THE MUDDLE FAMILIESTHE LINEAGE & HISTORY OF THE MUDDLE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD INCLUDING VARIANTS MUDDEL, MUDDELL, MUDLE & MODDLE |
|||||||||||||
|
[Home] [Origins] [Early Records] [General Notes] [Master Index] [Contact me]
John & Margary/Dorothy Muddle's Family
John Muddle was probably born about 1562, possibly at either Buxted or Mayfield, but the surviving registers of both these parishes don’t go back that far. John settled in Rotherfield where he had the status of yeoman, which indicated that he was reasonably prosperous and probably owned and farmed at least a few acres of land. He also practised his trade of whitesmith, this being one who worked in tin and other non-ferrous metals, and also finished metalwork by processes such as polishing and enamelling. On 3 October 1582 in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of Elizabeth I, when John was about 20 years old, three horses belonging to George and Christopher Hill (or Hilles, records differ on this detail) were stolen at Rotherfield. This must have resulted in John, together with Richard Muddle of Mayfield and Edward Akent of Withyham, being arrested for this offence and incarcerated in the gaol at Lewes Castle, because at a Session of the Peace (the date is not recorded on surviving documents) held at Lewes they were before the court requesting bail which was granted as follows: [1] And at the same general session of the peace, before the aforenamed Justice, there came John Modell of Rotherfield in the county aforesaid, smith, Richard Modell junior of Mayfield in the county aforesaid, smith, and Richard Modell senior of Buxted in the county aforesaid, smith. And the aforesaid John Modell and Richard Modell junior acknowledged themselves to owe to our said Lady the Queen, each of them, forty pounds, and the aforesaid Richard senior acknowledged himself to owe to our said Lady the Queen twenty pounds, Under the condition that if the aforesaid John Modell and Richard Modell junior should appear at the next general gaol delivery to be held in the county aforesaid before the Justices of our said Lady the Queen assigned for gaol delivery etc, to answer to our said Lady the Queen concerning and upon the certain felonies whereof they stand adjudged, that then etc. And at the same general session of the peace, before the aforenamed Justice, there came Edward Akent of Withyham in the county aforesaid, husbandman, and William Holman of Withyham in the county aforesaid, husbandman, And the aforesaid Edward acknowledged himself to owe to our said Lady the Queen forty pounds, and the aforesaid William acknowledged himself to owe to our said Lady the Queen twenty pounds, Under the condition that if the aforesaid Edward should appear at the next general gaol delivery to be held in the county aforesaid before the Justices of our said Lady the Queen assigned for gaol delivery etc, to answer to our said Lady the Queen concerning and upon the certain felonies whereof he stands indicted, that then etc. It’s thought that Richard Muddle of Mayfield was possibly John’s elder brother, but there is no definite proof of this, though John was an overseer of Richard’s 1608 will.[2] It’s also thought that Richard Muddle senior of Buxted was probably the father or guardian of John and Richard, but again there is no definite proof of this, and neither John nor Richard junior were mentioned in Richard senior’s will.[3] One son who was mentioned in the will, Alexander Muddle, whitesmith of Buxted, was an overseer and witness to the will of Richard’s son Abraham in 1609,[4] and bondsman for the marriage licence of John’s son Thomas in October 1615,[5] after the respective deaths of Richard in 1608 and John in March 1615, indicating that Alexander may have then been acting as head of the family and was the eldest surviving brother of John and Richard. The next gaol delivery for Sussex was the Assize Session held at East Grinstead on 8 March 1583. John, Richard and Edward presented themselves there as their bail conditions required, but it seems that the indictment against them had not been prepared. This resulted in John and Richard being discharged from their own bail, but they remained bound by the recognizance given by Richard Muddle senior. Edward was released on his own bail, there being no mention of the recognizance given for him by William Holman that must, for some reason, have lapsed.