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quite a successful one at that, setting out the path for generations to come.William married his first wife Elizabeh Chatfield in Hastings on the 6th July 1797. The first child , a son James was born in 1799 and at least eight more children from this
marriage were all born in Hastings.
On the 18th May 1803, Britain declared war on Napoleon and France and the adult male population of all Parishes in Sussex was called upon by a Variety of Defence Acts to defend their country. These lists of men provide a virtual census of the resident
adult male population 17 - 55 at that time.
Elizabeth Chatfield died in 1821.Sometime prior to at least 1824 he married his second wife Mary Archibald,this marriage produced at least three more children.William Breach of Hastings was recorded in the 1820 poll book as owner of freehold house and
garden in All Saints Parish which was occupied by the widow Tendel.He was listed as a Hastings fishmonger as early as 1823 in Pigot's Sussex Business directory operating out of Commercial road, Hastings. Old maps of Hastings show Commercial road
slightly back from the waterfront running infront of the then fishmarket.Although the original fishmarket spot would have disappeared,it is reported that the best fish and chips in Hastings are still sold near that spot today.
1828 Census of 'The America Ground' as taken by the Commissioners for Woods, Forests and Land Revenues. Listed are the owners and lessee of property on the America Ground, taken by the Crown Commissioners in an attempt to claim some revenue from this
site Listed are :Wiilam Breach a Lesse of Hastings a Fisherman,
John Breach a lessee Hastings a Fisherman and Mrak Breach a Lessee Hastings Fisherman. So William and his 2 other brothers also leased land here.
The America Ground - 1800 - 1849 - Following is from website 1066 Genealogy :The growth of Hastings as a Seaside resort (the health-craze for sea bathing and drinking brought the first visitors) from the end of the 18th Century, and particularly
between 1815 and the mid 1820`s, (Fig 1.) produced a demand for property and land that forced the town to expand westward out of the Bourne Valley and into the Priory Valley. The development of Pelham Crescent by the architect Joseph Kaye for the Earl
of Chichester (started 1820) and James Burton`s new St. Leonards, (started 1828) necessitated importing a large workforce for the necessary construction work, who it was reported took possession without leave, licence, or interference, and built
houses, shanties, warehouses, and other erections, for which they paid no rent or consideration - a No Mans Land` and independent of any law or order, and, who when challenged hoisted the American Flag, very much a symbol of independence at that time,
on an area of the Foreshore. This 8 acres of foreshore now covered by 195 buildings with well over 1000 inhabitants, was first occupied at the beginning of the 19th Century by an enterprising group of local tradesmen. They developed the area into a
sort of colony with its own shops, houses and businesses including a coach factory and two rope walks each of 120-150 fathoms in length, used by Messrs. Thwaites & Co. and Messrs. Breeds & Co. for the making of rope. The earliest recorded inhabitants
of the America Ground being Thomas Page and John Prior in 1806. They were listed as resident in an old Hulk, now in two tenements, formerly the Brig named Polymina.
The business was listed as Breach and Son - Fishmongers at 4 Commercial Road in both Pigot's 1839 directory and the 1854 Hastings business directory.The property remained in the family for generations, with grandson Frederick also living there with his
family during the 1891 Census.The Census held on the 30th May 1831 shows William Breach, fishmonger residing at West street, St.Clements, Hastings. There were 4 males and 5 females making 1 family. This would most likely be husband and wife with 3 sons
and 3 daughters, which would equate to the last 6 children born,being Sarah,William,Mark,Frances,Charles and Maria and Williams mother Elizabeth who did not pass away until June 1832.
An Edward Breach (no occupation recorded )was at Court House Street, Hastings with 1 male 2 females of 2 families, this could be husband wife and mother in the one house.As these were the only other Breach members recorded in the 1831 St.Clements
Hastings parish they most likely were related.In 1831 the 400 members of Hastings fishermen's society elected 50 "commissioners" to oversee the work of the society when it was established. William Breach was one of those first commissioners (source-
Author Steve Peak ) A book about the Hastings fishing community written by Steve Peak "Fishermen of hastings" ISBN 095107060 has the following "Hastings Town Council heard evidence fron the prominent Hastings Fish Merchant William Breach in June 1833.
