THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE KENT MUDDLE FAMILIES THE HARRIETSHAM MUDDLES

 

Chart of Nicholas & Susannah Muddle's Family

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s eldest child was Walter Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 28 January 1621. When he was 25 years old Walter married Mary Brisbeech, also known as Maria, at the Church of St Nicholas in Rocester, Kent on 25 October 1646. This was the same day that Walter’s father remarried there. Walter and Mary are thought to have had at least four sons; one son, Nicholas, was named in the will of Walter’s brother William, but as no baptisms were recorded at Boxley during the Civil War and Commonwealth periods when Walter and Mary would have been having children, the other three sons are only assumed to be theirs because this is where they seem most likely to fit.

When his father died in 1660 Walter was the executor of his will and inherited the residue of his father’s personal estate. In the Kent Hearth Tax of 1664 Walter Muddle was recorded in the Parish of Boxley in the Hundred of Maidstone as having two hearths that were chargeable.[2] The following year Mary died and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 23 November 1665.

Seven months after Mary’s death Walter married Grizsella Burgess at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 29 June 1666. About two months before their marriage they had twins who both died within a month of birth and must have been conceived while Walter’s first wife was still alive. It was nine years later that Walter and Grizsella start to have more children; three born at Boxley between 1675 and 1678.

When his brother William died in January 1676 Walter inherited £15 that was to be taken out of the money Walter owed William in a bond that had become payable last Michaelmas, this was probably all or part of the £50 that their father had bequeathed William and was to be held by Walter as executor until William was 24 years old. William had also bequeathed Grizsella two pair of sheets and half a dozen napkins still held by John Austen that were therefore also part of William’s inheritance from his father.

Nineteen years after the birth of her last child Grizsella died at Boxley and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 14 March 1687. The following year Walter died at Boxley, at the age of 77, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 1 July 1698.

 

Their children were:

Nicholas 1648-1686  Stephen 1652-1716  Walter 1656-1726

James 1660-1693  John 1666-1666  Elizabeth 1666-1666

John 1675-1759  Katherine 1677-?  Benjamin 1678-1678

 

Walter and Mary’s assumed eldest child was Nicholas Muddle who was probably born at Boxley in Kent in about 1648. Nicholas is known to be Walter and Mary's child from being named in the will of Walter's brother William Muddle. When this William Muddle died in January 1676 Nicholas inherited 20 shillings and his wife inherited one pair of sheets. In about 1669 when he was about 21 years old Nicholas married Mary and they had six children born at Maidstone between 1670 and 1686, the last three of whom died in infancy between 1684 and 1688. Nicholas died just three months after the birth of their last child and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint at Maidstone on 15 December 1686, when he was about 38 years old.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s eldest child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 28 October 1670.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s second child was Mary Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone during September 1672.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s third child was James Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone during February 1676.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s fourth child was Ursella Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 28 December 1679. Ursella died when she was only 4 years old and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint at Maidstone on 7 September 1684.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s fifth child was Nicholas Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 11 September 1683. Nicholas died when he was only 1 year old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint at Maidstone on 27 May 1685.

 

Nicholas and Mary’s sixth child was Nicholas Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone during September 1686. Nicholas died when he was only 1 year old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint at Maidstone on 7 August 1688.

 

Walter and Mary’s assumed second child was Stephen Muddle who was probably born at Boxley in Kent in about 1652. When William Muddle, the brother of Stephen’s father, died in January 1676 Stephen is thought to be the cousin Stephen Muddle who was bequeathed 20 shillings in the will of William Muddle. When he was about 25 years old Stephen married Elizabeth Austen at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 27 February 1677. See the section headed ‘Stephen & Elizabeth/Eleanor Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

Walter and Mary’s assumed third child was Walter Muddle who was probably born at Boxley in Kent in about 1656. When he was about 27 years old Walter married Margaret Ledger at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in East Sutton, Kent on 30 September 1683. They lived at Charing in Kent where they had nine children born between 1684 and 1700; seven of these children died soon after birth, and another one died at age 11, leaving only one, daughter Rebecca, to survive to adulthood.

Normally the parishioners of a parish would at Easter choose from the men of the parish the two churchwardens that were to serve the parish for the next twelve months. If they couldn’t agree on their choice then one churchwarden would be appointed by the parish priest and the other chosen by the parishioners. It seems that at Easter 1703 the vicar of Charing, Edward Dering, appointed Walter Muddle to be one of the churchwardens, possibly against the wishes of some of the parishioners, and the parishioners choose John Hart to be the other churchwarden.

