THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE FRAMFIELD MUDDLES

 

Chart of Thomas & Dinah Muddle’s Family

 

Thomas and Dinah’s eldest child was Mary Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and privately baptised by St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 9 August 1785. Mary died soon after her baptism, and she was buried in St Margaret of Antioch Churchyard at Isfield on 14 August 1785.

 

Thomas and Dinah’s second child was William Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 4 March 1787. When he was 20 years old William married 36-year-old Ann Roberts at St Mary the Virgin Church in Warbleton, Sussex on 30 March 1807. An illegitimate son of Ann Roberts had been baptised at the same church 19 days earlier, and his name, Thomas Muddel Roberts, suggests that he was fathered by William. Ann was the daughter of John and Anne Roberts and she had been baptised at the Parish Church of Chiddingly on 2 August 1770. After their marriage William and Ann had two more children born at Isfield in 1809 and 1812. Ann died at Isfield at 12am on 6 July 1837, at the age of 67 (not 70 as given on her death certificate and burial record), from cancer of the rectum, and she was buried in St Margaret of Antioch Churchyard at Isfield on the 9 July 1837.

In the census of 6 June 1841 William was a farm labourer living near the Boat House in Isfield with his widowed mother, Dinah Munday, and his eldest daughter, Mary Knight. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 William was a live-in gardener for spinster Maria Anna Stone at the High Street in Mayfield. In the census of 7 April 1861 William and his bachelor brother John were inmates of Uckfield Union Workhouse and described as being labourers. William died in Uckfield Union Workhouse at the age of 75 (not 69 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in St Margaret of Antioch Churchyard at Isfield on the 20 August 1862.

 

William and Ann’s eldest child was Thomas Muddel Roberts who was born at Warbleton in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Warbleton on 11 March 1807 as the base born son of Ann Roberts.

 

William and Ann’s second child was Mary Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex in about 1809, but only baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 13 July 1817 at the age of 8. When she was about 21 years old Mary married James Knight at St Michael the Archangel Church in South Malling, Sussex on 25 April 1830. They had one child born in All Saints parish in Lewes in 1832, at which time James was a labourer. In the census of 6 June 1841 Mary was living with her widowed father and her paternal grandmother, Dinah Granger, near the Boat House in Isfield.

 

James and Mary’s only child was Susannah Knight who was born in All Saints Parish at Lewes in Sussex, and baptised at St Anne’s Church in Lewes on 8 April 1832.

 

William and Ann’s third child was Dinah Muddle, also known as Diana, who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 19 March 1812. When she was 15 years old Dinah married John Welfare, who was about 23, at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 1 October 1827. They lived at Ringmer where they had six children born between 1832 and 1848. In the census of 6 June 1841 they were living in Upper Norlinton Lane at Ringmer with their then three children, and John was working as a farm labourer. Dinah died at Ringmer at the age of 39 (not 40 as given on her burial record), and she was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard at Ringmer on 28 March 1851. In the census of 30 March 1851 John was living at Clay Hill in Ringmer with his six children, and continuing to work as a farm labourer. John died at Ringmer at the age of 55, and he was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard at Ringmer on 6 November 1858.

 

John and Dinah’s eldest child was William Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 9 December 1832. In the census of 6 June 1841 William, at the age of 8, was living with his parents in Upper Norlinton Lane at Ringmer. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 William, now aged 18, was working as a farm labourer and living with his widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer.

 

John and Dinah’s second child was Rosina Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 23 October 1836. In the census of 6 June 1841 Rosina, at the age of 4, was living with her parents in Upper Norlinton Lane at Ringmer. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Rosina, now aged 14, was living with her widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer; she was probably acting as the housekeeper for her father and siblings.

 

John and Dinah’s third child was Mary Ann Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 6 October 1839. In the census of 6 June 1841 Mary Ann, at the age of 1, was living with her parents in Upper Norlinton Lane at Ringmer. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Mary Ann, now aged 11, was living with her widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer, and she was going to school.

 

John and Dinah’s fourth child was Sarah Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 2 October 1842. In the census of 30 March 1851 Sarah, at the age of 8, was living with her widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Sarah, now aged 18, was a live-in house servant to ladies’ school proprietor Ellen Blunden in North Street, Lewes, Sussex.

 

John and Dinah’s fifth child was Alfred Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 3 August 1845. In the census of 30 March 1851 Alfred, at the age of 5, was living with his widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer, and he was going to school.

 

John and Dinah’s sixth child was Lucy Welfare who was born at Ringmer in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Ringmer on 30 April 1848. In the census of 30 March 1851 Lucy, at the age of 3, was living with her widowed father at Clay Hill in Ringmer.

