THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE FRAMFIELD MUDDLES

 

Chart of John & Ellen Muddle’s Family

 

John and Ellen’s eldest child was Alfred John Muddle who was born at Horley in Surrey, and baptised at St Bartholomew’s Church in Horley on 6 March 1864. In the census of 2 April 1871 Alfred, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at Tickerage Row in Framfield and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Alfred, now aged 17, was a journeyman carpenter living with the family of farm labourer Albert Berry at Vine Farm in Framfield.

When he was 21 years old Alfred married 27-year-old Matilda Emily Grover, known as Emily, at St Peter’s Church in Brighton on 20 December 1885. They were both then living at the home of Emily’s parents, 34 Cheltenham Place in Brighton, and Alfred was a carpenter. Emily was the daughter of baker John Grover and his wife Mary; her birth had been registered in Brighton during the 4th quarter of 1857, and she was baptised at St Nicholas’ Church in Brighton on 4 November 1860.

Alfred and Emily lived in the St Johns area of Burgess Hill, which was within Clayton Parish in Sussex, where they had five children born between 1887 and 1894, and where Alfred worked as a carpenter for the furniture manufactures Norman Bert. In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill with their then three children. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 they were still at 8 Livingstone Road, now with their four youngest children, and Alfred was still a joiner or carpenter. In the census of 2 April 1911 they were living at Chancton, Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill with three of their children, and Alfred was working as a carpenter in the building industry. Emily died on 25 October 1911 in Cuckfield registration district at the age of 54, and she was buried in St John the Evangelist Churchyard at Burgess Hill. Her grave is marked by an inscribed headstone, which also records the death of her son Frank during the First World War.

Three years after Emily’s death Alfred, at the age of 50, sailed 3rd class on the Missanabie of the Canadian Pacific Line from Liverpool on 7 October 1914 bound for Quebec in Canada. The departure passenger list records him totally incorrectly as being a 27-year-old farmer.[1] After a voyage of 8 days Alfred arrived at Quebec on 15 October. The arrival passenger list much more correctly described him as a 51-year-old carpenter who was visiting Canada as a tourist and his destination in Canada was Hamilton in Ontario.[2]

While he was residing in Hamilton Alfred, at the age of 50, was married to 34-year-old Hannah Mann by the Pastor of the First Methodist Evangelical Church in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington State, USA on 13 November 1914. Hannah was then residing at Bellingham as were the two witnesses to the marriage, who were Hannah's employer Adelaide Smith and Grace N Smith, who was probably a relative of Adelaide's that they were visiting. Hannah was the daughter of George and Mary Mann, and she had been born at Burgess Hill, Sussex on 1 August 1880. In the census of 2 April 1911 Hannah, at the age of 30, was a dressmaker's assistant living with her employer, 50-year-old spinster Adelaide Smith, at 6 St Bedes Terrace, Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill. Then when she was 33 years old Hannah, as the domestic servant of Mrs A Smith, sailed 2nd class with her on the Virginian of the Canadian Pacific Line from Liverpool on 12 June 1914 bound for Montreal in Canada. On the departure passenger list Hannah is recorded as Miss H Smith, her surname having been dittoed down incorrectly from that of her employer.[3] After a voyage of 8 days they arrived at Quebec, where the immigration authorities produced the arrivals passenger list, which is now so faded as to be almost unreadable, but it is possible to make out that Hannah and her employer were visiting Canada as tourists and their destination was Montreal.[4] So they would have then sailed on the Virginian up the St Lawrence River to Montreal and then travelled across Canada and the USA to Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington State. Alfred and Hannah must have known each other back in Burgess Hill and for some reason Alfred followed her to Canada to marry her, possibly this had something to do with the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.

