THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE FRAMFIELD MUDDLES

 

Chart of Obed & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

 

Obed and Elizabeth’s eldest child was William Muddle, known as Will, who was born at Cliffe in Lewes on 10 June 1875, and was baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church at Cliffe in Lewes on 5 September 1875. In the census of 3 April 1881 William, at the age of 5, was living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage in Blackboys, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 William, now aged 15, was still living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage but he was now working as a carpenter’s apprentice. In the census of 31 March 1901 William, at the age of 25, was living with his parents at the Hundred House in Framfield, and he was now a carpenter.

William was a carpenter when, at the age of 26, he married 27-year-old Agnes Hoey at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 5 December 1901. Agnes was the daughter of Edward and Anne Hoey; she had been born in Lewes and her birth registered during the 3rd quarter of 1874. William and Agnes had two children, the first born at Tunbridge Wells in 1902 and the second at Blackboys on the last day of 1903. They were living at South View in Maynard’s Green and William was still a carpenter when their daughter married in 1939. Agnes died at the age of 75, her death being registered in Eastbourne registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1950. Four years later William died at the age of 78, his death being registered in Eastbourne registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1954.

 

William and Agnes’ eldest child was Agnes Emma Muddle who was born at Tunbridge Wells on 3 September 1902, and baptised at the Independent Tabernacle in Lewes on 26 October 1902. When she was 37 years old Agnes married 34-year-old Edward Philemon Haffenden at Christ Church in Horam on 6 September 1939. William was then living at 351 Seaside in Eastbourne, and Agnes was a ledger clerk living at South View in Maynard’s Green. Edward had been born at Eastbourne on 21 September 1904. Edward died at the age of 87, his death being registered in Eastbourne registration district during June 1992.

 

 

William and Agnes’ second child was William Edmund Muddle who was born at Blackboys on 31 December 1903, and baptised at the Independent Tabernacle in Lewes on 28 February 1904. When he was 30 years old William married 22-year-old Marjorie Mabel Barrow in Hailsham registration district during the 4th quarter of 1934. Marjorie had been born on 25 April 1912. They were living at Cauldebec in Horam and William was a painter and decorator when their only child, a daughter, was born in 1938. They were still living at Cauldebec and William was still a painter a decorator when their daughter married in 1960. William died at the age of 89, his death being registered in Hastings and Rother registration district during April 1993. Five years later Marjorie died on 13 May 1998 at Greenaways Rest Home in Bexhill-on-Sea at the age of 86, and she was cremated at Eastbourne Crematorium on 26 May 1998.

 

Obed and Elizabeth’s second child was Frederick John Muddle who was born at Cliffe in Lewes on 24 October 1876, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church at Cliffe in Lewes on 17 December 1876. In the census of 3 April 1881 Frederick, at the age of 4, was living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage in Blackboys, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Frederick, now aged 14, was still living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage, but he was now working as a farm labourer. In the census of 31 March 1901 Frederick, at the age of 24, was living with his parents at the Hundred House in Framfield, and he was now described as being a farmer’s son working at home, so presumably there was some land that went with the Hundred House that Frederick farmed for his father. Frederick never married. He died at the East Sussex County Asylum in Hellingly on 28 May 1926 at the age of 49, and he was buried in St Thomas à Becket Churchyard at Framfield on 2 June 1926.

 

 

Obed and Elizabeth’s third child was Obed Muddle who was born at Cliffe in Lewes, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church at Cliffe in Lewes on 1 September 1878. In the census of 3 April 1881 Obed, at the age of 2, was living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage in Blackboys. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Obed, now aged 12, was still living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage but he was now going to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Obed, at the age of 22, was living with his parents at the Hundred House in Framfield, and he was now a carpenter.

Obed was a carpenter when, at the age of 23, he married 22-year-old Rhoda Knight at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 26 December 1901. Rhoda was the daughter of John and Mary Ann Knight; she had been born at Mayfield and her birth registered during 3rd quarter of 1879. They had three children; the first two born in the Tunbridge registration district in 1902 and 1906 and the third at Mark Cross in late 1914. The 1914 edition of Kelly's Directory of Tunbridge Wells, Southborough & Tonbridge listed Obed Muddle as a builder and undertaker at Mark Cross, and the 1915 edition of Kelly's Directory of Sussex listed Obed Muddle of Mark Cross as a builder. Sometime after this Obed ran the Post Office at Mark Cross. It seems that Obed also drew up the plans for some building work as his name is on the building control plans for an addition to Spring Barn Cottage at Kingston for the Rev John Goring, who Obed's father had worked for at Framfield, dated 4 May 1934, that were submitted to Lewes Borough Council.[1] On 9 October 1934 Obed, as a member of Rotherfield Parish Council, was one of those who signed a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial at Rotherfield granted to Harriet Muddle. Harriet was not a relative of Obed as she was the widow of Thomas Muddle of the 'Buxted Muddles'.

