THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE KENT MUDDLE FAMILIES THE HARRIETSHAM MUDDLES

 

Chart of William & Christian Muddle's Family

 

William and Christian’s eldest child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Gillingham in Kent during August 1787. Elizabeth died when she was only 14 days old before she could be baptised, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene at Gillingham on 27 August 1787.

 

William and Christian’s second child was Charlotte Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 29 September 1789, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 18 October 1789.

When she was 32 years old and spelling her name Muddell, Charlotte married 27-year-old John Conjuit at the Church of St John the Baptist in Wateringbury, Kent on the 24 August 1822 by license. The license was issued by the Vicar-General on 22 August 1822 and described John as bachelor of Wateringbury and Charlotte as a spinster of Wateringbury. John had been born at Barton Turf in Norfolk on 2 November 1794, entered the Royal Navy on 6 November 1809, and made a Lieutenant in 1821. John and Charlotte had one child, a daughter born at Dover, Kent in about 1826.

When Charlotte’s father made his will in 1826 he described Charlotte as the wife of John Conjuit a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and then when both of her parents died in 1831 Charlotte inherited a sixth share in her father’s three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with her five surviving siblings. John was made a Chief Officer of the Coast Guards on 16 March 1831. In the census of 6 June 1841 John and Charlotte and their daughter were living in the Watch House, Seaside, Eastbourne, Sussex. They had 15-year-old John Willis of independent means living with them, and 20-year-old Emma Catt as a live-in servant.

John went on to a Coast Guard Pension on 20 October 1849. In the census of 30 March 1851 John and Charlotte were living at 6 Deacon Terrace in Greenwich, Kent; John was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on half pay (not on active service), and they had 17-year-old Caroline Crauson as a live-in house servant. John died at Greenwich at the age of 58, his death being registered during the 1st quarter of 1853. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Charlotte with her daughter Elvira Daniels and granddaughter Marion Costiff were all lodging with Napoleon and Sarah Ann Petze at 21 Grove Street in St Pancras, London. Charlotte died at the age of 74, her death being registered in St Pancras registration district in London during the 4th quarter of 1863.

 

John and Charlotte’s only known child was Charlotte Elvira Willis Conjuit, known as Elvira, who had been born at Dover in Kent in about 1826. In the census of 6 June 1841 Elvira was living with her parents in the Watch House at Seaside in Eastbourne, Sussex.

When she was 23 years old Elvira married James Westbury Costiff at the Church of the Trinity in Eastbourne on 8 August 1849 by license. James, who was the son of James Costiff, was then a gentleman living at Lambeth in London, and Elvira was living with her parent at Seaside in Eastbourne. The following year James died, his death being registered in Lambeth registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1850. But before his death James had fathered a daughter who was born at the beginning of 1851, and at her baptism her mother was living at 1 Canterbury Place in Lambeth and her father was described as having being a baker, now deceased.

In the census of 30 March 1851 Elvira and her 3-month-old daughter were living at 1 Canterbury Place in Lambeth, and Elvira was a baker employing three men, so she had presumably taken over her late husband’s business. She had two live-in servants, 26-year-old Elizabeth Waymark and 16-year-old Unity Peirce, and she also had two of her business employees living with her; 22-year-old shopwoman Rosamond Alexander and 16-year old errand boy William Summerley.

Eight years after her first husband’s death Elvira married William Henry Daniels in St Pancras registration district in London during the 2nd quarter of 1858. In the census of 7 April 1861 William was working as a railway porter and lodging with the family of upholsterer William Butt at 2 Newburgh Street in Winchester, Hampshire. Elvira together with her daughter and her widowed mother were all lodging with Napoleon and Sarah Ann Petze at 21 Grove Street in St Pancras, London. Elvira’s daughter died soon after this census and her mother died in late 1863. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 William and Elvira were living at the Alexander public house in Barnet Common, Chipping Barnet, Middlesex where William was the publican. They had two live-in servants, 19-year-old potman James Pratchett and 16-year-old barmaid Georgina Blake. Elvira died at the age of 50, her death being registered in Islington registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1876.

 

James and Elvira’s only child was Marion Elvira Conjuit Costiff who was born at Lambeth in London and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Lambeth on 29 January 1851. In the census of 30 March 1851 Marion, at the age of 3 months, was living with her widowed mother at 1 Canterbury Place in Lambeth. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Marion, now aged 10, was, together with her mother and grandmother, lodging with Napoleon and Sarah Ann Petze at 21 Grove Street in St Pancras, London, and she was going to school. Soon after the census Marion died at the age of 10, her death being registered in St Pancras registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1861.

 

William and Christian’s third child was William Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 14 November 1791, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 11 December 1791.

On 13 August 1801, when he was 9¾ years old, William started work at Chatham Naval Dockyard as an Ocham Boy, working six days per week for which he was paid 6d per day. This was where his father worked as a Shipwright and where his grandfather had also worked. Ocham Boys carried ocham (oakum), which was the unpicked fibres of old rope, and hot pitch to the caulkers, who used it to seal the joints of a wooden ship. William worked as an Ocham Boy for just under 2 years, his last day being 1 June 1803.[4] The following day William, at the age of 11½, started work as an apprentice to Edward Larkin a Quarterman Shipwright; William's pay had now more than doubled to 14d per day, with two thirds of it being paid to his master and one third to his father. William's pay steadily increased during his apprenticeship with his pay being increased from 19d to 20d per day on 2 June 1807. Then on 2 September 1807 his master Edward Larkin was promoted to the salaried position of an Overseer/Inspector of Shipwrights and no longer instructed and received two thirds of the pay of apprentices. As a result, William and the other apprentice of Edward Larkin, who were just under 3 years short of completing their apprenticeships, were not transferred to another master but became what was called in the pay books 'Servants to the Government and late to Edward Larkin' with one third of their pay still being paid to their fathers but the two thirds that would have been paid to their master was not paid out as it would have involved the government paying itself. William's last pay increase as an apprentice was from 22d to 24d per day on 2 June 1809 at the start of his last year as an apprentice. William continued working with the Shipwrights until the 3rd quarter of 1809, then during the 4th quarter of 1809 William was working with the Caulkers instead of the Shipwrights and again described as a 'Servant to the Government and late to Edward Larkin'. Edward continued working with the Caulkers as a servant to the government until his apprenticeship ended on 8 June 1810, when he was 18½ years old. Then the following day, 9 June 1810, William started work at the dockyard as a fully qualified Shipwright, on 25d per day, the standard rate for a shipwright.[5]

It was 2½ years after he qualified as a Shipwright and when he was 21 years old and spelling his name Muddell that William married Mary Ann Ribbins at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Cobham, Kent on 26 December 1812. They initially lived at Brompton where the first two of their three children were born in 1814 and 1815. They then moved to Chatham were their third child was born in 1818 only to die later in 1818 when only 5 months old.

There was a major fire at Chatham on 3 March 1820 and in An Account of the Dreadful Fire at Chatham, which happened on the 3rd of March 1820: and the Proceedings of the Committee appointed to distribute the Money Raised for the Relief of the Sufferers, &c. By William Jefferys, Secretary and Treasurer it was recorded that two of the workmen at Chatham Naval Dockyard who were subscribers, were both Mr William Muddle, who each subscribed one shilling; this being William and his father William.

After his marriage William had continued working at the dockyard as a Shipwright and in 1829, the last year for which there is a surviving pay book, William had become an Instructor Shipwright with Richard Wordsworth as his apprentice, and William's pay for that year was £85 14s 6d.[6]

When both of his parents died in 1831 William inherited a sixth share in his father's three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with his five surviving siblings. Possibly this was when they moved back to Brompton because in the census of 6 June 1841 William and Mary Ann were living at River Row in Brompton and William was still a shipwright. They were still living at Brompton when Mary Ann died at the age of 52, and was buried in St Mary Magdalene Churchyard at Gillingham on 13 May 1849.

William continued working as a Shipwright in Chatham Naval Dockyard until he retired in May 1855, when he was 63 years old, and his Admiralty pension of £24 per year, paid quarterly, started on 19 May 1855.[7] William's retirement was reported in the Morning Chronicle of 29 May 1855, under Naval and Military News at Chatham, that shipwright William Muddle was superannuated on a pension of £24 per annum. William would have continued to receive this pension until his death 17 years later.

In the census of 2 April 1871 William, at the age of 79, was a pensioner lodging with the family of dockyard worker James Emery at Constitution Hill in Chatham, Kent. William was living at Luton near Chatham when he died at the age of 81 (not 82 as given on his death certificate and burial record), and he was buried in the graveyard of Christ Church in Luton on 20 November 1872.

 

William and Mary Ann’s eldest child was Charlotte Ann Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Gillingham on 30 January 1814. When she was 21 years old Charlotte married John Bertram at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Chatham on 14 April 1835. John had died by the time Charlotte, as a 24-year-old widow, married James Palmer at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Chatham on 20 February 1838. James was a Private in the Royal Marines then living at Chatham Marine Barracks and Charlotte was living with her parents at River Row in Brompton.

 

William and Mary Ann’s second child was William George Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 14 July 1815, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Gillingham on 31 December 1815. William also used the Muddell spelling of his surname. William's Seaman's Ticket issued in 1846 recorded that he first went to sea as a Boy in 1830.

When he was 16 years old William enlisted in the Royal Navy on 5 May 1832 as a Boy 2nd Class on HMS Castor. He was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 10 October 1833 and then to Ordinary Seaman on 15 February 1836. After serving 4 years and 9 months on Castor William was discharge and paid off on 8 February 1837.[8] During his time on the Castor William had served under Captain John Hay until 7 January 1837 and then under Captain W Robertson who both described his conduct as good. It seems that the Castor was then out of service for about 2½ months. When the Castor came back into service, now under Captain Edward Collier, William rejoined her at Chatham on 11 April 1837 but after only 2½ months on board, during which time the Castor had moved to Sheerness, he was discharged to the Melville Hospital for sailors and marines at Chatham in Kent on 27 June 1837.[9]

William was discharged from hospital on 15 July 1837 with the intention that he was to rejoin the Castor. To do this he was first accommodated on the store ship HMS Howe stationed at Sheerness, then the 2 August when he transferred to the dockyard lighter HMS Sinbad for transport to Portsmouth.[10] At Portsmouth he was, from 3 August, accommodated on HMS Britannia but instead of then rejoining the Castor William was discharged from the Britannia to join the crew of HMS Hyacinth at Portsmouth, arriving on board the Hyacinth on 13 August 1837.[11] On joining the Hyacinth William was described as 5th 2½ins tall with a dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair and to have no distinguishing marks or scars. The Hyacinth was then under the command of Commander William Warren and sailed to the East Indies. William was promoted to Able Seaman on 1 January 1838.

