Jane Balcomb 1796-1863
Jane BALCOMB is my 4th great grandmother. Her daughter, Mary Ann BARDEN was born on 04 April 1827, baptised in an Independent Chapel in Heathfield, Sussex on 13 May 18271. The baptism record shows Mary Ann BARDEN’s parents names as Thomas & Jane BARDEN.
Marriage
When Jane BALCOMB married Thomas BARDEN in All Saints Church, Heathfield, Sussex on 28 April 18242, she had previously been married – her name at the time was Jane KNIGHT.
Jane BALCOMB’s first marriage was to James KNIGHT on 05 January 1817 at All Saints Church, Heathfield, Sussex3. Jane BALCOMB and James KNIGHT had one daughter in their marriage: Sarah KNIGHT, who was born on 01 May 1817, and baptised at Heathfield Chapel (Independent) on 27 June 18174.
Additional Family Information
In 1851, Jane BALCOMB’s daughter Mary Ann BARDEN and her husband George VIDLER were living at Church Settle Farm in Wadhurst, Sussex5. They had their niece, Lois HALL (age 10), living with them. Lois is the daughter of Sarah KNIGHT6 from Jane BALCOMB’s marriage to James KNIGHT.
1841 Census
In 1841 Jane BALCOMB was married to Thomas BARDEN, and they were living at Cooper’s Farm, Ticehurst, Sussex7. They had 7 children: Naomi, Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Thomas, Jemima and Joseph. There were also 2 workers in the household with the surname BALCOMB, but I do not know if there is a family link.
| Name | Age | Profession, Trade or Employment | Whether Born in Sussex |
| Thomas BARDEN | 40 | Farmer | Yes |
| Jane BARDEN | 40 | Yes | |
| Naomi BARDEN | 15 | Yes | |
| Mary BARDEN | 14 | Yes | |
| Jane BARDEN | 12 | Yes | |
| Elizabeth BARDEN | 10 | Yes | |
| Thomas BARDEN | 7 | Yes | |
| Jemima BARDEN | 4 | Yes | |
| Joseph BARDEN | 2 | Yes | |
| John BALCOMB | 20 | Male servant | Yes |
| Joseph WREN | 20 | Male servant | Yes |
| John FORD | 24 | Male servant | Yes |
| George WRIGHT | 19 | Male servant | Yes |
| George BALCOMB | 15 | Agricultural labourer | Yes |
1851 Census
In 1851 Thomas and Jane BARDEN were living on a 550 acre farm in Goudhurst Kent, called Pillory Farm8. They had 4 of their children living with them and 8 workers/servants.
| Name and Surname | Relation to Head | Condition | Age | Rank, Profession or Occupation | Where Born |
| Thomas BARDEN | Head | Married | 49 | Farmer of 550 acres employing 20 men | Burwash, Sussex |
| Jane BARDEN | Wife | Married | 54 | Farmer’s wife | Hellingly, Sussex |
| Jane BARDEN | Daur | Unmarried | 21 | Farmer’s daur | Ticehurst, Sussex |
| Thomas BARDEN | Son | Unmarried | 17 | Farmer’s son | Ticehurst, Sussex |
| Jemima BARDEN | Daur | 14 | Farmer’s daur | Ticehurst, Sussex | |
| Joseph BARDEN | Son | 10 | Farmer’s son | Ticehurst, Sussex | |
| Eliza BUDD | Servant | Unmarried | 16 | House servant | Burwash, Sussex |
| Richard BELINGHAM | Servant | Married | 26 | Agricultural labourer | Goudhurst, Kent |
| Thomas BOWLS | Servant | Unmarried | 22 | Agricultural labourer | Horsmonden, Kent |
| William WINCH | Servant | Unmarried | 23 | Agricultural labourer | Ticehurst, Sussex |
| William HIGGINS | Servant | Unmarried | 19 | Agricultural labourer | Hawkhurst, Kent |
| Charles ISOMES | Servant | Unmarried | 19 | Blacksmith | Goudhurst, Kent |
| Samuel KEMP | Servant | Unmarried | 18 | Farm servant | Ticehurst, Sussex |
| James COLLINS | Servant | Unmarried | 18 | Farm servant | Ticehurst, Sussex |
1861 Census
In 1861 Thomas and Jane were working on a more modest sized farm (63 acres) in Ticehurst, Sussex9. The farm was called Cooper’s farm, which is the same place they were living in 1841.
