I'm puzzled about why some of my ancestors chose to be buried at St. James in Stedham when they lived in other parishes at death. In particular I am looking at Thomas Ayling (1689-1759) who is buried next to his brother John and their respective wives at St. James. The obvious answer would be that they were both born in the area. However, neither are listed in the Stedham baptism records. I realize that this does not mean they weren't born there per se. However, I have a baptism match for both in nearby Easebourne. As far as I can tell Stedham wasn't the birth parish of either wife. Thomas appears to have lived around Stedham for a time (based on land lease records and his children's baptism records) but he settled in Cocking and died there. He was apparently churchwarden in Cocking for 10 years as well. So I'm wondering if anyone knows if St. James in Stedham had some special significance in the 18th century for folks living in other parishes to want to be buried there? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Chris Ayling, Cranbrook BC Canada SFHG Member #16632

Even though the various members of your family were living in Cocking etc at the time of their deaths, it is possible that Stedham may have been their parish of settlement and so they were returned for burial there. Alternatively, perhaps they were a family of means and came to an agreement with the Stedham parish authorities to be buried there in particular plots. Have you checked the Chichester Archdeaconry probate records and/or the PCC to see if any of your family left a Will? That may have included their preference for a burial in a particular churchyard. In the 1785 Land Tax documents (SRS volume 82) for Stedham, there are various AYLING's mentioned, both as owners and occupiers and one of the assessors & collectors was a William AYLING. Obviously, this date is a little after the specific burial that you mentioned in 1759, but it may be indicative of a longstanding family association with Stedham. I'm not sure which Manor may have held the land that your family occupied at Stedham, but a lot of Manors in that area were part of the Cowdray Estate and those records are deposited at WSRO and I think that all of them have now been filmed. If you check the Chichester Rape volume of the Victoria County History for Sussex, you will see which Manors held land in the parish of Stedham and then you can make further enquiries from there. Be aware that, with the exception of the Commonwealth period, these records will be in in Latin before 1733. Best wishes, Marion Woolgar Bognor Regis, West Sussex SFHG Member No: 3323