While on the Hyacinth in the East Indies William was wounded and discharged from the Hyacinth’s main muster list as an invalid with good conduct on 11 August 1839.[12] He was placed on to the 2/3rds list, meaning that he was on 2/3rds allowances of all victuals and provisions, and remained on the Hyacinth until being discharged to HMS Algerine at Trincomalee in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 27 August 1839, to await a passage home to England.[13] William was only on the Algerine for 3 days before being discharged on 30 August 1839 to HMS Conway.[14] William has not been found in the musters of the Conway but he was probably transferred to another ship for the voyage to England. This would almost certainly not have been on a Royal Navy ship, but possibly a ship of the East India Company, and he was paid by the owners of this ship during the voyage.[15]

Over the next two years William must have recovered from his wounds because he joined brig-sloop HMS Wolverene on 4 January 1842 as an Able Seaman. The Wolverene was a wooden hulled sailing ship of 428 tons armed with 16 guns that had been launched on 13 October 1836. On joining the Wolverene William, at the age of 26, was described as 5ft 4½ins tall, of sallow complexion with dark eyes, dark hair and a scar on his breast. On 8 February 1842 he was made Captain Main Top (each sail had a Captain who directed the men who raised or lowered that sail, in this case the Main Top sail, this is a job description not a rank). On 18 February 1842 William was promoted to Boatswain’s Mate, and then on 22 March 1846 he was issued with his Seaman’s Ticket number 300423 while a Boatswain’s Mate on the Wolverene at Hong Kong. He was then described as 5ft 4½ins tall with a fair complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair and to be able to write.[16] Then on 8 November 1846 he was made Master-at-Arms (a petty officer who looked after the ship’s personal arms, such as swords and firearms, and was also responsible for discipline).[17]

William described himself as a Boatswain’s Mate, even though he had been made Master-at-Arms three months earlier, when he made his will on 17 February 1847 while serving on the Wolverene commanded by Commander John Charles Dalrymple Hay. Four days later William died at 5.25 in the afternoon of 21 February 1847 on board the Wolverene, which was then sailing west along the south coast of South Africa between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town on her way back home from the East Indies.[18] William was 31 years old and a bachelor. His will was proved in London by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 30 June 1847, the Wolverene having returned to England on 11 May 1847. In this will William left all his cloths and personal effects that were on the Wolverene at the time of his death to his shipmates Joseph Denison and William Merratt, who were serving as Able Seamen on the Wolverene. To his father and mother he left all wages, prize money, batta money and any other money due to him, and he made his father sole executor.[19]

 

William and Mary’s third child was Sarah Ann Muddle who was born at Chatham in Kent, and baptised at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Chatham on 5 June 1818. Sarah Ann died at Chatham when she was only 5 months old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 29 October 1818.

 

William and Christian’s fourth child was Elizabeth Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 21 December 1793, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 12 January 1794. When both of her parents died in 1831 Elizabeth inherited a sixth share in her father’s three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with her five surviving siblings.

When she was 43 years old and spelling her name Muddell, Elizabeth married John Harper at the Church of St Mary in Lambeth, London on 23 September 1837. They were both then living at 71 Oakley Street in Lambeth and John was a painter. It's not known what happened to this marriage but it seems they probably separated soon after the marriage, or it was found to be a bigamous marriage by John, because Elizabeth reverted to using her maiden name. In the census of 30 March 1851 Elizabeth was visiting her sister Sarah Turnbull at 41 High Street in Lambeth, and recorded as being unmarried. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Elizabeth, was lodging with the family of carpenter William Curtis at 42 Paradise Street in Lambeth, and recorded as being a widow.

Elizabeth had been living at 3 Cavendish Terrace in South Lambeth (her sister Sarah Turnbull was living at 2 Cavendish Terrace in the 1871 census) when she died at 78 Paradise Street in Rotherhithe, London on 10 April 1876, at the age of 82, from senile decay. Administration of her estate, which was valued at under £50, was granted to her nephew Charles George Muddell by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 2 November 1876.

The City of London Livery Companies' Commission Report presented to Parliament in 1884 listed Elizabeth Muddell of 42 Paradise Street, Lambeth as having been an aged blind pensioner who had received £10 a year from the Printers' Company. Presumably her husband, who was a painter at the time of their marriage, had been a member of this company.

 

William and Christian’s fifth child was Sarah Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 12 April 1796, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 8 May 1796. When both of her parents died in 1831 Sarah inherited a sixth share in her father’s three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with her five surviving siblings.

When she was 47 years old and spelling her name Muddell, Sarah and George Turnbull had the banns for their marriage published at the Church of St Mary in Newington, Surrey on 27 August and 3 and 10 September 1843, but there seems to be no record of a marriage then taking place. In the census of 30 March 1851 George and Sarah were living as husband and wife at 41 High Street, Lambeth, London; George was working as a baker and recorded as being blind. Visiting them was Sarah's sister Elizabeth Muddle, and both Sarah and Elizabeth were recorded as being considerably younger than they actually were, and younger than George.

Then when she was 63 years old (not 35 as she gave on her marriage certificate to make herself seem younger than her husband) Sarah married 41-year-old George Turnbull at the Church of St Leonard in Shoreditch, London on 7 July 1859. They were both then living at 13 Worship Street in Shoreditch and George was a baker. It seems that Sarah had probably been lying to her blind husband about her age as she was probably many years older than him, though it's not certain just what George's age was.

George died when he was probably about 57 years old, his death being registered in Newington registration district in London during the 3rd quarter of 1865. In the census of 2 April 1871 Sarah was living at 2 Cavendish Terrace in Lambeth, London, and she described herself as a house owner living off the rents. She had missionary Andrew Darling with his wife and son as boarders. In this census after her husband had died Sarah was recorded with an age much closer to her true age. Sarah died at the age of 84, her death being registered in Camberwell registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1881.

 

 

William and Christian’s sixth child was James Arthur Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 17 September 1798, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 14 October 1798.

James was spelling his surname Muddell when Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell, described as silversmiths and jewellers, took out a fire insurance policy with the Sun Fire Office on 22 October 1828 for a total of £1800. This was made up of £250 to cover their household goods, wearing apparel, printed books and plate; £50 to cover their china and glass; £1000 to cover their stock and utensils and goods in trust; and £500 to cover their stock of jewels and diamonds; all of which were situated at their dwelling house at 114 Leaden Hall Street.[20]

As The Goldsmiths' Company do not have any records of either James or his partner Charles Mann having served an apprenticeship or to have registered a manufacture's mark it seems fairly certain that they were retailing silversmiths and jewellers, rather than manufacturing silversmiths.

A few days after taking out the fire insurance policy James, at the age of 30, married 22-year-old Mary Charlotte Ann Mann at the Church of St Mary in Upper Street, Islington on 2 November 1828 by license. The license issued by the Vicar-General on 21 October 1828 described James as a bachelor of St Andrews Undershaft in London and Mary as a spinster of St Mary, Islington. Mary was the daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Mann; she had been born at Lewisham in Kent (now Greater London) on 10 May 1806, and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Lewisham on 12 August 1806. Mary was also a niece of James' business partner Charles Mann.

On the 16 December 1828 James Arthur Muddell was presented to the court of the City of London Corporation by Mr Chamberlain as one of the fifty persons the court had granted him the right to present to the court to become Freemen of the City. The court ordered that James be admitted to the Freedom of the City by redemption (purchase) in the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and payment of forty-six shillings and eight pence to the City of London Corporation, this to be executed within three months or the order would become void. It seems that James went ahead with purchasing his membership in the Company of Gunmakers as there is a note to the City of London Corporation from the clerk of that company stating that James Arthur Muddell had been admitted a freeman of the company and sworn on 1 January 1829. Presumably James also paid the required money to the City of London Corporation and became a Citizen (Freeman) of the City of London with the right to trade within the City, which he would have needed as a jeweller and silversmith. James would also have had to make a personal payment to Mr Chamberlain to get presented but these personal payments were not recorded.[21]

On 9 September 1829 Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell, jewellers and silversmiths of 114 Leadenhall Street, together with the Reverend William Antrobus and Joseph Harvey Junior, took out a fire insurance policy with the Sun Fire Office for £1000 on the dwelling house of Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell at 114 Leadenhall Street that was constructed of brick and timber.[22]

James and Mary lived at 114 Leadenhall Street in the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London; James was described as a goldsmith at the baptisms of their three children born between 1830 and 1834, the last of whom died in March 1835 when only 7 months old. Then 7 months after the death of this child Mary died at the age of 29 (not 30 as given on her burial record), and she was buried in St Andrew Undershaft Churchyard on 24 October 1835.

When both of his parents died in 1831 James inherited a sixth share in his father's three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with his five surviving siblings. Then on 30 October 1832 Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell, jewellers and silversmiths of 114 Leadenhall Street, together with the Reverend William Antrobus and Joseph Harvey Junior, took out a fire insurance policy with the Sun Fire Office for £750 on the dwelling house of the said Messrs Mann & Co at 114 Leadenhall Street that was constructed of brick and timber.[23] This being only three-quarters of the value they had put on the property when they had insured it just three years earlier.

On 5 November 1834 silversmiths and jewellers Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell took out a fire insurance policy with the Sun Fire Office for a total of £1500. This was made up of £200 to cover their household goods, wearing apparel, printed books and plate; £50 to cover their china and glass; £1000 to cover their stock and utensils and goods in trust; and £250 to cover their stock of jewels and diamonds; all of which were situated at their dwelling house at 114 Leaden Hall Street.[24] This was £300 less than the value they had put on these items when they had insured them six years earlier, and in particular the value of their stock of jewels and diamonds was now only half its earlier value.

On 12 November 1835 Charles Mann and James Arthur Muddell, jewellers and silversmiths of 114 Leadenhall Street, together with the Reverend William Antrobus and Joseph Harvey Junior, took out a fire insurance policy with the Sun Fire Office for £600 on the dwelling house of the said Messrs Mann & Co at 114 Leadenhall Street that was constructed of brick and timber.[25] The value of this property seems to have been continuing to fall, being £150 less than when it was insured three years earlier and £400 less than it was six years earlier. When Thomas Williams was appointed as an officer in the Metropolitan Police on 10 September 1836 Mr J A Muddell of 114 Leadenhall Street was one of those who recommended him.[26] The City of London Poll-Book for the election of 1837 recorded James Arthur Muddell, a householder of Leadenhall Street, as a voter in the Aldergate and Billingsgate Wards.

Three years after Mary’s death James, at the age of 40, married 26-year-old Sarah Warren at the Church of St Mary in Hitchin, Hertfordshire on 11 March 1839. James was then living in St Andrew Undershaft Parish in London, and Sarah was living in Back Street, Hitchin. Sarah was the daughter of William and Sarah Warren; she had been born at Hitchin on 23 November 1812 and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Hitchin on 24 October 1828 at the same time as two of her siblings. James and Sarah had two children; their first child was born on the last day of 1839 while they were living at 114 Leadenhall Street.

