THE MUDDLE FAMILIESTHE LINEAGE & HISTORY OF THE MUDDLE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD INCLUDING VARIANTS MUDDEL, MUDDELL, MUDLE & MODDLE |
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John & Rebecca Muddle's Family
John Muddle married Rebecca Lille at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne on 15 August 1608. They initially lived at Hollingbourne where their first child was born about two months after their marriage and died almost immediately unbaptised and unnamed. Their second child was born at Hollingbourne just a year later. It seems that they then moved the three miles to the adjoining parish of Bearsted because on the 15 December 1612 the Ecclesiastical Court in Canterbury issued a judgement excommunicating eight people for contumacy in not appearing before the court and not complying with the court’s just and lawful warnings. One of the people listed was John Muddle of Bearsted and another was the wife of the said John Muddle, but this entry for John’s wife had then been crossed out.[1] Why these people had received warnings from the court is not known but the most likely reason is that they were not attending their parish church. Also it’s not known if this crossing out of John’s wife on the list was because she had complied with the court or possibly that she had died; but it is known that at some point in time John’s wife Rebecca died and he then married Joan because John twice names his wife as Joan in his will. But as no burial for Rebecca or a marriage of John to Joan has been found it has been impossible to determine when these events happened, and which of John’s wives was the mother of his next tree children, though for simplicity it has been assumed that Rebecca was the mother. John’s third child was baptised at Hollingbourne in early 1614 (only the father named), and his next two children are only known from being named in John’s will, but have been assumed to have been born in about 1616 and 1618. John’s brother Henry died in 1614 and in his will he left John twelve pence. John died at Hollingbourne when he was about 66 years old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Hollingbourne on 27 April 1637. In his will dated the 17 April 1637 and proved by the Consistory Court of Canterbury on 10 May 1637 John made the following bequests: To the poor people of the parish of Hollingbourne 3 shillings 4 pence. To his wife Joan 40 shillings a year to be paid, half each, by his sons James and Henry out of the property they have been bequeathed, and Joan to also received 4 bushels of wheat. To his son Edward the house and lands at Stockbury (was this possibly the property that had been left to John’s brother Henry by their father?) and also one chest, one pair of sheets, a tablecloth, two table napkins, four pieces of pewter, a brass pot, one cushion of the best sort, and in money 5 shillings. To his son James the house and lands at Hollingbourne (probably the property that had been left to John by his father) and the residue of his personal estate. To his son Henry the two houses and lands at Thurnham, and also one bedstead, one bed and bolster, one coverlet, one blanket, two pair of sheets, one tablecloth, two table napkins, four pieces of pewter, my best brass kettle, all my sheep, and one cushion. Henry was also to be paid £30 by his brother James when he was 21 years old. To his daughter Rebecca 12 pence and to her son John and daughter Joan 10 shillings each. To his brother Arthur’s daughter Elizabeth 2 shillings 6 pence and to each of his other children 12 pence each. To his godson Robert Browne 12 pence. John made his son James and his brother Arthur his executors and gave Arthur 20 shillings. John’s nephew Richard Muddle, the son of his brother William, was one of the witnesses to his will.[2] It is thought that it was probably Joan who was the ‘Widow Muddle’ buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Hollingbourne on 18 October 1647.
Their children were: Rebecca 1609-? Edward 1614-? James 1616-? Henry 1618-1658
John and Rebecca’s eldest child was an unnamed and unbaptised daughter who was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Hollingbourne during October 1608, probably soon after birth.
John and Rebecca’s second child was Rebecca Muddle who was born at Hollingbourne in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne during October 1609. When she was 18 years old Rebecca married Ambrose Wilson at the Church of St Martin in Detling, Kent on Monday 28 April 1628. They had at least two children, known only from the will of Rebecca’s father who died in 1637 leaving them 10 shillings each, and also bequeathing Rebecca 12 pence.
Ambrose and Rebecca’s first known child was John Wilson who was bequeathed 10 shillings by his mother’s father, John Muddle, in 1637.
Ambrose and Rebecca’s second known child was Joan Wilson who was bequeathed 10 shillings by her mother’s father, John Muddle, in 1637.