After their marriage Alfred purchased a ticket at Hamilton on 28 December 1914 for their return to England. Later that day they arrived at the border crossing between Canada and the USA at Buffalo where they were recorded as married couple Alfred John and Hannah Muddle. On the border crossing documents they were both described as being of medium complexion with brown hair and brown eyes, and that Alfred was 5ft 6ins tall and Hannah was 3ins taller at 5ft 9ins, though as some other information on the document was swapped between Alfred and Hannah it’s possible that this was as well and that Alfred was actually the taller one. The documents further recorded that they were travelling to New York City where they were to board the liner Lusitania of the Cunard Line that was due to sail on the 30 December 1914 for England.[5]

After they arrived back in England Alfred and Hannah lived at Chancton, Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill, where they had three children born between 1915 and 1920. The army records of Alfred's son Frank, who was killed in 1917 during the First World War, record Alfred as living at Chancton in 1915 and 1919, and Frank's war medals were sent to Alfred in 1920-21. Alfred was a lay preacher at the Congregational Chapel in Burgess Hill. He died at Chancton on 15 September 1941, the age of 77. Probate of Alfred's will, which valued his effects at £670 12s 1d, was granted on 12 January 1942 by Lewes Probate Registry to his widow, Hannah, and his son, Charles. Hannah died on 23 October 1969 in Cuckfield registration district, at the age of 89.

 

Alfred and Emily’s eldest child was Charles Muddle who was born at Burgess Hill in Clayton Parish in Sussex, and whose birth was registered in Cuckfield registration district during the 1st quarter of 1887. In the census of 5 April 1891 Charles, at the age of 4, was living with his parents at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Charles, now aged 14, was a carpenter’s apprentice living with his maternal grandmother, Mary Grover, at 19 Thomas Street in the Cliffe area of Lewes. In the census of 2 April 1911 Charles, at the age of 24, was living with his parents at Chancton, Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill, and like his father working as a carpenter in the building industry.

When he was 25 years old Charles married 30-year-old Ethel Annie Peach at the Evangelical Protestant Chapel, Newport Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, on 5 August 1912. Charles was then a cabinet maker living at 8 Myddleton Street, Clerkenwell, London, and Ethel was a lady’s maid living at 20 Hill Street, Ryde. They had two children, the first born in Edmonton registration district in North London in 1913. The following year when Charles' father crossed the border between Canada and the USA on 28 December 1914 he gave his son Charles as his next-of-kin back in England and stated that he was then living at 31 Spigwell Road, Lordship Lane, Tottenham, North London.

During the First World War Charles served in France as Sapper 552816 and then (T)3871 in the Royal Engineers, where his skill in working with wood would have been extremely useful. He was awarded two campaign medals; the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.[6]

Charles and Ethel's second child was born on the Isle of Wight in 1916. Then when Charles' father recorded the living relatives of Charles' brother Frank, who had died in the First World War, on an army form on 10 November 1919 he gave Charles' address as 33 Catherine Road, St Anne's Road, South Tottenham, London. On another army form relating to brother Frank dated 22 October 1920 Charles' address was now given as 12 Chester Road, Lower Edmonton, London. Ethel died from diabetes at the age of 38, her death being registered in Edmonton registration district during the 3rd quarter of 1920.

Just over a year after Ethel’s death Charles, at the age of 34, married Elizabeth Ada Mear, who was about 29 years old and known as Ada, in Edmonton registration district during the 4th quarter of 1921. Ada was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Ann Mear, and she had been born at Tiverton in Devon on 16 November 1892. Charles and Ada had one child born in Edmonton registration district during 1925. In 1942 Charles was described as being a cabinet maker when he acted as one of the executors of his father's will. Charles lived for many years at 59 Westleigh Avenue in Coulsden, Surrey, but was staying with the family of his daughter Doris Porter at Faversham in Kent when he was taken ill and admitted to Canterbury Hospital, where he died when he was about 76 years old, his death being registered during the 4th quarter of 1962. Seventeen years later Ada died at the age of 86, her death being registered in Yeovil registration district in Somerset during the 3rd quarter of 1979.