It also seems that these two churchwardens found it difficult or impossible to work together and according to the testimony of Charles Wheeler, who was present at a vestry meeting on the 10 May, there was then a debate about which of the churchwardens should have custody of the churchwardens’ account book that had until then been held by Walter Muddle. Some of the parishioner wanted John Hart to have it and other parishioners wanted Walter Muddle to keep it, and as a compromise Charles Wheeler proposed that it be kept locked up in the Parish Chest but this could not be agreed on so Walter Muddle retained it.

As a result it seems that John Hart then made a complaint to the Canterbury Archdeacon’s Court that resulted in the court ruling on 10 June that Walter Muddle should hand over the book to be placed in the Parish Chest. But at a vestry meeting on 13 June, according to the testimony of Charles Wheeler, when Walter Muddle offered the book to John Hart for placement in the Parish Chest both Walter Muddle and the vicar, Edward Dering, opened two of the locks on the chest with their keys but John Hart left the church with his key for the other lock with the result that the book couldn’t be placed in the chest.

John Hart then had Upton, an ecclesiastical court solicitor, produce a presentment to the Canterbury Archdeacon’s Court complaining of the actions of both Walter Muddle and Edward Dering and stating, contrary to Charles Wheeler’s testimony, that Walter Muddle had not offered the book to him. He also stating that Walter Muddle had called him a blockhead and was: ‘a person of a stained reputation and one who hath committed several misdemeanours and is of such ill behaviour that he hath several times for numerous crimes and offences by him committed been complained of to the justices of the peace and had before them or one of them for such crimes and misdemeanours and hath then acknowledged and confessed such his crimes and ill behaviour and hath begged pardon of the person or persons whom he had offended’. In this presentment John Hart further accused Walter Muddle of taking and selling lead, to the value of ten shillings, from the parish church and keeping the money for his own use. Stating that: ‘Walter Muddle hath declared several times or at least once to some person or persons that he could not live by honest dealing’.

On 8 July Walter answered the charge of stealing the lead, stating that he and the parish clerk, Henry Spillett, had found several small pieces of lead about two feet underground while digging a grave, and that he was not keeping the money for which he sold it, but would account for this money in the churchwardens’ accounts at the correct time of next Easter.

It seems that John Hart had also made a presentment against the vicar, Edward Dering, accusing him of enclosing part of the churchyard for his own use as part of the grounds of the vicarage house. Because also on the 8 July Edward Dering answered this by saying that he had only enclosed a rough unused bit of the churchyard to improve the vicarage for his successors and there was plenty of land left in the churchyard for the interment of corpses.

The case of Hart against Muddle came before the ecclesiastical court on 16 September and 7 October 1703 when admission was granted to Upton's allegations against Walter Muddle, and Tylden, another ecclesiastical court solicitor, was assigned to represent Walter. The case was heard on 30 October 1703 when Upton produced witnesses Humphrey Hughes, Thomas Andrews, William Millen and John Creed, who gave oral evidence in support of the allegations, and Tylden produced Edward Dering, who gave oral evidence against the allegations. The court's judgement was that the allegations were frivolous and had been frivolously made, and dismissed the charges against Walter. This case shows that in 1703 the parish of Charing was divided into the supporters of John Hart and the supporters of Walter Muddle and Edward Dering, and there was certainly 'bad blood' between the leaders of these two factions.[3]

It is thought that it must be Walter, who was the Walter Muddle, wheelwright, who was made a Freeman of the City of Rocester on 21 April 1705 without payment, because he had served a seven year apprenticeship with William Simons who was himself a freeman on the city.[4]

The disagreement over who held the churchwardens’ account book indicates that Walter Muddle and the vicar, Edward Dering, must have been friendly and able to get on together in 1703, but by mid-1719 this was no longer the case and Edward Dering made a complaint to the Canterbury Archdeacon’s Court that Walter Muddle had not been paying his tithes since 1714 and also the Easter Offering for himself and his wife from the same date.

The Easter Offering was an annual payment of six pence to the incumbent of a parish by each inhabitant of that parish who was aged sixteen years or more and was capable of receiving the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The presentment stated that Walter had paid this for himself and his wife up until 1713 but had made no payments for the years 1714 to 1719 and as a result six shillings was owed to Edward Dering.

