Arthur Barham, of Salehurst & Mountfield

IX. Arthur Barham of Salehurst & Mountfield,
the fourth son of Francis and Martha Barham., was bapt. at Echingham 26 March 1693,
He married at Echingham. 4 April 1722 Elizabeth, daur. of ........ Cruttenden, of the same parish; she was buried at Mountfield 21 Aug. 1765.
After the birth of his son Francis, in 1729, he removed to the neighbouring parish of Mountfield, where he occupied a farm of 90 acres, on the borders of Mountfield and Battle, belonging to Mr. Thomas Snepp, of Salehurst and Sedlescomb .
This Thomas Snepp was the son of Thomas Snepp of Battle, yeoman, and was one of the last of the Sussex Ironmasters. In 1707 he took a lease of the famous Robertsbridge Ironworks, from the Earl of Leicester and married at Echingham 2 June 1716 Anna, daur. of ......... Busbridge of Haremare, by whom he had issue an only surviving son, John Snepp, bapt. at Echingham 29 Dec. 1721. By a deed dated 20 Jan. 16 Geo. 11. (1742-3), now in the possession of Sir George Barham, “John Snepp of Bodyham, co, Sussex, gent, only child of Thomas Snepp late of Seddlescombe gent. by Anna his wife, both deceased”, sold to William Cranston of London, (brother-in-law and partner of the celebrated John Collier, Mayor of Hastings), “All that Messuage with the Barns, Oast House, Stables, Buildings, Gardens, Orchards, etc, containing 90 acres .... scituate... in the parishes of Battell and Mountfield .... now in the Tenure or occupation of Arthur Barham, his under-tenants or assigns”. The name of the farm is not mentioned in this deed, but from a passage in the will of Thomas Snepp dated 18 Feb. 1729/30, pr. at Lewes 14 Nov. 1733, it appears to have been “that farm called Darvill Beech Farm in Mountfield”. Darvill Forest. was, according to Mr. M. A. Lower “another important seat of the ancient Iron Manufacture”, and I think it probable that, even at this comparatively recent date, the Barhams of Salehurst and Mountfield may have been engaged in the same industry, though most of the Sussex Ironworks were closed before the end of the 17th. Century. I have not been able to ascertain the exact date at which Arthur Barham came to Mountfield, but his son Thomas was probably married from Darvill Beech Farm (if my supposition as to the name is correct). and he may have succeeded hi s father as tenant there in 1767.

Arthur and Elizabeth Barham had issue:-
i Arthur Barham bapt. at Salehurst 23 May 1725, as “Arthur, the son of Arthur and
Elizabeth Barham;” he does not appear to have married, and was buried at Mountfield
27 Sept. 1754.
ii Thomas Barham, of whom presently.
iii Francis Barham, bapt. at Salehurst 30 March 1729; he probably died an infant, as there is an entry of the buriel of “Francis Barham” at Salehurst, 22 March follg . though his parents name is not mentioned, which was usually done in the case of a child.
Arthur Barham was buried at Mountfield 1767

LINKS
http://www.barhamhistory.com/pdf/Barham%20Descent.pdf