THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

THE LINEAGE & HISTORY OF THE MUDDLE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD

INCLUDING VARIANTS MUDDEL, MUDDELL, MUDLE & MODDLE

 

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THE KENT MUDDLE FAMILIES

THE HARRIETSHAM MUDDLES

 

Introduction

Andrew & Isabella Muddle’s Family

Richard & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

John & Rebecca Muddle’s Family

Arthur & Bridget Muddle’s Family

William & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

Edward & Ann/Alice Muddle’s Family

James & Ann Muddle’s Family

Nicholas & Susannah Muddle’s Family

Stephen & Eliz:/Eleanor Muddle’s Family

James & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

William & Christian Muddle’s Family

James & Susannah Muddle’s Family

William & Ann/Sarah/Jane Muddle’s Family

John & Mary Jane Muddle’s Family

Arthur & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

Edward & Mary Muddle’s Family

Index of Family Members

Charts

 

 

William & Elizabeth Muddle's Family

 

Chart of William & Elizabeth Muddle's Family

 

William Muddle married Elizabeth Munn at the Church of All Saints in Loose, Kent on 23 September 1686. They lived at Loose where they had eleven children born between 1687 and 1706. Three of their children died under the age of one, and two more when 7 and 12; and of the surviving six, all of which were sons, four moved to the Isle of Thanet area of Kent. William was described as a cordwainer (shoemaker) of Loose in an indenture of 17 May 1720, which recorded that he paid John Friend, shipwright of Ramsgate, £10 to take his son James as an apprentice for 5 years from the date of the indenture.[1]

After 61 years of marriage Elizabeth died at Loose on 6 December 1747, at the age of 84, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 12 December 1747. Six years later William died at Loose on 23 September 1753, at the age of 89 (not 90 as given on his headstone), and he was buried with his wife in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 28 September 1753. Their grave on the south side of the church is marked by an inscribed headstone, which is now almost completely unreadable but has been recorded. This states that William had been ‘Clerk of this Parish 61 years’ that is since about 1692. The full inscription on their headstone is as follows:

Here lyeth ye Body

of ELIZABETH the wife of

WILLM MUDDLE Clark of this

Parish, she died ye 6th of

Decembr 1747 Aged 84 Years

Also the body of WILLM

MUDDLE Being Clark of

this Parish 61 Years. He died ye

23d day of Sepr 1753 Agd 90 Ye’

Near this place lieth ye Body of

JOHN MUDDLE

Likewise Five More of their Chil

3 Sons and 2 Daught’

Left surviving Issue 4 sons

George, Willm, Edward and Tho

Their children were:

George 1687-1774  John 1689-1734  William 1691-1691  William 1692-1766

Thomas 1694-1695  Thomas 1696-1703  Hannah 1698-1698  Elizabeth 1699-1712

Edward 1701-1761  James 1703-1742  Thomas 1706-1787

 

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s eldest child was George Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 24 June 1687. When he was 30 years old George married Jane Jarman at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate, Isle of Thanet, Kent, on 22 April 1718. They lived at Ramsgate where George was a butcher. They had eight children, born between 1719 and 1730, three of whom died very young; the five survivors were all daughters.

George, recorded as 'Mr George Muddle', was listed as one of the subscribers to the book A Vindication of the Worship of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Supreme God, In all the Dispensations, Patriarchal, Mosaick and Christian by G De Gols, Rector of St Peters at Sandwich that was published in 1726.

The Poll Book for the election held at Maidstone on 15 & 16 May 1734 for two Members of Parliament to represent Kent, records that one of the voters was George Muddle who resided at St Lawrence (Ramsgate) and held freehold property at St Lawrence.

George was a master butcher of Ramsgate, when, by an indenture dated 30 August 1737, he was paid £6 by Thomas Crump of Ramsgate to take his son Martin Crump as an apprentice for a term of 6 years from the date of the indenture, and out of this George paid 3s in stamp duty on 27 October 1737.[2] George was again recorded as being a butcher of Ramsgate when, by an indenture dated 18 January 1744, he was paid £10 by John Slaughter to take his son Isaac Slaughter as an apprentice for a term of 6 years from 24 June 1743, and out of this George paid 5s in stamp duty on 21 February 1744.[3] George was still a butcher when, by an indenture dated 14 January 1749, he was paid £5 5s by John Austin to take his son Henry Austin as an apprentice for a term of 7 years that had started on 14 January 1745, and out of this George paid 2s 7½d in stamp duty on 23 January 1749.[4] This Henry Austen was the son of John and Frances Austen of Loose, and the nephew of both the Benjamin Austen who had married George's eldest daughter and the Alice Austen who had married George's brother Edward. When his son-in-law Benjamin Austen died in 1753 George was an executor of his will and became a guardian of his children, obligations that he shared with Benjamin's brother John Austen, the father of George's apprentice Henry Austen.

The Poll Book for the election held at Maidstone on 1 & 2 May 1754 for two Members of Parliament to represent Kent, records that one of the voters was George Muddle who held freehold property, consisting of a house and land, at St Lawrence (Ramsgate) that he occupied himself.