The presentment further stated that Walter Muddle did occupy and hold in the parish of Charing a messuage or tenement with a garden adjoining, and for the tithes of one tenth of the herbs, roots and plants grown in the garden had made an agreement with Edward Dering to pay six pence yearly at Michaelmas in lieu of the tithes, which were yearly worth at least this amount. That Walter Muddle had paid this six pence annually until 1713 but had made no payments for the years 1714 to 1718 and as a result two shillings and six pence was owed to Edward Dering.

It seems that Walter also kept pigs and in 1715 he had a litter of three piglets that he breed up and weaned, and than sold. Then in 1717 or 1718 he had a litter of fourteen pigs that he sold. The three pigs were valued at five shillings each and the fourteen pigs at two shillings and six pence each. Walter had not paid the tithes that were due on these pigs and as a result five shillings was owed to Edward Dering.

So in total Walter owed Edward Dering thirteen shillings and six pence in outstanding tithes and Easter Offerings, and had been refusing to pay. The case came before the ecclesiastical court on 21 May 1719 with Norris, an ecclesiastical court solicitor, appearing for Edward Dering. He introduced Hope, the Apparitor (court official), who stated that he had personally informed Walter on 6 May at Ashford that he was summoned to appear at the court on 21 May. As Walter didn't appear his contumacy (wilful refusal to appear before the court) was pronounced, and the case was adjourned for judgement at the next court, which was held on 4 June 1719, when the judgement was concordatur (it is agreed), which is taken to mean that the complaint against Walter was upheld, but no penalty was given.[5]

That Walter Muddle and Edward Dering's relationship, which had seemed originally to have been so close and harmonious, had became acrimonious in about 1714, at least resulted in leaving us an insight into a part of Walter's life. It's hoped that Walter and Edward Dering settled their grievances as Edward continued as Vicar at Charing until his death in 1742, and it seems that Walter also continued to live at Charing for the rest of his life.

Walter died when he was about 73 years old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 2 October 1726. Three months later Margaret died and was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 4 January 1727.

 

Walter and Margaret’s eldest child was James Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 18 December 1684. James died when only about 5 weeks old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 20 January 1685.

 

Walter and Margaret’s second child was Mary Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent, probably in early 1686 (the Charing baptism records are missing for March 1685 to March 1686). Mary died in infancy and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 17 April 1686.

 

Walter and Margaret’s third child was Margaret Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 4 March 1688. Margaret died when only about 4 weeks old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 30 March 1688.

 

Walter and Margaret’s fourth child was John Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 4 April 1689. John died when only a few days old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 9 April 1689.

 

Walter and Margaret’s fifth child was Alice Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent, probably in mid-1690. Alice died in infancy and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 25 October 1690.

 

Walter and Margaret’s sixth child was Susan Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 1 December 1695. Susan died when only few days old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 8 December 1695.

 

Walter and Margaret’s seventh child was Rebecca Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 14 February 1697. When she was 32 years old Rebecca married John Brisley at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 7 May 1729. They had four children born at Charing between 1729 and 1737.

 

John and Rebecca’s eldest child was Mary Brisley who was born at Charing in Kent on 27 July 1729, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 13 August 1729.

 

John and Rebecca’s second child was John Brisley who was born at Charing in Kent on 10 January 1731, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 3 February 1731.

 

John and Rebecca’s third child was Edward Brisley who was born at Charing in Kent on 13 August 1734, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 25 August 1734.

 

John and Rebecca’s fourth child was Elizabeth Brisley who was born at Charing in Kent on 10 April 1737, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 16 April 1737.

 

Walter and Margaret’s eighth child was Mary Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent on 12 April 1699, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on 14 April 1699. Mary died when only a few days old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 18 April1699.

 

Walter and Margaret’s ninth child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Charing in Kent on 16 August 1700, and baptised at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Charing on the same day. Elizabeth died when she was 11 years old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Charing on 1 July 1712.

 

Walter and Mary’s assumed fourth child was James Muddle who was probably born at Boxley in Kent in about 1660. When he was about 25 years old James married Sarah Lucas at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone during May 1685. They had two children born at Maidstone in 1687 and 1688. James died when he was about 33 years old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley on 2 May 1693. On his burial record James was described as being a householder.

 

James and Sarah’s eldest child was John Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone during April 1687.

 

James and Sarah’s second child was Sarah Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 25 September 1688. Sarah died when she was only 2 years old and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley on 24 September 1690.

 

Walter and Grizsella’s eldest child, one of twins, (Walter’s fifth) was John Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 3 May 1666. John died when he was about 4 weeks old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 29 May 1666.