The Post Office London Directory of 1839 listed James Arthur Muddell as a goldsmith etc. of 114 Leadenhall Street, and the 1839 edition of Pigot & Co.'s Directory of London listed Joseph (error for James) Arthur Muddell as a silversmith and jeweller of 114 Leadenhall Street. J A Muddell was listed as being a goldsmith in 1840 in English Goldsmiths and Their Marks: A History of The goldsmiths and plate workers of England, Scotland, and Ireland by Sir Charles James Jackson FSA. The Post Office London Directory of 1841 listed James Arthur Muddell as a goldsmith etc. of 114 Leadenhall Street.

In the census of 6 June 1841 James and Sarah with James’ daughter Elizabeth from his first marriage were at Warple Cottage, Mertow Rush, Wimbledon, Surrey, with James’ occupation as goldsmith. James and Sarah’s 18 month old daughter Mary was at Leadenhall Street with 25-year-old servant Ann Allen looking after her. Was Warple Cottage possibly a country retreat for the family? The following year when their second child was born in February they were living at 10 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London. In the 1842 edition of Robson's London Directory Jas A Muddell of 114 Leadenhall Street was listed under Bullion Dealers in the Classification of Trades section. Seven years later Sarah died at Hitchin, Hertfordshire on 2 August 1849, at the age of 36. A death notice for Sarah was published in the Daily News of 7 August 1849, which recorded that she was the wife of Mr J A Muddell of London.

In the census of 30 March 1851 James and his four surviving children were living at 3 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London, and James was now Clerk to the Refine Office of the Mint. His son also worked at the Mint; his eldest daughter was acting as his housekeeper and he had 19-year-old Sarah Warren, who was probably a niece of his late wife, as a live-in house servant. James was a 57-year-old merchant’s clerk living at Newington when he married spinster Jane Sanders at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in Milton by Gravesend in Kent on 29 September 1855. Jane was the daughter of William Henry Sanders and she had been born at Hoxton in London. James was still living at Bath Terrace in Newington when he died at the age of 57, and was buried in Victoria Park Cemetery in Hackney on 8 June 1856.[27]

In the census of 7 April 1861 Jane was lodging with print compositor William Freed and his wife Catherine at 7 Great Union Street in Southwark, London. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Jane was living with solicitor Charles Lyne as his wife at East Street in Epsom, Surrey; and they had 58-year-old Charlotte Perkins as a live-in cook and 16-year-old Minnie Young as a live-in housemaid. When she was about 60 years old Jane married 59-year-old widower Charles Lyne at the Church of St Mary in Newington on 14 June 1888 by licence. Charles was then a solicitor living at Epsom, and Jane was living at 15 De Laune Street. Charles was the son of George and Ann Lyne; he had been born at Westminster in London on 6 September 1828 and baptised at St Martin in the Fields Church in Westminster on 2 October 1828.

In the census of 5 April 1891 Charles and Jane were living at Bloxworth in Station Road, Foots Cray, Kent; Charles was a solicitor and they had 29-year-old Sarah Holt as a live-in cook and 23-year-old Elizabeth Parker as a live-in housemaid. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 they were living at 54 Addiscombe Road in Croydon, Surrey; Charles was still a solicitor and they had two nieces, Eleanor and Kate Landus, staying with them. They now had one live-in servant, 33-year-old cook Fanny Edwards. Two years later Charles died at the age of 74, his death being registered in Croydon registration district during the 1st quarter of 1903. Later that year Jane died at the age of about 75 (not 78 as given on her death certificate), her death being registered in Croydon registration district during the 4th quarter of 1903.

 

Their children were:

Charles George 1830-1910  Elizabeth Ann 1832-1912  Arthur 1834-1835

Mary Arabella 1839-1883  Kate 1842-1931

 

James and Mary’s eldest child was Charles George Muddell who was born at 114 Leadenhall Street in the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London on 1 August 1830, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Undershaft on 9 September 1830. In the census of 6 June 1841 Charles, at the age of 10, was a scholar at Christ’s Hospital in Newgate, City of London. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Charles, now aged 20, was an assistant in the Assay Office of the Mint and he was living with his widowed father at 3 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London.

Charles was a 24-year-old banker’s clerk living in the parish St Mary’s Newington, when he married 27-year-old Emily Sarah Watling at the Church of St Peter in Cephas Street, Mile End, Stepney, London on 7 January 1855 by license. Emily was the daughter of fishmonger John Watling and his wife Mary, and she had been born at Great Yarmouth in Norfolk in about 1828. Charles and Emily had seven children; their first child was born at Clapham in London in April 1856 and they were still living in Clapham when this child was baptised in January 1857. Their next two children were born at Kennington in London in 1858 and 1861. In the census of 7 April 1861 they were living at 3 Montford Place in Kennington with their then three children; Charles was a banker's clerk and they had 27-year-old Sarah Oakley as a live-in house servant. They were still living at Montford Place, Kennington when their eldest child died in May 1862. They then moved to Dalston in Hackney, London where their other four children were born between late 1862 and 1868. In the census of 2 April 1871 they were living at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston with their six surviving children; Charles was continuing to work as a banker's clerk and they had 18-year-old Sarah Green as a live-in servant.

Charles was a banker’s clerk living at 5 St Kilda’s Villas, Buckhurst Hill, Essex when he was granted administration of the estate of his father’s sister Elizabeth Muddell by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 2 November 1876. In the census of 3 April 1881 Charles and Emily were living at 2 Ryde Villas in Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham, London with their five surviving daughters; Charles was still a banker’s clerk and they had 16-year-old Rose Mary Stokes as a live-in general servant. The Kelly's Directory of Kent for 1882 listed Charles George Muddell as living at 2 Ryde Villas, Stanstead Road. When their daughter Florence married on 15 September 1887 they were living at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham (probably the same place as 2 Ryde Villas). In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford with four of their children, who were now young adults; Charles was still a banker’s clerk and they had 21-year-old Ada Cross as a live-in general servant. The Kelly's London Suburban Directory for 1896 listed Charles George Muddell as living at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford. In the census of 31 March 1901 they were living at 376 Stanstead Road, now with just their widowed daughter, Florence Wardlay; Charles, at the age of 70, was still a banker’s clerk, and they had 17-year-old Florence Stening as a live-in general domestic servant.

The three editions of the Post Office London Directory (County Suburbs) for 1904, 1905 & 1906 all listed Charles George Muddell as living at 376 Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham. Emily died at the age of 78, while living at 376 Stanstead Road, and she was buried in West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth on 6 February 1907. The Post Office London Directory (County Suburbs) for both 1907 & 1908 listed Charles George Muddell as living at 376 Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham. Charles had been living at Ashdown, 19 Penshurst Road, Ramsgate, Kent when he died on 10 December 1910, at the age of 80, and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth on 14 December 1910. Probate of his will, which valued his effects at £2156 10s 5d, was granted to his spinster daughter Alice Muddell by the London Probate Registry on 3 February 1911.

 

Charles and Emily’s eldest child was Minnie Emily Muddell who was born at Clapham in London on 19 April 1856, and baptised at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Clapham on 14 January 1857. In the census of 7 April 1861 Minnie, at the age of 4, was living with her parents at 3 Montford Place in Kennington, London. Then the following year Minnie was still living at Montford Place when she died four weeks after her 6th birthday; she was buried in West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth on 12 May 1862.

 

Charles and Emily’s second child was Mary Lizzie Muddell who was born at Kennington in London and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1858. In the census of 7 April 1861 Mary, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at 3 Montford Place in Kennington, London. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Mary, now aged 12, was living with her parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, Hackney, London, and she was going to school. In the census of 3 April 1881 Mary, at the age of 22, was living with her parents at 2 Ryde Villas in Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham, London. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Mary, at the age of 32, was working as a music teacher and living with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham.

The following month Mary married 75-year-old widower Robert William Brooks at Lewisham Register Office on 28 May 1891. Robert was then a wine merchant living at Ashdown, Inglemere Road, Forest Hill near Lewisham. Robert was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Brooks; he had been born at Newington in London and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Newington on 9 August 1815. Mary died at the age of 41, her death being registered in Lewisham registration district during the 1st quarter of 1900. Robert died at the age of 92, his death being registered in Lewisham registration district during the 3rd quarter of 1907.

 

Charles and Emily’s third child was Charles Arthur Muddell who was born at Kennington in London and whose birth was registered during the 1st quarter of 1861. In the census of 7 April 1861 Charles, at the age of under 1 month, was living with his parents at 3 Montford Place in Kennington, London. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Charles, now aged 10, was living with his parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, Hackney, London, and he was going to school. In the census of 3 April 1881 Charles, at the age of 20, was working as a banker’s clerk and boarding with widow Caroline Archer at 9 Osborne Road, Broadstairs, Kent. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Charles, at the age of 30, was working as a banker’s clerk and living with his parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham.

The following year Charles, at the age of 31, married 25-year-old Lydia Fawcett at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill, Lambeth, London on 7 May 1892. Charles was then living at Catford Bridge and Lydia was living at 175 Tulse Hill. Lydia was the daughter of printer Woodford Fawcett and his wife Amelia; she had been born at Victoria Park in Hackney, London and her birth registered during the 4th quarter of 1866. Charles and Lydia had five children; three of whom died in infancy. They were living at 37 Richmond Park Road in Kingston, Surrey when their first two children were born in 1893 and 1895; the first of these children dying there in 1893. The Kelly's London Suburban Directory for 1896 listed Charles Arthur Muddell as living at 37 Richmond Park Road, Kingston. They then moved to Bedford Park in Acton, London where their other three children were born between 1897 and 1905. The Kelly’s Directory of Middlesex for 1898 listed Charles Arthur Muddell as living at 31 Fielding Road in Bedford Park. Their second child, who had been born at Kingston, died at Bedford Park in 1900.

In the census of 31 March 1901 they were living at 31 Fielding Road in Acton with their then two surviving children; Charles was a bank cashier and they had two live-in servants, 17-year-old general servant Ethel Maseted and 15-year-old nurse Emily Maseted. The Kelly's London Suburban Directory of 1901 listed Charles Muddell as living at 31 Fielding Road in Bedford Park. Their then youngest child died in Thanet registration district in Kent during 1902, at the age of 2, and their fifth child was born at Bedford Park in 1905. The Kelly's Directory of Ealing, Acton, Hanwell etc. of 1907 listed Charles Muddell as living at 31 Fielding Road Bedford Park.

They then moved to Woodview, Petersham Road, Petersham, which is near Richmond Park in South-West London, where Charles, Lydia and their two surviving children were living at the time of the 2 April 1911 census; Charles was working as a bank clerk and they had 20-year-old Alice Terry as a live-in general domestic servant. The Kelly's Directory of Surrey for 1913 listed Charles Arthur Muddell as living at Woodview, Petersham Road, Petersham, which is near Richmond Park in South-West London. Then both the 1914 & 1915 editions of the Post Office London Directory listed C A Muddell as the manager of the Harrow Road branch of the London County & Westminster Bank at 332 & 334 Harow Road, Harrow, North-West London. When their son enlisted in the army in July 1915 Charles and Lydia were living at 2 Riverview Mansions, Twickenham, South-West London and they were still there when he was discharged in February 1919.