After nearly 42 years of marriage Jane died at Ramsgate and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 20 February 1760. Fourteen years later George died at Ramsgate, at the age of 87, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 14 May 1774. George’s will, dated the 5 January 1773 and proved by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 31 May 1774, described him as being a butcher of Ramsgate, and showed that he had done quite well for himself, as he left legacies of money totalling £250, together with his investment of a twenty-fourth part in the ships of which Edward Bayly and Richard Clunn were masters, and the following properties:[5]

A messuage or tenement with the stable, slaughterhouse, outhouses, buildings, yards, garden, ground, privileges and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging situate at East Street in Ramsgate, and in the occupation of Stephen Bax. Also a piece or parcel of pasture land commonly called the Clover Field containing by estimation one acre and one rood more or less with the barn, stables and other buildings on the said piece of land and all other the appurtenances thereof lying also in Ramsgate, and in the occupation of Stephen Bax. Three messuages or tenements together adjoining with the outhouses, buildings, yards, gardens and ground thereunto severally belonging and adjoining and now used with them or either of them and all other the appurtenances thereof respectively situate and being in Brick Street in Ramsgate, and in the several occupations of Stephen Bax, Mary Gregory and Thomas Preston. A messuage or tenement with the outhouses, buildings, yards, garden, ground, rights, privileges and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging and therewith used and enjoyed situate in the parish of Saint Lawrence on the Isle of Thanet at or near a place there called Pegwell, and in the occupation of Thomas Lawrence.

The will left a number of bequests of money and property to his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, with long lists of conditions, particularly if any of his grandchildren were to die before reaching the age of 21 years. See the sections below on his children and grandchildren for the main details of the bequests, for full details the reader is referred to the full text of George’s 2,700-word will.

 

Their children were:

John 1719-1720  Elizabeth 1720-?  Sarah 1721-1749  George 1723-1724

Jane 1725-?  Mary 1726-1727  Anna 1727-?  Mary 1730-?

 

 

George and Jane’s eldest child was John Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 15 March 1719. John died when only 18 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 28 September 1720.

 

 

George and Jane’s second child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 1 May 1720. When she was 22 years old Elizabeth married 33-year-old Benjamin Austen at the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet on 29 April 1742 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 26 April 1742 described Benjamin as a bachelor of Boughton Monchelsea in Kent, and Elizabeth as being from St Lawrence in Thanet. Benjamin was the son of Henry and Mary Austen; he had been born at Loose in Kent on 21 November 1708 and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 28 November 1708. Benjamin was also the brother of the Alice Austen who had married Elizabeth’s uncle Edward Muddle in 1739.

After their marriage Benjamin and Elizabeth lived in Holy Cross parish in Canterbury where Benjamin set himself up as a tanner. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, born between 1743 and 1749, all three daughters died in infancy. Their first child was born and baptised at St Lawrence, Ramsgate, Elizabeth having probably gone home to her parents to have her first child, the others were all born at Canterbury. Benjamin died at the age of 44, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 17 March 1753, his burial record described him as a tanner from Canterbury.

Benjamin's will dated 27 November 1752, in which he stated that he was in an ill state of health, was proved at the Consistory Court of Canterbury on 28 August 1753. This will bequeathed his real estate to be equally divided between his two sons subject to the dower of his wife. Half his household goods were to go to his wife and all the rest of his personal estate was to be equally divided between his three surviving children, but as his daughter died just a year after Benjamin this would also have been divided between his two sons. Benjamin made his father-in-law George Muddle and his brother John Austen executors of his will and guardians of his children.[6]

A year after Benjamin’s death Elizabeth's then only surviving daughter died at Canterbury, and it’s thought that it was after this that Elizabeth and her two sons, her now only surviving children, went to live at Ramsgate, probably with her parents. Then at some point Elizabeth married Henry Austen who is thought to have been the Henry Austen taken on as an apprentice by her father in 1745. This Henry was the son of John and Frances Austen of Loose, and he had been baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 17 April 1728. Henry would have completed his seven year apprenticeship in 1752. Henry and Elizabeth had at least one child, a son, who was probably born in about 1755.

When her father died in 1774 Elizabeth inherited from him an annuity of £5 per year for ten years that was to be charged to his properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate. It seems that Elizabeth was probably estranged from her husband as the will states that the annuity payments were to be made directly to her and that her husband Henry Austen was not to meddle in, or have any control over, the payments.

 

 

 

Benjamin and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Jane Austen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 12 June 1743. Jane died at Canterbury when only 5 years old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence at Ramsgate on 2 April 1749.

 

Benjamin and Elizabeth’s second child was George Austen who was born at Canterbury in Kent, and baptised at the Church of the Holy Cross in Canterbury on 12 November 1744. When George's father died in 1753 George inherited half of his father's real estate and half of the residue of his father's personal estate, which would all come to him when came of age. When his grandfather, George Muddle, died in 1774 George inherited £40 from him.

 

Benjamin and Elizabeth’s third child was Elizabeth Austen who was born at Canterbury in Kent, and baptised at the Church of the Holy Cross in Canterbury on 29 July 1746. Elizabeth died when she was only about 6 months old, and she was buried in Holy Cross Churchyard in Canterbury on 22 February 1747.

 

Benjamin and Elizabeth’s fourth child was Benjamin Austen who was born at Canterbury in Kent, and baptised at the Church of the Holy Cross in Canterbury on 27 October 1748. When Benjamin's father died in 1753 Benjamin's inherited half of his father's real estate and half of the residue of his father's personal estate, which would all come to him when came of age. When his grandfather, George Muddle, died in 1774 George inherited £40 from him.

 

Benjamin and Elizabeth’s fifth child was Elizabeth Austen who was born at Canterbury in Kent, and baptised at the Church of the Holy Cross in Canterbury on 2 August 1749. Elizabeth died when she was only 4 years old, and she was buried in Holy Cross Churchyard in Canterbury on 31 March 1754.