 

Walter and Grizsella’s second child, one of twins, (Walter’s sixth) was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 3 May 1666. Elizabeth died when she was about 2 weeks old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 17 May 1666.

 

Walter and Grizsella’s third child (Walter’s seventh) was John Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 31 July 1675. When he was 38 years old John married 21-year-old Mary Burford at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 1 October 1713. Mary was the daughter of John and Mary Burford, and she had been baptised at the Church of St Martin in Detling, Kent on 9 September 1692. John and Mary lived at Maidstone where they had four children born between 1714 and 1721; the first two of whom died during May 1721. Three years after the birth of her last child Mary died at Maidstone, at the age of 31, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 7 February 1724.

Twenty months after Mary’s death John, now aged 50, married Alicia Pine at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 4 October 1725 by license. The license had been issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 3 October 1725 and described John as a widower of Maidstone and Alicia as a spinster of Maidstone. They lived at Maidstone where they had four children born between 1726 and 1736, the third of whom died soon after birth.

On the 11 October 1748 John was made a Freeman of the Borough of Maidstone.[6] 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 John Muddle who lived at Maidstone and held freehold property, consisting of a house and land, at Thurnham, which was occupied by Thomas Hall. John died at the age of 84 and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 19 November 1759.

 

Their children were:

Sarah 1714-1721  John 1717-1721  James 1720-1774  Mary 1721-?

Sarah 1726-?  Arthur 1730-1766  John 1733-1733  Alicia 1736-?

 

John and Mary’s eldest child was Sarah Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 18 September 1714. Sarah died at the age of 6, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 24 May 1721, just three weeks after her brother John.

 

John and Mary’s second child was John Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 2 March 1717. John died at Maidstone, at the age of 4, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 3 May 1721.

 

John and Mary’s third child was James Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 1 January 1720.

On 23 June 1739, when he was 19 years old, James started working at Chatham Naval Dockyard as a Labourer being paid 13d per day. During the 1st quarter of 1740 James worked 74 days, 2 nights and 32 tides as a Labourer for which he was paid £4 13s 0d.[7] It's not known how long the standard working day was, but it was probably 10 hours, a night was a period of 5 hours overtime for which a day's pay was received, and a tide was a period of 1½ hours overtime for which a labourer received 4d.[8] It was during this same quarter, on the 24 March 1740, that James started working as a Watchman at the dockyard, in addition to working as a Labourer, this being just 9 months after he had started as a labourer. A Watchman's pay was 12d per day but they only worked what were called nights, which were 5 hours of overtime for which they were paid a day's wages, and the Watchman seemed to fairly consistently work 45 or 46 nights per quarter, so it was effectively steady overtime that was not available to them as labourers, and added about 50% to James' pay.[9]

When he was 22 years old James married Elizabeth Batchelor at the Church of St Peter in Aylesford, Kent on 7 October 1742. See the section headed ‘James & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

John and Mary’s fourth child was Mary Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 7 May 1721. Mary probably moved the 2½ miles south to Loose to work and died there at the age of 20. She was described as being a spinster when she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Loose on 19 October 1741.

 

John and Alicia’s eldest child (John’s fifth) was Sarah Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 15 January 1726. When she was 27 years old Sarah married Robert Stevenson at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 16 June 1753. They had three children born at Maidstone between 1753 and 1756.

 

Robert and Sarah’s eldest child was John Stevenson who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 25 July 1753.

 

Robert and Sarah’s second child was Ann Stevenson who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 13 September 1754.

 

Robert and Sarah’s third child was Alicia Stevenson who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 29 February 1756.

 

John and Alicia’s second child (John’s sixth) was Arthur Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 24 January 1730. When he was 29 years old Arthur married 22-year-old Sarah Fryman at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 30 September 1759 by license. The license issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 29 September 1759 described Arthur as a 29 year old bachelor and labourer of Maidstone and Sarah as a 22 year old spinster of Maidstone. Sarah was the daughter of Richard and Mary Fryman, and she had been baptised at the Church of All Saints in Biddenden, Kent on 3 July 1737. Arthur and Sarah lived at Maidstone where their first child was born in early 1760 and died in late 1761, when just under two years old. Their second child was born at Maidstone in mid-1762, but both Mary, at the age of 25, and this child died about three months later and were buried together in the Churchyard of All Saints at Biddenden on 30 September 1762.