The Kelly’s Directory of Middlesex for 1933 listed Charles Arthur Muddell as living at River Deep, Cross Deep, Twickenham, South-West London. Then the London Telephone Directories of 1937 to 1939 record C A Muddell at Gateways, Riverside, Twickenham. Lydia was living at 29a Strawberry Hill Road in Twickenham when she died at 86 Doods Road in Reigate, Surrey on 23 October 1940, at the age of 74. Probate of Lydia’s will, which valued her effects at £729 5s 2d, was granted to her son Woodford Alan Muddell and Hubert Owen by the Nottingham Probate Registry on 4 February 1941. Charles died at the age of 83 (not 85 as given on his death certificate), his death being registered in Basford registration district in Nottinghamshire during the 4th quarter of 1944. He had probably been living with the family of his son Woodford Alan Muddell.

 

Charles and Lydia’s eldest child was Arthur Fawcett Muddell who was born at 37 Richmond Park Road in Kingston, Surrey on 6 May 1893. Arthur died when only a few weeks old, his death being registered in Kingston-on-Thames registration district during the 3rd quarter of 1893.

 

Charles and Lydia’s second child was Charles Ronald Muddell who was born at 37 Richmond Park Road in Kingston, Surrey on 4 July 1895. Charles had moved with his parents to 31 Fielding Road, Bedford Park, Acton, London by early 1887, and he died there just before his 5th birthday, and he was buried in West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth on 15 June 1900.

 

Charles and Lydia’s third child was Woodford Alan Muddell who was born at Bedford Park in Acton, London on 15 March 1897. In the census of 31 March 1901 Woodford, at the age of 4, was living with his parents at 31 Fielding Road, Bedford Park, Acton. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Woodford, now aged 14, was going to school and living with his parents at Woodview, Petersham Road, Petersham, which is near Richmond Park in South-West London. Woodford was educated at Richmond County School.

During the First World War Woodford was living with his parents at 2 Riverview Mansions, Twickenham when, at the age of 18, he enlisted as Cadet 5044 in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on 22 July 1915. He was then described as 5ft 7¼ins tall, weighed 147lbs, had a 37ins fully expanded chest and was of good physical development. Woodford applied for a commission which resulted in him being discharged as a cadet on 22 October 1915 and made a temporary Second Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 23 October 1915.[28] Woodford was with the 239th Horse Transport Company at Park Royal until joining the Expeditionary Force at Le Havr, France on 10 November 1915. He served with Horse Transport Companies in France until returning to England on 1 August 1917. He was then at the No 2 School of Instruction, Elstow Camp, Bedfordshire, and while there applied for transfer to the Indian Army, which was not sanctioned. Instead he was attached to the 6th Battalion, The Queen's, Royal West Surrey Regiment and embarked for France on 31 December 1917 where he joined his battalion on 4 January 1918. On 10 August 1918, when he was 21 years old, Woodford was made a temporary Captain in 6th Battalion, The Queen's, Royal West Surrey Regiment.[29] He immediately had 14 days leave in England from 11 to 25 August 1918. After returning to France Woodford finally left France for England on 11 February 1919 and was discharged from active service on 13 February 1919. He relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921 on completion of his service and was to retain the rank of Captain.[30]

Information on Woodford's army career comes from announcements in The London Gazette and also his army service documents.[31] As Woodford had served in France he should have been awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, but as there's no surviving Medal Card for him it's not known if he actually received them.

Woodford was living at Thoroton, Aslockon, Nottinghamshire and was 25 years old when he married 31-year-old Alice Norwood Welch in Bingham registration district in Nottinghamshire during the 4th quarter of 1922. Alice was the daughter of William and Alice Welch and she had been born at North Rauceby in Lincolnshire on 13 January 1891. Woodford and Alice are not thought to have had any children.

The Scientific Poultry Breeders’ Association Ltd.: Seventeenth Annual Register of 31 October 1931 listed W A Muddell of Thoroton, Aslockon, Nottinghamshire as a member. The Telephone Directories of 1934 to 1942 record W A Muddell as a farmer of Thoroton, Aslockon. Woodford was described as being a farmer when he was granted probate of his mother’s will in 1941. Woodford and Alice sailed 1st class on the Queen Elizabeth of the Cunard White Star Line from Southampton on 9 August 1947 and arrived at New York on 14 August 1947. On the passenger list their address in England was given as Edgefield House, Newark and Woodford's occupation as farmer. Their descriptions on the passenger list were Woodford 5ft 8ins tall with a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes, and Alice 5ft 5ins tall with a fresh complexion, grey hair and hazel eyes.[32] After about a month in North America Woodford and Alice sailed 1st class on the Queen Elizabeth of the Cunard White Star Line from New York and arrived at Southampton on 23 September 1947. On this passenger list their address in England was given as Eyefield House, North Muskham, Newark, Nottinghamshire.[33]

The 9 November 1950 edition of the Derby Evening Telegraph reported on the annual meeting of the River Trent Catchment Board held at Nottingham the previous day and included the information that Mr W A Muddell was the chairman and that he was re-elected as chairman for the next year. Woodford was a JP (Justice of the Peace) and Chairman of the Trent River Board when he was made an OBE (Ordinary Commander of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire) on 13 June 1959.[34]

Alice died at the age of 82, her death being registered in Newark registration district in Nottinghamshire during the 3rd quarter of 1973. Eleven years later Woodford died at the age of 87, his death being registered in Newark registration district in Nottinghamshire during April 1984.

 

Charles and Lydia’s fourth child was Norman Claude Muddell who was born at Bedford Park in Acton, London and his birth registered during the 3rd quarter of 1899. In the census of 31 March 1901 Norman, at the age of 1, was living with his parents at 31 Fielding Road, Bedford Park, Acton. Norman died when only 2 years old while at Ellesmere, Westgate on Sea, Isle of Thanet, Kent and he was buried in West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth on 21 May 1902.

 

Charles and Lydia’s fifth child was Lydia Joyce Muddell who was born at Bedford Park in Acton, London and her birth registered during the 1st quarter of 1905. In the census of 2 April 1911 Lydia, at the age of 6, was living with her parents at Woodview, Petersham Road, Petersham, which is near Richmond Park in South-West London. When she was 24 years old Lydia married Richard E Owen in South Richmond registration district in Surrey during the 2nd quarter of 1929. They were living at Rippledene, Chertsey Lane, Staines when Lydia's brother Woodford gave Lynda as his nearest relative living in England on his arrival at New York in 1947.

 

Charles and Emily’s fourth child was Florence Muddell who was born at Dalston in Hackney, London and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1862. In the census of 2 April 1871 Florence, at the age of 8, was living with her parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Florence, now aged 18, was living with her parents at 2 Ryde Villas in Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham, London.

When she was 24 years old Florence married 26-year-old Henry Clement Wardley at Lewisham Register Office on 15 September 1887. Henry was then a jeweller’s assistant living at 27 Mountview Villas, Crunch Hill, Hornsey, London, and Florence was living with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham. Henry was the son of stationer William Wardley and his wife Jemima, he had been born at St Pancras in London and his birth registered during the 4th quarter of 1860.

In the census of 5 April 1891 Henry and Florence were living at South Villa in Leicester Road, East Finchley, London; Henry was still a jeweller’s assistant and they had 23-year-old Annie Courtnall as a live-in general domestic servant. Henry died at the age of 39, his death being registered in Bromley registration district in Kent during the 4th quarter of 1899. In the census of 31 March 1901 Florence was a widow living on her own means with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford. The following year Florence, at the age of 39, married 53-year-old James Grieves Walker in Lewisham registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1902. James' birth had been registered in Holborn registration district in London during the 4th quarter of 1848. In the census of 2 April 1911 James and Florence were living in Croydon, Surrey.

 

Charles and Emily’s fifth child was Claude Muddell who was born at Dalston in Hackney, London on 1 January 1864. In the census of 2 April 1871 Claude, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Claude, now aged 17, was a chemist’s pupil living with two other chemist’s pupils and a housekeeper at 10 Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The 27 January 1883 edition of The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions reported that Claude Muddell of Southend-on-Sea was one of the candidates that had passed the Preliminary Examination held on 2 January, and his name had been placed on the Register of Apprentices or Students. Then the 10 February edition reported that Claude had paid his subscription for the year and had been elected as an Apprentice or Student of the Society at the meeting of the Council held on 7 February. The Calendar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for 1885 under ‘Registered Apprentices or Students of the Society’ listed Claude Muddell as being registered in 1883 while living at Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

In 1886 Claude, at the age of 22, emigrated from England to Canada; he sailed on the Montreal of the Dominion Line from Liverpool on 12 June 1886 and after a voyage of 10 days arrived at Quebec on 22 June 1886.[35] He initially settled in Alberta and when he was 25 years old he married 25-year-old Katherine Anne McLean, known as Kate, in Calgary, Alberta on 13 November 1889. Kate was the daughter of farmer Hugh McLean and his wife Christina who were from Scotland, and she had been born at Bruce in Ontario on 3 July 1864. Claude and Kate's first child was born in Calgary in 1891 and then sometime during the next five years they moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where, according to the obituary of one of his grandchildren, Claude became the city's first pharmacist. Claude and Kate's second child was born in Vancouver during 1896, and in the Vancouver City Directory of 1896 Claude was listed as living at 821 Cambie Street in Vancouver. The 1898 British Columbia voters List recorded Claude Muddell as a drug clerk living at 823 Cambie Street in Vancouver. Then the Vancouver City Directory of 1899 listed Claude as living at 324 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver.

In the census of 1901 Claude, Kate and their two children were all lodging with the McDougall family in Vancouver City. This was probably a lodging house as there were 21 other people lodging there. Claude was a druggist working on his own account. Then in the census of 1911 the family was living at 1217 Robson Street in Vancouver, and they had 25-year-old commercial traveller Roy Wilson as a lodger. Claude was now a druggist and an employer.

Kate died in the Lethbridge area of southern Alberta on 21 April 1939, at the age of 74, and she was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver on 25 April 1939. Kate and it's assumed Claude were probably at this time living with the family of their daughter, who were then living in Lethbridge. Six years later Claude died in Vancouver on 12 November 1945, at the age of 81, and he was buried next to his wife in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver on 15 November 1945.