 

Henry and Elizabeth’s only known child (Elizabeth’s sixth) was Henry John Austen who was probably born about 1755. The will of Henry’s grandfather, George Muddle, showed that Henry was under 21 when it was made on 5 January 1773. After his grandfather, George Muddle, died in 1774 Henry was to inherit £40 when he reached 21 years of age.

 

 

George and Jane’s third child was Sarah Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 29 October 1721. When she was 26 years old Sarah married George Bucket at the Church of St Mary in Minster, Isle of Thanet, on 13 July 1748 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 12 July 1748 described George as a bachelor of St Lawrence in Thanet, and Sarah as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet. They lived at Ramsgate (St Lawrence in Thanet) where they had one child. Sarah died at the age of 27, a few weeks after giving birth to this child, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 28 March 1749.

 

 

George and Sarah’s only child was John Bucket who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 2 March 1749.

 

 

George and Jane’s fourth child was George Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 10 November 1723. George died when only 9 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence at Ramsgate on 30 August 1724.

 

George and Jane’s fifth child was Jane Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 17 January 1725.

When she was 25 years old Jane married Thomas Spurgen at the Church of St Mary in Minster on the Isle of Thanet on 13 February 1750 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 10 February 1750 described Thomas as a bachelor of St Lawrence in Thanet, and Jane as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet. Thomas and Jane didn’t have any children. Jane died on 11 September 1764, at the age of 39, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 17 September 1764. An inscribed headstone marks Jane’s grave on which her date of death is given as 11 October 1764, but as the burial register records her burial on 17 September it has been assumed that the month on the headstone is wrong and should be September.

Four years after Jane’s death Thomas married spinster Mary Holmans at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 17 April 1768 by license. Thomas and Mary lived at Ramsgate where they had eleven children born between 1768 and 1789, the first and last of whom died in infancy.

When Thomas’ first wife’s father, George Muddle, died in 1774 Thomas inherited £10 from him, and also a third share in his investment of a twenty-fourth part in the ships of which Edward Bayly and Richard Clunn were masters.

Mary died on 16 May 1789, at the age of 45, two months after the birth of her last child, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 2 June 1789. Eleven years later Thomas died on 5 April 1800, at the age of 79, and he was buried with his wife in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 10 April 1800. Their grave is marked by an inscribed headstone that also records the deaths of three of their daughters.

 

 

Thomas and Mary’s eldest child was Mary Frances Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 1 November 1768, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 November 1768. Mary died when she was only about 3 weeks old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 26 November 1768.

 

Thomas and Mary’s second child was Jane Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 12 March 1770, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 20 March 1770.

 

Thomas and Mary’s third child was Thomas Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 6 April 1771, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 19 April 1771.

 

Thomas and Mary’s fourth child was Mary Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 6 April 1772, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 May 1772.

 

Thomas and Mary’s fifth child was Ann Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 1 February 1774, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 20 February 1774.

 

Thomas and Mary’s sixth child was Frances Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 1 May 1775, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 14 May 1775. Frances died on 28 December 1788, when she was 13 years old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 4 January 1789.

 

Thomas and Mary’s seventh child was Elizabeth Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 11 February 1777, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 19 February 1777.

 

Thomas and Mary’s eighth child was Nicholas Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 1 January 1779, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 24 January 1779.

 

Thomas and Mary’s ninth child was Sarah Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 30 January 1784, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 29 February 1784.

 

Thomas and Mary’s tenth child was Susannah Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 8 December 1786, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 7 January 1787. Susannah died on 9 October 1808, at the age of 21, and she was buried with her parents in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate.

 

Thomas and Mary’s eleventh child was Elizabeth Trafford Spurgen who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 6 March 1789, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 21 March 1789. Elizabeth died on 5 November 1789, when she was almost 8 months old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 8 November 1789.

 

 

George and Jane’s sixth child was Mary Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 4 September 1726. Mary died when only 5 months old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 5 February 1727.

 

George and Jane’s seventh child was Anna Muddle, also known as Hannah, who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 19 November 1727. When she was 23 years old (nearly 24) Anna married 25-year-old Stephen Bax at the Church of the Holy Cross in Canterbury on 5 November 1751 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 5 November 1751 described Stephen as being a cooper and bachelor of St Lawrence in Thanet aged 25, and Anna as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet aged 23. (Stephen's name was given as Box on the marriage record and licence, but the name was Bax at all the baptisms of their children, and in the will of Anna's father.) Stephen was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bax, he had been born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 31 October 1725. Stephen and Anna lived at Ramsgate (St Lawrence in Thanet) where they had six children born between 1752 and 1766, four of whom died in infancy.

Anna’s husband inherited £50 from her father when he died in 1774, and two of her children, Stephen and Jane, each inherited £10, and jointly, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate, when they attained the age of 21 years. Anna inherited from her father, for the term of her natural life, two of his three adjoining properties at Brick Street in Ramsgate (those in the occupation of her husband, Stephen Bax, and widow Mary Gregory), and then after her death the properties were to be divided equally between her surviving children. Anna also inherited a half share of the residue of her father’s personal estate. Anna’s husband and her brother-in-law, George Friend, were the two executors of her father’s will, and given five guineas each for their trouble. The will also stated that Anna’s husband, Stephen, was the occupier of her father’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate, and as these properties included a slaughter house, it’s thought that they were probably the premises from which her father had operated his butcher’s business.

Stephen was a cooper in Ramsgate all his working life. He died on 7 August 1808, at the age of 82, from old age, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 11 August 1808. Two years later Anna died on 9 January 1811, at the age of 83, it seems that her death must have been the result of an accident as her cause of death was given as burnt. The story told in the family is that Anna fell into a fire while stoking it. She was buried with her husband in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 14 January 1811. Stephen and Anna were buried in the grave of Stephen's parents and the headstone also records the infant deaths of four of Stephen and Anna's children.