[6] To generate the required indictment an inquisition was held at the General Session of the Peace of the county of Sussex, held at Lewes on 11 April 1583, before Thomas Sackvyle, knight, his fellow justices, and sixteen jurors of a grand jury. The following was the indictment they produced: [7] That Edward Akent, late of Withyham in the county aforesaid, yeoman, John Muddle, late of Rotherfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, and Richard Mudle, late of Mayfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, On the third day of October in the twenty fourth year of the reign of our Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, Queen, defender of the faith etc, at Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, feloniously took and made away with one mare, of colour grey, then and there found, to the value of 40s, of the goods and chattels of George Hilles of Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, yeoman, against the peace, crown and dignity of our said Lady the Queen. And that Edward Akent, late of Withyham in the county aforesaid, yeoman, John Mudle, late of Rotherfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, and Richard Mudle late of Mayfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, On the third day of October in the twenty fourth year of the reign of our said Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, Queen, defender of the faith etc, at Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, feloniously took and made away with two geldings then and there found, of which one was red sorrel in colour, to the value of five pounds, and the other was grey in colour, to the value of 53s 4d, of the goods and chattels of a certain Christopher Hilles of Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, yeoman, against the peace, crown and dignity of our said Lady the Queen. The next gaol delivery for Sussex was the Assize Session held at East Grinstead on 19 July 1583. John, Richard and Edward presented themselves there to answer the serious charges against them, for at this time the theft of anything valued above 12d (equivalent to about £10 in 2000) was a capital offence. They were tried before Thomas Gawdy, knight, and twelve jurors, who found them guilty, but to escape the hangman’s nose they claimed ‘benefit of clergy’. This was a right first decreed by William II in 1087 that was originally intended to let clergy escape their first capital offence before a civil court and instead be tried by the more lenient church court. The test that they were clergymen was that they should read a passage from the Bible. This right was later extended to anyone who was literate and could satisfactorily read a passage in Latin from the Bible. By tradition the passage they were normally asked to read was part of Psalm 51, which became known as the ‘neck-verse’, and many people who couldn’t read would learn to recite this so that if required they could pretend to read it. So, whether our three were literate, or had just memorised the Psalm, they passed the test as the assize record states: [8] Muddell, Muddell & Akent are adjudged in the clerk's certificate and …
Capital crimes, particularly the more serious offences, for which ‘benefit of clergy’ could be claimed had been gradually reduced during the Tudor period and during the first year of the reign of Edward VI (1547-8) horse theft had been so revoked, so why had our three been able to claim it? Possibly the judge thought that the only sentence he could give, that of execution, was too harsh in this particular case and ‘bent to rules’ to give a fairer result, as judges of this era were known, at times, to do. At this time horse theft was the crime that most often resulted in a capital punishment actually being carried out. This was because it was normally seen as being a calculated criminal act carried out by what were seen as professional criminals for profit by quickly selling on the horse, frequently in a different county. As this seems unlikely to have been the motive in this case, and a moment of silly moral weakness more likely the reason, it would have been viewed by those administering the justice of the time as a situation where clemency was required rather than the strict application of the law. Also the fact that they were of yeoman status in their respective communities would have acted in their favour when being judged by their peers. As benefit of clergy could only be claimed once, to identify, in the future, someone who had already claimed it, they were branded on the thumb with a T for theft or an M for manslaughter; a painful, but preferable, outcome to that of execution. They were also given a pardon so that they couldn’t in the future be tried for any aspect of the felony of which they were guilty. Their pardons were issued by Elizabeth I on 28 October 1583 and are worth quoting in full: [9] Concerning pardons for Edward Akente and others The Queen sends greetings to all to whom [these presents may come] etc. Whereas Edward Akente, late of Withyham in our county of Sussex, yeoman, John Muddle, late of Rotherfield in our said county of