Obed died at the age of 78, his death being registered in Uckfield registration district during the 1st quarter of 1957. Two years later Rhoda died at the age of 79, her death being registered in Uckfield registration district during the 1st quarter of 1959.

 

Obed and Rhoda’s eldest child was Sidney Wilfred Muddle who was born at Tunbridge Wells in Kent on 30 December 1902, and baptised by the Lewes and Eastbourne Wesleyan Methodist Circuit on 22 February 1903. When he was 27 years old Sidney married Ivy Nellie Dodman in Uckfield registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1930. Ivy had been born in Sevenoaks registration district in Kent on 16 August 1903. Sidney and Ivy were living at Ivy Cottages in Mark Cross and Sidney was a motor engineer when they had their two children, the first born in Uckfield registration district in 1932 and the second in Tunbridge registration district in 1937. Sidney died on 9 July 1986 (from Rotherfield Church Book of Remembrance) in Hastings and Rother registration district at the age of 83. Seven years later Ivy died at the age of 90, her death being registered in Worthing registration district during November 1993.

 

Obed and Rhoda’s second child was Violet Elizabeth Muddle, known as Vi, who was born in Tunbridge registration district on 5 September 1906. When she was 26 years old Violet married 28-year-old Herbert Raymond George Shorter, known as Bert, at St Dunstan’s Church in Mayfield on 12 July 1933. Bert was then a chauffeur and gardener living at Mayfield, and Vi was living with her parents at Mark Cross. Bert’s birth was registered in Godstone registration district in Surrey during the 1st quarter of 1905. Bert and Vi didn’t have any children and they ran the Mark Cross Post Office after Vi’s parents retired, until it closed down. Bert died before 1984. Vi died in Tunbridge Wells registration district at the age of 87, her death being registered during February 1994.

 

 

Obed and Rhoda’s third child was Reginald Robert Kitchener Muddle who was born at Mark Cross in Sussex on 10 November 1914, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Mark Cross on 21 February 1915. When he was 33 years old Reginald married Evelyn Mary Brown, who was about 37, in Uckfield Registration district during the 1st quarter of 1948. They were living at 26 Hornhurst Road in Rotherfield when Evelyn died in Uckfield registration district, which includes Rotherfield, on 30 March 1961, at the age of 50. She was cremated at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells on 4 April 1961, and her ashes were buried at the cematorium on 2 May 1961. Four years later Reginald, at the age of about 51, married Murial E Cox in Uckfield registration district during the 4th quarter of 1965. There were no children from either of Reginald's marriages. They were living at Nailsea, Hosmers Field, Rotherfield when Reginald died in Maidstone registration district in Kent on 16 July 1983, at the age of 68. He was cremated at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells on 25 July 1983, and his ashes were buried with those of his first wife in the rose garden at the crematorium on 8 August 1983.

 

Obed and Elizabeth’s fourth child was Emma Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Blackboys in Framfield Parish, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 26 September 1880. In the census of 3 April 1881 Emma, at the age of 8 months, was living with her parents at Tickerage Cottage in Blackboys. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Emma, now aged 10, was still living with her parents at Tickerage Cottage but she was now going to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Emma, at the age of 20, was living with her parents at the Hundred House in Framfield. Emma never married. She died at Framfield on 17 March 1907 at the age of 26, and she was buried in St Thomas à Becket Churchyard at Framfield on 22 March 1907. Her grave is marked by an inscribed headstone.

 

 

Obed and Elizabeth’s fifth child was Albert James Muddle, known as Bert, who was born at Blackboys in Framfield Parish on 24 April 1884, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 29 June 1884. In the census of 5 April 1891 Albert, at the age of 6, was living with his parents at Tickerage Cottage in Blackboys, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Albert, now aged 16, was living with his parents at the Hundred House in Framfield, and he was working as a carpenter. Albert was living at Framfield where he was working as a carpenter, when on 29 August 1906, at the age of 22 years, he enrolled in the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteer Corps. He was in company K and his regimental number was 4607. His Corps Muster Roll record described him as being 5ft 6½in tall with a 36¼in chest measurement. He took the Oath of Allegiance on 3 April 1908 when he was in company K with regimental number 235 and he was then living at Hadlow Down where he was working as a carpenter.

