THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE FRAMFIELD MUDDLES

 

Chart of James & Abigail Muddell’s Family

 

James and Abigail’s eldest child was James Muddle who was born at Falmer in Sussex on 15 November 1820, and baptised at the Jireh Chapel in Lewes on 24 December 1820. When he was 16 years old James, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837. As no more records have been found for James it seems likely that he may have died within a few years of arriving in America.

 

James and Abigail’s second child was William Muddle who was born some where in England during February 1823 (according to his 1900 USA census record though no baptism has been found for him), probably somewhere in Sussex. When he was 14 years old William, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837. There he changed the spelling of his name to Muddell. In the census of 1 June 1850, enumerated on 2 August, William, at the age of 27, was lodging with Jacob and Elizabeth Courson in Elizabeth Township, Essex County, New Jersey, and he was working as a carpenter. The following year, when he was still 27 years old, William married Mary Meeker Shipman at Elizabeth Township on 30 January 1851.[1] Mary was the daughter of John and Charlotte Shipman; she had been born in New Jersey in about 1824 and baptised with three of her siblings at the Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Essex County, New Jersey on 22 March 1832.[2]

William and Mary had six children born in New Jersey between 1852 and 1866, and at least the third, fourth and fifth were born at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, between 1858 and 1863, the third dying there in 1860 aged 18 months. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 20 July, they were living in the 5th Ward of Newark with their then two surviving children, and William was a carpenter.

The annual federal tax assessment for 1866 records William Muddell living at 157 Elm Street in Newark and to have a taxable income of $39 that was taxed at 5% so that William had to pay $1.95 in tax.[3] As tax was then only paid on income over $600 this means that William's annual income was $639, which was quite a comfortable income at a time when the typical monthly rent for a six room house was $10.

In the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, William and Mary were living in the 10th Ward of Newark with their five surviving children, and William was continuing to work as a carpenter. Their eldest daughter, Mary, married in about 1872 and in the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 10 June, William and Mary with their other four children were living at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark and William was still working as a carpenter. In seventeen editions of the Newark City Directory from 1880-81 to 1899 William was listed as a carpenter living at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark and his youngest son, Wellington, working as a clerk was also listed as living there.

In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 5 June, William and two of his spinster daughters, Phoebe and Emma, were living at 418 Lafayette Street in Newark. William, now aged 73, was still working as a carpenter. He was recorded as married though Mary was not there, and he rented his house. William was not listed in the Newark City Directory of 1900, but in the 1901 edition he was listed as a carpenter living at 418 Lafayette Street.

 

William and Mary’s eldest child was Mary Ella Muddell who was born in New Jersey in about 1852. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 20 July, Mary, at the age of 8, was living with her parents in the 5th Ward of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, Mary, now aged of 18, was living with her parents in the 10th Ward of Newark, and she was now working in a ribbon factory.

In about 1872, when she was about 20 years old, Mary married William Day, who was about 33 years old. William had been born in England during March 1839 and had migrated to the USA in about 1860. On the 1900 census William and Mary recorded that they’d had five children, one of whom was then dead. The four known children were all sons. Their first child was born in New Jersey in 1872, the second in Canada in 1874 and the third in New York in 1879. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 4 June, they were living at 454 West 31st Street, New York City with their three children and William was a foreman in a silk factory. Their fourth known child was born in Connecticut in 1883.

By 1898 they had settled at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey and their four sons were now all young adults. The 1898 edition of Griffith’s Paterson Directory and the 1899 edition of Griffith’s Paterson & Passaic Directory both list F J Day & Co (Frederick J and William Day) ribbon manufacturers with their mill near Ellison. The directories also list Frederick J and William Day of F J Day & Co together with George E and William H Day, weavers, all living at 97 Park Avenue. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, William and Mary and their four sons were living at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, which they rented. William and his eldest son, Frederick, were ribbon manufacturers and the other three sons were all ribbon weavers, the youngest of these sons, Walter W Day, was not in the directories because he was still under age.