 

 

Stephen and Anna’s eldest child was Thomas Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 15 June 1752. Thomas died when only a few days old and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 30 June 1752.

 

Stephen and Anna’s second child was George Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 10 November 1754. George died when he was only a year old and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 30 December 1755.

 

Stephen and Anna’s third child was Stephen Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 11 March 1757. After his grandfather died in 1774 Stephen was to inherit £10, and jointly with his sister, Jane, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate, when he reached 21 years of age. Stephen also inherited a third share in his grandfather’s investment of a twenty-fourth part in the ships of which Edward Bayly and Richard Clunn were masters.

When he was 22 years old Stephen married Sarah Dyason at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 20 March 1779 by licence. They had children then Stephen died at the age of 66, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 June 1823.

 

Stephen and Anna’s fourth child was Thomas Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 8 December 1758. Thomas died when only a few weeks old and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 26 January 1759.

 

Stephen and Anna’s fifth child was Anthony Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 13 July 1760. Anthony died when only a few weeks old and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 September 1760.

 

Stephen and Anna’s sixth child was Jane Bax who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 16 November 1766. After her grandfather died in 1774 Jane was to inherit £10, and jointly with her brother, Stephen, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate, when she reached 21 years of age.

When she was 18 years old Jane married Edward Canney, who was from Deal in Kent, at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 31 May 1785 by licence. The licence issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 29 May 1785 described Edward as a mariner of Deal, and Jane to be the daughter of Stephen Bax, cooper. They first lived at Deal where they had four children born between 1786 and 1790, the first of whom died when only 8 weeks old. They then moved to Ramsgate where their fifth child was born in 1793 and their third child died in 1794, aged 5. Then Edward died at Ramsgate on 8 June 1795, at the age of 29, from dropsy, and was buried with his daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 11 June 1795. Their grave is marked by an inscribed headstone.

 

 

Edward and Jane’s eldest child was Sarah Canney who was born at Deal in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Leonard in Deal on 22 March 1786. Sarah died on 4 May 1786, when she was only 8 weeks old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate, Kent, where her grave is marked by an inscribed headstone that also records her sister Elizabeth and her father.

 

Edward and Jane’s second child was Jane Canney who was born at Deal in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Leonard in Deal on 25 April 1787.

 

Edward and Jane’s third child was Elizabeth Bax Canney who was born at Deal in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Leonard in Deal on 18 September 1788. At her baptism Elizabeth middle name was recorded as Bakes. Elizabeth died at Ramsgate in Kent on 13 May 1794, at the age of 5, from inflammation, and she was buried with her sister Sarah in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 18 May 1794, where their grave is marked by an inscribed headstone that also records their father.

 

Edward and Jane’s fourth child was Anna Muddle Canney who was born at Deal in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Leonard in Deal on 23 June 1790. When she was 20 years old Anna married Thomas Vincent at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 15 May 1810 by licence. The licence issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 14 May 1810 described Thomas as a silversmith of St George's, Bloomsbury, London, and Anna as the 20-year-old daughter of widow Jane Canney. They had at least two children who born in 1813 and 1815 while they were living at Holborn, St George's, Bloomsbury. Anna died at the age of 75, her death being registered in Islington registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1866.

 

 

Thomas and Anna’s eldest child was Henry Vincent who was born at Holborn, St George’s, Bloomsbury, London on 10 May 1813, and baptised at the Parish Church of St George in Bloomsbury on 6 June 1813. Henry became a prominent member of the Chartist Movement.

 

Thomas and Anna’s second child was Jane Bax Vincent who was born at Holborn, St George’s, Bloomsbury, London on 29 August 1815, and baptised at the Parish Church of St George in Bloomsbury on 24 September 1815.

 

 

Edward and Jane’s fifth child was Ann Noakes Canney who was born at Ramsgate on Isle of Thanet in Kent on 6 August 1793, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 21 August 1793. A note in the margin next to Ann’s baptism says ‘Chapel’ which is thought to mean the baptism took place at a Chapel of Ease of St Lawrence Church.

When she was 18 years old Ann married Thomas Canney at the Church of St George in Bloomsbury, London on 7 July 1812 by licence. Thomas was then living at Deal in Kent and Ann in Bloomsbury. Ann as a minor married with the consent of her widowed mother. They had seven children; when their first child was born in 1814 they were living at 1 Newcastle Street in Westminster and Thomas was a Clerk in the Victualling Office of the Admiralty at Somerset House. They then moved to Owen's Row in Clerkenwell where they were living when their next five children were born between 1816 and 1825; the first of these children died in 1817 when only a year old. At the baptism of the first of these children born at Owen's Row Thomas gave his occupation as Clerk to the Government and at the other four as Gentleman. They had moved to Paradise Row in Islington by the time their seventh child was born in 1828 and at the baptism of this child Thomas gave his occupation as Clerk; census records show he would have still been working as a Clerk for the Admiralty.

They were living at 44 Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London when Ann died at the age of 65, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery, Swain Lane, St Pancras on 30 September 1858. Twenty-three years later Thomas died at the age of 90, his death being registered in Kensington registration district in London during the 3rd quarter of 1881.

 

 

Thomas and Ann’s eldest child was Thomas Canney who was born at Westminster in London on 22 August 1814 and baptised at the Church of St Mary le Strand in Westminster on 7 September 1814.