Sussex, yeoman, and Richard Muddle, late of Mayfield in our said county of Sussex, yeoman, are indicted, condemned and adjudged, Because they, on the third day of October in the twenty fourth year of our reign, at Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, feloniously took and made away with one mare then and there found, coloured grey, to the value of forty shillings, of the goods and chattels of George Hill of Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, yeoman, against our peace, crown and dignity, And also because they, on the said third day of October in the twenty fourth year of our abovesaid reign, at Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, feloniously took and made away with two geldings then and there found, of which one was coloured red sorrelled, to the value of five pounds, and the other was coloured grey, to the value of fifty three shillings and four pence, of the goods and chattels of a certain Christopher Hill of Rotherfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid, yeoman, against our peace, crown and dignity, Just as by the separate indictments aforesaid, remaining on the record, may fully be allowed and appear; May you know that we, however, moved by piety, of our special grace, and from certain knowledge, and of our own free will, have pardoned, remitted and released, and by these presents, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, do pardon, remit and release, the aforenamed Edward Akente, late of Withyham in our county of Sussex, yeoman, John Muddle, late of Rotherfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, and Richard Muddle, late of Mayfield in the county aforesaid, yeoman, and each of them, and by whatever other names, surnames, or additions to names or surnames, skills or occupations, place or places, the aforesaid Edward Akente, John Muddle and Richard Muddle, or any of them, may be known, called or spoken of, or was lately known, called or spoken of, of the aforesaid separate felonies done and perpetrated in manner and form aforesaid. And [we pardon] the accessories of the same, and of each of the same, and all and singular other felonies, trespasses, abetments, malice, conspiracies, procurements, instigations, encouragements, assistances, encitements and consultations, and all other offences and wrongdoings whatsoever touching or concerning the aforesaid felonies, or any other premises whatsoever. And [we pardon] the flight or flights thereupon made, whether the same Edward, John and Richard, or any of them, have or have not been indicted, appealed, tried, impeached, convicted, attainted, outlawed, condemned or adjudged, concerning the premises or any of the premises, or whether they, or any of them, should happen to be indicted, tried, impeached, appealed, convicted, attainted, outlawed, condemned or adjudged thereof in the future. And [we pardon] all and all manner of outlawries pronounced, or at a later date to be pronounced, upon the same Edward, John and Richard, or any of them, on occasion of the premises or any of the premises. And [we pardon] all and singular indictments, judgements, executions, pains of death, corporal penalties, condemnations, punishments and imprisonments, and all other pains and penalties whatsoever, had, done, rendered or adjudged, or to be had, done, rendered or adjudged, upon the same Edward, John and Richard, or any of them, for the premises or any of the premises. And also [we pardon] all and all manner of suits, complaints, actions, impeachments and demands whatsoever which we have, have had, or might in the future be able to have against the same Edward, John and Richard, or any of them, by reason or occasion of the premises, or of any of them, or which our heirs or successors might in any way be able to have in the future. And [we pardon] suit of our peace which pertains, or may in future be able to pertain, to us, against the same Edward, John and Richard, or any of them, for the premises. And by these presents we give and grant our firm peace to them and each one of them, Such that they, and each of them, should however stand to right in our Court if any person should wish to speak against them, or any of them, concerning the premises, or any of the premises. And such that the same Edward, John and Richard, and each of them, shall find good and sufficient security, according to the form and effect of a certain Act enacted in the Parliament of our Lord Edward the Third, late King of England, our ancestor, held at Westminster in the tenth year of his reign, to conduct themselves well, from now on, towards us, our heirs and successors, and the whole of our people. In witness whereof etc. Witnessed by the Queen at Westminster on the twenty eighth day of October. By writ under the privy seal.