John and Rebecca’s third child was Edward Muddle who was born at Hollingbourne in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne 6 March 1614. When his father died in 1637 Edward inherited the house and lands at Stockbury and also one chest, one pair of sheets, a tablecloth, two table napkins, four pieces of pewter, a brass pot, one cushion of the best sort, and in money 5 shillings. Edward married Dorothy and they had at least three children; the first two being born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent in 1639 and 1641 and the third is known only from the 1658 will of Edward’s brother Henry. In 1641 Edward was described as a husbandman of Eastchurch when he stood as a bondsman for the marriage license of his brother James. And Edward Muddle was one of the two men who endorsed the indictment of spinster Anne Oldfeild of Leysdown for grand larceny. She had stolen £4 19s in money from Stephen Hidgecooke at Leysdown on 27 July 1641 and at the Maidstone Assizes held on 23 August 1641 she was found not guilty.[3] Edward probably died before 1664 as he was not recorded in the Kent Hearth Tax of that year and when Dorothy was buried in Warden Churchyard on the Isle of Sheppey on 2 February 1668 she was described as a poor widow of the parish of Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey.
Edward and Dorothy’s eldest child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Eastchurch on 26 May 1639.
Edward and Dorothy’s second child was Rebecca Muddle who was born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Eastchurch on 30 May 1641.
Edward and Dorothy’s third child was Edward Muddle who is known only from the 1658 will of his father’s brother Henry Muddle in which Edward was bequeathed 40 shillings that he was to receive when he was 20 years old.
John and Rebecca’s fourth child was James Muddle who was probably born at Hollingbourne in Kent in about 1616. When his father died in 1637 James inherited his father’s house and lands at Hollingbourne and the residue of his father’s personal estate. When he was about 24 years old James married Mary Kennard. This marriage is only known from the marriage license issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 20 July 1641, which described James as a 24-year-old husbandman of Bredgar, Kent, and Mary as a 20-year-old spinster who married with the consent of her mother Jane. The license states that the marriage was to take place at St Margaret’s Church in Canterbury, but it is not recorded in St Margaret’s register nor in the register of Bredgar Church. The bondsman for this license was James’ brother Edward. James and Mary had at least six children; the first three were born at Hollingbourne between 1643 and 1647. When James’ brother Henry died in 1658 he left James his clothes, linen and woollen. Sometime after 1647 James and Mary moved to the Isle of Sheppey where their fourth known child was born at Warden in 1662. In the Kent Hearth Tax of 1664 James Muddle was recorded in Warden Borough of the Isle of Sheppey as having one health that was chargeable.[4] James and Mary’s last two children were born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey in 1665 and 1668.
James and Mary’s eldest child was John Muddle who was born at Hollingbourne in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne on 1 October 1643.
James and Mary’s second child was Mary Muddle who was born at Hollingbourne in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne on 11 February 1645. When her father’s brother Henry Muddle died in 1658 he left Mary 40 shillings that she was to receive when she was twenty years old, that is in 1665. When she was 26 years old Mary married Thomas Emthetch/Emtotch at Warden Church on 23 October 1671.
James and Mary’s third child was James Muddle who was born at Hollingbourne in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne on 29 September 1647. James must have died by 1665 as his parents named another son James that year.
James and Mary’s fourth child was Mildred Muddle who was born at Warden on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at Warden Church on 31 August 1662. When she was 23 years old Mildred married Matthew Brice at Warden Church on 22 October 1685 by license. The license issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 19 October 1685 described Matthew as a 30-year-old bachelor and blacksmith of Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey and Mildred as a 23-year-old spinster of Eastchurch. Matthew and Mildred had one child born at Warden in late 1688 then about two months later Matthew died, when he was about 33 years old, and he was buried in Warden Churchyard on 2 January 1689. Three years later Mildred married James Woodall at the Church of All Saints in Eastchurch on 25 October 1692.
Matthew and Mildred’s only known child was Matthew Brice who was born at Warden on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at Warden Church on 21 October 1688.
James and Mary’s fifth child was James Muddle who was born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Eastchurch on 15 March 1665. James served a seven year apprentice as a cordwainer (shoemaker) under Thomas Hughes a Freeman of the City of Rochester, and as a result was himself made a Freeman of the City of Rocester on 4 March 1698.[5] This was probably when James started his own shoemaking business, and just a year later, at the age of 34, he married Judith Fowler at the Church of St Nicholas in Rochester, Kent on 19 March 1699 by license. No record of James and Judith having any children has found. Between 1710 and 1733 James, as a master cordwainer of Rochester, took on six apprentices. By an indenture dated 23 October 1710 James was paid £10 by Abell Buck, mariner of Chatham, to take his son John Buck as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from 10 October 1710, and out of this James paid 5s in stamp duty on 25 November 1710.[6] By an indenture dated 1 January 1714 James was paid £8 by John Stunt, husbandman of Snodland, to take his son Thomas Stunt as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this James paid 4s in stamp duty on 21 April 1714.[7] By an indenture dated 22 March 1716 James was paid £15 by husbandman George Howard to take his son William Howard as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this James paid 7s 6d in stamp duty on 10 October 1716.[8] By an indenture dated 6 March 1721 James was paid £5 5s by John Swift, labourer of Rochester, to take his son John Swift as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this James paid 2s 7½d in stamp duty on 13 April 1721.[9] By an indenture dated 21 July 1724 James was paid £7 by Joseph Lucey, mariner of Rochester, to take his son William Lucey as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this James paid 3s 6d in stamp duty on 25 August 1724.[10] By an indenture dated 28 November 1733 James was paid £10 by Stephen Flood of Gillingham to take his son Stephen Flood as an apprentice cordwainer for a term of 7 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this James paid 5s in stamp duty on 7 June 1735.[11] James died at Rochester, at the age of 75, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Rochester on 14 August 1740. Nine years later Judith died at Rochester and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Rochester on 9 June 1749.
