• 1825: 1st railway opens (Stockton - Darlington)

• 1829: Metropolitan Police founded

• 1832: Morse invents Electric Telegraph

• 1837: Queen Victoria crowned

• 1838: National Gallery founded

• 1840: Queen Victora & Prince Albert marry

• 1841: Glynde School built

• 1842: Irish "Potato Famine" starts

• 1847: British Museum founded

• 1848: Marx & Engels write Communist Manifesto

• 1851: Great Exhibition opens in Hyde Park

• 1854: Start of Crimean War

• 1859: Darwin's Origin of Species published

• 1861: American Civil War begins

• 1865: Salvation Army founded

Census returns for Ranscombe Farmhouse

1841-1901

1841 (ref HO 107/1117/4 folio 2)

Thomas Morris, aged about 50, farmer, born in Sussex
Mary Morris, 40, born in Sussex
Susannah Morris, 15, born in Sussex
Agnes Morris, 14, born in Sussex
Ann Knight, 15, female servant, born in Sussex
Martha Ashdown, 20, female servant, born in Sussex
Philip Barnden, 20, agricultural labourer, born in Sussex

1851 (HO 107/1643 folios 309 and 310)

Thomas Morris, aged 61, farmer of 488 acres employing 12, born in South Malling
Mary Morris, 54, born in Storrington
Mary Ann Morris, 26, born in South Malling
Agnes Morris, 24, born in South Malling
Samuel Elphick, 34, agricultural labourer, born in Chiddingly
Fanny Elphick, 33, house servant, born in Hellingly

1861 (RG 9/587 folio 81)

Robert Matthews, aged 41, farmer of 500 acres employing 10 men and 3 boys, born in Lusby, Lincolnshire
Alice Matthews, his wife, 40, born in Heighington, Lincolnshire
Robert Matthews, 6, scholar, born in Lusby
John E Matthews, 5, scholar, born in Lusby
Charles Matthews, 3, scholar, born in Lusby
Emily A Matthews, 2, scholar, born in Lusby
Kate Matthews, 4 months, born in South Malling

1871 (RG 10/1068 folio 79)

Robert Matthews, aged 52, farmer of 500 acres employing 6 labourers and 3 boys, born in Lusby, Lincolnshire
Alice Matthews, his wife, 51, born in Heighington, Lincolnshire
Edward Matthews, 15, scholar, born in Lusby
Charles Matthews, 13, scholar, born in Lusby
Emily A Matthews, 12, scholar, born in Lusby
Kate Matthews, 10, scholar, born in South Malling
Frederick Matthews, 7, scholar, born in South Malling
Harold Matthews, 4, scholar, born in South Malling
Caroline Stevens, 16, housemaid, born in West Firle
Jane Upton, 14, kitchen maid, born in Ringmer

1881 (RG 11/1071 folio 36

William Medhurst, aged 52, farmer of 500 acres employing 11 men and 3 boys, born in Lewes
Elizabeth Medhurst, his wife, 54, born in Arlington
William L Wallis, his stepson, 24, farm bailiff, born in Framfield
Louisa M Wallis, his stepdaughter, 25, born in Framfield
Elizabeth K Wallis, his stepdaughter, 23, born in Framfield
Kitty Hide, his mother-in-law, 86, an annuitant, born in Chalvington
Mary J Hann, 19, general servant, born in Montague, Somerset

1891(RG 12/798 folio 87)

William Medhurst, aged 52, farmer, born in Lewes
Elizabeth L Medhurst, his wife, 64, born in Arlington
Louisa M Wallis, his step-daughter, single, 36, born in Framfield
Kathleen Killick, visitor, single, 18, living on own means, born in Edwnbridge
Mary Bentley, single, 17, general servant, born in East Hoathly
Lucy A Wallis, his grand-daughter, 5, born in South Malling

1901 (RG 13/916 folio 5)

William Medhurst, widower, aged 72, retired farmer, born in Lewes
Louisa M Wallis, his step-daughter, single, 45, born in Framfield
Annie Lee, 21, servant, born in Chailey