 

Thomas and Dinah’s third child was Dinah Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 24 July 1791. When she was 20 years old Dinah married 34-year-old John Hillman at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe, Sussex on 22 October 1811. They were both then living at Barcombe. John was the son of John and Jane Hillman; he had been born at Barcombe and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe on 28 September 1777. John and Dinah had nine children born at Barcombe between 1812 and 1834. In 1834 when their last child was baptised they were living in the Spithurst area of Barcombe. In the census of 6 June 1841 they were living at Barcombe with their three youngest children, and John was working as a farm labourer. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 they were living at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton with six of their children; John was a farm labourer who was also receiving parochial relief, and Dinah was a charwoman. Dinah died at Brighton, at the age of 69, her death being registered during the 1st quarter of 1861.

 

John and Dinah’s eldest child was Mary Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe on 25 October 1812.

 

John and Dinah’s second child was James Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary's Church in Barcombe on 2 April 1815. When he was 20 years old James married 24-year-old Harriet Welfare at All Saints Church in Lindfield on 27 July 1835. Harriet was the daughter of Thomas and Ann Welfare; she had been born at Lindfield in Sussex and baptised at All Saints Church in Lindfield on 14 October 1810.

In the census of 6 June 1841 James and Harriet were living with Harriet's parents, Thomas and Ann Welfare, near the town pond in Lindfield, and also staying there was James' sister Ann. James and Harriet had three children; the first born at Lindfield in 1843 when James was working as a labourer and the other two born at Brighton in 1847 and 1851. When their second child was baptised in early 1847 they were living at Surrey Place in Brighton and James was working as a servant. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 they were living at 3 Camblen Terrace in Brighton with their then two children; James was working as a gardener, and they had Harriet's widowed mother visiting them.

In the census of 7 April 1861 they were back living in Lindfield, at 2 Alma Road, with their two youngest children; James was now a brewer's drayman, and they had James' brother John staying with them. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 James and Harriet were living at West Lodge, Summer Hill, Lindfield and James was working as a farm labourer. They had their daughter Mary Ann with her husband Edwin Constable and young son William Constable living with them. In the census of 3 April 1881 they were living at 2 Wallace Cottages, West Common, Lindfield and James was a cowman and farm labourer. Now they had Harriet's widowed brother John Welfare and their grandsons William and George Constable living with them.

James died at Lindfield, at the age of 69, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lindfield on 3 February 1884. Eight years later Harriet died at Lindfield, at the age of 81 (not 82 as given on her death certificate and burial record), and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lindfield on 14 January 1892.

 

James and Harriet’s eldest child was James Hillman who was born at Lindfield in Sussex, and baptised at All Saints Church in Lindfield on 28 May 1843. In the census of 30 March 1851 James, at the age of 8, was living with his parents at 3 Camblen Terrace in Brighton, and he was going to school.

 

James and Harriet’s second child was Mary Ann Emily Hillman who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and baptised at St Nicholas’ Church in Brighton on 21 March 1847. In the census of 30 March 1851 Mary Ann, at the age of 4, was living with her parents at 3 Camblen Terrace in Brighton. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Mary Ann, now aged 14, was living with her parents at 2 Alma Road in Lindfield, Sussex, and she was going to school.

 

James and Harriet’s third child was Alice Hillman who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1851. In the census of 7 April 1861 Alice, at the age of 9, was living with her parents at 2 Alma Road in Lindfield, Sussex, and she was going to school.

 

John and Dinah’s third child was John Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Peter’s Church in Chailey on 5 October 1817. In the census of 30 March 1851 John, at the age of 33, was working as a butcher and living with his parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 John, at the age of 43, was working as a drover and staying with the family of his brother James at 2 Alma Road in Lindfield, Sussex.

 

John and Dinah’s fourth child was Ann Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Peter’s Church in Chailey on 2 April 1820. In the census of 6 June 1841 Ann, at the age of 21, was staying with her brother James and his wife in the home of the wife’s parents, Thomas and Ann Welfare, near the town pond in Lindfield, Sussex. When she was 23 years old Ann married John Braysher in Lewes registration district in Sussex during the 3rd quarter of 1843. They had one child born at Lewes in 1846. John had died by the time of the census of 30 March 1851 as Ann was then a widow who, with her son, was living with her parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton.

 

John & Ann’s only child was John William Braysher who was born in St John sub Castro parish in Lewes, and whose birth was registered during the 3rd quarter of 1846. In the census of 30 March 1851 John, at the age of 4, was living with his widowed mother in the home of his maternal grandparents, John and Dinah Hillman, at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 John, now aged 14, was living with the family of his mother’s sister Phebe Thomson at Rushlake Green in Warbleton, Sussex.

 

John and Dinah’s fifth child was William Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex and baptised at St Peter’s Church in Chailey on 6 October 1822. In the census of 30 March 1851 William, at the age of 28, was working as a farm labourer and living with his parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton.