James and Mary’s sixth child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Eastchurch on 7 February 1668.
John and Rebecca’s fifth child was Henry Muddle who was probably born at Hollingbourne in Kent in about 1618. When his father died in 1637 he left Henry his two houses and lands at Thurnham, and also one bedstead, one bed and bolster, one coverlet, one blanket, two pair of sheets, one tablecloth, two table napkins, four pieces of pewter, my best brass kettle, all his sheep, and one cushion. Henry was also to be paid £30 by his brother James when he was 21 years old. It seems that Henry must have married and had at least one child, a son, who is known only from Henry’s will. No record of Henry’s marriage nor the baptism of his son have been found. It seems that Henry’s wife, if there was one, died before Henry, because in his will Henry bequeaths Katherine Basset £5 for keeping his son for the last year. Henry died during June or July 1658, when he was about 40 years old. Henry’s will dated 5 June 1658, which described him as a yeoman of Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey, was proved by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London on 27 July 1658 and made the following bequests: To his brother James all his clothes, linen and woollen, and to James’ daughter Mary 40 shillings. To his brother Edward’s son Edward 40 shillings. To his son John all his goods, corn, cattle, household stuff and residue of his estate after his debts have been paid. Henry made ship’s carpenter Thomas Hudgenes of Milton his executor.[12]
Henry’s only known child was John Muddle who is only known from his father’s will, which left him all his father’s goods, corn, cattle, household stuff and residue of his estate after his debts had been paid, when his father died in 1658. It seems likely that it is this John who is referred to as a cordwainer of Queensborough in the following translation of a Latin document from the Court of Record of the Borough of Queensborough on the Isle of Sheppey:[13] Queenborough John Muddle, otherwise the said John Muddle of Queenborough in the County of Kent, cordwainer, was summoned to answer to Mary Reynolds, widow, in a complaint that he should pay her twenty pounds and eight shillings of lawful money of England which he owes her and unjustly withholds. And there are pledges for prosecution, that is to say, John Doe and Richard Roe. And whereupon the same Mary, through James Mowting, her Attorney, complains for her part, that is to say, That whereas the aforesaid John, on the twenty second day of May in the twenty fourth year of the reign of our Lord Charles the Second, now King of England etc, at Queenborough aforesaid within the jurisdiction of this court, by a certain Writing Obligatory of his, sealed with the seal of the same John, and shown here to the court of our said Lord the now King, of which the date is on the same day and year, Acknowledged himself to be bound and firmly obliged to the aforesaid Mary in the aforesaid twenty pounds and eight shillings, to be paid to the same Mary when he should be required to do so, The aforesaid John, however, although ofted required etc, has not yet paid the aforesaid twenty pounds and eight shillings to the same Mary, but has so far utterly refused to pay it to her, and still does refuse, To the damage of the same Mary of twelve pounds. And she gives suit in respect thereof etc. Statement filed 19th August 1672. The defendant remains in custody. [1] CCA DCb/J/J/17/111 Canterbury Church Courts: Papers in Ecclesiastical Suits. [2] CKS PRC32/51/24 Will of John Muddle proved by Consistory Court of Canterbury. [3] TNA ASSI 30/26/104 m.77 Assize Indictment Files, trial of Anne Oldfeild. [4] CKS Q/RTh/1/58r Hearth Tax assessment for 1664 in Quarter Session records. [5] CKS RCA/02/1 Rochester Freeman’s Register. [6] TNA IR 1/41 spread 23, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [7] TNA IR 1/3 spread 4, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [8] TNA IR 1/5 spread 28, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [9] TNA IR 1/8 spread 125, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [10] TNA IR 1/10 spread 60, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [11] TNA IR 1/14 spread 30, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books. [12] TNA PROB 11/281 Will of Henrey Muddle proved by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [13] CKS QB/JBp/1 Queensborough Borough, Court of Record, Muddle v Reynolds.
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