At the same Assize Session as the trial Richard Muddle senior was discharged from the recognizance he had entered into to deliver John and Richard junior, but for some unknown reason Edward was not discharged from his bail until the Assize session held at East Grinstead on 5 July 1588, five years after the trial.[10] There is unfortunately no indication of why John, Richard and Edward perpetrated the theft; the fact that they could stand bail of £40 each (equivalent to about £8000 in 2000) would seem to indicate that it wouldn’t have been for monetary gain. Was it possibly high jinks by three young men going home from the alehouse that got seriously out of hand, or was it because of a grudge against the Hill family – we will probably never know. Five years after his near fatal brush with the law John married Margary Farmer at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 11 February 1588, this being five months before the Spanish Armada appeared off the south coast of England. John and Margary lived at Rotherfield where their only child, a son, was born two years after their marriage. When this son was only six months old Margary died, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 8 August 1590. John was probably the John Modle recorded at the Dewland Manor Court held on the 11 April 1589, at which Robert Hodley and his son Richard let off 28 acres of Le heise to William Wickham, his son William Wickham junior, and John Modle. This land was in four parcels: Boardfield on which a messuage stood, Wellfield, Bickhost field, and a piece of woodland called Le Stumblett (this land is what now forms Little Ease Farm in Rotherfield Parish). Four years later, on 7 February 1593, the Hodleys surrendered this land to the use of Richard Coe and his heirs, so the Wickhams and John Modle couldn’t have bought the land but probably only leased it for a short time.[11] (Dewlands Manor, which was owned by Rotherfield Church, was a small area of Rotherfield between Castle Hill and Stone Mill.) Twenty-one months after Margary’s death John’s second marriage was to Dorothy Knyght at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 8 May 1592. They lived at Rotherfield where they had seven children born between 1593 and 1608, two sons and five daughters, three of the daughters died in early childhood. John’s trade as a whitesmith is documented in the Court records of Rotherfield Manor: On 24 May 1594 and 14 April 1595 John is referred to as John Modell, whytesmith; then at the court of held on 12 March 1603 when his son, then aged 13, was admitted to land, the son was described as Thomas Modell, son of John Modell, whitesmith. At this same court John Mudell was a witness in a dispute over land by two members of the Farmer family.[12] All three of John’s sons became blacksmiths and thereby continued the Muddle family’s association with metalworking. John died when he was probably about 53 years old, and he was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 21 March 1615. Dorothy died 24 years later, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard on 12 March 1639. Her burial record refers to a ‘Widow Muddell’ being buried, but by process of elimination this has been determined to be Dorothy.
John and Margary’s only child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 25 January 1590. When he was 13 years old Thomas was admitted to land at the Court of the Manor of Rotherfield held on 12 March 1603 when he was described as Thomas Modell, son of John Modell whitesmith. Then when he was 15 years old Thomas was recorded in the Rotherfield court records as being one of the homage (jury) acting in 1605. When he was 25 years old Thomas married 25-year-old widow Mary Hider, whose maiden name was Longly. No record of the actual marriage has been found, but a licence was issued by Lewes Archdeaconry Court on 2 October 1615, which stated that the marriage was to take place at Rotherfield Church. The licence described Thomas as being a blacksmith of Rotherfield, and Mary as being a widow of Rotherfield. Mary was the daughter of Richard Longly; she had born at Rotherfield, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 29 March 1590. Thomas and Mary lived at Rotherfield where they had eight children born between 1616 and 1628, the last two being twins, and Thomas continued working as a blacksmith in Rotherfield A year after his marriage it was recorded in the Rotherfield Churchwardens' Account Book that on 3 November 1616 Thomas Muddle sold one woman's seat, built and placed in the middle space in the church and being the third hind seat on the north side of the space, to Nicholas Fermor and his heirs for seven shillings, in the presence of churchwardens Gilbert Wood & Nicholas Marchant. Thomas was not able to write, when he was required to sign his name to this entry in the account book he just made a + mark.