 

Claude and Kate’s eldest child was Edward Charles Muddell who was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on 2 March 1891. In the census of 1901 Edward, at the age of 10, was living with his parents in a lodging house in Vancouver, British Columbia. Then in the census of 1911 Edward, now aged 20, was described as being a student and he was living with his parents at 1217 Robson in Vancouver. Edward's mother told her granddaughter, Heather Meston, that Edward died at the age of 21, in about 1912, when he fell off a boat in Burrard Inlet, which separates Vancouver from West and North Vancouver, and that his body was never found, other than this the subject was taboo. There is a possibility that Edward didn't die then as there is a record of an Ed Muddell trying to cross from Washington State, USA to British Columbia on the Pacific Highway on 13 April 1914, but he was rejected by the Canadian Immigration Inspector. He didn't have any money, and stated that he was a 23-year-old silk weaver and an American citizen born in North Dakota. The age, but none of the other information, fits Edward, though there is no other known person that could even remotely fit these details, so did Edward for some reason do a disappearing act rather than die at the age of 21?[36]

 

Claude and Kate’s second child was Vera Emily Muddell who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 6 February 1896. In the census of 1901 Vera, at the age of 5, was living with her parents in a lodging house in Vancouver. Then in the census of 1911 Vera, now aged 15, was described as being a student and she was living with her parents at 1217 Robson in Vancouver. Vera obtained a degree at the University of British Columbia in about 1918 and then did teacher training in Vancouver. After her training she went to teach at Rossland, British Columbia, which is about 250 miles east of Vancouver, where she met her future husband, who was working for wholesale grocers MacDonald's Consolidated.

When she was 24 years old Vera married 24-year-old Alexander Meston, known as Alex, at Rossland on 27 November 1920. Alex was the son of Alexander and Helen Meston and he had been born at Aberdeen in Scotland on 19 September 1896. He migrated with his parents to Vancouver and when during the First World War he enlisted as Gunner 2557317 in the 68th Depot Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 19 November 1917, he was a Grocery Salesman living with his parents at 1137 Semlin Drive, Vancouver. He was then 21 years old, 5ft 5ins tall with a 35½ins fully expanded chest, fair complexion, grey eyes and light hair.

As Alex's career with MacDonald's Consolidated progressed they moved several times, living in Winnipeg and Calgary for a few years and then Lethbridge for about ten years. During this time they had three children that were born in Vancouver because Vera went to her parents home there for the births in 1921, 1924 and 1929. In Lethbridge Alex was a manager at MacDonald's Consolidated and active in the local Board of Trade and Kiwanis Club, being at one time President of the Lethbridge Kiwanis Club. In the various Victory Loan campaigns Alex had been prominent in the Kiwanis group, and he was also a member of the Lethbridge Country Club.

In about 1945 Alex was transferred to the offices of MacDonald's Consolidated in Vancouver and they then lived in Vancouver for the rest of their lives. At the end of his career of over 40 years with MacDonald's Consolidated Alex was their buyer for tinned goods - fruits and vegetables, which involved him travelling all over Canada. Alex died on 18 October 1966 at the age of 70 and five years later Vera died on 26 February 1972 at the age of 76.

 

Alexander and Vera’s eldest child was Enid Claudia Meston who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 4 August 1921. Although having cerebral palsy since birth, this never stopped Enid from living a full life. She earned a B.A from the University of Alberta and worked for 32 years as an advertising copywriter in radio and retail media, working for many years at The Bay, where she was the chief fashion copywriter. Her physical challenges did not stop her from travelling the world, Australia, Alaska, Athens, Caribbean, Scotland, England, Europe, Hong Kong, Canada and the U.S. She was a long-time supporter of the Vancouver Symphony and enjoyed Bridge at Brock House, and Classical music. Enid never married; she died on 28 October 2004, at the age of 83.[37]

 

 

Alexander and Vera’s second child was Julia Helen Meston who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 7 May 1924. In the late 1940's Julia was a Nursing Sister with the R.C.A.F. Reserves. Julia married Walter Emerson in 1957 and they had three children born in Vancouver in 1958, 1960 and 1962. Julia died in the mid to late 1970s.

 

Alexander and Vera’s third child is Heather Meston who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1929. Heather married Anthony E Martin in 1961. They have two children born in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1962 and 1966.

 

Charles and Emily’s sixth child was Alice Muddell who was born at Dalston in Hackney, London, and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1865. In the census of 2 April 1871 Alice, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Alice, now aged 15, was living with her parents at 2 Ryde Villas in Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham, London, and she was still going to school. In the census of 5 April 1891 Alice, at the age of 25, was living with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Alice, still unmarried at the age of 35, was living with her sister Edith and her husband Walter Physick at 140 Portsdown Road in Paddington, London.

After her father’s death in late 1910 Alice was granted probate of his will by London Probate Registry on 3 February 1911. Alice never married. She had been living at 9 Park Street in Deal, Kent when she died at Wellesley House in Castle Road, Walmer, Kent on 2 April 1942, at the age of 76. Probate of her will, which valued her effects at £1087 1s 9d, was granted to solicitor Ernest Edward Chitty by Llandudno Probate Registry on 1 June 1942.

 

Charles and Emily’s seventh child was Edith Muddell who was born at Dalston in Hackney, London and whose birth was registered during the 2nd quarter of 1868. In the census of 2 April 1871 Edith, at the age of 3, was living with her parents at 3 Harriet Cottages in Landsdowne Road, Dalston, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Edith, now aged 13, was living with her parents at 2 Ryde Villas in Stanstead Road, Catford, Lewisham, London, and she was still going to school.

When she was 21 years old Edith sailed with her cousin Ada Lizzie Taite on the Liguria from London on 26 April 1889 for Melbourne, Australia via Colombo, Ceylon. They arrived at Melbourne during June 1889 and Ada married there the same month. Edith must have returned to England because in the census of 5 April 1891, at the age of 23, she was working as a kindergarden teacher and living with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road in Catford, Lewisham.

When she was 25 years old Edith married 28-year-old Walter Frederick Physick at Lewisham Register Office on 1 November 1893. Walter was then a surveyor living at 136 Marylebone Road in Marylebone, London, and Edith was living with her parents at 376 Stanstead Road. Walter was the son of sculptor Edward James Physick and his wife Mary Ann; he had been born at Marylebone and his birth registered during the 3rd quarter of 1865.

In the census of 31 March 1901 Walter and Edith were living at 140 Portsdown Road in Paddington, London, and Walter was a surveyor and an employer. They had Edith's spinster sister, Alice Muddell, living with them, and they had 34-year-old Caroline Bird as a live-in general domestic servant. Walter died at the age of 41, his death being registered in St Marylebone registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1907. The following year Edith, at the age of about 40, married William Frederick F Van de Ven, who was about 41, in Thanet registration district in Kent during the 2nd quarter of 1908. William was the son of William and Magdeline Van de Ven, and he had been born at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in about 1867. In the census of 2 April 1911 William and Edith were living in Thanet registration district.

 

James and Mary’s second child was Elizabeth Ann Muddell who was born at 114 Leadenhall Street in the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London on 27 June 1832, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Undershaft on 1 August 1832. In the census of 6 June 1841 Elizabeth, at the age of nearly 9, was with her father and stepmother at Warple Cottage, Mertow Rush, Wimbledon, Surrey. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Elizabeth, now aged 18, was living with her widowed father at 3 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London, and acting as his housekeeper.

When she was 24 years old Elizabeth sailed 1st class on the Sussex from London on 10 October 1856 bound for Melbourne, Australia. After a voyage of just over three months she arrived at Melbourne on 14 January 1857. Just two weeks after her arrival in Melbourne Elizabeth married 26-year-old Frank Taite at the Church of St Stephen in Richmond, Melbourne on 28 January 1857. Frank was the son of Samuel and Mary Taite; had been born at Newington, London, England and baptised at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Newington on 23 February 1831. In the census of 1851 Frank, at the age of 20, was working as a bank clerk and living with his widowed mother at 4 Bath Terrace in Newington, next-door to the Muddell family. The following year when he was 21 years old he sailed on the Arundel from Plymouth on 14 July 1852 bound for Melbourne, and after a voyage of over four months had arrived at Melbourne on 24 November 1852.

Frank and Elizabeth had eight children, three of whom died in infancy. They initially lived in Australia; their first child was born in early 1858 at Sandhurst (now Bendigo), which is about 80 miles north of Melbourne, and died there the same year. Their second child was born in early 1859 at Heathcote, which is about 25 miles south-east of Sandhurst, and died there in early 1860. Their third child was born in late 1860 at Oriental Bank in Sandhurst and their fourth child was born in early 1863 at Castlemaine, which is about 20 miles south of Sandhurst.

Frank and Elizabeth with their two surviving child then returned to England and their next two children were born in late 1864 and early 1866 at Putney in London. Their seventh child was born in mid-1868 at Wandsworth in London and died there in early 1869. In the census of 2 April 1871 they were living at 10 Storks Road in Bermondsey, London with their then four surviving children; Frank was a bottle beer merchant and they had 21-year-old Ellen Drafen as a live-in general servant. Their eighth child was born in mid-1874 at Horselydown in Southwick, London.

Frank died at the age of 49, his death being registered in Camberwell registration district in London during the 3rd quarter of 1880. In the census of 3 April 1881 Elizabeth was a grocer, probably having taken on her late husband’s business, living at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell with her five surviving children. She had her spinster half-sister, Kate Muddell, staying with her, and 18-year-old Fanny Packer as a live-in general domestic servant. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Elizabeth and her two youngest sons were living at 5 Sunnyview Villas in Ross Road, Beddington, Surrey, and Elizabeth was now living on her own means. In the census of 31 March 1901 Elizabeth and her spinster youngest daughter were living at Coombe Lodge in the High Street at Swanscombe near Gravesend in Kent. Elizabeth died at the age of 79, her death being registered in Dartford registration district in Kent during the 1st quarter of 1912.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Annie Mary Taite who was born at Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia on 25 January 1858. Annie died at Sandhurst later in 1858.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s second child was Annie Susan Taite who was born at Heathcote, Victoria, Australia in about January 1859. Annie died at Heathcote on 19 March 1860, when she was only a year old.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s third child was Arthur Edward Taite who was born at Oriental Bank in Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia on 10 December 1860. When he was 3 years old Arthur migrated with his parents to England. In the census of 2 April 1871 Arthur, at the age of 10, was living with his parents at 10 Storks Road in Bermondsey, London, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Arthur, now aged 20, was working as a clerk and living with his widowed mother at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London.

When he was 29 years old Arthur married 24-year-old Alice Maud Fanner in Kingston registration district in Surrey during the 2nd quarter of 1890. Alice was the daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Fanner; she had been born at Lambeth in London on 7 May 1866 and baptised at St John’s Church in Richmond, Surrey on 22 March 1868. Arthur and Alice are not thought to have had any children. In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living at 9 Claremont Road in Twickenham, Middlesex. Arthur was a merchant’s clerk and Alice was an artist doing paintings on her own account. They had 18-year-old Margaret Brown as a live-in general servant. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 they were living at The Retreat in the High Street at Datchet near Eton in Buckinghamshire. Arthur was now a buyer for a South American merchant and Alice was still an artist working on her own account at home. They had 50-year-old widow Mary Ewins as a live-in general domestic servant.

Alice was a well known artist working under the name Alice Fanner; she studied at the Slade School of Art, Richmond School of Art and St Ives under Julius Olsson. She worked in Paris, exhibited at the Royal Academy, Paris Salon, Royal Scottish Academy and others. Alice died at the age of 64 (not 65 as given on her death certificate, her death being registered in Maldon registration district in Essex during the 4th quarter of 1930. Thirteen years later Arthur died at the age of 82, his death being registered in Maldon registration district in Essex during the 3rd quarter of 1943.

