that the Lisher name was handed down through the female line = Mary Lisher (1715-1766).

Until searching deeper into the Lisher family I had thought - like so many others - that Mary's brother John Lisher (1708-1745) married to Ann Beacher (1714-1759) was our Lisher genitor through their son John Lisher born in 1737. One indication however, did throw some doubt on that being the case. The Sompting parish register records John Lisher as being 78 years old when he was buried on 29 March 1821. John Lisher, son of Mary Lisher, would have been exactly that age. Also, three of his children were living in the village of Sompting at the time of his death, and his son George in neighbouring Broadwater, so surely , between them, they would have known how old their father was. I am wary of the 'accuracy' of people's ages recorded in parish registers, but in this case I find it extremely doubtful that John Lisher, baptised in Sompting on 27 December 1737, would be 'our man' as he would have been 83 years old - and 5 years is a big difference.

It also seems quite plausible that until his mother Mary died in August 1766 (aged 51), John - her only surviving son - may have remained living with her in Broadwater, although this is only speculation. By the time he married Ann Austin in Sompting on 14 May 1767, John had already found work there (since Michaelmas 1766? - also speculation!). Broadwater and Sompting were extremely close with several well established farms in Sompting offering work possibilities for labourers. John and Ann had five children - all of whom survived to adulthood. Ann died and was buried on 27 June 1780 in St Mary's churchyard, Sompting, aged only 34. Their eldest son George was coming up to 13 years old and the youngest, Elizabeth, aged only 6 months. Two years later, on 7 October 1782, John remarried in Sompting to 'Gene Vinson' = Jenny Vincent (née Marks) widow of Richard Vincent, also with four children somewhat older than John Lisher's. They had a son Frank 'Licher' born and baptised in Sompting in October 1783 but who only survived a few days. Jenny passed away in March 1791, aged 52 and John survived her by 30 years!

Sources

• Baptism - West Sussex Record Office : PAR 29 1/1/2 – St Mary’s Broadwater general register p.83 (folio 44)
• Marriage to Ann Austin - West Sussex Record Office : PAR 177 1/1/3 - St Mary's Sompting marriage register entry n° 34.
• Marriage to Jenny Marks ('Gene Vinson') - West Sussex Record Office : PAR 177 1/1/3 - St Mary's Sompting marriage register entry n° 80.
• Burial - West Sussex Record Office : PAR 177 1/5/1 - St Mary's Sompting burial register p.9, entry n° 68.