In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 19 April, Williamand Mary and their two unmarried sons, Frederick and Walter, were living at 60 Park Avenue in Paterson, which they owned with a mortgage, and William and his son Frederick were still ribbon manufacturers in their business of F J Day & Co and son Walter was still working for them as a weaver. Then in the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 12 January, William and Mary and just their youngest son, Walter, were still living at 60 Park Avenue in Paterson, which they owned with a mortgage, and William and his son Walter were silk manufacturers on their own account, presumably still in their business of F J Day & Co. It’s thought that son Frederick had possibly died.

 

William and Mary’s eldest child was Frederick J Day who was born in New Jersey during February 1872. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 4 June, Frederick, at the age of 8, was living with his parents at 454 West 31st Street, New York City. Then in the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, Frederick, now aged 28, was in business with his father as a ribbon manufacturer and living with his parents at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 19 April, Frederick, at the age of 38, was still in business with his father as a ribbon manufacturer with the trade of clerk and now living with his parents at 60 Park Avenue in Paterson. It’s thought that Frederick possibly died before the 1920 census.

 

William and Mary’s second child was William H Day who was born in Canada during July 1874. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 4 June, William, at the age of 5, was living with his parents at 454 West 31st Street, New York City. Then in the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, William, now aged 25, was working as a ribbon weaver in the ribbon manufacturing business of his father and elder brother, and living with his parents at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey.

In about 1903 William married Anna Anderson who had been born in New Jersey in about 1877 to English born parents; had already been married and had a daughter. William and Anna had two children born in about 1904 and 1906. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, they were living at 132 Governor Street in Paterson, which they rented, with their two children and Anna’s daughter. William was working as a loom fixer in a silk mill, possibly the business of his father and elder brother.

 

William and Anna’s eldest child was Eleanor R Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1904. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, Eleanor, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at 132 Governor Street in Paterson.

 

William and Anna’s second child was William L Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1906. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, William, at the age of 4, was living with her parents at 132 Governor Street in Paterson.

 

William and Mary’s third known child was George E Day who was born in New York during March 1879. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 4 June, George, at the age of 1, was living with his parents at 454 West 31st Street, New York City. Then in the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, George, now aged 21, was working as a ribbon weaver in the ribbon manufacturing business of his father and eldest brother, and living with his parents at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, Passaic County, NewJersey.

It was probably in late 1900 that George married Amy who had been born in New Jersey in about 1876. George and Amy had four children born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey between about 1902 and 1908, the middle two of whom were twins. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 16 April, they were living at 388 Union Avenue in Paterson, which they rented, with their four children and George was working as a broker on his own account in his own office.

 

George and Amy’s eldest child was Viola Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1902. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 16 April, Viola, at the age of 8, was living with her parents at 388 Union Avenue in Paterson.

 

George and Amy’s second child, one of twins, was Amy Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1904. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 16 April, Amy, at the age of 6, was living with her parents at 388 Union Avenue in Paterson.

 

George and Amy’s third child, one of twins, was George W Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1904. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 16 April, George, at the age of 6, was living with his parents at 388 Union Avenue in Paterson.

 

George and Amy’s fourth child was Dorothy Day who was born at Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey in about 1908. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 16 April, Dorothy, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at 388 Union Avenue in Paterson.

 

William and Mary’s fourth known child was Walter W Day who was born in Connecticut during April 1883. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, Walter, at the age of 17, was working as a ribbon weaver in the ribbon manufacturing business of his father and eldest brother, and living with his parents at 97 Park Avenue in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 19 April, Walter, now aged 27, was working as a weaver in a silk mill, probably in the business of his father and eldest brother, and living with his parents at 60 Park Avenue in Paterson. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 12 January, Walter, at the age of 36, was living with his parents at 60 Park Avenue in Paterson. He, like his father, was now a silk manufacturer on his own account, probably being in business with his father in the family firm of F J Day & Co. He had probably taken over the position in the business of his brother Frederick who its thought had possibly died.

 

William and Mary’s second child was Phoebe Charlotte Muddell who was born in New Jersey during May 1854. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 20 July, Phoebe, at the age of 6, was living with her parents in the 5th Ward of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Then in the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, Phoebe, now aged 16, was living with her parents in the 10th Ward of Newark. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 10 June, Phoebe, at the age of 26, was working as a dressmaker and living with her parents at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark. Then in the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 5 June, Phoebe, still unmarried at the age of 46, was working as a seamstress and living with her father and sister Emma at 418 Lafayette Street in Newark.