 

Charles and Ethel’s eldest child was Charles Alfred Muddle, known to family and friends as Charlie, who was born in Edmonton registration district in north London on 7 March 1913. Charlie’s mother died when he was 7 years old and he didn’t get on with his stepmother, whom he thought treated him harshly; so at the age of 15 he got accepted on the Rural Workers Immigration Scheme that was assisting young men to migrate to Australia. This resulted in him sailing 3rd class on the Themistocles of the White Star - Aberdeen Line from Liverpool on 30 March 1929, bound for Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, via the Cape of Good Hope. The passenger list recorded that he had been working in a factory and his last address had been the Salvation Army Training Farm at Hadleigh in Essex. He was travelling with several other young men from the Salvation Army Training Farm and a Salvation Army Officer, so it seems that the Salvation Army was involved in running this scheme.[7]

 

 

When Charlie left home both his father and his aunt, Mollie Muddle, each gave him a pound note but the spives on the ship soon had this off him, leaving without enough money to even have a haircut. On arrival at Sydney Charlie was met by George Hamey for whom he was to work on his mixed farm of poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and crops at Old Guildford, which is now a western suburb of Sydney, for the next 7 years, working 7 days a week for 30 shillings per week.

After 10 years in Australia Charlie, at the age of 26, married 22-year-old Blanche Mary Turner at St Andrew’s Church in King Street, Sydney on 8 April 1939. Blanche was the daughter of mechanical engineer Edward Turner and she had been born at 33 Gaza Road, West Ryde, Sydney during 1916. Just before the birth of his first child Charlie changed his surname by Deed Poll to Murray, to save his children from being bullied and getting into fights because of their Muddle surname, as he had. Charlie and Blanche first lived at 77 Dunlop Street in Epping, Sydney and they had two children, both sons, born in Sydney in 1942 and 1950.

After their marriage Charlie worked as a bread carter, with a horse and cart, while Blanche tutored him to obtain his Intermediate School Certificate. Charlie then trained as a meat inspector at Homebush Abattoir in Sydney, being the inspector that detected the last case of anthrax in Australia. He then studied and graduated as a food inspector and went on to become the Senior Food Inspector for the State Government Health Department in northern New South Wales. This resulted in the family moving to Newcastle in 1953 where they bought a home at 447 Warners Bay Road in Charlestown, Newcastle. Charlie taught meat inspection at Tafe College in Newcastle for 20 years and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal for his work in food hygiene.

In 1971 they moved to their newly built home at 7 Ocean Street in Redhead, which is just to the south of Newcastle. Charlie died on 5 November 1999, at the age of 86, and his funeral service was attended by hundreds of people that he had come to know as friends during his long career.

Charlie wrote several poems about his experiences travelling to, and in, Australia; to read one of them click poem

 

 

Charles and Ethel’s second child was Doris Clifton Muddle who was born on the Isle of Wight on 17 September 1916. When she was 23 years old Doris married 25-year-old William Arthur Porter, known as Peter, at Woodmansterne Parish Church in Surrey on 16 December 1939. Peter had been born on 29 June 1914. Peter and Doris had three sons born between 1943 and 1959. Peter was in the RNVR (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve) and during the Second World War he served on minesweepers. After the war they moved to Faversham in Kent and Peter work as a salesman and then as farm ‘secretary’ for George Fisher who had five farms in Kent. Doris died in Canterbury registration district in Kent on 10 July 1985, at the age of 68. Peter died in Medway registration district in Kent on 7 March 2004, at the age of 89.

 

 

Charles and Ada’s only child (Charles’ third) was Olive Milthred Muddle who was born in Edmonton registration district in north London during 1925. When she was 20 years old Olive married 24-year-old Kevin Vincent Ewing at St Aiden’s Church in Surrey on 15 September 1945. Kevin was then a Corporal in the Irish Guards, and he had been born on 25 February 1921. Kevin and Olive had six children born between 1947 and 1960. In 1947 Kevin was working as a farm assistant, then they moved to Lincolnshire where he was a farm manager. After this he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture while they lived in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Later on Kevin was a primary school teacher.

 

Alfred and Emily’s second child was Mary Ellen Muddle, known as Mollie, who was born at Burgess Hill in Clayton Parish, Sussex on 7 August 1888, and baptised at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill on 7 October 1888. In the census of 5 April 1891 Mollie, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Mollie, now aged 12, was continuing to live with her parents at 8 Livingstone Road. In the census of 2 April 1911 Mollie, at the age of 22, was a domestic cook to George and Lucy Hammond at Hillgay, Keymer Road, Burgess Hill. When Mollie's father recorded the living relatives of Mollie's brother Frank, who had died in the First World War, on an army form on 10 November 1919 he gave Mollie's address as Genlea, St Michael's Road, Worthing, Sussex.