 

John and Dinah’s sixth child was Dinah Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe on 24 July 1825. In the census of 6 June 1841 Dinah, at the age of 15, was a live-in domestic servant to George and Lucy Taylor at Burtenshaws in Barcombe. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Dinah, now aged 25, was a live-in housemaid to the family of Justice of the Peace Montague Scott at 19 Lansdowne Place in Hove, Sussex.

When she was about 27 years old Dinah married 26-year-old Benjamin Prosser in Poplar registration district in London during the 2nd quarter of 1852. Benjamin was the son of William and Elizabeth Prosser; he had been born at Brighton in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Nicholas in Brighton on 10 March 1826.

Benjamin and Dinah had six children born at Brighton between 1852 and 1866. In the census of 7 April 1861 Dinah and her then four children were living at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton, and living with them was Benjamin's brother William Prosser and two women lodgers. Benjamin was away from home working as a waiter for lodging house keeper John Nicholas at Belridus Mansions in Brighton. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Benjamin, Dinah and their six children were living at 5 Windsor Street; Benjamin was a porter at a mansion and they had two young men as lodgers. In the census of 3 April 1881 Benjamin, Dinah and five of their children were continuing to live at 5 Windsor Street; Benjamin was a hotel porter and they had 25-year-old Richard Bonner as a lodger. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Benjamin, Dinah and three of their children were living at 41 Windsor Street and Benjamin was continuing to work as a hotel porter.

Benjamin died at the age of 68 (not 69 as given on his death certificate), his death being registered in Brighton registration district during the 1st quarter of 1894. Four years later Dinah died at the age of 72, her death being registered in Brighton registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1898.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s eldest child was Benjamin Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 3rd quarter of 1852. In the census of 7 April 1861 Benjamin, at the age of 8, was living with his parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Benjamin, now aged 18, was working as a jeweller’s apprentice and continuing to live with his parents at 5 Windsor Street.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s second child was Mary Ann Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1854. In the census of 7 April 1861 Mary Ann, at the age of 6, was living with her parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Mary Ann, now aged 16, was working as an apprentice in the fancy wool business and continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street. In the census of 3 April 1881 Mary, at the age of 26, was working as an assistant in a stationer's shop and continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Mary, at the age of 36, was working as a stationer's assistant and living with her parents at 41 Windsor Street.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s third child was Elizabeth Dinah Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 1st quarter of 1858. In the census of 7 April 1861 Elizabeth, at the age of 3, was living with her parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Elizabeth, now aged 13, was continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street, and she was going to school.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s fourth child was Emily Jane Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 3rd quarter of 1860. In the census of 7 April 1861 Emily, at the age of 8 months, was living with her parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Emily, now aged 10, was continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street, and she was going to school. In the census of 3 April 1881 Emily, at the age of 20, was working as an assistant in a boot and shoe shop and continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s fifth child was William Ernest Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 2nd quarter of 1863. In the census of 2 April 1871 William, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 William, now aged 17, was working as a builder's clerk and continuing to live with his parents at 5 Windsor Street. In the census of 5 April 1891 William, at the age of 27, was working as a builder's clerk and living with his parents at 41 Windsor Street.

 

Benjamin and Dinah’s sixth child was Ellen Ann Prosser who was born at Brighton in Sussex, and whose birth was registered during the 1st quarter of 1866. In the census of 2 April 1871 Ellen, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at 5 Windsor Street in Brighton, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Ellen, now aged 15, was working as an assistant in a fancy shop and continuing to live with her parents at 5 Windsor Street. In the census of 5 April 1891 Ellen, at the age of 25, was working as a fancy toy shop woman and living with her parents at 41 Windsor Street.

 

John and Dinah’s seventh child was Phebe Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex during May 1828, and baptised at St Mary's Church in Barcombe on 22 June 1828. In the census of 6 June 1841 Phebe, at the age of 13, was living with her parents in Barcombe. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Phebe, now aged 22, was working as a dressmaker and living with her parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton, Sussex.

When she was 25 years old Phebe married 27-year-old William Thomson at St Peter's Church in Brighton on 25 December 1853. They were both then living at 51 New England Street in Brighton and William was a tailor. William was the son of John and Jane Thomson and he had been born at Heathfield in Sussex on 17 March 1826. William was a tailor like his father and in the 1851 census he was living with his parents at 26 Grosvenor Street in Brighton. William and Phebe had four children; the first born at Brighton in 1854 and the second at Warbleton in Sussex in 1858. In the census of 7 April 1861 they were living at Rushlake Green in Warbleton with their then two children, and William was a master tailor. Their next two children were born at Heathfield in 1862 and 1864. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 they were living at 42 Hampden Road in Brighton with their four children, and William was continuing to work as a tailor.