 

Thomas and Ann’s second child was Ann Canney who was born at Clerkenwell in London on 14 September 1816 and baptised at the Church of St James in Clerkenwell on 8 October 1816. Ann died when just over a year old and she was buried in the Churchyard of Pentonville Chapel in the Parish of St James in Clerkenwell on 29 November 1817.

 

Thomas and Ann’s third child was Alfred Stephen Canney who was born at Clerkenwell in London on 21 August 1819 and baptised at the Church of St James in Clerkenwell on 16 September 1819.

 

Thomas and Ann’s forth child was Henry Edward Canney who was born at Clerkenwell in London on 2 June 1821 and baptised at the Church of St James in Clerkenwell on 27 June 1821.

 

Thomas and Ann’s fifth child was Jane Elizabeth Canney who was born at Clerkenwell in London on 17 March 1823 and baptised at the Church of St James in Clerkenwell on 5 August 1823.

 

Thomas and Ann’s sixth child was Laura Anna Canney who was born at Clerkenwell in London on 16 May 1825 and baptised at the Church of St James in Clerkenwell on 7 June 1825.

 

Thomas and Ann’s seventh child was Arthur Canney who was born at Islington in London on 10 June 1828 and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Islington on 29 June 1828. When he was 46 years old Arthur married a distant cousin, 57-year-old spinster Elizabeth Strover Muddle, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham, Kent on 1 June 1875. Arthur was then a Clerk in Holy Orders from Marylebone in London. Their marriage settlement on 28 May, a few days before their marriage, stated that Arthur was then living at 25 Upper Gloucester Place, Dorset Square, London and Elizabeth was living at 13 Scrayfries Terrace, Gillingham. Their marriage was reported in the Clergymen Married section of the 5 June 1875 edition of Jackson's Oxford Journal. See the section on Elizabeth Strover Muddle for the rest of their lives.

 

 

George and Jane’s eighth child was Mary Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 10 August 1730. When she was 21 years old (nearly 22) Mary married 24-year-old George Friend at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 2 June 1752 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 30 May 1752 described George as being a carpenter and bachelor of St Lawrence in Thanet aged 24, and Mary as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet aged 22. They lived at Ramsgate (St Lawrence in Thanet) where they had two children born in 1753 and 1756. They had at least seven children as the will of Mary’s father named the eldest, Jane, and stated that there were six more alive in 1773 when the will was made.

When Mary’s father died in 1774 his will gave her husband £100 by discharging him from having to repay the sum of £100 that he had borrowed from her father against a promissory note, on the condition that he had paid all the interest due up until her father’s death. This will also bequeathed £70 to be shared equally between Mary’s seven children, and paid to each of them on attaining the age of 21 years. Also Mary’s two children, Jane and George, were to inherit jointly, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate, when they attained the age of 21 years. Mary inherited from her father, for the term of her natural life, one of his three adjoining properties at Brick Street in Ramsgate (that in the occupation of Thomas Preston and next to the two inherited by her sister Anna), together with his property at Pegwell in the parish of St Lawrence, and then after her death the properties were to be divided equally between her surviving children. Mary also inherited a half share of the residue of her father’s personal estate. Mary’s husband and her brother-in-law, Stephen Bax, were the two executors of her father’s will, and given five guineas each for their trouble.

 

 

George and Mary’s eldest child was Jane Friend who was born at Ramsgate on Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 18 April 1753. Jane married William Skinner before 1773. When her grandfather, George Muddle, died in 1774 Jane inherited £10, and jointly with her brother George, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate. Jane also inherited a third share in her grandfather’s investment of a twenty-fourth part in the ships of which Edward Bayly and Richard Clunn were masters.

 

George and Mary’s second child was George Marshall Friend who was born at Ramsgate on Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 1 January 1756 When his grandfather, George Muddle, died in 1774 George inherited £10, and jointly with his sister Jane, as tenants in common, a moiety (half share) in their grandfather’s properties at East Street in Ramsgate and on land called Clover Field in Ramsgate.

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s second child was John Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 7 June 1689. John probably never married. He died at Loose at the age of 44, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 11 March 1734.

 

William and Elizabeth’s third child was William Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 25 April 1691. William died at Loose when only 3 or 4 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 9 August 1691.

 

William and Elizabeth’s fourth child was William Muddlewho was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Loose on 25 May 1692. When he was 29 years old William married Martha Goff at St Mildred's Church in Bread Street, City of London on 25 May 1721 by licence. The licence issued in London on 25 May 1721 stated that William was a yeoman and bachelor and Martha a spinster and that they were both residing in the parish of St Margaret in Westminster. William and Martha had one child born at Loose in 1728. William died at Loose at the age of 74, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 16 February 1766.

 

 

William and Martha’s only child was William Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Loose on 19 April 1728.

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s fifth child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 30 September 1694. Thomas died at Loose when only 7 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 12 May 1695 .

 

William and Elizabeth’s sixth child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 9 February 1696. Thomas died at Loose at the age of 7, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 26 September 1703.

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s seventh child was Hannah Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 24 April 1698. Hannah died at Loose when only a few days old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 1 May 1698.

 

William and Elizabeth’s eighth child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent and baptised (as Eliza) at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 18 June 1699. Elizabeth died at Loose at the age of 12, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 29 January 1712.

 

William and Elizabeth’s ninth child was Edward Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 5 November 1701. Edward moved to the Isle of Thanet in Kent, probably to Ramsgate, where he became a shipwright. He had probably been apprenticed there like his brother James, but no record of this has been found.