[13] At this time men and women sat in separate areas in the church. Parishioners built their own pews in the church, and bought, sold and inherited seats in the pews just like any other property. After 15 years of marriage and 2½ years after the birth of her twins Mary died at the age of 40, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 23 October 1630. The following year Thomas, now aged 41, married Joan Kent at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 3 November 1631. This marriage was childless and only lasted just a year, as Joan died in November 1632, and was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 15 November 1632. This again left Thomas a widower with four children; a son now aged 16 and three daughters now aged 12, 8 and 4. In 1640 Thomas made his mark in the Rotherfield Churchwardens' Account Book as one of the witness to the accounts of William Ovenden and Thomas Baker when they handed over to the new churchwardens, John Turner and John Burges. Three years later in the Account Book on 7 May 1643 John Cheeseman and John Wickesham hand over to the new churchwardens, William Vincent and Thomas Muddel; to be followed the next year with the accounts, dated 2 July 1644, of Thomas Muddle and William Vincent when they handed over to the new churchwardens, Nicholas Holmes and Richard Snatt.[14] So as was normal at that time Thomas did his turn at serving for one year, 1643-44, as a churchwarden even though he couldn't write. Thirty-two years later, in 1676, Elizabeth Vincent, the youngest daughter of Thomas' fellow churchwarden William Vincent, was to marry Thomas' grandson John Muddle. At the Sussex Quarter Sessions held at Lewes on 15 & 16 January 1646 the grand jury indicted Thomas and his son John, who were both described as blacksmiths of Rotherfield; that on 20 April 1645 at Rotherfield they had stolen and carried away a ploughshare valued at 2 shillings and a coulter (the vertical knife mounted in front of a ploughshare) valued at 18 pence that belonged to John Cheesman. John, but not Thomas, was bound by £20 to appear at the next sessions with sureties of £10 from his uncle Robert Muddle and his wife's relative Thomas Luxford. John must have appeared at the next sessions held at Lewes on 9 & 10 April 1646 where the verdict of the trial jury, as recorded on the indictment document, was that both Thomas and John were not guilty, and had not fled justice, which would have resulted in the forfeiture of their chattels. It's assumed that Thomas didn't attend the trial, because he was not bound to, and as a result was arrested and held in prison, because at the next sessions held at Lewes on 16 & 17 July 1645 Thomas was recorded as acquitted and to be delivered out of custody.[15] It's impossible to know just what had happened to cause Thomas and John to be accused of this theft, but possibly as blacksmiths they had made the ploughshare and coulter for John Cheesman and he had not paid for them, which resulted in Thomas and John reprocessing them for which action John Cheesman accusing them of theft. Mary Muddle, the granddaughter of Thomas, is thought to have become an invalid in 1652 and was probably being looked after by her widowed mother, her father, Thomas' son John, having died in 1648. At some point Mary had become a charge on Rotherfield parish and in 1663, when Mary was 23 years old, the Overseers of Rotherfield instigated legal proceedings to have Thomas maintain her; Thomas presumably having refused to do this voluntarily. So at the Lewes Quarter Sessions held on 30 April and 1 May 1663 Thomas Muddle of Rotherfield was ordered to appear at the next sessions to show cause why he should not contribute to the keeping and maintenance of his grandchild Mary Muddle. Then at the Lewes Quarter Sessions held on 6 to 8 October 1664 the disagreement between Thomas Muddle and the Overseers of the Poor of Rotherfield concerning the maintenance of Mary Muddle was referred to the next monthly meeting at Maresfield of the Justices of the Peace. Then at the Lewes Quarter Sessions held on 13 & 14 January 1665 it was finally order that as Thomas Muddle had been shown to be of sufficient means he was to henceforth maintain his grandchild Mary Muddle and an earlier order that the Overseers of Rotherfield were to maintain her was made void. Thomas was then 75 years old and presumably paid for his granddaughter's maintenance for the remaining 4½ years of his life.[16] Thomas lived for 36 years after the death of his second wife; he died at the age of 79 and was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 10 June 1669.
Thomas and Mary’s eldest child was John Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 10 March 1616. When he was 23 years old John married Sarah Luxford at St Peter & St Paul Church in Tonbridge, Kent on 18 October 1639. See the page headed ‘John and Sarah Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.
Thomas and Mary’s second child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 1 March 1618. Thomas is thought to have died when only one year old, and to be the unnamed Muddell that was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield in September or October 1619.
Thomas and Mary’s third child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 2 April 1620.
Thomas and Mary’s fourth child was William Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 25 November 1621. William died when only one year old, and he was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 1 July 1623.
Thomas and Mary’s fifth child was Anne Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 1 January 1623. Anne died when only a few weeks old, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 25 January 1623.
Thomas and Mary’s sixth child was Mary Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 31 October 1624. When she was 22 years old Mary married John Allchorne at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 2 February 1647.