Mollie was an excellent cook, and her cake-making and icing were legendary. For the much of her career she was head cook at a number of great houses, including those of nobility and minor royalty. One of these families insisted in calling her Muddel as they couldn't possibly have a cook called Muddle. Then for a time during the late 1940s and early 1950s Mollie ran the Red Teapot cafe at Ashington in Sussex. She also made a great range of home-made wines from fruit, vegetables, and plants found in the hedgerows. Mollie never married. She remained bright and alert until her death on 16 July 1992, at the grand old age of 103, just 3 weeks short of her 104th birthday.

 

 

Alfred and Emily’s third child was Edith Muddle, known as Edie, who was born at Burgess Hill in Clayton Parish, Sussex on 6 March 1890, and baptised at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill on 1 June 1890. In the census of 5 April 1891 Edith, at the age of 1, was living with her parents at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Edith, now aged 11, was continuing to live with her parents at 8 Livingstone Road. In the census of 2 April 1911 Edith, at the age of 21, was living with her grandmother Ellen Muddle at Normans in Ashington, Sussex, and she was working as her grandmother's helper.

When she was 27 years old Edith married 26-year-old George Ronald Goacher, known as Ron, in Cuckfield registration district in Sussex during the 4th quarter of 1917. Ron was the son of George and Emily Goacher; he had been born at Hampton Wick in Middlesex and his birth registered during the 1st quarter of 1891. When Edith's father recorded the living relatives of Edith's brother Frank, who had died in the First World War, on an army form on 10 November 1919 he gave Edith's address as Sunt Farm, Shipley, Sussex. Ron and Edie had four children; the first two born in Horsham registration district, which includes Shipley, in 1919 and 1920, and the other two in Thakeham registration district in Sussex in 1921 and 1923.

They were living at their farms of West Wolves and East Wolves in Ashington, which is in Thakeham registration district when their son Ronald was killed in the Second World War. Eight days later Ron died in Chanctonbury registration district in Sussex on 21 February 1942, at the age of 51, when he shot himself in a country lane near his farm. Thirty-five years later Edith died when she was just on 87 years old, her death being registered in Worthing registration district in Sussex during the 1st quarter of 1977.

 

Ron and Edie’s eldest child was George Goacher who was born in Horsham registration district in Sussex on 16 March 1919. George was in the Territorial Army and was away at training camp when died at the age of 18, his death being registered in Poole registration distinct in Dorset during the 3rd quarter of 1937. He is thought to have died from a burst appendix.

 

Ron and Edie’s second child was Molly E Goacher whose birth was registered in Horsham registration district in Sussex during the 2nd quarter of 1920. When she was 20 years old Molly married James O’Mahony in Chanctonbury registration district in Sussex during the 4th quarter of 1940. They had one child born in Chanctonbury registration district in 1943 before they emigrated from England to Australia. They have both died.

 

 

Ron and Edie’s third child was Ronald Goacher who was born in Thakeham registration district in Sussex on 20 November 1921. During the Second World War Ronald was Aircraftman 1st Class 924912 in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve when he died on 13 February 1942, at the age of 20. He is commemorated on Column 418 of the Singapore Memorial. His death was two days before the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, so he may have died in the defence of the colony, though a family story is that he went down with an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

 

Ron and Edie’s third child was Frank Goacher who was born in Thakeham registration district in Sussex on 10 December 1923. Frank was a lorry driver. When he was about 25 years old Frank married Mary A Wayman in Horsham registration district in Sussex during the 4th quarter of 1948. There were no children from this marriage which ended in divorce and Frank emigrated from England to Australia where he married Hennie and had twin sons, Frank and John. He has died.

 

Alfred and Emily’s fourth child was Jessie Muddle who was born at Burgess Hill in Clayton Parish, Sussex on 19 November 1892, and baptised at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill on 2 April 1893. In the census of 31 March 1901 Jessie, at the age of 8, was living with her parents at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Jessie, now aged 18, was working as a dressmaker and living with her parents at Chancton, Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill. When Jessie's father recorded the living relatives of Jessie's brother Frank, who had died in the First World War, on an army form on 10 November 1919 he gave Jessie's address as Horrick Hall, Lesbury, Northumberland.