Six months after Sarah’s death Arthur, at the age of 33, married Martha Cutbush at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 27 March 1763. They lived at Boxley in Kent where they had two children born in 1764 and 1766. Arthur died at the age of 36, only a few days after their second child was baptised, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley on 28 November 1766. Six months later Martha married widower John Saltmarsh at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 5 June 1767 by license. The license issued by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 4 June 1767 described John as a labourer and widower of Boxley and Martha as a widow of Boxley. The following year Martha’s second child by Arthur Muddle died when about 16 months old.

 

Arthur and Sarah’s eldest child was Mary Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 20 January 1760. Mary died when she was just under two years old and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Maidstone on 3 December 1761.

 

Arthur and Sarah’s second child was John Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 27 June 1762. John died when he was about three months old, at the same time as his mother, and they were buried together in the Churchyard of All Saints at Biddenden, Kent on 30 September 1762.

 

Arthur and Martha’s eldest child (Arthur’s third) was James Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 21 July 1764. When James was 14 years old £15 was paid, probably by his stepfather, John Saltmarsh, to have him apprenticed to tailor Robert Paige at Lenham in Kent for 7 years from 1 June 1778 by an indenture dated 13 December 1779.[10]

When he was 20 years old James married 20-year-old Susannah Gooding at the Church of St Mary in Lenham on 13 April 1785. Susannah was the daughter of William and Hannah Gooding and she had been baptised at the Church of St Mary in Lenham on 1 January 1765. As James had not quite finished his 7 year apprenticeship when he married it would have had to have been with the permission of his master. See the section headed ‘James & Susannah Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

Arthur and Martha’s second child (Arthur’s fourth) was Arthur Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 16 November 1766. Arthur died when he was about 16 months old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 1 April 1768.

 

John and Alicia’s third child (John’s seventh) was John Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 23 June 1733. John died at Maidstone when he was only few days old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Maidstone on 8 July 1733.

 

John and Alicia’s fourth child (John’s eighth) was Alicia Muddle who was born at Maidstone in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Maidstone on 20 November 1736.

 

Walter and Grizsella’s fourth child (Walter’s eighth) was Katherine Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 3 June 1677. When she was 22 years old Katherine married William Wollis at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Chatham, Kent on 12 December 1699.

 

Walter and Grizsella’s fifth child (Walter’s ninth) was Benjamin Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints in Boxley on 3 June 1678. Benjamin died when he was only a few days old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 8 June 1678.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s second child was Joanne Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 1 September 1622. Joanne died when she was about 10 months old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 5 July 1623.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s third child was John Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 21 May 1623. At his baptism John’s father was named as John; this is thought to be a mistake as Nicholas Muddle stated in his will that he had a son John and there is no John Muddle known of who could have been John’s father. When his father died in 1660 John inherited 40 shillings and the high bedstead in the back chamber with all the things belonging to it. In the Kent Hearth Tax of 1664 John Muddle was recorded in the Parish of Boxley in the Hundred of Maidstone as having one hearth that was not chargeable.[11]

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s fourth child was Joanna Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 2 April 1626. Joanna died when she was 13 years old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 19 October 1639.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s fifth child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 15 December 1627. Elizabeth married James Peckinham and they had at least two children born at Gillingham, Kent in 1652 and 1659. When her brother Stephen Muddle died in 1657, his wife having died earlier that year, Elizabeth was granted administration of his estate by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 29 December 1657. This administration stated that Elizabeth had become the guardian of Stephen’s only child, Susanna Muddle, and that Elizabeth was to administer the estate for Susanna’s benefit during her minority. When her father made his will in March 1660 he described Elizabeth as the wife of James Peckingham of Gillingham. Then when her father died later in 1660 Elizabeth inherited £5, and £10 went to the estate of her ward Susanna Muddle.

 

James and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Joan Peckinham who was born at Gillingham in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 23 September 1652.

 

James and Elizabeth’s second child was Elizabeth Peckinham who was born at Gillingham in Kent and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 12 May 1659. When her grandfather, Nicholas Muddle, died in 1660 Elizabeth inherited 5 shillings.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s sixth child, one of twins, was William Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 8 February 1629. William must have died by about 1650 when his father named another son William.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s seventh child, one of twins, was Nicholas Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 8 February 1629. Nicholas must have died by 1634 as his parents named another son Nicholas that year.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s eighth child was Stephen Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 19 December 1629. When he was 25 years old Stephen married Bennett Allen, also known as Susan, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham, Kent on 11 June 1655. They were both then living at Milton next Sittingbourne (Milton Regis) in Kent and Stephen was a shipwright. This marriage was also recorded in the register of Holy Trinity Church at Milton near Sittingbourne on 18 June 1655 where the banns had been read on 15 and 22 April and 11 May. They had one child before Susan died in March 1657 and was buried in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity at Milton near Sittingbourne on 26 March 1657. It seems that Stephen then died later in 1657, when he was about 28 years old, as administration of his estate was granted to his sister Elizabeth Peckinham by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 29 December 1657.[12] This administration described Elizabeth as the next of kin and guardian of Susan Muddle, a minor and only child of Stephen Muddle late of Milton near Sittingbourne, and that she was to administer the estate for the use of Susan during her minority. There is a gap in the burial register at Milton near Sittingbourne from October 1657 to 1694, but Stephen was probably buried there in late 1657.

