Nicholas Feldwick was born in 1720 in West Hoathly, Sussex, the son of William Feldwick and his wife Ann. He was baptised on 8th April 1720 in the church of St Margaret of Antioch, West Hoathly. He married Mary Potter on 8th October 1743 in Westminster, London. This was a "Fleet marriage" that is one that took place in the area around the Fleet Prison, a clandestine marriage, where the bride and groom could marry secretly or quickly without the need of a licence or the reading of banns. Mary was already pregnant with their first child, hence the need for speed. Both Nicholas and Mary were said to be "of the parish of Burstow" (in Surrey) at the time of their marriage and Nicholas' occupation is given as "husbandman" (a tenant farmer).

Mary Potter was born in about 1719 but her exact birth details are not known, (this date is derived from her burial record which states that she was aged 82 when she died in 1801). She may may have been baptised as an adult in 1743 in Horne, Surrey. Horne is close to Burstow where she was resident at the time of her marriage, also all her children were baptised in Horne. There was also a James Potter and a Sarah Potter who were baptised as adults in 1744 in Horne and these may have been her siblings. There are several Potter families in Horne in the 17th and 18th centuries, probably all related in such a small village. As for her parents, there are 3 possible couples in Horne at this time, Edward Potter and Mary Roffey, (married 1704) John Potter and Elizabeth Blundell, (married 1711) and Thomas Potter and Jane Deane (married 1695). Of these, Edward and Mary appear to have regularly had their children baptized in Horne, including a daughter Mary in 1710 (too early to be this Mary) and a son John in 1719 so are unlikely to be the right parents. Thomas and Jane appear to have one child baptized in Horne, a daughter Hannah in 1711. These are a possibility but their marriage in 1695 would make Mary quite a late baby. There are no children of John and Elizabeth recorded as being baptized in Horne or in any other neighbouring parish, so again they could be a possibility. Her parents may have been non conformist in their religion and this may account for why she was not baptized as an infant.

Nicholas and Mary had 10 children, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ann, William, James, Jane, John, Priscilla and Thomas. They lived at first in Horne and then moved to Merstham, Surrey. Nicholas was a yeoman farmer who is recorded as being both a proprietor and an occupier of land in Merstham in land tax records and poll books and electoral registers. He appears to have been a Whig in his politics, voting for the Whig candidate in 1780.

Mary died on 18th January 1801 aged 82 and was buried on 23rd January in Merstham. The Merstham parish register is unusual in that it gives a cause of death for each burial and Mary's cause of death is given as "stoppage" this term applies to a blockage or obstruction of an organ, so this could have possibly been a stroke or heart attack. Nicholas died on 22nd September 1810 aged 90 and was buried on 30th September 1810 in Merstham. His cause of death is given as "cancer". He left a will dated 24th April 1806 and probate was granted on 6th November 1810 to the executors, his son James Feldwick and grandson Robert Roffey.

Children

Mary Feldwick was born in 1744 in Horne, Surrey. She married John Burgess on 2nd December 1766 in Bletchingley, Surrey. Mary and John had at least 6 children, Thomas, William, Mary, Ann, Elizabeth and Jane. John Burgess died of fever, on 9th October 1793 aged 53, and was buried on 13th October 1793 in Merstham, Surrey. Mary died on 21st October 1830 and was buried on the 27th October 1830 in Merstha, Surrey. She left a will dated 6th March 1813 which was proved on 21st January 1831 to the executors, nephew Robert Roffey and son in law George Hall.

Sarah Feldwick was born 1785 and baptised on 16th March 1745 in Horne, Surrey. She married firstly, Thomas Huggett on 9 October 1768 in Burstow, Surrey. Thomas died in 1784 and was buried on