It has been generally accepted that John Gill of Beckley (c1770-1850) was the son of William Gill & Rosamond Knight who were married in 1763 in Beckley. However, no baptism has been found for John Gill, child of William & Rosamond Gill, nor of any other children baptised to them.

The only John Gill baptised c1770 in the area was John, son of Richard Gill & Sarah, baptised 21 Jul 1771 at Udimore. Richard Watson/Gill appears the most likely parent of John in 1770.

There have been Gill families living in Brede and Ewhurst at least since 1600s, later Westfield, Beckley and Udimore. It is not easy to "untangle" these families, many were named Richard, William & John, and earlier Gills were yeomen, tenant farmers, a carpenter but most were probably agicultural labourers. I can find no direct link to the large Gill family of Lewes & Southover.

Bear in mind the records available are not complete, especially Brede.

Sources are from parish records, National Archives, Sussex Family History Group, Family Search, FMP, etc.
Any opinions, corrections or omissions most welcome.

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Chart showing the parents, children & grandchildren of Richard Gill 1724 Brede Chart revised 2 Jul 2020

CONTACTS I�m interested in this family. List of others interested in this family: LINKS Beckley History Society Sussex Record Society Sussex Family History Group National Archives

Richard Watson baptised 7 Feb 1724/25, Brede, Sussex mother Ann Watson, widow of Sandhurst married Richard Gill, 1725/6, Ewhurst Sarah unknown Richard Gill & Sarah marriage not yet found Sarah Gill died 1800 Beckley, 'wife of Richard Richard Gill ?buried 1804 Brede, Sussex Children of Richard Gill & Sarah Lydia Gill 1767 Udimore - ?m 1796 Brede to Thomas Edwards John Gill 1771 Udimore -

It would seem that Richard had one or two previous marriages:

Richard Gill of 'Bexley'& Sarah Rumins of Brede married (lic) 6 May 1745 Hastings St Clement Sarah Rummens ?baptised 20 Dec 1724 Brede, Sussex, parents: Thomas Rummens & Penelope Thorpe SFHG Sarah Gill death unknown, ?Sussex ?c1750 Children of Richard Gill & Sarah Rummins Ann Gill 1745 Brede - 1796 Ewhurst ?m 1771 EWhurst ?to Thomas Carter children: Hannah Mary Gill 1747 Beckley - ?m 1772 Udimore to John Fairall children: Mary, Sarah, Betty, Mercy, John, William, Fanny This Ann Gill could be the daughter of Richard Gill & Ann Cooke, b 1735 Ewhurst or Richard Gill & Sarah Rummens b.1845 Brede Ann Gill & Thomas Carter married 1771 Ewhurst, Sussex witnesses: Richard Carter & ?Edm Gladwish (prof) Mary Gill & John Fairall married 1772 Udimore, Sussex witnesses: Richard Gill & John Dade

Richard Gill & Elizabeth c1750, ?Brede marriage not yet found Elizabeth baptism unknown Elizabeth death unknown, ?c1764-1767 probably Brede, records not available Children of Richard Gill & Elizabeth Sarah Gill 1750 Brede - Richard Gill c1751 Brede - d.24 Mar 1750/1 Brede (infant) Richard Gill 1753 Brede - William Gill 1756 Brede - Rosamund Gill 1758 Brede - m 1789 Appledore to George Rowland Sarah Gill 1759 Brede - Jemima Gill 1761 Brede - 1824 Frant m 1786 Northiam to Richard Jenks children: Richard, John, Mary, Stephen, William, Michael, Thomas Kezia Gill 1764 Brede - 1813 Withyham m 1786 Withyham to William Jenks children: Thomas, Elizabeth, Edward, Sarah, John, Mary, Elizabeth, William Brede Parish Records - Ref: PAR253/32/2/13 Removal order from Brede 3 Nov 1779 Rosamond Gill; to Beckley Jemima Gill & Richard Jenks married 5 Jan 1786 Northiam, Sussex witnesses: Sarah Lavender & John Warner (prof) Kezia Gill & William Jenks married 31 Jul 1786 Withyham, Sussex witnesses: John Jenks & John Hall (prof)

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Below are the three earlier generations of Richard Gill families living in the area.

Richard Gill (c1645-1718 Brede) Richard remarried 1713, Hastings St.Clement to (Mrs) Ann Browne (nee Card), widow of Robert Browne, Brede. She died 4 May, 1736 (widow Gill)

Richard Gill (c1675-1758 Ewhurst)

Richard Gill (1705 Ewhurst - 1756 Beckley)

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	Furnace Lane, Brede

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