 

Stephen and Susan’s only child was Susanna Muddle who was probably born at Milton near Sittingbourne in Kent in 1656, but there were no baptisms recorded in the parish register between 1655 and 1657. Susanna became an orphan when both her parents died in 1657 and she became a ward of her father’s sister Elizabeth Peckinham of Gillingham. When her grandfather, Nicholas Muddle, died in 1660 Susanna inherited £10.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s ninth child was Maria Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 17 June 1632. Maria must have died by 1636 as her parents named another daughter Maria at the beginning of that year.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s tenth child, one of twins, was Nicholas Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 7 August 1634, at the same time as his twin sister was buried there. Nicholas died when only a few days old and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley on 25 August 1634.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s eleventh child, one of twins, was an unnamed and unbaptised daughter who was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley in Kent on 7 August 1634, at the same time as her twin brother was baptised there.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s twelfth child, one of twins, was Maria Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 16 January 1636. The following day, 17 January 1636, Maria and her twin sister were both buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley.

 

Nicholas and Susannah’s thirteenth child, one of twins, was Susanna Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent and baptised at the Church of All Saints at Boxley on 16 January 1636. The following day, 17 January 1636, Susanna and her twin sister were both buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Boxley.

 

Nicholas and Ann’s assumed eldest child (Nicholas’ fourteenth) was Anne Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent in about 1648. Anne is only known from being named in her brother William’s will, which also stated that she had married Christian Arres. When her brother William died in January 1676 Elizabeth inherited a house at Thurnham together with two pair of sheets and half a dozen napkins that had all been bequeathed to William by their father.

 

Nicholas and Ann’s assumed second child (Nicholas’ fifteenth) was William Muddle who was born at Boxley in Kent in about 1651. William is only known to be Nicholas and Ann’s child from being named as the youngest son in his father’s will of 1660 when he was under 24 years of age. When his father died in 1660 William inherited £50 and his father’s messuage at Thurnham together with the following household items: a bedstead and the things belonging to it, together with sheets, tablecloth, napkins, chest, brass pot and brass saucepans. These items to be held by the overseers of the will, Thomas King and John Austen, until William was 24 years old, and in the meantime the income from the £50 and the messuage together with another £10 was to be used to maintain and educate William and then put him out to an apprenticeship.

William is not thought to have married. He died at Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent when he was about 24 years old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Clement at Leysdown on 29 January 1676. Just before his death William described himself as a labourer of Leysdown when he made his will on 26 January 1676. This will was proved by the Archdeaconry of Canterbury on 1 February 1676 and made the following bequests: To his sister Anne the wife of Christian Arres my house at Thurnham (this was presumably the house he had inherited from his father) and two pair of sheets and half a dozen napkins still held by John Austen (overseer of his father’s will). To his brother Walter Muddle £15 to be taken out of the money Walter owes him on a bond that was payable last Michaelmas (if this was the £50 bequeathed to William by his father and held by Walter as executor it indicates that William would have been 24 years old on Michaelmas 1675). To the wife of his brother Walter two pair of sheets and half a dozen napkins still held by John Austen. To his cousin Nicholas Muddle, the son of his brother Walter (so actually William’s nephew), 20 shillings, this also to be paid out of the bond owed by Walter. To the wife of Nicholas Muddle one pair of sheets still held by John Austen. To his cousin Stephen Muddle (possibly another son of William’s brother Walter) 20 shillings. To Elizabeth Hope daughter of Daniel Hope 20 shillings and a sheet and a tablecloth. To cousins Thomas Kingsmeal and Mary Kingsmeal £4 each. To cousin Clare wife of William Clare 40 shillings. John Higgins of Leysdown was made executor of the will.[13]

Copyright © Derek Miller 2009-2010

Last updated 10 August 2010