William, like his parents and other members of his family, had become a Mormon (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). His parents and two of his unmarried siblings had migrated to the Mormon settlement at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA in 1862. Six months after the 1871 census William, Phebe and their four children emigrated from England to join the other members of William's family in Salt Lake City. On the 18 October 1871 they sailed from Liverpool on the SS Nevada of the Guion Line, which was taking 300 Mormons, who were from Scandinavia and Britain and under the leadership of Elder George H Paterson, to New York. After a rather rough and unpleasant voyage across the Atlantic they arrived at New York on 1 November 1871. They then continued their journey by train, leaving New York on 3 November 1871, and after passing through Pittsburgh and Chicago their train got stuck in the snow at Pole Lodge Station on the plains. After 12 hours they continued their journey with the assistance of four locomotives with snow ploughs and arrived at Salt Lake City on 11 November 1871.

In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 1 June, William, Phebe and their three youngest children were living in Salt Lake City where William was working as a tailor. The 1884 edition of the Utah Gazetteer, and the 1890, 1891-2, 1893, 1897 and 1898 editions of the Salt Lake City Directory all record William Thomson as a tailor residing at 529 South 5th West Street. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, William and Phebe were living at 529 South 5th West Street, Salt Lake City, which they rented, and William was still a tailor.

William died at 529 South 5th West Street on 27 December 1904, at the age of 78, and he was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 26290 L-5-9-E-1 on 29 December 1904. In the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 22 April, Phebe was living alone at 528 West 6th South Street, Salt Lake City, which she rented, next-door to her son Hyrum's family. Phebe died in Salt Lake City on 14 April 1919, at the age of 90, and was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery; plot 39228 L-5-9-E-2 on 16 April 1919.

 

William and Phebe’s eldest child was William Amos Thomson who was born at Brighton in Sussex on 23 March 1854. In the census of 7 April 1861 William, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at Rushlake Green in Warbleton, Sussex, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 William, now aged 14, was an apprentice, probably to his father, and he was living with his parents at 42 Hampden Road in Brighton.

Later in 1871 William, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. When he was 25 years old William married 24-year-old Mary Jane Barton in Salt Lake City on 13 November 1879. Mary Jane was the daughter of William and Ann Barton, she had been born at Upholland, Lancashire, England on 7 November 1855, and migrated to the USA in 1876. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 7 June, William and Mary Jane were living in Brighton, Salt Lake County, and William was a farmer. They had eight children born between 1880 and 1896, three of whom, Alice, Ruby and Alfred, died young. Then William died at Salt Lake City on 27 February 1897, at the age of 42.

In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, Mary Jane was living at 558 6th South Street in Salt Lake City, which she owned but had a mortgage on, with her five surviving children, Phebe, Margaret, Amos, Charles and Ida. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 2 May, Mary and her 18-year-old son Charles were living at 915 South 13th West Street, Salt Lake City. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 6 January, Mary was living with her widowed son-in-law Anton Miller and his 7 children at 331 South 10th West Street in Salt Lake City. Then in the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 8 April, Mary was living with the family of her daughter Margarete Teter at 8935 Baring Cross in Los Angeles, California. In the census of 1 April 1940, enumerated on 22 April, Mary was living with the family of her nephew and niece, George and Lenore Harris at 601 Elizabeth Street in Salt Lake City.

Mary died in the County Infirmary, Salt Lake County, Utah on 17 August 1942, at the age of 86, and she was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 67984 L-8-7-E-2, on 21 August 1942.

 

William and Phebe’s second child was Dinah Jane Thomson who was born at Warbleton in Sussex on 20 December 1857. In the census of 7 April 1861 Dinah, at the age of 3, was living with her parents at Rushlake Green in Warbleton, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Dinah, now aged 13, was living with her parents at 42 Hampden Road in Brighton, Sussex.

Later in 1871 Dinah, with her parents and siblings, emigrated from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 1 June, Dinah, aged 22, was working as a dressmaker and living with her parents in Salt Lake City. Later that year, when she was 23 years old, Dinah married 22-year-old Charles William Ringwood in Salt Lake City on 29 December 1880. Charles was the son of Charles and Dinah Ringwood and he had been born in Salt Lake City on 21 March 1858.

Charles and Dinah initially lived in Salt Lake City where the first five, Nora, William, Benjamin, Charles and Amos, of their seven children were born between 1881 and 1891, one of whom, Benjamin, died in infancy. They then moved about 15 miles south to Crescent in Salt Lake County where they had another child, John, in 1894. In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 20 June, they were living in Crescent, in a home that they owned free of mortgage, with their five children, and Charles was working as a day labourer. Then later that year their last child, Louisa, was born at Crescent and died soon after birth.

In the census of 15 April 1910 they were living in Precinct 7, Salt Lake County, with their four surviving sons, in a home that they rented, and Charles was working as a labourer on odd jobs. Dinah died in Salt Lake City on 13 November 1917, at the age of 59, and she was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 37530 L-5-10-E-2 on 16 November 1917.