When she was 32 years old Jessie married 27-year-old Dick Whittington in East Preston registration district in Sussex during the 1st quarter of 1925. Dick was the son of Alfred and Mary Lucy Whittington, and he had been born at Washington in Sussex on 23 December 1897. He left school at the age of 11 and became a boot-boy for a retired army officer. He joined the army at the outbreak of the First World War by lying about his age; he was only 16, and unwittingly signed up for 5 years plus 7 years in the reserve. After the war he worked in a sawmill at Findon in Sussex. Dick and Jessie had two children born in Thakeham registration district, which includes Findon, in 1927 and 1931.

Dick became secretary of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters and then when they moved to Lewes in the early 1930s he held the same post there. In about 1935 he won a seat on the Local Council as an Independent and went on to become Mayor of Lewes in 1947 for 18 months. He finished his working life as manager of the Haywards Heath National Insurance Office, from 1950 to 1962. He was made a Freeman of the Borough of Lewes in 1970 and was a staunch member of the British Legion.

Jessie died in Lewes registration district on 7 April 1974, at the age of 81 and seven years later Dick died in Lewes registration district on 5 August 1981, at the age of 83.

 

 

Alfred and Emily’s fifth child was Frank Muddle who was born at Burgess Hill in Clayton Parish, Sussex on 25 May 1894, and baptised at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill on 5 August 1894. In the census of 31 March 1901 Frank, at the age of 6, was living with his parents at 8 Livingstone Road in Burgess Hill. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Frank, now aged 16, was living with his parents at Chancton, Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill, and working as an apprentice carpenter in the building industry.

During the First World War Frank was at 21-year-old carpenter living at 9 Cross Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire when he enlisted, for the duration of the war, at Basingstoke on 7 June 1915 as Sapper 103505 in the Royal Engineers with the trade of skill carpenter. He was then described as 5ft 10¾ins tall with a 40ins fully expanded chest and good physical development. He was initially posted to the depot at Chatham where on 18 August 1915 he committed the offence of impudence to an NCO for which he was confined to barracks for two days and then on 26 September 1915 he committed the offence of hesitating to obey an order for which he was confined to barracks for seven days.

On 6 October 1915 Frank was posted to the 146th Fortress Company of the Royal Engineers and embarked for France the same day. Seven months later he was still Sapper 103505 in the 146th Fortress Company of the Royal Engineers when he died in France on 1 May 1917, at the age of 22, from wounds received in action; having served for 1 year and 329 days. He was buried in plot 4, row E, grave 22, of Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. His death was also recorded on the headstone of his mother's grave in St John the Evangelist Churchyard at Burgess Hill. For his service during the war Frank was awarded three campaign medals; the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-15 Star that were sent to his father during 1920-21.[8]

Frank had made his will on 28 January 1917 while serving as Signal Sapper 103505 of the Royal Engineers as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. In this will he left half his money and effects to Miss A Brewer of 32 Southern Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire and the other half to Mrs Gower care of his father Mr A J Muddle. He stated that his bank book was at 32 Southern Road, Basingstoke and that his father was to draw the money and settle his affairs.[9]

Miss A Brewer was Ada Kate Brewer, who in the 1911 census was living with her parents, Herbert and Kate Brewer, and her siblings at 32 Southern Road, Basingstoke. She had been born in 1891 and was presumably Frank's fiancée. Mrs Gower was probably Frank's widowed maternal grandmother, Mary Gower, who in the 1911 census was living in Burgess Hill.

 

 

Alfred and Hannah’s eldest child (Alfred’s sixth) was Adelaide Muddle who was born at Burgess Hill in Sussex on 1 October 1915. When she was 24 years old Adelaide married 27-year-old Walter Jesse Monnery, known as Michael, in Cuckfield registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1940. Michael had been born on 15 November 1912. They lived at Burgess Hill where they had two children born in 1944 and 1954. Michael died at Burgess Hill on 22 February 1984 at the age of 71. Twenty-one years later Adelaide died at the age of 89, her death being registered in Haywards Heath registration district in Sussex during September 2005.