It seems that Edward fathered the illegitimate daughter of Hannah Clunn born in early 1732. The Parish Register and Archdeacon's Transcripts for the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Thanet record the baptism of 'Sarah daughter of Edward and Hannah Muddle'; the corresponding Bishop's Transcripts initially had the same entry but the name Edward and surname Muddle were then crossed out and the surname Clunn added, making it read 'Sarah daughter of Hannah Clunn'. From this it's assumed that the baptism was done on the assumption that Edward and Hannah were a married couple, but later it was found out that they weren't and only one of the three records was amended. Twenty months after the baptism of her illegitimate daughter Hannah married Joseph Kennard at the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet on 15 October 1733.

Five months after the baptism of his illegitimate daughter Edward, at the age of 30, married 29-year-old Ann Stevens at the Church of St Alphege in Canterbury, Kent, on 16 July 1732 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 15 July 1732 described Edward as being a bachelor of St Lawrence in Thanet, and Ann as a spinster also of St Lawrence in Thanet. Ann was the daughter of Richard and Sarah Stevens, and she had been baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 12 November 1702. Ann's father, whose will showed that he had been an invester in ships and shipping, had died in 1730. See the section headed ‘Edward & Ann/Alice Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

 

Edward and Hannah's illegitimate daughter was Sarah Clunn who was born at Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Broadstairs on 17 February 1732.

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s tenth child was James Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Loose on 31 October 1703. By an indenture dated 17 May 1720 James' father paid £10 to have James, at the age of 16, apprenticed for a term of 5 years from the date of the indenture to John Friend, shipwright of Ramsgate.[7] James married Sarah and they lived at Ramsgate in Kent (parish of St Lawrence on the Isle of Thanet), where they had four children born between 1734 and 1740.

After completing his apprenticeship James became a ship's carpenter sailing on merchant ships at a time when the loss of such ships was frequent due to the lack of accurate navigation. James must have been well aware of this and when he made his will on 16 May 1734, soon after the birth of his first child, he refers to the perils and dangers of the seas, and committed his body to either the earth or the sea.

It has not been possible to trace James' full maritime career as merchant ship crew lists only start to be systematically kept in 1747. But one voyage of a ship on which James was the second mate and ship's carpenter is known from a Philadelphia court case. The ship Princess Augusta, Captain Samuel Merchant, took on 330 Palatines (German emigrants) and their baggage at Rotterdam and then stopped at Cowes for about five days for English custom officials to search the ship for goods smuggled in violation of the Navigation Acts that restricted the import of none British made goods into her colonies. They gave the ship the all clear and allowed her to proceed on her voyage to Philadelphia, where on her arrival in September 1736 the customs officers took a completely different view of the very large number of new iron goods in the Palatines' baggage and impounded the ship and the Palatines' baggage. At the resultant legal case heard before the Vice Admiralty Court in Philadelphia during November 1736 James Muddle gave a deposition for the defence in which he describes himself as the second mate and ship's carpenter on that voyage of the Princess Augusta. The judge cleared the ship and its crew of any wrong doing and released the ship, but the Palatines were not so lucky, the judge ordered that their goods be sold off with the proceeds going to the British government.[8]

Its not known if James continued to sail with the Princess Augusta on her later voyages, but if he did he would have been one of the survivors of her 1738 voyage taking another group of Palatines to America that saw half the ship's crew die of dysentery and the ship ending up wrecked off Rhode Island. Certainly after that, if not before, he would have become the crew member of another ship or ships, on one of which he would have been serving in the early 1740s when he died, presumably at sea as no record of his burial has been found.

After her husband's death became known to Sarah she had his will proved by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 31 May 1742. In his will James left all his estate to his wife who was also the sole executrix of his will.[9] Sarah continued to live at Ramsgate for the next 54 years. She died there at the age of 88, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence at Ramsgate on 12 November 1796.

 

Their children were:

Elizabeth 1734-?  William 1736-?  John 1738-?  James 1740-1823

 

 

James and Sarah’s eldest child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 March 1734.

 

James and Sarah’s second child was William Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 23 May 1736.

 

James and Sarah’s third child was John Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 23 July 1738. When he was 25 years old John married Sarah Harlow at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 8 January 1764. They lived at Ramsgate where they had six children born between 1765 and 1773. The 1802 Kent Poll Book recorded that John Muddle of Ramsgate, a freeholder of a house at Ramsgate that he occupied himself, voted on the 7th day of the poll held on Penenden Heath, Maidstone between 13 & 22 July 1802 for Knights of the Shire (Members of Parliament) for Kent, and that he voted for Sir William Geary Bart. and Filmer Honywood Esq. Sarah died at Ramsgate at the age of 66, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 9 June 1805. When his brother James died in 1823 John, if he was still alive, inherited an income of one half of the dividends from the three percent stock in which James' estate was held: this income was to be divided equally between John's surviving children when he died. It's not known what John's occupation was or what happened to him, though he was still alive when his brother James made his will in 1807; possibly he was a mariner and died at sea like his father.

 

 

John and Sarah’s eldest child was Sarah Curling Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 27 January 1765. Sarah never married. She died at Ramsgate at the age of 56, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 15 March 1821. Sarah died intestate and administration of her estate,[10] which was valued at under £100, was granted to her brother James Muddle by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 12 September 1827: the same day that administration of the estates of Sarah’s brother John and his wife Susannah was granted to her brother-in-law Charles Twyman. It seems that James and Charles had for some reason finally got round to sorting out the estates of these three relative who had died between six and eleven years earlier.

