During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:
Chatfield, Thomas. 55. At Portmansford Farm (Lord Sheffield), Fletching. Born in Chailey 33 years ago I came to Furriers Green as a wheelwright under Langridge for several years. Langley (dead) used Sliders Farm then and had litter and turf from the Forest. I used to see his teams carrying them. About 23 years ago I came to Sliders Farm (Lord Sheffield's), Fletching, and farmed it 2 years and had litter, turf and gravel from Ashdown Forest and turned out. I know the field on Sliders Farm about 9 acres called the Marriels and adjoining the Grouts. I remember our field was thrown into it. Then I moved to Chelwood Common Farm 5 acres (Turner of Tablehurst) for 6 years. During that time 3 acres were added when Chelwood Common was enclosed, part allotted and part bought. 162 I had litter and turf and gravel off the Forest and turned out. I then moved to Portmansford Farm where I have lived for the last 13 years
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| John Chatfield | m: c 1820 | Lucy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: c 1800 | b: c 1800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas | Louisa | George | Charles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 1825 Barcombe, Sussex | b: 16th Dec 1831 Falmer, Sussex ch: 5th Feb 1832 | b: 1834 Falmer, Sussex ch: 9th Mar 1834 | b: 1836 Falmer, Sussex ch: 31st Oct 1836 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Chatfield | m: c 1845 | Hannah Browning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 1825 Barcombe, Sussex | b: c Jul 1824 Fletching, Sussex ch: 8th Aug 1824 St Andrew & St Mary Church | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albert | Anna | Alice | Horace | George | Ellen | Harriett | Annie Louisa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 16th Nov 1851 Danehill, Sussex ch: 14th Dec 1851 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 20th Dec 1853 Danehill, Sussex ch: 12th Feb 1854 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 1857 Danehill, Sussex ch: 12th Jul 1857 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 1859 Danehill, Sussex ch: 10th Jul 1859 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 9th Jan 1861 Danehill, Sussex ch: 14th Apr 1861 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 20th Oct 1863 Danehill, Sussex ch: 13th Mar 1864 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 30th Jun 1865 Danehill, Sussex ch: 6th Aug 1865 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | b: 6th May 1868 Danehill, Sussex ch: 9th Aug 1868 All Saints (als Holy Trinity Chapel) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Weald is at Database version 14.05 which has ongoing updates to the 395,000 people; 9,000 places; 613 maps; 3,308 pictures, engravings and photographs; and 248 books loaded in the previous version