He said that the local fishing industry was very much on the decline, with only 60 boats then employed compared with 104 in 1811. He believed that the number of working fishermen had halved since 1811, with 200 men standing idle.Breach was engaged
with transporting fish to Billingsgate Market in London. He said that he sent large vans to London each day pulled by four or six horses.But because of the high cost of using the turnpike roads only the most valuable fish -herring and mackerel -could
be sent and the rest were sold locally,often cheaply, which was at least benefit to the poor. Breach said that in the war(1815) he had owned 7 boats now he had only four.Breach laid the blame on the French fishermen and the British boat owners who
illegally carried French fish to Billingsgate.Breach, and an accompanying petition from the Hastings fishermen, laid the blame for the decline firmly on the French, and on the British boatowners who illegally carried the French fish to Billingsgate.
Breach told MPs on the committee:"if you gentleman would take as much consideration of that as you do in preventing smuggling, you would be sure to have it stopped" And in another passge re Williams son, also William, born 1813 - "The Breaches were one
of the most prominent fishing families in Hastings,owning several boats and having a major interest in fish wholesaleing.William's father, also called William, gave evidence to the 1833 Royal Commision and was one of four brothers involved in fish
marketing and selling. Breach family folklore today states that the younger William took many of his possessions to Lowestoft in his boats, as well as the lugger "Sarah Ann" and his seven sons were soon very active in the emerging Lowestoft fishing
industry, as boat owners, skippers and merchants"by Steve Peak author
Local Hastings records show that William Breach was give the title of "Freeman of the town of Hastings" on the 25th May 1835 which was a permanent honour awarded to prominent citizens for service to the Town.At some stage he built a four story wooden
net house under the East cliff that he was to later bequesth equally, one floor to each of his four surviving sons.
The 1841 census had William and second wife Mary (born Scotland) living at Commercial road ( living next door to Boyket Breeds & family General Dealer).In the house were Sarah 25, Fanny 15, Maria 10, Charles 15 and 15 year old Frederick Falion ,Man
servant,born Sussex. (as ages were rounded in the census, Fanny is most likley Frances) The 1851 Census again had William residing at 4 Commercial road and for the first time gave us the official record that he was born at Battle , Sussex in 1774. He
was by now a widower again with his second wife Mary having died in 1846.His two daughters,born to Mary,26 year old Frances and 21 year old Maria were also residing with him. Although he was 76 years of age he was still listed as a fishmonger and
employing 6 people.William died at Commercial Place of Chronic Bronchitis a little under three years later at 80 years of age. He was buried in the St.Clements Cemetery alongside his two wives, Elizabeth and Mary.William,through a lifetime of hard and
honest work had aquired an amazing amount of assets which he bequethed to his children. Amongst them were three fishing luggers, a House at 4 Bourne street,a net shop under the east cliff "built by me",a shop near to the Queens head Inn in the
fishmarket, a net shop near the pier shop, a building near the light house occupied by the shoemaker and a house at 13 Russel street. William also directed that all nets,net ropes, lines & other ropes and things be divided into 4 lots numbered 1,2,3,4
to be put in a bag and drawn by seniority by his four sons at the conclusion of the first Herring and Mackerel voyages after his decease.
The flat stone marker on his grave had the following inscription : " To the memory of ELIZABETH CHATFIELD wife of WILLIAM BREACH who died April 3rd
1821 Aged 46 years Also of MARY ARCHIBALD his second wife who died April 17 1846 Aged 61 years. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Psalms xxiij verse 1. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and He will show them his covenant. Psalm
xxv ver 14.
Also of the above WILLIAM BREACH who died December 3 1854 Aged 80 years
(BR WILLIAM BREACH, St Clement's, Dec 11th,1854, aged 80 years) Flat Stone (all caps)
note** above transcription was taken in the early 1900's and it is not known if the marker still survives.
Note: William Breach and his brother John were born at Battle, and sometime prior to 1778 his father John and mother Elizabeth,moved the family to Hastings. Growing up in a bustling fishing village must have appealed to William for he became a fisherma
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