Mary Brewer

In 1851, Mary was a 13 year old scholar, living with her parents and siblings at the Green Man Inn, West Grinstead. where her father Jeremiah was a "victualler". The family had moved from Hurstpierpoint some time in the previous 5 years, as the youngest sibling, Fanny, had been born there in 1846.

By 1861, Mary, now aged 23, was working as a cook in the household of Richard Wilson, a widower and retired merchant of Molesworth House, Brighton.

And by 1871 she had met and married George Brewer, innkeeper of the Ferry Arms, New Shoreham. They had two children at that time, George Bartley Brewer age 3 and Fanny Louisa age 2, both born in New Shoreham. George snr's mother Ellen was also living with them.

The couple went on to have three more children, Alfred Thomas, Ada Mary and Bertha Amelia, before Mary tragically died in 1877 at the age of 39, leaving George with 5 young children.