Albert was still a carpenter when, at the age of 22, he married 18-year-old Mary Ann Hoadley at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 5 October 1906. Mary Ann was the daughter of Amos and Ann Hoadley, and she had been born at Buxted on 22 September 1887. Albert and Mary Ann had six children; the first two were born at Framfield in 1907 and 1909. They then moved to Hadlow Down where their other four children were born in 1912, 1915, 1923 and 1925; they were living at Nursery Cottage in Hadlow Down when the last two of these were born. Then in 1928 when their son, Ernest, died, they were living at Cotpit in Five Ashes. When their daughter, Dorothy, married in 1936 they were living at Cotpit and Albert was still working as a carpenter. They were still living at Cotpit when Albert died on 23 December 1955 at the age of 71 in Tonbridge registration district, probably in Tunbridge Wells Hospital; he was buried in St Mark’s Churchyard at Hadlow Down on 28 December 1955. Three years later Mary Ann was still living at Cotpit when she died on 4 April 1959 at the age of 71 (not 72 as given on her death certificate and burial record) in Portsmouth registration district in Hampshire; she was buried in St Mark’s Churchyard at Hadlow Down on 10 April 1959.

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s eldest child was Frederick George Muddle who was born at Framfield in Sussex on 8 January 1907, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 24 February 1907. When he was 23 years old Frederick was working as a handyman and living with his parents at Cotpit in Five Ashes when he married 31-year-old Dorothy Beatrice Hide at St Dunstan’s Church in Mayfield on 21 April 1930. Dorothy was the daughter of Charles and Minnie Hide, and she had been born at Barnes in Surrey on 1 March 1899. Frederick and Dorothy had one child born in Uckfield registration district later that year. They lived at Horam and Frederick was a farm worker. They were living at Horam when Frederick died of cancer in Gildredge Hospital at Eastbourne on 24 March 1970 at the age of 63; he was buried in All Saints Churchyard in Waldron on 31 March 1970. Fifteen years later Dorothy died at the age of 86, her death was registered in Eastbourne registration district during July 1985. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered over the South Downs.

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s second child was Albert John Muddle, known as Jack, who was born at Framfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 22 August 1909. When he was 20 years old Jack married 21-year-old Annie Christina Kezia Keeley at St Bartholomew’s Church in Cross-in-Hand on 15 February 1930. They were both then living at Pine Villa in Cross-in-Hand, and Albert was working as a labourer. Annie had been born in Uckfield registration district on 5 May 1908. Albert and Annie had two children born in Hailsham registration district in 1942 and 1946. They were living at Pine Villa in Cross-in-Hand when Jack died in Tunbridge registration district on 10 September 1949 at the age of 40; he was buried in All Saints Churchyard at Waldron on 14 September 1949. Nine years later Annie married Harry R Sands in Hailsham registration district during the 1st quarter of 1958. Annie died at the age of 95, her death being registered in Kent during February 2004.

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s third child was Ernest Charles Muddle, known as Charles, who was born at Hadlow Down in Sussex, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 22 September 1912. Charles was living at Cotpit in Five Ashes when he died at the age of 16; he was buried in St Mark’s Churchyard at Hadlow Down on 7 November 1928.

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s fourth child was Dorothy Kate Muddle, known as Kitty, who was born at Hadlow Down in Sussex on 11 December 1914, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 24 January 1915. When she was 21 years old Kitty married 24-year-old Leslie Ernest Alec Piper at St Bartholomew’s Church in Cross-in-Hand on 22 August 1936. Leslie was then a cinema operator living at The Store in Little London, and Kitty was living at Cotpit in Five Ashes. Leslie had been born in Uckfield registration district on 13 August 1912. Leslie and Dorothy didn’t have any children, and they lived at Little London near Heathfield. Leslie died at the age of 75, his death being registered in Uckfield registration district during June 1988. Four years later Dorothy died at the age of 77, her death being registered on the Isle of Wight during October 1992.

 

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s fifth child was Elizabeth Ann Muddle, known as Betty, who was born at Hadlow Down in Sussex on 10 June 1923, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 29 July 1923. When she was 21 years old Betty married 20-year-old Peter William Elgar Purfield at St Dunstan’s Church in Mayfield on 9 June 1945. Peter was then in the Royal Navy and was from Rowledge near Farnham in Surrey. They had two sons.

 

Albert and Mary Ann’s sixth child was Winifred Thora Muddle, known as Winnie, who was born at Hadlow Down in Sussex on 24 August 1925, and baptised at St Mark’s Church in Hadlow Down on 17 November 1925. When she was 19 years old Winnie married 25-year-old George Carruthers at St Bartholomew’s Church in Cross-in-Hand on 18 August 1945. Winnie was then in the Land Army and living at Little London near Heathfield, and George was in the Canadian Army at Aldershot in Hampshire. They lived in Canada, and they had two children. George died, and then Winnie died on 14 April 2000 at the age of 74.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2006-2009

Last updated 30 March 2009