James Randall

Born: 26 Feb 1852

Died: 1 Nov 1915

Married: Harriett Adsett

Mother: Eliza Mariner

Father: William Randall

Descendant: Catherine Randall

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

1881

1891

1901

1911

1921

James Randall was the father of Catherine Randall.

He was born in 1852 in Kirdford, West Sussex, England. His father looks to be a William Randall based on his marriage certificate and the 1871 census entry.

Birth

James Randall was born on the 26th February 1852 at Kirdford, his parents were William Randall (labourer) and Eliza Randall (formerly Mariner). The birth was registered by Eliza Randall, his mother, on the 10th March 1852 in the district of Petworth.

James Randall was baptised on the 4th April 1852 at Kirdford, Sussex. His parents were given as William Randall and Eliza.

Many later records disagree with a birth year of 1852, his marriage certificate lists him as 22, when he would be 20. Many census entries would place his birth around 1850 (apart from the 1871 census which would agree with and 1852 birth year). And his registration of death puts his age at 65, when he would have been 63 if born in 1852. However, a visual search through the parish registers for Kirdford from 1845 onwards does not have any other entry for a James Randall apart from the baptism on the 4th April 1852. The only other Randall parents in that time period are an Arthur and Martha Randall, and we know from the marriage certificate that his father was called William. One reason for his age inflation might have been that his wife was 5 years older than him. Another possible reason might have been to become a police constable at an earlier age than was allowed.

Childhood

In the 1861 census James is 9 and living with his widowed father William Randall, and his two sisters Eliza and Mary. William was born in Alfold, Surrey.

In the 1871 census James is 19, (born in Kirdford) still living with his father William Randall (54, who strangely says he was born in Wisborough Green in Sussex), but now at Bridgefoot Cottages, Kirdford. Both are agricultural labourers, but they are now living with an Ann Durant (56) who is a general servant.

He married Harriett Adsett in Petworth on 12th October 1872. She was born in 1848 in Northchapel, England.

Marriage to Harriett Adsett

1872. Marriage solemnized at the parish Church in the Parish of Petworth in the County of Sussex
When Married.	Name and Surname.		Age	Condition.	Rank or Profession	Residence at the Time of Marriage	Father's Name and Surname	Rank or Profession of Father
October 12th	James Randall		22 25	Bachelor	Police Constable	Brighton	William Randall	Carter
	Harriett Adsett			Spinster	---------	Petworth	James Adsett	Deceased
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church After Banns by me A. B. Coombe
This marriage was solemnized between us		James Randall			In the Presence of us		William Norrington?
		Harriet Adsett					Lucy Pullen?

From the Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal and also in the Horsham, Petworth, Midhurst and Steyning Express on the 15th October 1872:

  On the 12th inst., at Petworth, by the Rev. A. B. Combe, M.A., Mr. James Randall, of Brighton, to Miss Harriet Adsett, of Petworth.

Children

James and Violet only had one child, Catherine (known as Edie) was born on the 18th November 1873, just over a year after they were married.

• Catherine Edith Randall was born on the 18th November 1873 in Brighton.

Later Life

In 1881 James was 31 and living at 7 Sussex Terraces, Brighton (Sussex) with his wife Harriet (33) and his daughter Catherine E. Randall (7). He was a police constable.

By 1891 they had moved to 38 Albion Hill in Brighton. James was 39, and still a police constable, his wife Harriet was 43, and their daughter Catherine was 17 and working in a factory. They also had a boarder (Herbert Upperton, who was a 13 year old baker's assistant)

By 1901 James was 51 and had retired, and was living with Harriet (54) in Rose Cottage, Staplefield Common, Handcross (part of), Cuckfield, Sussex.

In 1911 James (60) is an Innkeeper at the St George Thomas's Inn in Slindon (Sussex), and Harriet (64) is assisting him in the business. Their granddaughter Mabel Richardson is living with them. According to this census they only had one child (and given that Harriet is 64, it is unlikely they would have had any more).

On the 1st November 1911 there was an article in the Chichester Observer about a case of animal cruelty where James was a witness:

  Squires(the defendant) called at the "Sir George Thomas Arms" at Slindon, and the landlord, James Randall, told the Court that the pony appeared starved and was almost too weak to walk.

The pub was later renamed The Spur, Slindon. It changed ownership in 1925 to a Mr. George Knight, but it's unknown who the proprietor was immediately prior. In March 1925 a Mr Wilson applied to renew his license, it stated he's been at the house for 9 years (placing it at 1916).

Death

James Randall died on the 1st November 1915, he was 63 years old. He was still the licensed victualler of the Sir George Thomas's Arms, Slindon.

From the probate:

RANDALL James of Sir George Thomas's Arms Slindon 
Common Sussex licensed victualler died 1 November 1915
Administration Chichester 2 December to Harriett Randall 
widow.  Effects £248 8s. 8d.

From the registration of death, James Randall died on the first November 1915 at the Sir George Thomas Arms, Slindon. He was 65 years old, and an pensioned police constable and licensed victualler. He died from an aortic aneurysm and dyspnea syncope. The death was registered on the 2nd November by May Duffield, his granddaughter, who was present at the death. Her residence was also the Sir George Thomas' Arms.

The age at death, if correct, would put his birthday between November 1849 and November 1850. Which is earlier than expected. One of his census entries implies 1852, others do suggest 1850.

His wife Harriet was a widow for ten years, before she died on the 3rd December 1925.

Other Records

It's possible there were two James and Harriett Randall's who got married in consecutive years in Petworth...

There are two possible marriage entries in the indices for James Randall (Petworth is 5 miles from Kirdford):

• BMD:B:James Randall, Petworth, 2b 266. Q1 1852.
• BMD:M:James Randall, Harriett Adnettt, 1872, Oct-Nov-Dec, Petworth, Sussex, Vol 2b, Page 557
• BMD:D:James Randall, Age 65, Q4, 1915, Westhampnett, 2b, 501

Kelly's directory listed James Randall at the Sir George Thomas Inn, Slindon Common, Arundal, in 1911 and 1915.

Kelly's directory also lists a James Randall as a farmer at Lodsworth, Petworth in 1911 and 1915.