• Born: 2 Jan 1803, Laughton, Sussex, England ¹
• Christened: 21 Jun 1803, Laughton, Sussex, England ¹
• Married: 16 Dec 1835, St. Peter's Church, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England ²
• Died: 21 May 1873, Berwick, Sussex, England ³
• Buried: 26 May 1873, Berwick, Sussex, England ⁴

  Research Notes:

At the time of the 1851 England Census John Shoesmith, age 47, born in Laughton Sussex, farmer of 550 acres employing 23 hands, and wife Sarah Shoesmith, age 47, born in Bexhill Sussex, were living in Upper Berwick Farm, Berwick Sussex.

On 6 Sep 1854 John's eldest daughter, Sarah Shoosmith, was buried in Berwick, aged 13 years.

In 1855 John Shoosmith was co-executor of the Will of his father John Shoosmith of Laughton, yeoman.

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Release of trusts and indemnity to widow of surviving executor, dated 19 Jan 1856. ⁵

John Shoosmith of Berwick, farmer, and his wife Sarah (née Crowhurst), Alfred Crowhurst of Bexhill, builder, William Crowhurst of 72 Upper Gloucester Lane, Brighton, plumber, John Adams of 66 Castle Street, Southwark, grocer, and his wife Sabina (née Crowhurst), the surviving children of John Crowhurst and his wife Sarah, (née Smith), to Elizabeth Putland of Hellingly, widow of John Putland of Willingdon, gent

four sums of £103 1s 6d paid to Sarah Shoosmith, Alfred Crowhurst, William Crowhurst and Sabina Adams under the will of Smith Crouch
recites: will of Smith Crouch of Hastings, gent, bequeathing £1000 to John Putland and Henry Tindall of Hastings, cornfactor, to be held in trust for the benefit of his wife Ann Crouch for life, with remainder of a moiety to the children of John Crowhurst of Bexhill, carpenter, and his wife Sarah, (née Smith), and to Sarah's illegitimate daughter Mary Smith otherwise Stunt, 24 Aug 1819; death of Smith Crouch 23 Jan 1820, probate of his will at Lewes 21 Jul 1820; death of Henry Tindall April 1828; death of John Putland intestate, 6 Apr 1841; grant of administration to EP; investment of the capital in a mortgage, paid off in 1846 when the sum was invested in government securities; death of Ann Crouch 17 Sep 1854, whereupon the surviving children of John and Sarah Crowhurst became entitled to the principal; marriage of Mary Smith otherwise Stunt to Henry Muzzell at Hurstpierpoint on 24 Aug 1827; burial of Mary Muzzell at Woodford in Essex on 18 Jan 1845; death of Henry Muzzell; death of Edward Crowhurst an infant in 1805, James Crowhurst on 11 Jan 1853 and burial at St Mary Lambeth, and Matilda Crowhurst on 15 Nov 1846 and burial at New Church in Maidstone, Kent; marriage of Sarah Crowhurst to John Shoosmith at Bexhill on 16 Dec 1835; marriage of Sabina Crowhurst to John Adams at Bexhill on 8 Dec 1842; sale of a moiety of the stock by Elizabeth Putland who has paid brokerage, legacy duty and costs (details), leaving a net sum of £412 6s 0d.

Witnesses: William Cruttenden, clerk to Messrs Martin, solicitors, Battle; George Hirtzel, 19 Coleman Street, solicitor

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At the time of the 1861 England Census John Shoosmith, age 58, born in Laughton Sussex, widower, farmer of 800 acres employing 25 men and 7 boys, was living in Berwick Sussex. With him were children (born in Folkington): John Jun^r (21), farmer's son, and Louisa (17), farmer's daughter.

At the time of the 1871 England Census John Shoosmith, age 68, born in Laughton Sussex, widower, farmer of 880 acres employing 14 men [and] 6 boys, was living in Elm Cottage, Berwick Sussex. Son John Shoosmith Jun^r and his family were at the same address.

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John Shoosmith of Berwick died aged 70 years (burial record).

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The Will with a codicil of John Shoosmith late of Berwick in the County of Sussex, yeoman, who died 21 May 1873 at Berwick, was proved 19 August at Lewes by John Shoosmith of Berwick, farmer, the son, Richard Woodman the Elder of Kingston in the said County, yeoman, Frederick James Child of Downash Hailsham in the said County, farmer, and William Jenner of Ripe in the said County, farmer, the executors. Effects under £6,000. ³