 

 

Alfred and Hannah’s second child (Alfred’s seventh) was Mabel Muddle, known as Molly, who was born at Burgess Hill in Sussex on 10 September 1917. When she was 28 years old Mabel married 31-year-old Kenneth Charles Jenkins at the Congregational Chapel in Burgess Hill on 3 June 1946. Kenneth had been born on 27 May 1915. Kenneth and Mabel lived in Somerton Road, Newport, South Wales, and they had two children born at Newport in 1947 and 1951. Kenneth was a civil servant at the DSS (Department of Social Security), and Mabel was a housewife and shop worker. Mabel died at Newport in South Wales on 14 January 1995, at the age of 77. Six years later Kenneth died at the age of 86, his death being registered in Newport registration district during December 2001.

 

Alfred and Hannah’s third child (Alfred’s eighth) was Marjorie Muddle who was born at Burgess Hill in Sussex on 24 September 1920. Marjorie never married. She lived at Burgess Hill where she worked in the wages department of the Jaeger Clothing Company. Marjorie died at Burgess Hill on 22 January 1993, at the age of 72.

 

John and Ellen’s second child was Charles Muddle who was born at Portslade in Sussex, and baptised at St Nicolas' Church in Portslade on 24 October 1869. In the census of 2 April 1871 Charles, at the age of 1, was living with his parents at Tickerage Row in Framfield. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Charles, now aged 11, was living with his parents at Dells Cottage in Clayton, Sussex and he was going to school. In the census of 5 April 1891 Charles, at the age of 21, was a journeyman miller boarding with the family of bailiff William Batup at Gassons in Bolney, Sussex. In 1896 Charles passed the City & Guilds examination in milling. The 1899 edition of Kelly's Directory of Sussex listed John and Charles Muddle as water millers at Ashington. In the census of 31 March 1901 Charles was living with his parents in the Mill House at Ashington, Sussex and both Charles and his father were corn millers and employers.

When he was 32 years old Charles married his 1st cousin, 24-year-old Ella Shoosmith Berry/Gander, at St Peter’s Church in Cowfold, Sussex on 25 September 1902. Charles was then a miller living at Ashington, and Ella was living with her mother and step-father at Brook Farm in Cowfold. Ella was the illegitimate daughter of Alice Berry, but took the name Gander after her mother married Jesse Gander. See the section on Ella Shoosmith Berry on the page headed 'Thomas & Martha Muddle's Family' for Ella's ancestry.

Charles and Ella lived at Ashington where Charles worked as a miller in the family business, the 1905 edition of Kelly's Directory of Sussex listed John and Charles Muddle as water millers at Ashington. When his father died in 1906 Charles took over the family milling business and the 1911 and 1915 editions of Kelly's Directory of Sussex listed Charles Muddle as a water miller at Ashington. Charles and Ella had eight children born between 1904 and 1920, the first and last dying in infancy. In the census of 2 April 1911 Charles and Ella were living in Mill Lane at Ashington with their then three children and Charles was a corn miller working on his own account. In 1926 Charles was granted administration of his mother's estate.

Charles was living at The Mill in Ashington when he died on 6 May 1939, at the age of 69, and he was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Ashington on 9 May 1939. Charles died intestate and administration of his estate, which was valued at £2362 6s 9d, was granted on 22 October 1940 by Lewes Probate Registry to his widow, Ella, and his daughter, Helen Elizabeth Butters. After Charles' death his son John took over the family milling business and Ella and her daughter Kitty moved to Worthing. Ella died at the age of 81, her death being registered in Worthing registration district during the 1st quarter of 1959.

 

Charles and Ella’s eldest child was James Muddle who was born at Ashington during December 1904. James died at Ashington when only two days old and he was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Ashington on 24 December 1904.