| Name and Surname | Relation to Head | Condition | Age | Rank, Profession or Occupation | Where Born |
| Thomas BARDEN | Head | Married | 59 | Farmer of 63 acres employing 1 man | Burwash, Sussex |
| Jane BARDEN | Wife | Married | 64 | Hellingly, Sussex | |
| Jemima BARDEN | Daur | Unmarried | 24 | Ticehurst, Sussex | |
| Joseph BARDEN | Son | Unmarried | 21 | Farmer’s son | Ticehurst, Sussex |
| Caroline GUEST | Servant | Unmarried | 17 | House servant | Ticehurst, Sussex |
The censuses have given Jane BALCOMB’s estimated year of birth to be about 1796, and the place of birth as Hellingly, Sussex. The baptism for Jane BALCOMB took place at the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Hellingly, Sussex10. The baptism record gives her parent’s names as Joseph & Jemima BALCOMB.
There was one other baptism in the same area with parents of the same name, and that was of Jemima Hover BALCOMB who was baptised on 25 March 1792 at Warbleton, Sussex11. (Warbleton is a parish next to Heathfield).
Their parents, Joseph BALCOMB and Jemima HOVER were married at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Warbleton, Sussex on 09 June 179112.
Death
Jane BALCOMB (BARDEN) died in the district of Ticehurst, Sussex about September 186313 at the age of 67.
Family Members:
| Husband: | Thomas BARDEN 1802- |
| Daughter (Direct Ancestor): | Mary Ann BARDEN 1827-1894 |
| Father: | Joseph BALCOMB |
| Mother: | Jemima HOVER |
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Sources:
- Baptisms (NCR) England. Heathfield, Sussex. 13 May 1827. BARDEN, Mary Ann. Collection: England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 13 December 2021.
- Marriages (PR) England. Heathfield, Sussex. 28 April 1824. BARDEN, Thomas and KNIGHT, Jane. Collection: England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Marriages (PR) England. Heathfield, Sussex. 05 January 1817. KNIGHT, James and BALCOMB, Jane. Collection: England Marriages 1538-1973. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Baptisms (NCR) England. Heathfield, Sussex. 27 June 1817. KNIGHT, Sarah. Collection: England & Wales Non-Conformist Births And Baptisms. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Census Records. England. Wadhurst, Sussex. 30 March 1851. VIDLER, George (head). ED 1b. SN 40. PN 1639. FN 339. p. 13. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Baptisms (NCR) England. Heathfield, Sussex. 27 December 1835. HALL, Lois. Collection: England & Wales Non-Conformist Births And Baptisms. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Census Records. England. Ticehurst, Sussex. 06 June 1841. BARDEN, Thomas (head). PN 1109. Book 8. FN 8. p. 10. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 23 September 2021.
- Census Records. England. Goudhurst, Kent. 30 March 1851. BARDEN, Thomas (head). ED 1c. SN 65. PN 1619. FN 263. p. 16. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 23 September 2021.
- Census Records. England. Ticehurst, Sussex. 07 April 1861. BARDEN, Thomas (head). ED 6. SN 37. PN 570. FN 71. p. 7. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 23 September 2021.
- Baptisms (PR) England. Hellingly, Sussex. 21 May 1796. BALCOMB, Jane. Collection: England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 19 January 2022.
- Baptisms (PR) England. Warbleton, Sussex. 25 March 1792. BALCOMB, Jemima Hover. Collection: England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 19 January 2022.
- Marriages (PR) England. Warbleton, Sussex. 09 June 1791. BALCOMB, Joseph and HOVER, Jemima. Collection: England Marriages 1538-1973. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.
- Death Index (CR) England & Wales. RD Ticehurst, [Sussex]. 3rd Q., 1863. BARDEN, Jane. Vol. 2b. p. 45. Collection: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 18 January 2022.