 

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s fourth child was Frank Reid Taite who was born at Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia in early 1863. When he was few months old Frank migrated with his parents to England. In the census of 2 April 1871 Frank, at the age of 8, was living with his parents at 10 Storks Road in Bermondsey, London, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Frank, now aged 18, was working as a midshipman and living with his widowed mother at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London. In the census of 5 April 1891 Frank, at the age of 28, was working as a commercial clerk and living with his mother at 5 Sunnyview Villas in Ross Road, Beddington, Surrey.

When he was about 30 years old Frank married Mary Taite Corfield, who was about 28, in Lewisham registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1893. Mary was the daughter of chemist Thomas J T Corfield and his wife Marcia; she had been born at St Day in Cornwall and her birth registered during the 1st quarter of 1865. In the census of 31 March 1901 Frank and Mary were living at 59 Houston Road in Lewisham and Frank was a bonded wharfinger’s clerk.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s fifth child was Ada Lizzie Taite who was born at Putney in London on 13 November 1864. In the census of 2 April 1871 Ada, at the age of 6, was living with her parents at 10 Storks Road in Bermondsey, London, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Ada, now aged 16, was living with her widowed mother at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London, and she was still going to school.

When she was 24 years old Ada sailed with her cousin Edith Muddell on the Liguria from London on 26 April 1889 for Melbourne, Australia via Colombo, Ceylon. They arrived at Melbourne during June 1889 and Ada almost immediately married 30-year-old Frederick Stephen Smith at the Church of St Stephen in Richmond, Melbourne on 26 June 1889. Frederick was the son of Owen and Eliza Smith, and he had been born at Marylebone in London on 26 July 1858.

Ada died at Elsternwick in Melbourne on 14 February 1945, at the age of 80. Later that year Frederick died at Adelaide in South Australia on 17 June 1945, at the age of 86.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s sixth child was Kate Mabel Taite who was born at Putney in London and whose birth was registered during the 1st quarter of 1866. In the census of 2 April 1871 Kate, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at 10 Storks Road in Bermondsey, London, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Kate, now aged 15, was living with her widowed mother at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London, and she was still going to school. In the census of 5 April 1891 Kate, at the age of 25, was a nurse at the Taunton and Somerset Hospital in East Reach, Taunton, Somerset. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Kate, at the age of 35, was working as a Queens District Nurse and living with her widowed mother at Coombe Lodge in the High Street at Swanscombe near Gravesend in Kent. Kate never married.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s seventh child was Charles Campbell Taite whose birth was registered in Wandsworth registration district in London during the 3rd quarter of 1868. Charles died when only a few months old, his death being registered in Wandsworth registration district during the 1st quarter of 1869.

 

Frank and Elizabeth’s eighth child was Henry Booty Taite, known as Harry, who was born at Horselydown in Southwick, London and whose birth was registered during the 3rd quarter of 1874. In the census of 3 April 1881 Harry, at the age of 6, was living with his widowed mother at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Harry, now aged 16, was working as a commercial clerk and living with his mother at 5 Sunnyview Villas in Ross Road, Beddington, Surrey.

When he was 21 years old Harry married Clara Littlejohn in Wandsworth registration district in London during the 4th quarter of 1895. They had at least one child born at Battersea in London in 1898. In the census of 31 March 1901 they were living at 94 Kyrle Road in Battersea with their young daughter, and Harry was working as a clerk for London County Council.

 

Harry and Clara’s only known child was Dorothy Irene Taite who was born at Battersea in London, and whose birth was registered during the 4th quarter of 1898. In the census of 31 March 1901 Dorothy, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at 94 Kyrle Road in Battersea.

 

James and Mary’s third child was Arthur Muddell who was born at 114 Leadenhall Street in the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London on 14 August 1834, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Undershaft on 21 September 1834. Arthur died at 114 Leadenhall Street when he was only 7 months old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Andrew Undershaft on 15 March 1835.

 

James and Sarah’s eldest child (James fourth) was Mary Arabella Muddell who was born at 114 Leadenhall Street in the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London on 31 December 1839, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Undershaft on 26 January 1840. In the census of 6 June 1841 Mary, at the age of 18 months, was at Leadenhall Street being looked after by servant Ann Allen. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Mary, now aged 11, was living with her widowed father at 3 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London, and she was going to school.

Mary’s father died in 1856, and in the census of 7 April 1861 Mary, at the age of 21, was living with her uncle and aunt, Thomas and Mary Widdows, at Old Park Road in Hitching, Hertfordshire. Mary Widdows was the elder sister of Mary’s late mother Sarah Muddle née Warren. Mary Letitia Warren had been born at Hitchin on 21 December 1810 and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Hitching on the same day as her sister Sarah; she married Thomas Austin Widdows at St Mary’s Church in Hitching on 20 June 1833. Thomas Widdows died in 1868 and in the census of 2 April 1871 Mary, at the age 31, was living with her widowed aunt, Mary Widdows, in Bancroft Street, Hitching.

In the census of 3 April 1881 Mary, at the age of 41, was an unemployed wool worker lodging with the family of printer’s reader James Gilmon at 47 Citizen Road in Islington, London. Mary never married. She died at the age of 43 (not 41 as given on her death certificate), her death being registered in Camberwell registration district in London during the 1st quarter of 1883.

 

James and Sarah’s second child (James fifth) was Kate Muddell who was born at 10 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London on 21 February 1842. In the census of 30 March 1851 Kate, at the age of 9, was living with her widowed father at 3 Bath Terrace, Horsemonger Lane, Newington, London, and she was going to school. In the census of 3 April 1881 Kate, at the age of 39, was working as a governess and living with the family of her widowed half-sister, Elizabeth Taite, at 97 Crystal Palace Road in Camberwell, London. Kate never married. She died at Blackburn in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia during 1931, at the age of 89, and was buried in row NS-0543 of the Church of England part of Box Hill Cemetery in the Box Hill suburb of Melbourne.

 

William and Christian’s seventh child was John Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent during May 1801. John died at Gillingham when he was only 7 days old, before he was baptised, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 30 May 1801.

 

William and Christian’s eighth child was John Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 1 December 1804, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 30 December 1804.

When he was 24 years old, and spelling his name Muddell, John married 24-year-old widow Mary Eliza Du Mitand, whose maiden name was Hobbs, at the Church of St Botolph without Bishopsgate in the City of London on 16 August 1829 by license. The license issued by the Vicar-General on 15 August 1829 described John as living in the parish of St Botolph, and Mary as a widow living at Hoxton, London. Mary was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Hobbs; she had been born at Milton by Gravesend in Kent and baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church in Milton by Gravesend on 30 November 1804. When she was 18 years old she married Lewis Du Mitand at the Church of St Anne in Commercial Road, Limehouse, London on 8 March 1823 and they had one child, a daughter, born in 1824 before Lewis, who was described as a gentleman at the baptism of his daughter, presumably died.

John and Mary had three children; when their first child was baptised in mid-1830 they were living at Fenchurch Street in Staining, London and John was a glover. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey reported that at the Old Bailey on 9 December 1830 Thomas Brown, aged 22, pleaded guilty to stealing 40 yards of flannel, valued at £2, that were the goods of John Muddell; he was sent to prison for six weeks.

In July 1831 John was described as a hosier and glover of New Street, Covent Garden, London when the executors of his father’s will, who were his mother and Henry Wilsted, became the petitioning creditors that had him declared bankrupt, as reported in the Times of 6 July 1831 and Perry’s Bankrupt and Insolvent Gazette of 1 August and 1 November 1831. Presumably John owed money to his father’s estate; possibly his father had loaned him money for his business. John’s mother died on 29 October 1831 and with both his parents dead John inherited a sixth share in his father’s three houses in Brompton High Street as a tenant in common with his five surviving siblings.

John and Mary's second child was born in early 1832 and when this child was baptised in early 1834 they were living at Ivy Terrace in Hoxton, London and John had the occupation of upholsterer. It seems likely that John was then working for one of his cousins, John, William and Thomas Muddell, who were the sons of his father's brother John and all working as upholsterers in the City of London at this time. John and Mary's third child was born in mid-1835 and when this child was baptised in early 1836 they were living at 14 Bow Lane in Aldermary, City of London, and John was now a wine and spirit merchant. John's cousin William Muddell mentioned above was a successful City of London businessman involved in supplying alcoholic drinks as well as being an upholsterer, who had also taken out a Sun Fire Office policy on 10 Bow Lane in 1835, so it seems very likely that at this time John was working for William, but was looking to start trading in his own name.

On the 29 September 1835 John Muddell was presented to the court of the City of London Corporation by Mr Chamberlain as one of the fifty persons the court had granted him the right to present to the court to become Freemen of the City. The court ordered that John be admitted to the Freedom of the City by redemption (purchase) in the Worshipful Company of Innholders and payment of forty-six shillings and eight pence to the City of London Corporation, this to be executed within three months or the order would become void. Presumably John purchased membership of the Company of Innholders and also paid the required money to the City of London Corporation and became a Citizen (Freeman) of the City of London with the right to trade within the City, which he would have needed as a victualler. John would also have had to make a personal payment to Mr Chamberlain to get presented but these personal payments were not recorded.[38]

John was a victualler when he took out a fire insurance policy for a total of £2000 with the Sun Fire Office on 9 November 1836. This consisted of £1000 for his dwelling house, which was Burton Coffee House, Cheapside, London that was constructed of brick and timber in which a stove was allowed in the bar. Together with £300 for his household goods, wearing apparel, prints, books and plate, £50 for his china and glass, and £650 for his stock and utensils, fixtures and casks in trust.[39]

The City of London Poll-Book for the election of 1837 recorded John Muddell, a householder of Freeman's Court, as a voter in the Cheap, Cordwainer and Dowgate Wards. An advert placed in The Times of 3 November 1838 by W. S., a professional married gentleman without family, who was looking for a single lady as an inmate (presumably companion for his wife), gave Mr J Muddell of Burton Coffee House as the contact to which replies were to be addressed. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey reported that at the Old Bailey on 21 October 1839 John Muddell was one of the twelve members of the fifth jury. The Post Office London Directory of 1839 listed John Muddell as the proprietor of the Burton Coffee House and Tavern at Freeman’s Court, Cornhill. The 1839 edition of Pigot & Co.'s Directory of London listed John Muddell as the proprietor of the Burton Coffee House and Tavern at Freeman’s Court, Cheapside, and John Muddle as a wine merchant at 101½ Cheapside. The Post Office London Directory of 1841 listed John Muddell as the proprietor of the Burton Coffee House and Tavern at Freeman’s Court, 103 Cheapside.

In the census of 6 June 1841 John and his stepdaughter, Mary Eliza Du Mitand, were living at Freeman’s Court and John was a coffee house proprietor. They had two lodgers, professor of music George Kibee and merchant Isaac Elkam, and also four live-in servants, George Beale, John Wright, Harriot Easaley and Mary Hawkins. Mary and their youngest daughter, Ellen, were then staying with miller James Vaughan and his wife Maria at Osney Mill in Oxford. Their other two daughters were at a girls’ boarding school in Islington.