 

Charles and Ella’s second child was John Edward Muddle who was born at Ashington on 20 August 1906, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 7 October 1906. In the census of 2 April 1911 John, at the age of 4, was living with his parents in Mill Lane at Ashington. When he was 21 years old John married 23-year-old Dorothy Maude Woolven at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 9 June 1928. Dorothy’s birth had been registered in Thakeham registration district in Sussex during the 2nd quarter of 1905. They lived at Ashington where they had five children born between 1930 and 1937. John worked as a miller in the family business, which he ended up taking over from his father, and then passing on to his only son, Charles, after the mill fire in 1973/4. John was a keen cricketer, and captained Ashington village team for many years. Dorothy died at the age of 58, her death being registered in Chichester registration district in Sussex during the 4th quarter of 1963. Twenty-seven years later John died at Ashington at the age of 83, his death being registered during May 1990; he was cremated.

 

Charles and Ella’s third child was Mabel Muddle who was born at Ashington on 22 December 1908, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 21 March 1909. In the census of 2 April 1911 Mabel, at the age of 2, was living with her parents in Mill Lane at Ashington. Mabel never married. She had a bad stutter, and ended up in Greylingwell Mental Hospital at Chichester. Mabel died at Greylingwell, at the age of 61, her death being registered in Chichester registration district during the 1st quarter of 1970.

 

Charles and Ella’s fourth child was Charles Frederick Muddle, known as Frederick, who was born at Ashington on 19 December 1910, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 9 April 1911. In the census of 2 April 1911 Frederick, at the age of 3 months, was living with his parents in Mill Lane at Ashington. When he was 23 years old Frederick married 17-year-old Gwendoline Florence Covey, known as Gwen, at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 23 December 1933. They had eight children born between 1934 and 1961. They first lived at Thakeham in Sussex, Gwen's home village, where their first two children were born in 1934 and 1935, and at this time Frederick was working as a miller's assistant for the family business at Ashington. By the time their third child was born in 1942 they had moved to Franklyn, Alicia Avenue, Ashington, and Frederick was now serving in the army. They continued to live in Alicia Avenue after the war, but in about 1946, after returning from the war, Frederick, being the second surviving son, left the family business. When their fourth child was baptised in 1948 Frederick was working as a gardener, then when their next two children were baptised in 1951 and 1953 Frederick was working as a driver. They later moved to Lancing where their last two children were born in 1958 and 1961. Frederick was living at 16 Boundstone Lane in Lancing when he died on 16 June 1999, at the age of 88.

 

 

Charles and Ella’s fifth child was Helen Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Ashington, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 31 March 1912. When she was 26 years old Helen married Alfred Butters in Worthing registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1938. In 1940 Helen acted as one of the administrators of her father’s estate.

 

Charles and Ella’s sixth child was Katherine Mary Muddle, known as Kitty, who was born at Ashington, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 20 June 1915. Kitty never married. She was a ‘bit odd’ and lived with her parents at Ashington, and then after her father died in 1939 she moved with her mother to Worthing. When her mother died in 1959 it’s thought that Kitty was probably admitted to Greylingwell Metal Hospital in Chichester, Sussex, where her sister Mabel was already a patient. Kitty died at the age of 50, her death being registered in Chichester registration district during the 3rd quarter of 1965.

 

Charles and Ella’s seventh child was Frank Muddle who was born at Ashington on 6 August 1917, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 26 August 1917. Frank never married and he lived in Worthing. He died at the age of 83, his death being registered in Worthing registration district in Sussex during January 2001.

 

Charles and Ella’s eighth child was Robert Muddle who was born at Ashington, and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ashington on 6 June 1920. Robert died at Ashington when only a year old, and he was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Ashington on 3 October 1921.

 

John and Ellen’s third child was Mabel Margaret Muddle who was born at Blackboys in Framfield Parish in Sussex on 2 January 1872, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 25 February 1872. In the census of 3 April 1881 Mabel, at the age of 9, was living with her parents at Dells Cottage in Clayton, Sussex, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Mabel, now aged 19, was living with her parents at Windmill Cottages in Clayton, and she was working as a general domestic servant. In the census of 31 March 1901 Mabel, at the age of 29, was a visitor at 46 Grantham Road in Preston near Brighton, which was the home of Daniel Griffiths, his wife Maria, and their 25-year-old daughter Matilda, who was probably a friend of Mabel’s. Mabel never married. She died at Ashington at the age 33, and was buried in St Peter & St Paul Churchyard at Ashington on 18 December 1905.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2006-2016

Last updated 25 January 2016