Mary Ann Merritt was born in Washington in 1874. Her father, Charles, was then a Farm Labourer. Her mother was Sarah Ann (nee Meeten). Charles and Sarah were married in Thakeham in 1864 and they went on to have nine children over the next 20 years. Mary was their fourth child.
Charles died in Thakeham in 1912, and Sarah in Romsey in 1929 presumably living with her married daughter Sarah Jane Walker..
In 1881 Mary was living at home with her parents at Rock, in Washington. Rock is east of the A24, just North of Washington. There was a Rock Mill. Apparently it was the home of Composer John Ireland in the 1950s. It was a smock mill and was converted into a house in about 1919 perched on land between 2 quarries.
With Charles and Sarah were son William, a Garden Labourer, son Charles, a Farm Labourer, and daughters Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Sarah Jane, Alice and Lucy.
Still at Rock in 1891 were Charles and Sarah with daughters Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Sarah, Alice, Lucy and Rose, and son Herbert.
In 1894 Mary married Arthur Albert Figg, in St Mary's, Storrington. Arthur was born in Midhurst in 1871. On their marriage certificate he was described as a Groom-Coachman, and his father James as a Keeper. Sarah and Charles Merritt were Witnesses. Charles Merritt was by then a Market Gardener, living at Rock.
In 1901, living at 46 Richmond Road, were Mary and Arthur, now a Coachman, and 6-year-old George, born in Storrington, 4-year-old Edith, 2-year-old Charles and baby Victoria, all born in Worthing.
In 1911 Mary and Arthur were living in Heene, with son George, now a 16 year-old Errand Boy, 14-year-old Edith, a General Domestic Servant, Charles James, 12, and Ivy Victoria, 10, scholars, plus 4-year-old Frank.
In 1915 son Charlie enlisted in Hove with the Third Battalion (Militia) Royal Sussex Regiment as a Private. This Battalion was based in Newhaven by 1916, where it remained for the rest of the War. He died of meningitis, at home, on February 7th 1916, and was given a Commonwealth War Grave.
His father, Arthur Albert was then serving in Egypt with the Army Service Corps. He was discharged, sick, from the Army in October 1918.
In 1921, at 5 Heene Place, were Arthur, a Chauffeur, and Mary, with 20-year-old daughter Ivy, a Shop Assistant at Bentalls in South Street, and 14-year-old son Frank, described as out of work.
Frank went on to be a Hire Car Owner Driver, living next door to his parents at 4 Heene Place with wife Edith Feast, whom he married in 1926.
In 1939 Mary, with husband Arthur were living at 5 Heene Place. Arthur was a Hire Car Owner. Charlie Strotten, a 22-year-old single man, was living with them. He performed odd jobs'. (Arthur's sister Edith Elsie married Reginald Strotten in 1917). Also there was Ernest Thompson an 11-year-old scholar.
In 1939 son George Albert Arthur Figg, was living at 121 Park Road as a Domestic Chauffeur.
Mary is buried with her son Charles James.
Arthur died in 1947 and was buried in Durrington Cemetery (as was daughter Ivy, now Fuller, in 1993.)