John was a wine merchant living at Freeman's Court, Cheapside, when he became a member of the Lodge of Felicity No 66 of the Freemasons. His initiation was on 21 February 1842, his passing was on 21 March 1842 and his raising on 18 April 1842.[40] The following month John and Mary were living at Freeman's Court when Mary died at the age of 37, and was buried in the Churchyard of All Hallows in Honey Lane, Cheapside on 10 May 1842.

The 1842 edition of Robson's London Directory listed J Muddell as being at the Burton Coffee House, Freeman's Court, Cheapside, and also to be as a wine and spirit merchant of Little St Thomas Apostle. In November 1842 John was described as a wine merchant and tavern keeper of Freeman’s Court, Cheapside when eleven petitioning creditors had him declared bankrupt, as reported in the Times of 5 November 1842 and Perry’s Bankrupt and Insolvent Gazette of 1 December 1842, 1 January, 1 February and 1 April 1843.

Two years after his bankruptcy John became a Ship's Clerk (otherwise known as a Purser) in the merchant navy, his seaman's ticket number 262325 was issued at Southampton on 28 May 1845 and described him as 5ft 8ins tall with a ruddy complexion, dark hair, hazel eyes, and to have no distinguishing marks.[41] John first became the Ship's Clerk on the 1121 tons RMSP Teviot of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for which he was paid £8 per month while on the ship. He first joined the Teviot at Southampton on 29 May 1845 and she sailed to the West Indies, returning to Southampton on 25 October 1845.[42] John joined the Teviot again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 13 November 1845 and four days later on 17 November 1845 she sailed for the West Indies. On the return voyage of the Teviot she left Vera Cruz on 1 March 1846, then Havana on the 10th and St Thomas on 14th. The Bermuda Royal Gazette reported that the Teviot had arrived at Bermuda from Nassau on 17 February 1846 and sailed for England on 20 February 1846. The Teviot arrived at Southampton on 7 March 1846. John joined the Teviot again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 30 March 1846 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 April 1846. The Bermuda Royal Gazette reported that the Teviot had arrived at Bermuda from St Thomas on 19 June 1846 and sailed for Nassau on 21 June 1846. The Teviot returned to Southampton on 10 August 1846.[43]

While John was serving on RMSP Teviot he subscribed to a book entitled East and West. A Poem, by Abraham Robinson that was finally published in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1848 when John was serving on his next ship, RMSP Dee.

The Post Office London Directory of 1846 listed John Muddell in the Court Directory Section as John Muddell esquire of 7 Canonbury Cottages, Islington. This was probably where John's children lived in London while he was away at sea. This directory also listed John’s cousin William Muddell as, amongst other things, the proprietor of Burton Coffee House and Tavern at Freeman’s Court, so it seems very likely that William took over the proprietorship after John was made bankrupt, and this is another business link between John and William.

After three voyages on the Teviot John became Ship's Clerk on the 1018 tons RMSP Dee of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for which he was again paid £8 per month while on the ship. He joined this ship at Southampton on 12 October 1846 and she sailed for the West Indies on 17 October 1846. On her return voyage the Dee left Tampico, Mexico on 22 December 1846, then Vera Cruz on 2 January 1847, Havana on 11th and Bermuda on 24th, and arrived at Southampton on 8 February 1847. John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 24 February 1847 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 March 1847. On her return voyage the Dee left Tampico on 22 April 1847, then Vera Cruz on 3 May 1847, St Thomas on 18th and Bermuda on 24th, and arrived at Southampton on 10 June 1847. The Lloyd's List of 10 June 1847 reported that her cargo consisted of 107096 dollars, £256 6s British coin, 108lb 10oz platinum, 2 boxes of pearls, 554lb 5oz silver, 6600lb 5oz silver bars and 1003 serons of cochineal. John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 12 July 1847 and she sailed for the West Indies on 17 July 1847. The Dee returned to Southampton on 19 November 1847.[44]

 

 

John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 27 December 1847 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 January 1848. The Dee returned to Southampton on 27 March 1848. John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 11 April 1848 and she sailed for the West Indies on 17 April 1848. On her return voyage the Dee left St Thomas on 15 July 1848 and arrived at Southampton on 5 August 1848.[45]

John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk, with his wages now increased to £10 5s per month while on the ship, at Southampton on 12 September 1848 and she sailed for the West Indies on 18 September 1848. The Dee returned to Southampton on 31 March 1849. John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 14 May 1849 and she sailed for the West Indies on 17 May 1849. The Dee returned to Southampton on 4 September 1849. John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 25 September 1849 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 October 1849. The Dee returned to Southampton on 24 December 1849.[46]

John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk, with his wages now increased to £12 10s per month while on the ship, at Southampton on 13 April 1850 and she sailed for the West Indies, returning to Southampton on 4 August 1850.[47]

Thirteen days after his return to Southampton and eight years after the death of his first wife John, at the age of 45, married 35-year-old Charlotte Alexander at the Church of St Mary in Bryanstone Square, Marylebone, London on 17 August 1850 by license. The license issued by the Faculty Office on 16 August 1850 described John as a widower of Southampton in Hampshire, and Charlotte as a spinster of Marylebone. On the marriage certificate John gave his rank as esquire, and Charlotte gave her address as 20 Gloucester Place in Marylebone, which was her parents’ home. This marriage was reported in the Morning Chronicle of 20 August 1850. Charlotte was the daughter of Robert and Grace Alexander; she had been born in Madras, India on 7 November 1814, and baptised in Madras on 30 September 1815 at the same time as her younger brother Robert. This Alexander family is listed in Burke’s Irish Family Records.

Then just ten days after his marriage John joined the Dee again as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 27 August 1850 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 September 1850. The Dee returned to Southampton on 10 November 1850. John then did a voyage on RMSP Seven of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company; he joined the Seven as Ship's Clerk at Southampton on 27 December 1850 and she sailed for the West Indies on 2 January 1851.[48] The Seven returned to Southampton on 10 March 1851 and John then joined the Dee again as Purser at Southampton on 25 March 1851. Though he had joined the crew John must have still been living onshore with his wife because in the census of 30 March 1851 John and Charlotte were recorded living in part of 20 Oxford Street in Southampton, and John gave his occupation as a Purser. John's two youngest daughters, Georgina and Ellen, were at 1 Allen Terrace in Kensington, London with two servants, and on the census it stated that their father and mother were absent; John's elder unmarried daughter was a teacher at a private girls' school in Chelsea.

Three days after the census, on 2 April 1851, John sailed on the Dee for the West Indies and returned to Southampton on 8 June 1851. John joined the Dee again as Purser at Southampton on 26 September 1851; she sailed for the West Indies on 2 October 1851 and returned to Southampton on 8 December 1851.[49]

On all the voyages of both the Teviot and the Dee the ship's master was William Allan, but on John's one voyage on the Seven it was under ship's master William Vincent. John was one of the highest paid members of the crew with the Chief Officer and Surgeon being the only other comparably paid crew members. John lied about his age on all his marine documents; he had trimmed three years off his age when he was issued his seaman's ticket in 1845 and by 1850 on the crew lists he was trimming six years off his age.

The Post Office London Directory (Small Edition) of 1852 listed John Muddell esq. as living at 1 Allen Terrace, Kensington; this being the London home where John's wife and children had been living while he was away at sea. In 1852 William Allan, the Master under whom John had been serving as Purser for the last six years, became master of the La Plata of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and made three voyages before dying of Yellow Fever on 11 November 1852, but John was not the Purser on any of these voyages, so it seems likely that John probably stopped working as a Purser at the end of 1851.[50]

Lucy Ann Sinclair Sutherland, a widow of St Marylebone, London, died in early 1844 and was buried in All Souls Cemetery at Kensal Green on 13 January 1844. Her will that was proved on 9 March 1844 bequeathed a leasehold estate to her four trustees and executors, Townsend, Cole, Martin and Chevaux, in trust for sale, and gave each executor a beneficial interest for life in one fourth part of this estate. The executor John Townsend owed the estate £2060 10s 1d and in August 1847 he assigned the messuages of the estate in which he had a beneficial interest to Arden for a mortgage of £250 and a further advance of £50, and delivered the title deeds of these properties to Arden. Then in March 1848 Arden transferred the mortgage to John Muddle and passed the title deeds to him. The other three trustees and executors then instigated a case in the High Court of Chancery to recover these title deeds from John Muddle, and he counter-claimed from John Muddle that if he had to give up the title deeds he should be paid the principal money and interest. The judgement on the 22 July 1852 was that the estate of Lucy Sutherland had a lien (right to keep a property belonging to another person until a debt is paid) on John Townsend's interest in these properties because of his debt to the estate, as its security for the amount due, in priority to John Muddle's right. The judgement was with costs against John Muddle, so it seems this mortgage cost John a lot of money instead of making money for him, and had presumably one of the investments he had made with the money he was then making as a Purser.[51]

John, now spelling his name Muddelle and describing himself as a gentleman, was a witness at the marriage of his daughter Ellen at Ryde, Isle of Wight on 21 October 1862. A notice published in The Leeds Mercury of 5 May 1865 for the issue of shares in the Balmgate Silk Yarn Works Limited listed John Muddelle, Esq., Lasswarrie-house, Ryde, Isle of Wight as one of the directors of the company. Then Jackson’s Oxford Journal of the 24 March 1866 reporting on a sitting of the Court of Bankruptcy in London held on 8 March for the examination and application for discharge of bankrupt solicitor George Frederick Druce late of Oxford, Streatham in Surrey, and Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and one of the projectors of the Daventry and Oxford Railway Company stated that John Muddelle of Ryde was the creditors’ assignee. So presumable John was a creditor and had been elected by the other creditors to be their representative, and they were probably all investors in the presumably failed railway company.

Then on 19 March 1867 John Muddelle, late of 11 St Stephen’s Square, Bayswater, and of 6 Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster was adjudged bankrupt at the Court of Bankruptcy in London, and a notice in the London Gazette of 16 April 1867 required him to surrender himself to the Registrar of the Court on 8 May for the first meeting of creditors. Another notice in the London Gazette of 14 May 1867 stated that a public sitting of the Court would be held on 14 June for John to pass his Last Examination and make an application for his Discharge as a bankrupt.