In the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 22 April, Charles was living with the family of his son Charles at 350 Edith Avenue in Salt Lake City. Then in the census of 1 April 1940, enumerated on 6 April, Charles and his bachelor son William were living at 528 West 6th South Street in Salt Lake City which they rented at $10 per month. Charles died at Salt Lake City on 2 October 1951, at the age of 93, and he was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 77836 L-5-10-E-1 on 5 October 1951.

 

 

William and Phebe’s third child was Benjamin John Thomson who was born at Heathfield in Sussex on 8 May 1862. In the census of 2 April 1871 Benjamin, at the age of 8, was living with his parents at 42 Hampden Road in Brighton, Sussex and he was going to school.

Later in 1871 Benjamin, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 1 June, Benjamin, aged 18, was working as a labourer and living with his parents in Salt Lake City. The 1899 edition of the Salt Lake City Directory records Benjamin as living with his parents at 529 South 5th West Street and working as a labourer for R G W Railway (Rio Grande Western Railway Company).

When he was 37 years old Benjamin married 21-year-old Charlotte Augusta White in Salt Lake City on 9 November 1899. Charlotte was the daughter of John and Ann White; she had been born in Liverpool, England on 17 January 1878, and migrated to the USA in the early 1880s. In the census of 1 June 1900 Benjamin and Charlotte were living at 578 Bothwell Avenue in Salt Lake City and Benjamin was working as a jeweller. They had four children, Bernice, Charlotte, Thelma and Maud, born in Salt Lake City between 1900 and 1911.

In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 23 January, they were living at 1208 West 4th South Street in Salt Lake City, which they owned and had a mortgage on, with two of their daughters, Charlotte and Maud, and Benjamin was working as a meterman for the City Water Works. Then in the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 16 April, they were still living at 1208 West 4th South Street, which they owned and was valued at $2000. They now had just their youngest daughter, Maud, still living with them, and Benjamin now described his occupation as meter repairer for the City Water Department. The 1934 and 1936 editions of the Salt Lake City Directory recorded that Benjamin was still living at 1208 West 4th South Street.

Charlotte died in Salt Lake City on 11 December 1937, at the age of 59, and she was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 61275 S-8-10-W-2 on 14 December 1937. Seven months later Benjamin died in Salt Lake City on 8 July 1938, at the age of 76, and he was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 61779 S-8-10-W-1 on 10 July 1938.

 

William and Phebe’s fourth child was Hyrum Ensign Priday Thomson who was born at Heathfield in Sussex on 20 September 1864. In the census of 2 April 1871 Hyrum, at the age of 6, was living with his parents at 42 Hampden Road in Brighton, Sussex and he was going to school.

Later in 1871 Hyrum, with his parents and siblings, emigrated from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. In the census of 1 June 1880, enumerated on 1 June, Hyrum, aged 15, was living with his parents in Salt Lake City.

When he was 22 years old Hyrum married 21-year-old Ida Charlotta Olson on 5 January 1887. Ida was the daughter of Olaf and Christina Olson (original spelling of surname was Olofsson), she had been born at Ofratorp, Kvistbro, Orebro, Sweden on 11 February 1865, and migrated to the USA in 1877. Hyrum and Ida had three children, Hyrum Clarence, Ensign and Ida Elvera, born in Salt Lake City in 1887, 1890 and 1899, the second of whom died soon after birth.

The 1890 edition of the Salt Lake City Directory lists Hyrum as residing at 527 South 5th West Street and working as a fireman at R G W Railway. Then the 1891-2 edition lists him at the same address but now working as a clerk. In the 1892-3 Utah Gazetteer Hyrum was listed as residing at 521 South 5th West Street and working as a night watchman at the City Water Works. The 1894-5 Salt Lake City Directory lists Hyrum as residing at 521 South 5th West Street and to be a clerk at Salt Lake City Water Works.

In the census of 1 June 1900, enumerated on 9 June, Hyrum and Ida were living at 524 West 6th South Street in Salt Lake City, which they owned but had a mortgage on, with their two surviving children. Hyrum was working as a day labourer and they had 17-year-old Emma Benson as a boarder. Then in the census of 15 April 1910, enumerated on 22 April, Hyrum and Ida were still living at 524 West 6th South Street in Salt Lake City, which they owned but had a mortgage on, with their two surviving children, and Hyrum was working as a labourer on the railroad. In the census of 1 January 1920, enumerated on 15 January, they were continuing to live at 524 West 6th South Street, which they now owned free of mortgage, with just their daughter Elvera living with them, and Hyrum was still working as a labourer on the railroad. Then in the census of 1 April 1930, enumerated on 21 April, they were still living at 524 West 6th South Street, which they owned and was valued at $2500; both their children had now left and Hyrum had retired.