Thomas and Mary’s seventh child, one of twins, was Anne Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 4 May 1628. When she was 24 years old Anne married Thomas Boys at St Michael & All Angels Church in South Malling near Lewes in Sussex on 22 July 1652.
Thomas and Mary’s eighth child, one of twins, was Margaret Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 4 May 1628. Margaret is thought to have died when just one year old, and to be the unnamed daughter of Thomas Muddell that was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 4 May 1629.
John and Dorothy’s eldest child (John’s second) was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 8 April 1593. Elizabeth died when only four years old, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 6 July 1597. The burial record describes Elizabeth as the wife of John, but this is thought to be an error and should have been daughter of John, because no Elizabeth who was the wife of a John is known from this time and the first female child that John and Dorothy had after 1597 was also called Elizabeth.
John and Dorothy’s second child (John’s third) was Susan Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 6 October 1594. In 1619 when she was about 25 years old Susan had an illegitimate daughter who was baptised at Frant in Sussex; the father was recorded as being William Crowherst. This daughter died at the age of 12 and was buried at Rotherfield.
Susan’s illegitimate daughter was Rachel Muddle who was baptised at St Alban’s Church in Frant, Sussex on 22 September 1619. It was recorded at Rachel’s baptism that her father was William Crowherst. Rachel died when 12 years old, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 26 July 1632.
John and Dorothy’s third child (John’s fourth) was Robert Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 27 December 1596. In 1622 when Robert was one of the sureties for his sister Mary’s marriage licence, he was described as being a blacksmith. When he was 28 years old Robert married Alice Cheseman at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 15 November 1625. The following year there is a record of the children of Robert Muddell being buried in Rotherfield Churchyard on 13 August 1626. This probably means that there was a multiple birth, twins or more, that were either stillborn or died almost immediately after birth, and were never baptised or named before death and burial. Robert and Alice then went on to have three children born between 1627 and 1632 who were baptised at Rotherfield. Then it seems that in late 1633 Alice had twins who were either still born or died soon after birth, and that this birth also resulted in Alice’s death, as both of these unnamed and unbaptised children and Alice were all buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 6 December 1633. About eleven months after Alice’s death Robert married Margaret Hatch at St Mary's Church in Hadlow, Kent on 26 October 1634, but they didn't have any children. Robert was described as a husbandman of Rotherfield when he stood surety of £10 for his nephew John Muddle at the Sussex Quarter Sessions held at Lewes on 15 & 16 January 1646.[17] After twenty-nine years of marriage Margaret died and was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 13 June 1663. Eleven years later Robert died at the age of 77, at Mayfield, where he was probably living with his son Thomas, and he was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 21 March 1674.
Robert and Alice’s eldest named child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 23 September 1627. When he was 33 years old Thomas married Elizabeth Aynscombe at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 16 May 1661. They didn’t have had any children, and they must have moved to Mayfield, or to have always lived there, as that was where Elizabeth died in early 1675. She was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 3 February 1675. Sixteen months after Elizabeth’s death Thomas, at the age of 48, married Elizabeth Tompsett at St Peter & St Paul Church in Wadhurst on 22 June 1676. There were also no children from this marriage. When he made his will on 23 June 1690 Thomas described himself as then being a yeoman of Mayfield.[18] But by the time he died at the beginning of 1702, at the age of 74, Thomas was living at Ticehurst. He was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Wadhurst on 14 January 1702. In his will, which was proved at the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 17 April 1702, Thomas left 20 shillings each to the four children of his sister Margaret Stonard, and the rest of his estate to his wife Elizabeth, whom he also made sole executrix. When Elizabeth made her will on 18 January 1703, a year after her husband’s death, she described herself as being a widow of Ticehurst. Elizabeth died at the beginning of 1717, and she was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Wadhurst on 7 January 1717. In her will, which was proved at the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 7 October 1717, Elizabeth left bequests to members of her Tompsett family and made her brother Thomas Tompsett her executor.
Robert and Alice’s second named child was Margaret Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 2 February 1630. Margaret married a Stonard and had at least four children who are named in her brother Thomas’ will as Thomas, Susanna, Mary and Frances.
