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Matilda Elizabeth Joyes, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth, married farmer William Bennett Heath on 3rd June 1847, at the Shipley parish church [William had been born in West Chiltington, the son of William and Priscilla Heath] Their first child, William junior, was born the following year in West Chiltington, shortly before they moved to Pulborough, where William operated the Heath Mill. William's uncle, Peter Heath, a journeyman miller, lived with them, along with another mill worker and a servant girl.

Between 1857 and 1866 William and Matilda produced eight more children.

Matilda Priscilla did not survive past infancy. Her death was recorded c 1851.

Richard was born during the family's time in Pulborough. His birth was registered at Thakeham in 1852. A marriage registration in 1875, Portsea, to Caroline Bevis and a death registered in Alverstoke in 1900, of Richard Heath aged 49, is very likely to have been his.

Henry who had been christened in Pulborough 13th April 1854, later married Sarah Ann Frampton [born in Norwood, London] in Hampshire in 1883. By the 1901 census the couple were in the Hackney district of London, Henry working as a journeyman baker and Sarah as a shirt washer.

George was christened 5th July 1855, Puborough. By the year 1881 he was employed as an insurance agent. He had married Hester Strong [b 1855 Fareham in Hampshire] They lived at 81 Bow Street, Portsea, with their young sons, George Frederick aged 4 and William Henry aged 2. By 1891 they had moved to 3 Tates Terrace in Fareham and George worked as a huntsman ie groom. George junior, 14, was now a carpenters apprentice and William 12, still at school. By 1901 they lived at Crofton. Both sons had left home but George still had the same occupation

Edwin was the last of Matilda's children born in Pulborough, in about 1857. He married Betsey Bevis of Sarisbury on 18th October in 1880. A son Louis was born in 1886 in the district of Thatcham, Berkshire. By 1881 they lived at 7 Albert Street, Fareham where Edwin was a miller.

Ten years on found them at The Chase, Bishops Waltham. Edwin was 32, 'Bessie' 30 and Louis 5. Little Hilda Bevis, a relation from Swanwick was also with them. Edwin was then still in the milling business; but by 1901 he worked at a Farmer Cow [Corn?] Store in Station Road, Billingshurst. [this is thought to be the Hereford House corn & seed store also selling agricultural implements, of his uncle Walter Joyes] His son Louis, 15 years old, worked as a butcher.

The Kellys directory of 1910 gives Edwin 's address as 30 Newbury Terrace, Lower Bullar Street, Southampton. Edwin is thought to have moved to Southampton around 1903. Bessie Heath was said to be the owner of the Newbury Terrace house in 1932.

Ellen was born when her parents were living in Shipley, Sussex. She was still in her parents' household in 1881 but is thought to have died at age 30.

Bennett, born about 1862 at Shipley, went to Hampshire with his parents but died at age 20.

Elizabeth was baptised 25th February 1866 in Hellingly, East Sussex . By 1881 she had moved with her family to Titchfield in Hampshire and it was here that she would meet her husband-to-be Harry Dove, a foreman in the Royal Navy Ordinance Depot. Elizabeth and Harry married in Alverstoke in 1888. They had five children by 1901, Bertha, Nora, Gladys, Eudore and John, whom they raised in Gosport in Hampshire.

Matilda's husband prospered. By 1861 he had become the farmer of a 400 acre property in Shipley, known as Bentons, employing 7 men and 2 boys. He was then aged 34 and Matilda 36 and sons William 11, Richard, Edwin 3, had an 11 month old sister, Ellen.

By 1871 the family had settled in the East Sussex area of Ripe, though William the son, now himself a miller by trade, remained in Shipley, living with his Joyes grandmother at Bakers Farm.

The 1881 census shows William Bennett Heath as 44 and Matilda 46. Son George was 15, Edwin 13, Ellen 10, Bennett 8 and Elizabeth 5. The last three children were christened at West Chiltington; but the Heaths abode for this time is not known.

Some time later in this decade William and Matilda moved yet again , this time into Hampshire. In 1881 they were at Peel Common Mill, Titchfield. Ellen at 20, Bennett, 18 and Elizabeth 15 were still living at home. Their father was listed as miller and beer retailer.

By 1891 William Bennett Heath and Matilda were on their own, occupying 39 Peel Common, the house next door to their married son, William.

St Thomas the Apostle, Elson, Gosport

Matilda died in Hampshire on 25th Nov. 1895, aged 72, just a few months after her aged mother, Elizabeth Joyes. Her address given in the burial register of St Thomas Church, Elson, was Thetlis Villa

William's death, at 71, occurred at the House of Industry, two years later. He was buried in an unconsecrated grave at St Anns cemetery, Gosport. Once prosperous, it seems that he sank into penury in old age. It was a time when small, rural milling businesses were no longer viable and he had not been able to provide for a comfortable retirement.

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Matilda