Ida died at Salt Lake City on 20 February 1936, at the age of 71, and she was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 59759 L-5-9-E-4 on 23 February 1936. The 1939 and 1941 editions of the Salt Lake City Directory record that Hyrum was still living at 524 West 6th South Street. Ten years after Ida's death Hyrum died at Salt Lake City on 9 February 1946, at the age of 81, and he was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, plot 72037 L-5-9-E-3 on 13 February 1946.

 

John and Dinah’s eighth child was Jane Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe on 26 February 1832. In the census of 6 June 1841 Jane, at the age of 9, was living with her parents in Barcombe. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Jane, now aged 19, was working as a shirt-maker and living with her parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton. In the census of 7 April 1861 Jane, at the age of 29, was, together with her sister Harriet, working as a laundress and needlewoman and lodging with the family of farm labourer William Weller at 56 Elder Street in Brighton.

When she was 29 years old Jane married 53-year-old widower Joseph Fuller at the Parish Church of St Nicholas in Brighton on 19 May 1861. Joseph was then a hand chairman living at 5 Little Western Street and Jane was living at 57 Elder Street. Joseph was the son of John and Jane Fuller; he had been born at Maresfield in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Bartholomew in Maresfield on 13 March 1808. His first wife, Eliza, had died at Brighton in 1858.

Joseph and Jane had one child born at Brighton in 1863. In the census of 2 April 1871 both Joseph and Jane were paupers in Brighton Workhouse. Joseph gave his occupation as smith and Jane stated that she had worked as a charwoman. Jane died at the age of 46 (not 48 as given on her death certificate), her death being registered in Brighton registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1878. In the census of 3 April 1881 Joseph was still a pauper in Brighton Workhouse, now described as a widower who had been a blacksmith. Joseph died at the age of 81, his death being registered in Brighton registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1889.

 

Joseph and Jane’s only child was John George Fuller who was born at Brighton in Sussex and his birth registered during the 4th quarter of 1863.

 

John and Dinah’s ninth child was Harriet Hillman who was born at Barcombe in Sussex, and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Barcombe on 19 October 1834. In the census of 6 June 1841 Harriet, at the age of 6, was living with her parents in Barcombe. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Harriet, now aged 16, was living with her parents at 56 Gloiter Lane in Brighton. In the census of 7 April 1861 Harriet, at the age of 26, was, together with her sister Jane, working as a laundress and needlewoman and lodging with the family of farm labourer William Weller at 56 Elder Street in Brighton. Harriet died in Chailey Union Workhouse in Sussex, at the age of 36, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary at Barcombe on 2 June 1870.

 

Thomas and Dinah’s fourth child was John Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch in Isfield on 26 January 1794. It's thought that, when he was 19 years old, it was this John, who was the John Muddle, labourer, who was recorded as being the father at the baptism in the Parish Church of St Laurence in Falmer, Sussex on 4 July 1813 of illegitimate Sarah Muddle/Baldy, whose mother was given as Sarah Baldy.

It's fairly certain that a year later it was this John, who was named by single woman Frances Bray of Ringmer, Sussex as the father of her unborn child. This resulted in Robert Argles Durrant one of the Overseers of the Poor of the parish of Ringmer applying to Justice of the Peace T G Dalbrac to have John made responsible for indemnifying the Parish of Ringmer for any costs resulting from the birth of this child. So on 15 July 1814 T G Dalbrac issued an arrest warrant for John Muddle, who was then living in the adjacent parish Laughton, for him to be brought before a Justice of the Peace to show that he could either find security to indemnify the parish or else to find sufficient surety for his appearance at the next Quarter Sessions of the Peace of the County and to abide and perform any orders issued. The following day, 16 July 1814, John was apprehended and on the 18th he was committed to Lewes House of Correction by Justice of the Peace Thomas Partington.[2]

It seems that John couldn't or wouldn't find security or surety so at the Sussex Quarter Sessions held at Lewes on 21 October 1814 it was ordered that John Muddle be recommitted for want of sureties.[3] On 29 October 1814 18-year-old Frances Bray gave birth to a daughter in Ringmer Poor House that became a charge on Ringmer Parish. Frances was the illegitimate daughter of Ruth Bray, and she had been baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Ringmer on 16 October 1796.