In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 18 April, Phoebe, at the age of about 55, was not working and living with her younger spinster sister Emma at 149 Van Buren Street in Newark, which they rented. Then in the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 6 January, Phoebe, still a spinster at the age of 65, was working as a binder in a corset factory and living with her sister Emma at 220 Elm Avenue in Newark, which they rented. In both the 1910 and 1920 censuses Phoebe, like her sister Emma, had trimmed several years off her age as she had in the 1900 census.

 

William and Mary’s third child was William R Muddell who was born at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on 20 August 1858.[4] William died at Newark on 22 February 1860 when only 18 months old, from inflammation of the lungs or dropsy on the brain that he’d had for 5 days.[5]

 

William and Mary’s fourth child was Sarah Muddell who was born at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on 21 October 1860.[6] In the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, Sarah, at the age of 9, was living with her parents in the 10th Ward of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 10 June, Sarah, at the age of 19, was working in a celluloid factory and living with her parents at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark.

A legal notice published in the 23 June 1919 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that listed Sarah's surviving siblings as defendants in a case involving the rights of the defendants to a property in Brooklyn didn't include Sarah so it can be assumed that she had by then died, though it's not known if she had married before dying.

 

William and Mary’s fifth child was Emmeline Wilsey Muddell, known as Emma who was born at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on 22 May 1863.[7] In the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, Emma, at the age of 7, was living with her parents in the 10th Ward of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 10 June, Emma, at the age of 17, was working as a dressmaker and living with her parents at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 5 June, Emma, still unmarried at the age of 37, was not working and living with her father and sister Phoebe at 418 Lafayette Street in Newark.

In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 18 April, Emma, at the age of 46, was working as a candy clerk for a candy company and living with her elder spinster sister Phoebe at 149 Van Buren Street in Newark, which they rented. Then in the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 6 January, Emma, still a spinster at the age of 56, was working as a wrapper in a candy factory and living with her sister Phoebe at 220 Elm Avenue in Newark, which they rented. In both the 1910 and 1920 censuses Emma, like her sister Phoebe, had trimmed several years off her age as she had in the 1900 census.

 

William and Mary’s sixth child was James Wellington Muddell, known as Wellington, who was born in New Jersey in about 1866. In the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 14 June, Wellington, at the age of 4, was living with his parents in the 10th Ward of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Then in the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 10 June, Wellington, at the age of 14, was living with his parents at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark and he was going to school. In four editions of the Newark City Directory from 1890 to 1893 Wellington was listed as a clerk living with his father at 275 Lafayette Street in Newark.

In 1892 Wellington married Mary T Lawshe, who was the daughter of Jacob and Harriet Lawshe and had been born in New Jersey during September 1869. Wellington and Mary had one child, a son, born in early 1894. They must have been living with Mary's parents as three editions of the Newark City Directory from 1894 to 1896 listed Wellington as a salesman living at 18 South Street in Newark, which was the home of Mary's parents. Then the three editions of the directory from 1897 to 1899 listed Wellington as an electrician working at 179 Market Street in Newark and still living at 18 South Street. In 1899 Wellington deserted his wife and son and is understood to have gone to Virginia, and he was not listed in the 1900 or 1901 editions of the Newark City Directory.

In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 5 June, Mary and her son were living with her parents at the home they owned at 18 South Street, Newark. The following year Mary obtained a divorce from Wellington and legally changed her surname back to Lawshe. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 23 April, Mary and her son were still living her parents, but now at 119 Harrison Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Mary's mother died in 1912 and her father in 1914, and then during the First World War when her son Errol registered for the draft he stated that he was living at 5 Shanley Avenue in Newark and that he had his mother as a dependent, so Mary was presumably then also living at 5 Shanley Avenue.

A legal notice published in the 23 June 1919 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle indicates that it was thought that Wellington had possibly remarried and had more children but it was not known if he was still alive or the whereabouts of him or any possible family. The legal notice was asking for him or any of his descendents from this possible second marriage to come forward to answer a case instigated by Sarah Jane Hyerson against the surviving descendents of Wellington's parents that related to a property on Carroll Street in Brooklyn so that judgement could be made about the rights of the various parties to portions of this property.

