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Thomas (1) Woodhurst was born to parents Andrew (3) Woodus and his wife Susannah. He was christened at Fairlight on July 8th 1787 with his surname spelled as Woodus [Fairlight Parish Register].
He married at Fairlight on January 6th 1808 to Mercy Swadling [Fairlight Parish Register] who was born around 1787 in Peasmarsh (about eight miles north of Fairlight) [UK Census 1841, 1851]. The witnesses were an Andrew Woodhurst - presumed to have been Thomas (1)'s brother Andrew (4) - and a Mary Woodhurst presumed to be another of his relatives. Like several of his siblings, Thomas (1) adopted the Woodhurst surname in his adult life.
The 1841 Census finds Thomas (1)'s family at Udimore, about three miles north of Fairlight. He was then a bailiff and living with his wife (both aged 54), his 14-year-old son Tom (christened as such), a Mercy Swadling aged 75 (probably his wife's mother) and a Susan Swadling aged 40. Also with them was their grand-daughter Ann Addy aged 6, who had been born to their married daughter Mercy (2).
The 1851 Census finds Thomas (1) and Mercy - with their surname mis-spelt as Woodhouse - at Raiton (or Railton) Farm House in Playden, about five miles north-east of Udimore. He was still a bailiff. They were then both aged 64. The census record states that Mercy was born in Peasmarsh but misrepresents her name as Mary. Their household again included their grand-daughter Ann - now aged 16 and employed as a servant - together with Ann's 5-year-old brother Trayton Addy.
In later life they were evidently living in or near Rye. Thomas (1) was buried at Playden on October 1st 1857, and is cited in the burial register as 'Thomas Woodhouse of Rye aged 70'. The GRO reference is [Death Index: Rye 2b 4, 1857 (Sept)]. His death, on September 28th, was reported in The Sussex Advertiser, Surrey Gazette, etc., issue of October 6th 1857; Thomas (1) was described there as "for many years bailiff to Jeremiah Smith, Esq., and also to his late father, James Smith, Esq."
The 1861 Census finds Mercy aged "73" and widowed, lodging in a Sauter household in Beckley, about nine miles north of Hastings.
On April 9th 1869 Mercy was buried like her husband at Playden, the burial register recording her as "Mercy Woodhouse of Beckley aged 81". The GRO reference is [Death Index: Rye 2b 5, 1869 (June)] and gives her age more accurately as 82.