John remained in Lewes House of Correction until a summons on 10 December 1814 from Justices of the Peace, Thomas Partington and Jonathan Harrison, resulted in him being discharged and delivered to a Constable so that he could be taken to Lewes Town Hall where he was served the same day with a copy of the summons by Ringmer Overseer R A Durrant.[4] That day at the Town Hall the same Justices questioned both John Muddle and Frances Bray as to the circumstances of the case. They found that the child was a charge on Ringmer Parish and that John Muddle was the father, and that day issued a Maintenance Order requiring John to pay £3 7s to the Overseers of Ringmer for Frances Bray's laying-in and the cost of maintaining the child until the date of the order, and that from then on he was to pay 2s 6d every week while the child remained a charge on Ringmer Parish. They also ordered that if Frances Bray didn't nurse and take care of the child she was to pay 6d per week.[5]

As John couldn't pay the £3 7s he was immediately committed back to Lewes House of Correction on 10 December 1814 by the Justices.[6] John was then discharged from Lewes House of Correction on 13 January 1815 so that he could be taken before the Sussex Quarter Session being held at Lewes that day where for none payment of the Maintenance Order he was committed back to Lewes House of Correction to serve a sentence of three months. A note with calculations on the Maintenance Order shows that a month's sentence was actually 4 weeks not a calendar month and that John would be released on 8 April 1815.[7]

It's assumed that John was finally released from Lewes House of Correction on 8 April 1815 after having been there since 18 July 1814, a total of nearly 9 months. It's not known if he paid any maintenance money for Frances Bray's daughter, but it seems unlikely. It seems that John then immediately became involved with Philadelphia Dallaway at Heathfield and got her pregnant because at a bastardy examination held by Justice of the Peace Frances Newbery at Burwash Petty Sessions on 12 September 1815 Philadelphia Dallaway stated that John Muddle, a labourer of Isfield, was the father of the child that she was then pregnant with, and that this child was likely to become a charge on the parish of Heathfield. Philadelphia Dallaway was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Dallaway and she had been baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Heathfield on 10 May 1789.[8] It's not known what happened to Philadelphia and her child.

John, it's thought, left the immediate area and moved about 25 miles west to Billingshurst in Sussex, where it's thought he got involved with Sarah Phillips and had yet another illegitimate child. This is because on 7 July 1816 there was a baptism at the Parish Church of St Mary in Billingshurst of Eliza Muddle of Billingshurst, entered in the register as if she was the daughter of labourer John Muddle and his wife Sarah, but the clergyman has added the note 'illigitium suppose Phillips' so he probably had his doubts that the couple were married and presumably knew that Sarah's surname was Phillips. This is supported by the fact that no record of a suitable marriage of a John Muddle to a Sarah has been found and there are no further records of the daughter Eliza as a Muddle so she probably took her mother's surname.

Meanwhile it's thought that Frances Bray nursed and took care of her daughter until she was about 10 months old, and that Frances and her daughter remained in Ringmer Poor House during this time as there are no records in the accounts of the Overseers of Ringmer that they paid for the lying-in of Frances or any maintenance for her child while Frances was looking after her. Then in the last week of July 1815 it seems that Frances and her child left the Poor House and Frances probably having taken employment, most likely in service, started paying her 6d per week towards the support of her daughter, because the Overseers then start paying out 3 shillings per week (representing 2/6 from the father and 6d from the mother) for Frances Bray's child. For the first 3 weeks this was to William Bray's wife; William probably being a brother of Frances' mother and then to Ruth Bray, who was presumably Frances' mother, and now looking after her granddaughter.

Eight months later, on 18 March 1816, the Overseers paid out £1 on cloths for Frances; it's thought that this might have been so she could take a better class of job, possibly in Brighton. The payments for her daughter continue at 3/- per week until the end of 1816, and then drop to half this amount for about the next 6 months before stopping all together.[9]

On 26 January 1819 Frances married Robert Robus at the Parish Church of St Nicholas in Brighton, and the following day the Overseers of Ringmer conducted a settlement examination of carpenter Robert Robus.[10] They then paid him the large amount of £11 as a year's advance for the support of Mary Bray's child. It's thought that this Mary Bray was a sister of Frances' mother and then about 36 years old. The advance of a year's payment would seem to suggest that Robert and Frances were not intending to stay in the parish and were going to take the illegitimate children of both Frances and Mary with them. The Overseers of Ringmer make another payment to Robert Robus on 27 January 1819 of 10/- for a month's pay for the child of Mary Bray. The account book for 1820 to 1824 has not survived but the next account book for 26 March 1824 to 23 Mach 1826 has entries for Robert Robus being paid 2/- per week for Frances Bray's child from the start of this book until 23 September 1825, when the child was just short of its 11th birthday, and then nothing.[11] This was the typical age at which a child would be put out as an apprentice by the Overseers so they could stop paying its maintenance.

It's possible that Robert and Frances later went to London where Robert left Frances and started living with Sophia, who had been born in Deptford. Robert is then thought to be the Robert Robus, carpenter, living in Rye, Sussex with wife Sophia in the 1841 and 1851 censuses, who died at Rye in late 1860. And that Frances was the Frances Robus who died in Camberwell Workhouse on 6 February 1862. But if this is Robert's wife and her recorded age of 77 is correct, it would mean that she was not the illegitimate daughter of Ruth Bray born in 1796, but the illegitimate daughter of Anne Bray, who had been baptised at Ringmer on 18 September 1785.

