Peter Hunnisett

Eleanor Prestnel of Westham

No baptism has been found for Eleanor Prestnel so her parents remain unknown. However she appears to have spent much of her life in Westham, where she had four illegitimate children baptised before she married. The first gives no clues to the father but the next two both were both given the surname Manser although no father has been identified. The fourth must have been fathered by James Furrell to whom she was married a few months later. Each was said to be 'illegitimate born son of Eleanor Prestnal'.

Eleanor's illegitimate children were:

Eleanor married James Furrel in Westham on 17^th February 1777 and their son James was buried 22^nd May 1777. They had a further two children baptised:

James Furrel, aged 39, was buried in Westham on 15^th March 1789.

It may have been Eleanor who as Eleanor Furrel, aged 77, was buried in Frant on 30^th June 1815.

Of Eleanor's children:

• Thomas married Elizabeth Cousens in Litlington on 10^th March 1791.

• James Verral married Elizabeth Budd in Alfriston on 11^th October 1804 and they are believed to have had the following children:

  John

  ca. 1805

  Jane

  10 Nov 1807

  Seaford - died 1812

  Eliza

  21 Jan 1810

  Seaford

  James

  29 Dec 1812

  Seaford

  Ann

  14 Aug 1814

  Piddinghoe

  Sarah

  17 Nov 1816

  Piddinghoe

  Eleanor

  22 Aug 1818

  Piddinghoe - died 1820

  Jane

  ca. 1820

  George

  5 Jan 1823

  Piddinghoe

  Mary

  3 Sep 1826

  Piddinghoe

  The 1851 census of Piddinghoe confirms that James was born in Pevensey.