Mary's son Errol married in 1919 and in the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 7 January, Mary was living with her son and his wife at 121 Woodward Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey. Then in the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 3 April, Mary, at the age of 60, was living with her son's family at 271 Sylvan Street in Rutherford.

 

Wellington and Mary’s only child was Errol Raynier Muddell who was born at Newark, New Jersey on 4 February 1894. Errol's father deserted his family in 1899 and in the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 5 June, Errol, at the age of 6, was living with his mother at 18 South Street, Newark, the home of his mother's parents. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 23 April, Errol, now aged 16, was living with his mother at 119 Harrison Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey, which was the new home of his mother's parents. In 1915, when he was 21, Errol changed his surname to Lawshe.

During the First World War Errol, when he was 23, was registered for drafting into the US Army. His draft registration card dated 5 June 1917 at Newark, New Jersey, records that he was then living at 5 Shanley Avenue, Newark, and that he worked for Becton Dickinson Co. in Rutherford, New Jersey as a salesman. It also recorded that he was tall, of medium build with blue eyes and brown hair, and that he clamed exemption from the draft because he had a mother dependent on him.

In 1919 when he was 25 years old Errol married Ruth Ann Severing, who was about 24. Ruth was the daughter of Phillip and Mary Severing and she had been born at Newark on 4 August 1895. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 7 January, Errol and Ruth were living at 121 Woodward Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey, which they rented. Errol was working as a clerk at a surgical instrument manufacturer, and they had his mother living with them.

Errol and Ruth had three children, all sons, the first two being born in 1921 and 1925. In the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 3 April, Errol, Ruth and their two sons were living at 271 Sylvan Street in Rutherford, which they owned and was valued at $15,000. Errol was now a manager at a medical instrument manufacturer, and his mother was still living with them. Their third son was born in late 1931, and than a year later Ruth died at Hackensack, New Jersey on 6 December 1932, at the age of 37. She is thought to have died during childbirth, if she died the child must have also died.

While working for medical instrument manufacturer Becton Dickinson Co. Errol invented the rubber piece that goes in a medical syringe to stop air entering the blood stream when an injection is given. This made his employer a lot of money and as a reward they paid for Errol to go on trips around the world every year for the rest of his life.

Fourteen years after Ruth's death Errol, at the age of 52, married Dorotha Wheaton on 13 July 1946. The marriage lasted 14 years ending in divorce on 3 January 1961. Then when he retired Errol moved to Florida where he married Hazel Strapp in 1963, this marriage lasted 5 years ending in divorce during 1968. Errol then moved to Houston, Texas where his son Phillip was living and died there on 24 June 1978, at the age of 84.

 

James and Abigail’s third child was Samuel Muddle who was born at Uckfield in Sussex on 3 January 1825, and baptised at the Jireh Chapel in Lewes on 10 February 1825. When he was 12 years old Samuel, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837. There he changed the spelling of his name to Muddell.

When he was 27 years old Samuel married Anna Elizabeth Meeker, known as Elizabeth, on 21 March 1852 in Morris County, New Jersey. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 7 July, they were living in ward 16 of New York City; Samuel was a carpenter, he didn’t own any real estate but he had a personal estate valued at $5000. They had 11-year-old Eliza Jackson as a live-in domestic servant. The Elizabeth City Directory of 1866 listed Samuel as a clerk living at 131 Railroad Avenue in Elizabeth Township, which was his parents' home. Then in the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 29 June, Samuel and Anna were living in Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey. Samuel was a cabinet maker, and he had real estate valued at $10,000 and personal estate valued at $100. They had three people living with them who were probably lodgers. The Morris County Directory of 1883-84 listed Samuel Muddell as living on Water Street in Morristown and to be the superintendent of Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown.

 

James and Abigail’s fourth child was Trayton Muddle who was born at Uckfield in Sussex on 4 January 1827, and baptised at the Jireh Chapel in Lewes on 18 March 1827. When he was 10 years old Trayton, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837.

In about 1849 Trayton married Isabell, who had also been born in England. In the census of 1 June 1850, enumerated on 10 August, they were living with the family of Richard and Eliza Jane Whitehead in Rahway Township, Essex County, New Jersey, and Trayton was working as a labourer. This census included a list of persons who had died during the previous year and on this list for Rahway was Eliza Jane W Muddle who had died in May aged one month. It seems certain that this child was Trayton and Isabell’s as they were the only Muddles then living in Rahway and this child seems to have been named after the Eliza Jane Whitehead that they were living with.