Robert and Alice’s third named child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 29 January 1632.
John and Dorothy’s fourth child (John’s fifth) was Edward Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 26 August 1599. When he was 31 years old Edward married Annis Burges at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 2 May 1631, by a licence issued at Lewes Archdeaconry Court on 30 April 1631. The licence described Edward as being a blacksmith of Rotherfield, and Annis (called Agnes in the licence) as being a maiden of Rotherfield. They lived at Rotherfield where they had three children, the first being baptised only 13 days after their marriage. Edward died at the age of 43, and he was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 5 July 1643. Thirty-six years later Annis died and was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 28 October 1679; on her burial record she was called Ann and described as being a widow and a pauper.
Edward and Annis’ eldest child was Robert Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 15 May 1631.
Edward and Annis’ second child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 7 April 1634. Elizabeth died when only about 5 years old, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 27 March 1639.
Edward and Annis’ third child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 27 December 1636. Thomas never married, he died at Rotherfield, at the age of 50, and he was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 2 May 1687. His burial record described him as being a pauper, as his mother had been; it seems likely that Thomas had lived with his mother until her death in 1679.
John and Dorothy’s fifth child (John’s sixth) was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield Church on 14 February 1602. Elizabeth was named after her late elder sister who had died four and a half years earlier when only four years old. But this Elizabeth didn’t fair any better, as she died when only one and a half years old, and was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 30 September 1603.
John and Dorothy’s sixth child (John’s seventh) was Mary Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 21 December 1604. When she was 18 years old Mary married Robert Bennett at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 17 December 1622, by a licence issued at Lewes Archdeaconry Court on 14 December 1622. The licence described Robert as being a carpenter and Mary as being a maiden of Rotherfield.
John and Dorothy’s seventh child (John’s eighth) was Bridgett Muddle who was born at Rotherfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Denys Church in Rotherfield on 14 February 1608. Bridgett died when only four years old, and she was buried in St Denys Churchyard at Rotherfield on 12 October 1609. [1] TNA ASSI 35/25/8 m.2, Assize Indictment Files, translated from the Latin by Dr. B F Westcott. [2] ESRO W/SM/C63, Will of Richard Muddle of Mayfield proved by Deanery of South Malling. [3] ESRO W/SM/B28, Will of Richard Muddle of Buxted proved by Deanery of South Malling. [4] ESRO W/SM/C79, Will of Abraham Muddle of Mayfield proved by Deanery of South Malling. [5] SRS Vol.1 Sussex Marriage Licences 1586-1643 p.96. [6] TNA ASSI 35/25/7 m.5v, Assize Indictment Files. [7] TNA ASSI 35/25/8 m.3, Assize Indictment Files, translated from the Latin by Dr. B F Westcott. [8] TNA ASSI 35/25/8 m.4, Assize Indictment Files, translated from the Latin by Dr. B F Westcott. [9] TNA C 66/1228 m.24, Chancery and Supreme Court of Judicature Patent Rolls, translated from the Latin by Dr. B F Westcott. [10] TNA ASSI 35/30/8 m.2v, Assize Indictment Files. [11] C Pullein Rotherfield: The Story of Some Wealden Manors (Tunbridge Wells, 1928) p.166. [12] C Pullein Rotherfield: The Story of Some Wealden Manors (Tunbridge Wells, 1928) p.285. [13] ESRO PAR465/10/3/1 p.75 Rotherfield Churchwardens' account book. [14] ESRO PAR465/10/3/1 pp.104, 107 & 108 Rotherfield Churchwardens' account book. [15] ESRO QO/1 Sussex Quarter Session Order Book 1642-49 & ESRO QR/E70/26 Sussex Quarter Sessions Roll, Lewes Sessions, 15 & 16 January 1645/6. [16] ESRO QO/4 & QO/5 Sussex Quarter Sessions Order Books. [17] ESRO QO/1 Sussex Quarter Session Order Book 1642-49 [18] ESRO W/A45/p13, Will of Thomas Muddle of Mayfield proved by Archdeaconry of Lewes.
|
