Phoebe Fry was the second child of Samuel Fry & Sarah Smeed christened July 7th, 1844 at Cowden, Kent.
At the time of the 1851 census Phoebe was visiting her grandparents Caroline & William Smeeds, a farmer of 78 acres at Brooklands Farm, East Grinstead.
In 1861 Phoebe was the oldest child living with her parents, 3 brothers & 3 sisters at Wiggs Farm, Withyham, Sussex.
Phoebe married William Heasman on June 7th, 1865 at St Michael’s parish church, Withyham. William was born Jan-March 1838 at Ardingley, Sussex, the son of Samuel Heasman, a farmer. Phoebe was given a gift from her grandmother, Caroline Smeed, as a wedding present. This was a Victorian writing slope that was passed down to Rose Marion Barnett who had married Phoebe's nephew, Albert Edward Fry [f.2.6.8.4], & subsequently to their daughter, Stella Kathleen Fry.
In 1871 Phoebe & William (Haisman in Ancestry.co.uk index) were living at Coltsfold Mill, Oxted, Surrey where William was a miller & farmer. They had 4 children by this time – Emily (5), Nancy (3), William (2) & Harriet (1). William’s widowed father Samuel, aged 76, was living with them, as was Ann Heasman (36), William’s sister. Also at the farm were 2 millers & a general servant.
In 1881 Phoebe & William were still living at Coltsford Mill, & William was now miller employing 17 men & 1 boy in the mill & farm. Children at home were Nancy, William, Harriet, Frank F (8), Caroline (7), Florence (6), Hilton (3) & Harold S (2). William’s father Samuel was still living with them. Daughter Emily was visiting her uncles Arthur John & Albert Edward Fry & aunt Harriett Annie Fry at Brookshill Farm, Hartfield, Sussex at the time of the census. Emily was to be the informant of the death of aunt Harriett in 1893.
William (Hessman in Ancestry.co.uk index) was listed as just a miller in 1891 & he & Phoebe were still living in Oxted, at Mill House. At home with them were Emily, Harriet, Frank F, a miller, Caroline P, Florence E, Hilton S & Harold S. There was another daughter, Mabel S, aged 9, who was a scholar boarding at Corseley House school, Withyham at the time of the census.
In 1901 Phoebe & William were still living at Oxted Mill & William was described as a flour miller & farmer. At home were Caroline P, Hilton, a flour miller, & Mabel S (19). Also with them at the time of the census was William’s sister Ann Heasman, aged 70. Daughter Florence had married Percy Lawless Saunders (a traveler in tin box trade) in 1898 & at the time of the census they were living at Leyton, Essex with their 1 year old son Donald. Son Harold was lodging in Preston, Brighton, Sussex & was a mechanical engineer.
Phoebe died in July-September 1909, aged 65, the death being registered at Godstone.
In 1911 widowed William was still living at Oxted Mill & continued to be a flour miller & farmer. He was assisted in the business by son Harold who had returned home, & daughter Mabel was their housekeeper.
William died in Jan-March 1921, aged 83, the death being registered at Godstone.
The children of Phoebe Fry & William Heasman were:
f.2.6.2.1 Emily Heasman christened August 5th, 1866 at West Hoathly, Sussex
f.2.6.2.2 Nancy Heasman christened February 9th, 1868 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.3 William Samuel Heasman christened June 20th, 1869 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.4 Harriet Heasman christened December 2nd, 1870 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.5 Frank Fry Heasman christened June 4th, 1872 at Oxted Surrey
f.2.6.2.6 Caroline Phoebe Heasman christened January 9th, 1874 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.7 Florence Emma Heasman born April-June 1875 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.8 Hilton Saxby Heasman christened October 20th, 1877 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.9 Harold Smeed Heasman born April-June 1879 at Oxted, Surrey
f.2.6.2.10 Mabel Sarah Heasman born July-September 1881 at Oxted, Surrey