Trayton and Isabell changed the spelling of their name to Muddell, and had at least two more children born in New Jersey in about 1851 and 1853. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 16 July, they were living at Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, with their two children. Trayton was working as a machine shop engineer and he owned real estate valued at $500 and had a personal estate of $50.

During the American Civil War Trayton was one of the New Jersey Volunteers in the Union Army, he enlisted on the 17 September 1861 for 3 years as a Private in Company M, 9th New Jersey Infantry Regiment. He received a disability discharge on 20 November 1862 at Beaufort, North Carolina. In 1863 Trayton, as a Civil War invalid, applied for a Federal Pension.

It seems that Trayton and Isabell must have divorced because both remarry. Isabell married Charles L Ward in Manhattan on 21 April 1869. In the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 23 June, Charles and Isabell were living in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey; Charles was working as a blacksmith and had real estate valued at $8,000 and a personal estate of $200. Living with them were three of Charles' children from his first marriage to Mary. Isabell died sometime before the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 19 June, because Charles was then a widower living with the family of his son David in Bloomfield; both David and Charles were blacksmiths.

Trayton's second marriage was to Marg Young, who had been born in Wales, and they had at least one child born in New Jersey in April 1872. It's not known if Trayton and Marg divorced or if Marg died but Trayton's third marriage was to Harriet. The Newark City Directory of 1880-81 listed Trayton as an engineer living at 27 River Street in Newark, which must have been his address before the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 2 June, as Trayton and Harriet were then living at 46 Center Street, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, with Trayton's daughter from his second marriage; Trayton was working as an engineer in a factory, and Harriet was keeping house. The 1882 and 1884 editions of the Newark City Directory listed Trayton as an engineer living at 46 Center Street in Newark, followed by the 1885 edition listing him as an engineer living at 116½ Cherry Street in Newark.

Trayton was not in the Newark City Directory of 1886; it seems they had moved to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York City, as the Brooklyn Directory of 1888-89 listed Trayton as an engineer living at 315 Gold Street in Brooklyn, followed by the 1889-90 edtion listing him as an engineer living at 259 Gold Street in Brooklyn, and the 1891-92 edition listing him as an engineer living at 99 Lawrence Street in Brooklyn. Trayton died on 7 July 1893, at the age of 66, and he was buried in grave 5160 of Cypress Hills National Cemetery, 833 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.

 

Trayton and Isabell’s eldest known child was Eliza Jane W Muddle who was born at Rahway, Essex County, New Jersey in about April 1850. Eliza died at Rahway during May 1850, when she was only one month old, from dropsy, which she’d had for four weeks.

 

Trayton and Isabell’s second known child was Sarah A Muddell who was born in New Jersey in about 1851. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 16 July, Sarah, at the age of 9, was living with her parents at Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey.

 

Trayton and Isabell’s third known child was Anna A Muddell who was born in New Jersey in about 1853. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 16 July, Anna, at the age of 7, was living with her parents at Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey.

 

Trayton and Marg’s only known child (Trayton’s fourth) was Emma Elizabeth Muddell who was born in New Jersey in April 1872. In the census of 1 June 1880 Emma, at the age of 8, was living with her father and stepmother at 46 Center Street, Newark, Essex, New Jersey. In about 1890 Emma married a Pouelson and they had at least 2 children born in 1897 and 1904. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 6 June, Emma and her young son William were living at 73 South 6th Street, Newark; Emma's husband was not at home but they had 29-year-old William Cole as a boarder.

It's not know what happened to Emma's first husband but it's thought that Emma's second marriage was to a Spring because she gave this as her surname at her third marriage when she married John Trembley in about 1907. John was the son of Daniel and Ann Trembley; he had been born in New Jersey in February 1853 and had also married twice before marrying Emma. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, John and Emma were living at 392 15th Avenue in Newark, which they rented, with John's son from a previous marriage and Emma's two sons from her first marriage; and John was working as a labourer for the water department John and Emma had two children born in about 1911 and 1913. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 11 January, John and Emma were living at 43½ Jacob Street in Newark, which they rented, with their two children and John was now an inspector with the City Water Department.