 

John and Sarah’s second child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 11 May 1766. When she was 26 years old Elizabeth married widower Charles Twyman at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 27 May 1792 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 26 May 1792 described Charles as a widower and husbandman of St Lawrence in Thanet, and Elizabeth as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet. Charles and Elizabeth initially lived at Ramsgate where they had two children born in 1795 and 1801. But by the time their sister-in-law Susannah made her will in 1817 they were living at Broadstairs (the parish of St Peter the Apostle on the Isle of Thanet in Kent) where Charles was still a husbandman. Susannah died in 1818 leaving Charles as the sole executor of her will, and sole beneficiary of her estate, which included her husband’s estate for which the will was still not proven. But for some reason it was not until nine years later that Charles had both wills proven by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 12 September 1827: the same day that his brother-in-law James Muddle had the will of Elizabeth’s sister Sarah Curling Muddle proven.

 

 

Charles and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Susannah Elizabeth Twyman who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 24 September 1795, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 8 November 1795.

 

Charles and Elizabeth’s second child was Charles Twyman who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 15 June 1801, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 26 July 1801.

 

 

John and Sarah’s third child was Mary Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 13 January 1768, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 28 February 1768. Mary died at Ramsgate at the age of 5 (not 6 as given on her burial record), and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 5 September 1773.

 

John and Sarah’s forth child was Jane Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 30 September 1769, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 22 October 1769. Jane was a spinster living in the High Street at Ramsgate when, in July 1816, the first dividend became due on 3% Consolidated Bank of England Stock.[11] Could this possibly be the 3% stock in the will of her uncle James Muddle of Oxford that she was to inherit after the death of her father, except why would this be due before the death of her uncle in 1823?

When she was 47 years old Jane married widower William White, who was about 40 years old, at the Church of St Giles in the Fields in Holborn, London on 3 March 1817. They were both then living in the Parish of St Giles in the Fields. They didn't have any children as Jane was too old and there was no mention of children in Jane's will.

They were living at Ramsgate when William died at the age of 60, and was buried in the Churchyard of St George at Ramsgate on 24 March 1838. Seventeen months later Jane was living at Ramsgate when she died on the 4 November 1839, at the age of 70 (not 73 as given on her burial record), and was buried in the Churchyard of St George at Ramsgate on 8 November 1839. The year before, when she made her will on 23 April 1838, just a month after her husband's death, Jane was a widow of Ramsgate, and according to the testimony of a witness to her will, so frail she couldn't sign her name and only made her mark. Jane's will left all her personal estate, consisting of her household goods, clothes and money, to her brother James, who was also sole executor and had the will proved in London by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 22 November 1839.[12]

 

 

John and Sarah’s fifth child was John Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 18 September 1771, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 3 November 1771. When he was 22 years old John married Susannah Brickhill, who was then about 33 years old, at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 11 February 1794 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 10 February 1794 described John as a bachelor and hairdresser of St Lawrence in Thanet and Susannah as a spinster of St Lawrence in Thanet. They lived at Ramsgate and are thought to have been childless.

An advert in the Morning Chronicle of 9 September 1799 described John as a perfumer of the High Street, Ramsgate, and described one of the products he sold to stain hair, which interestingly shows that red as well as grey hair was then out of fashion:

FOR THE HAIR

J. MAHAREY, Perfumer, 283, Strand, opposite to Norfolk-street; continues to sell his incomparable VEGETABLE STAIN, for changing Red or Grey Hair to the beautiful and fancied varieties of Black, Brown, or Flaxen. This valuable discovery is so easy in its application that any Lady or Gentleman may stain their own Hair without the least trouble or inconvenience; one application is alone sufficient to produce a most beautiful and natural colour, which neither washing, nor any other application, can remove, and it has the peculiar advantage of never staining the skin.

Sold by the Proprietor in Bottles at One Guinea each, who, at the desire of any Lady or Gentleman, will apply it himself the first time, without any extra charge for his attendance.

J. M. also sells his Vegetable Stain for changing Red or Grey Eye-brows, or Whiskers, to a permanent Brown or Black, in small Bottles at 10s. 6d. each. - Sold also by appointment at Mr. Silver's Circulating Library, Margate; Mr. Burgess's, Circulating Library, Ramsgate; and Mr. Muddle's, Perfumer, High-street, Ramsgate; where locks of variously dyed Hair may be seen.

John died at Ramsgate at the age of 44 (just a few days short of being 45 as recorded on his burial record), and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 12 September 1816. John’s will, dated the 21 May 1805, which described him as a hairdresser of Ramsgate, left everything to his wife Susannah who was also the sole executrix.[13] But Susannah had not had John’s will proven before she died at Ramsgate at the age of 58, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 17 October 1818. Susannah’s will, dated the 11 March 1817, made her brother-in-law Charles Twyman sole executor and sole beneficiary.[14] But for some reason it was not until the 12 September 1827 that Charles Twyman had both wills proven by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

 

John and Sarah’s sixth child was James Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 20 July 1773, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 12 September 1773. When James was bondsman for the marriage licence of his sister Elizabeth in 1792, he was described as being a ropemaker of St Lawrence in Thanet. Then seven years later James was living at Deal in Kent when, at the age of 26, he married Ann Wanstall at the Church of St Leonard in Deal on 20 October 1799. See the section headed ‘James & Ann Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

 

James and Sarah’s fourth child was James Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 9 November 1740. James was living at Westminster in London when, at the age of 34, he married spinster Ann Brown at the Church of St Margaret in Westminster on 3 June 1775 by licence. They didn’t have any children, Ann being about 39 years old when they married.

The 1 July 1775 edition of Jackson's Oxford Journal published the following notice from James:

JAMES MUDDLE, from London, has now taken the Shop and Stock in Trade of Ellis Mather, Ironmonger, of Thame, and is laying in a fresh assortment of ironmongery goods, &c. where he begs a continuance of the custom of Mr. Mather's friends; and humbly hopes for the encouragement of the publick, as he will take great care to serve them upon the best terms; and their favours will be gratefully acknowledged.

