The Marchants go back to the early days of Brighton, before it became popular as a bathing resort for the middle and upper classes. There is even a connection to Martha Gunn, the most famous of Brighton's bathing women (also known as "dippers"), who was born in the seaside village of Brighthelmstone (Brighton) in 1726. Martha came from an old fishing family (like the Marchants), but when sea-bathing became popular in the 1740s, she found employment as a "dipper" on Brighton's seafront. "To Brighton came he, came George III's son, to be bathed in the sea, by famed Martha Gunn." (Old English rhyme) - see if you can find Martha (hint: check the GUNN family under the Charts menu, maiden name Killick) and see the Links page for more information on her.
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