 

Emma’s eldest known son was William Pouelson who was born at Newark, New Jersey in December 1897. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 6 June, William, at the age of 2, was living with his mother at 73 South 6th Street in Newark. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, William, now aged 12, was living with his mother and stepfather at 392 15th Avenue in Newark.

 

Emma’s second known child was John Pouelson who was born at Newark, New Jersey in about 1904. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 20 April, John, at the age of 6, was living with his mother and stepfather at 392 15th Avenue in Newark.

 

John and Emma’s eldest child was Florence Trembley who was born at Newark, New Jersey in about 1911. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 11 January, Florence, at the age of 9, was living with her parents at 43½ Jacob Street in Newark.

 

John and Emma’s second child was Edward Trembley who was born at Newark, New Jersey in about 1913. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 11 January, Edward, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at 43½ Jacob Street in Newark.

 

James and Abigail’s fifth child was Edmund Muddle who was born at Uckfield on 18 March 1829, and baptised at the Jireh Chapel in Lewes on 10 May 1829. Edmund died at Uckfield when only seven months old, and he was buried in Holy Cross Churchyard at Uckfield on 28 October 1829. (Edmund’s burial record is in the name of Edward.)

 

James and Abigail’s sixth child was Martha Muddle who was born in England in about 1833. When she was 4 years old Martha, with her parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837. It is possible that it was actually Martha who was the 17-year-old male Nathan Muddle listed as living with her parents in Elizabeth Township, Essex, County, New Jersey in the census of 1 June 1850, enumerated on 26 August.

When she was about 21 years old Martha, now spelling her name Muddell, married Thomas H Cossins at Elizabeth Township, Essex County, New Jersey on 14 October 1852. They had at least one child, a son, born in New Jersey in about 1854. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 27 June, they were living in Ward 19 District 1 of New York City with their son; Thomas was working as a carpenter and he didn’t own any real estate or have any personal estate. It seems that Thomas probably died during the 1860s and in the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 27 December, Martha and her son were living in Ward 16 District 11 of New York City.

 

Thomas and Martha’s only known child was Joseph J Cossins who was born in New Jersey during July 1853. In the census of 1 June 1860, enumerated on 27 June, Joseph, at the age of 6, was living with his parents in Ward 19, District 1 of New York City. Then in the census of 1 June 1870, enumerated on 27 December, Joseph and his mother were living in Ward 16 District 11 of New York City in a building that also housed the family of baker Thomas Thorne, whose occupation seems significant considering the occupation Joseph was to have in 1880. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 4 June, Joseph was living at 332 Smith Street in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; he was the keeper of a cake store and living in the same house were William and Martha Tranton; William was a baker and possibly working for Joseph.

In about 1887 Joseph married Caroline E Hunt, who was the daughter of William and Harriet Hunt and had been born in New York during February 1857. In the Lain & Co. Brooklyn Directory for both 1888-89 & 1889-90 Joseph was listed as a salesman living at 259 Carroll Street in Brooklyn. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 4 June, Joseph and Caroline were living with Caroline’s parent in their home at 259 Carroll Street in Brooklyn, and Joseph was described as being a house furnisher. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 22 April, Joseph and Caroline were continuing to live with Caroline’s parents at 259 Carroll Street, and Joseph now described himself as a crockery salesman. This census recorded that Caroline had never had any children.

 

James and Abigail’s seventh child was Richard Muddle who was born in England in about 1835. When he was 2 years old Richard, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837. It is possible that it was actually Richard who was the 14-year-old Reuben Muddle listed as living with his parents in Elizabeth Township, Essex, County, New Jersey in the census of 1 June 1850, enumerated on 26 August. As no more records have been found for Richard it seems likely that he may have died during the 1850s.

 

James and Abigail’s eighth child was Davia Muddle who was born in England in about March 1837. Soon after birth Davia, with her parents and siblings, emigrated from England to the USA, sailing from London on the Ontario and arriving at New York on 1 July 1837 when she was only 3 months old. As no more records have been found for Davia it seems likely that she may have died within a few years of arriving in America.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2006-2012

Last updated 21 March 2012