By their humble servant,

JAMES MUDDLE

N. B. All persons indebted to Mr. Mather, are desired to pay the same to him, who attends with his books at the shop, to receive and give discharges for the same; And all persons who have any demands, are desired to send in their accounts, in order to receive a dividend.

Five years later the 18 November 1780 edition of Jackson's Oxford Journal published the following advert:

THAME, OXFORDSHIRE.

TO be LETT, and Entered upon the 5th Day of April, 1781, - A very good HOUSE and old-accustomed IRONMONGER'S SHOP, situated in the High-Street, and opposite the Market-Hall, in Thame; now in the Occupation of Mr. JAMES MUDDLE. The House and Shop are spacious and convenient, with extensive Offices, large Garden, Yard, &c. &c. - For further Particulars enquire of Mr. Hedges, Grocer, in Thame aforesaid. - N. B. A great opening for a capital Brazier and Ironmonger.

From this it seems that James didn't own the property, but did he continue to occupy it or moved to other premises in Thame as three years later he was listed as still being an ironmonger of Thame in Oxfordshire in Bailey’s British Directory of 1784.

In 1786 James Muddle was in possession of a house and land in the parish of Chilton in Buckinghamshire, which is about 4 miles north of Thame, that was then valued at £5 per annum and had been given to the poor of the parish by Nicholas Almond in 1628.[15]

It was probably when James retired that they moved to Broad Street in Oxford, where they are known to have been when James made his will in 1807.

Ann died on 25 October 1815, at the age of 79, at her home in Broad Street, Oxford, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Oxford on 30 October 1815. Her death was announced in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of Saturday 28 October 1815:

Wednesday last died, aged 79, Mrs Muddle wife of Mr Muddle, Broad Street, in this city.

And her death was also recorded in the 1 December 1815 edition of The Monthly Magazine; or British Register as died in Broad Street, Oxford, 79, Mrs Muddle.

James died on 9 February 1823, at the age of 82, at his home in Broad Street, Oxford, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Oxford on 12 February 1823. His death was announced in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of Saturday 15 February 1823:

On Sunday last died, at his apartments in Broad Street, in the 83rd year of his age, Mr Jas Muddle, formerly a respectable ironmonger in Thame.

James’ will, dated the 2 September 1807, which described him as a gentleman of Broad Street in the City of Oxford, was proved at London by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 14 April 1823. The will left all James’ estate to be held in trust, as three percent stock, by his two executors, William Parker and James Carpenter, who were given £20 each for their trouble. The dividends from this stock were to be paid as follows: One moiety (half share) to Elizabeth Gunning widow of the Rev. Joseph Gunning of Slone Square, Chelsea. (Elizabeth’s maiden name was Brown, so she was possibly a sister of James’ wife Ann.) Then after Elizabeth’s death one half of the moiety was to go to her daughter Mary Louisa Gunning, and the other half of the moiety to Ann Parker the wife of executor William Parker. The other moiety was to go to James’ brother John Muddle of Ramsgate in Kent, and then after his death it was to be equally divided between his surviving children.[16]

 

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s eleventh child was Thomas Muddle who was born at Loose in Kent on 14 February 1706, and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Loose on 22 February 1706. When he was about 23 years old Thomas married Elizabeth Newman at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent on 26 January 1729 by licence. The licence issued at Canterbury on 20 January 1729 described Thomas as being a bachelor of Ramsgate, and Elizabeth as a spinster Ramsgate. (Thomas’ name was incorrectly given as William in the marriage record at St Lawrence, but it was correct on the marriage licence.) They lived at Ramsgate where they had two children born in 1730 and 1738; both these children died when only a few months old. After 43 years of marriage Elizabeth died at Ramsgate at the age of 71, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 13 December 1772. Twelve years later Thomas died at Ramsgate at the age of 81 (not 84 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 22 July 1787.

 

 

Thomas and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Mary Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 26 March 1730. Mary died at Ramsgate when only 3 months old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 8 July 1730.

 

Thomas and Elizabeth’s second child was John Muddle who was born at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 29 January 1738. John died at Ramsgate when only 2 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Lawrence in Ramsgate on 16 March 1738.


[1] TNA IR 1/8 spread 184, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books.

[2] TNA IR 1/15 spread 118, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books.

[3] TNA IR 1/17 spread 45, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books.

[4] TNA IR 1/18 spread 160, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books.

[5] CKS PRC17/99/206 Will of George Muddle proved by Archdeaconry of Canterbury.

[6] CKS PRC31/223 Will of Benjamin Austen proved by Consistory Court of Canterbury.

[7] TNA IR 1/8 spread 184, Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books.

[8] Library of Congress, Washington DC, MMC-1317 Vice Admiralty Court in Philadelphia records.

[9] CKS PRC17/91/44 Will of James Muddle proved by Archdeaconry of Canterbury.

[10] TNA PROB 6/203 Admon of Sarah Muddle issued by Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

[11] Unclaimed Dividends of Bank of England Stock, 1823, London, p151.

[12] TNA PROB 11/1919 Will of Jane White proved by Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

[13] TNA PROB 11/1730 Will of John Muddle proved by Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

[14] TNA PROB 11/1730 Will of Susannah Muddle proved by Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

[15] George Lipscomb The History & Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, Vol I, p149.

[16] TNA PROB 11/1669 Will of James Muddle proved by Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

 

Copyright © Derek Miller 2005-2016

Last updated 4 April 2016

 

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