Returning to John Muddle it seems that after his time in Billingshurst John had by the beginning of 1819 deserted Sarah Phillips and ended up back at his home village of Isfield, because on 8 February 1819, shortly after the marriage of Frances and Robert, the Overseers of Ringmer pay 5/- for a man with a horse and cart to bring John Muddle from Isfield. There are no records to show why they did this, but possibly it was to tell him that there would be no requirement for him to support the child he'd fathered in the future, but that he still owed them for the 79 weeks, from the last week of July 1815 to the end of 1816, during which they had paid out 3/- per week for the support of this child.

It seems that over the next two years John didn't pay off any of his outstanding debt to the Overseers, so that on 7 November 1820 Robert Argles Durrant, one of the Overseers of Ringmer, had two Justices of the Peace issue an arrest warrant for John Muddle as £9 17s 6d (79 weeks at 2/6) was outstanding on the original Maintenance Order. Demands for John Muddle to pay this had been made by leaving verbal messages at his usual dwelling, but he absents himself from the dwelling and thereby avoids personal demands being made.[12] There are no surviving record of John being arrested but he did pay off £3 15s of this debt before he stopped making further payments and avoided any demands being made for the outstanding amount; because on 3 February 1824 Robert Argles Durrant was again having the Justices of the Peace issue an arrest warrant for John Muddle, now described as living at Isfield, for the outstanding debt of £6 2s 6d. Seven days later, on 10 February 1824, John was arrest by Robert Argles Durrant and taken before the Justices of the Peace.[13]

There are no records of what happened after his arrest in 1824, but two years later the 9 January 1826 edition of The Sussex Advertiser reported that John Muddle and Thomas Hope had been committed to Lewes House of Correction by Justice of the Peace Thomas Partington Esq, charged with killing rabbits on the premises of Sir George Shiffner, Bart., who lived at Coombe Place in Offham. The next record relating to John and the Maintenance Order is a note on the original Maintenance Order that John Muddle was committed to prison on 5 December 1827, though no arrest warrant or other record seems to have survived that relates to this.

Since the arrest warrant of 1824 John must have paid off another £4 7s 6d of the debt and then again stopped making payments, because on 17 June 1828 John Finch, an Overseer of Ringmer, had two Justices, H Camion and J Hoper, issue yet another arrest warrant for John Muddle as £1 15s 0d was still outstanding and John had refused to pay.[14] Again no records survive to show what then happened but presumably John either finally paid off the remainder of the debt or the Overseers dropped the matter as the outstanding amount didn't warrant the cost of further action; but for at least 11½ years since they had made the last payment for his bastard daughter the Overseers had been pursuing John to recover their expenditure.

It's thought to be John, aged 47, who was recorded in the census of 6 June 1841 as farm labourer James Muddle, aged 35, who was lodging with the family of farm labourer Benjamin Standen in Barcombe, an adjacent parish to John's home parish of Isfield. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 John was working as a farm labourer and lodging with the family of fellow farm labourer John King at Isfield.

Considering John's past involvement with criminal justice and the fact that the family of his brother James Muddle lived at Snodland in Kent, it seems certain that it was this John who was being referred to in the following newspaper report. In the 10 March 1857 edition of The South Eastern Gazette it was reported that at the Malling Petty Sessions held on 2 March 1857 Jon Muddle, with several aliases, among others that of 'Sussex Jack', was remanded till Thursday 12 March 1857, charged with stealing a sheep, the property of Mr George Pearson of Snodland.

In the census of 7 April 1861 John and his brother William, who was a widower, were both inmates of Uckfield Union Workhouse and described as being labourers. John never married. His brother William died in the Workhouse during August 1862 then two years later John died in Uckfield Union Workhouse at the age of 70 (not 67 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in St Margaret of Antioch Churchyard at Isfield on 19 November 1864.

 

John Muddle’s first illegitimate child was Sarah Muddle/Baldy who was born at Falmer in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Laurence in Falmer, on 4 July 1813, when her mother was given as Sarah Baldy.

 

John Muddle’s second illegitimate child was a daughter who was born to Frances Bray in Ringmer Poor House in Sussex on 29 October 1814.

 

John Muddle’s third illegitimate child was Eliza Muddle/Phillips who was born at Billingshurst in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary in Billingshurst on the 7 July 1816, when her mother was given as Sarah Phillips.

 

Thomas and Dinah’s fifth child was James Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 24 April 1796. When he was 32 years old James married 23-year-old Phoebe Collins at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 26 July 1828. Phoebe was the daughter of Joseph and Phoebe Collins; she had been born at Isfield and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 27 January 1805. See the section headed ‘James and Phoebe Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

Thomas and Dinah’s sixth child was Samuel Muddle who was born at Isfield in Sussex, and baptised at St Margaret of Antioch Church in Isfield on 24 October 1802.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2006-2016

Last updated 20 March 2016