In the census of 2 April 1871 John and Charlotte were living at Green Hill Cottage in Otham, Kent; they were both described as annuitants and they had two live-in servants, 18-year-old groom Frank Cheeseman and 18-year-old general servant Harriette Horton. John was now trimming a full nine years off his age so that he seemed to be only just older than his wife rather than ten years older. A notice published in The Times of 21 September 1871 for the issue of shares in the Cwm Elan Lead Mining Company listed John Muddelle, Esq., Greenhill-house, Maidstone, Kent as one of the directors of the company. Another notice published in The Times of 20 July 1872 for the issue of shares in the Ammonia, Bone and Mineral Phosphate Company listed J. Muddelle, Esq., Otham, Kent as one of the directors of the company. The 1872 edition of The Handy Directory and Guide, for Maidstone, and the Surrounding Villages within a Circle of Six Miles listed John Muddelle of Green House Hill in Otham. Volume IX of Archaeologia cantiana published by Kent Archaeological Society in 1874 listed J Muddelle Esq. of Otham as a member of the Kent Archaeological Society. Cross’s Mid Kent Court Guide & Gazetteer of 1874 listed John Muddelle of Green House Hill in Otham and also Captain John Muddelle of Raigersfeld, Ashford Road, Boxley, so it was probably about this time that they moved from Otham to Raigersfeld, and John’s assuming the title Captain another of his pretensions like changing his name to Muddelle. In the census of 3 April 1881 John and Charlotte were living at Raigersfeld on Ashford Road near Mote Park in Boxley near Maidstone, Kent; John was still described as an annuitant and they had one live-in servant 28-year-old cook Annie Brown. The 1882 edition of Kelly's Directory of Kent listed Captain John Muddelle as a private resident of Raigersfeld, Boxley, Maidstone, and also as the Honorary Secretary of the Kent Club at 82 Week Street in Maidstone.

They were living at Raigersfeld when John died there suddenly on 12 February 1888, at the age of 83 (not 81 as given on his death certificate nor 84 as given on his burial record). A death notice for John was published in The Times of 16 February 1888, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley, Kent on 17 February 1888. Probate of John’s will, which valued his personal estate at £9789 9s 1d, was granted to his daughter Georgina by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 12 April 1888. Seven months later Charlotte died at Raigersfeld on 26 September 1888, at the age of 73 (not 75 as given on her death certificate and burial record). She was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley on 29 September 1888, and a death notice for Charlotte was published in The Times of 1 October 1888. Probate of Charlotte’s will, which valued her personal estate at £791 9s 4d, was granted to her stepdaughter Georgina by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 17 October 1888.

 

Lewis and Mary’s only child was Mary Eliza Du Mitand who was born at Well Street in Cripplegate, London on 10 May 1824, and baptised at the Church of St Giles in Cripplegate on 12 May 1824. In the census of 6 June 1841 Mary, at the age of 17, was living with her stepfather at Freeman’s Court in Cheapside, London, her mother was away in Oxford at the time of the census.

When she was 22 years old Mary married 30-year-old Matthew Henry Hunt at the Church of St Peter in Islington, London on 9 January 1847. They were both then living at 6 Popham Terrace in Islington and Matthew was a commercial traveller. Matthew was the son of George and Ann Hunt; he had been born at Stalbridge in Dorset and baptised at St Mary's Church in Stalbridge on 16 June 1816. Matthew and Mary had six children; the first three were born at Battersea in London between late 1848 and late 1851. In the census of 30 March 1851 they were living at St Johns Hill in Battersea with their then two children; Matthew was a woollen draper and they had 24-year-old Elizabeth Hall as a live-in house servant. Their fourth child was born at Glasgow in Scotland during 1853, and their fifth and sixth children at Basingstoke in Hampshire in 1857 and 1859. When their fifth child was baptised in 1857 Matthew was still a woollen draper, but when their sixth child was baptised in 1859 he was described as being a government man. Their sixth child died a Basingstoke in late 1859, when only a few months old.

In the census of 7 April 1871 their five surviving children were living with Mary’s half-sister, Ellen Ann Muddell, in Church Street, Basingstoke. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Mary, now a widow, and her son George were living in the High Street at Staines in Middlesex. Mary’s half-sister, Georgina Muddell, was living with them and they had 18-year-old Ellen Cazerne as a live-in domestic servant. Three years later Mary died at Staines, at the age of 60, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary in Staines on 25 October 1884.

 

Matthew and Mary’s eldest child was Mary Eliza Hunt who was born at Battersea in London on 12 September 1848, and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Battersea on 7 April 1849. In the census of 30 March 1851 Mary, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at St Johns Hill in Battersea. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Mary, now aged 12, and her siblings were living with her mother’s half-sister Ellen Ann Muddell in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

 

Matthew and Mary’s second child was Ada Hunt who was born at Battersea in London on 20 March 1850, and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Battersea on 24 April 1850. In the census of 30 March 1851 Ada, at the age of 1, was living with her parents at St Johns Hill in Battersea. Then in the census of 7 April 1861 Ada, now aged 11, and her siblings were living with her mother’s half-sister Ellen Ann Muddell in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

 

Matthew and Mary’s third child was Florence Hunt who was born at Battersea in London on 16 October 1851, and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Battersea on 5 November 1851. In the census of 7 April 1861 Ada, at the age of 9, and her siblings were living with her mother’s half-sister Ellen Ann Muddell in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

 

Matthew and Mary’s fourth child was George M Hunt who was born at Glasgow in Scotland in about 1853. In the census of 7 April 1861 George, at the age of 7, and his siblings were living with his mother’s half-sister Ellen Ann Muddell in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 George, now aged 17, was a live-in draper’s assistant to silk mercer Daniel Nicholson at 51 St Pauls Close Yard in the City of London.

 

Matthew and Mary’s fifth child was Ellen Constance Hunt who was born at Basingstoke in Hampshire, and baptised at the Church of St Michael in Basingstoke on 18 February 1857. In the census of 7 April 1861 Ellen, at the age of 4, and her siblings were living with her mother’s half-sister Ellen Ann Muddell in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

 

Matthew and Mary’s sixth child was Arthur Stuart Hunt who was born at Basingstoke in Hampshire, and baptised at the Church of St Michael in Basingstoke on 29 June 1859. Arthur died when only a few months old, his death being registered in Basingstoke registration district during the 4th quarter of 1859.

 

John and Mary’s eldest child (Mary’s second) was Christian Emma Muddell, known as Emma, who was born at Staining in the City of London and baptised at the Church of All Hollows in Staining on 30 June 1830. In the census of 6 June 1841 Emma, at the age of 10, and her sister Georgina were at a girls’ boarding school run by Emma Brady at Portland Place in Islington, London. Emma was a witness at the marriage of her cousin Charlotte Elvira Willis Conjuit at Eastbourne in Sussex on 8 August 1849. In the census of 30 March 1851 Emma was a teacher at the private girls’ school run by Caroline Haddon at 19 King’s Parade in Chelsea, London.

When she was 25 years old Emma married 22-year-old Frederick York St Leger at the Church of St Matthias in Stoke Newington, London on 13 March 1856 by license. Frederick was the son of the Reverend Robert St Leger and his wife Mary Louisa; he had been born at Limerick in Ireland on 26 March 1833, and in the census of 30 March 1851 he was living with his parents in Islington, London. He was admitted to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge on 2 July 1851 and was awarded his B.A. in 1856. In 1857, the year after his marriage to Emma, he was ordained a deacon and then made a priest in 1858.

They then emigrated from England to South Africa were Frederick was Principal of St Andrew’s Church of England College at Grahamstown, Cape Colony from 1859 to 1862. Frederick and Emma had eight children. Frederick was Rector of Queenstown, South Africa from 1864 to 1874, and Canon of Grahamstown from 1867 to 1879. He took up journalism, starting The Cape Times in 1876, the first daily paper in to be published in Cape Town. He was also the founder of the Diamond Fields Advertiser. Frederick died at Newlands, Cape Colony on 25 March 1901, just one day short of his 68th birthday.

 

John and Mary’s second child (Mary’s third) was Georgina Conjuit Muddell who was born in London on 31 January 1832, and baptised at the Church of St John the Baptist in New North Road, Hoxton on 7 February 1834. Georgina was baptised as Georgiana Conjuit Muddell and in the 1841 census was Georgiana, but from at least 1850 was always known at Georgina. In the census of 6 June 1841 Georgina, at the age of 9, and her sister Emma were at a girls’ boarding school run by Emma Brady at Portland Place in Islington, London.

Georgina was a witness at her father’s second marriage at Marylebone in London on 17 August 1850. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Georgina, at the age of 19, and her younger sister Ellen were living at 1 Allen Terrace in Kensington, London with two servants, a cook and a housemaid, and on the census it stated that their father and mother were absent; they were staying in Southampton. Georgina, now spelling her name Muddelle, was a witness at the marriage of her sister Ellen at Ryde, Isle of Wight on 21 October 1862. In the census of 3 April 1881 Georgina, at the age of 49 and with no occupation, was living with her widowed half-sister, Mary Eliza Hunt, in the High Street at Staines in Middlesex.

Georgina’s father died in February 1888, and when she was granted probate of his will, as the surviving executor, by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 12 April 1888 she was living at her father’s home, Raigersfeld on Ashford Road near Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent. Seven months after her father’s death Georgina was still at Raigersfeld when her stepmother died there and she was granted probate of her will, as the sole executor, by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 17 October 1888.

Georgina never married. She had been living at Raigersfeld and 81 Holland Road in London when she died at 57 King Henry’s Road in Hampstead, London on 19 April 1913, at the age of 81 (not 83 as given on her death certificate and burial record). A death notice for Georgina was published in The Times of 22 April 1913, and Georgina was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Boxley, Kent at 4pm on 24 April 1913. Georgina died intestate and administration of her estate, which valued her effects at £3067 6s 10d, was granted to her sister Ellen Ann Foot by the Principal Probate Registry in London on 6 June 1913.

Georgina’s executors sold her possessions by auction as advertised in The Times of 4 July 1913:

PALL-MALL, - THIS DAY, - OLD CHINA, decorative furniture, silver plate, jewellery, cabinet objects, &c., by direction of the executors of the late Miss G. C. Muddelle, and from various other sources.

MESSRS. FOSTER respectfully announce for SALE by AUCTION, at the Gallery, 54, Pall-mall, TO-DAY (Friday), July 4th, at 1 o’clock precisely, old China, decorative furniture, silver and Sheffield plate, jewellery, cabinet objects, and a collection of faience, pewter, and brass ware, wood carvings, glass, &c., received from Germany. Catalogues may be had, - 54, Pall-mall.

This advert seems to indicate that Georgina had a home in Germany, and this may explain why she has not been found in so many of the English censuses.

 

 

John and Mary’s third child (Mary’s fourth) was Ellen Ann Muddell who was born in London on 24 June 1835, and baptised at the Church of St Mary in Aldermary, City of London on 20 January 1836. In the census of 6 June 1841 Ellen, at the age of nearly 6, was, with her mother, staying with James and Maria Vaughan at Osney Mill in Oxford. Ellen was a witness at her father’s second marriage at Marylebone in London on 17 August 1850. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Ellen, at the age of 15, and her elder sister Georgina were living at 1 Allen Terrace in Kensington, London with two servants, a cook and a housemaid, and on the census it stated that their father and mother were absent; they were staying in Southampton. In the census of 7 April 1861 Ellen, at the age of 25, was a music teacher living in Church Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire. She had the five children of her half-sister, Mary Eliza Hunt, living with her, also two 11-year-old pupils, Mary Grover and Agnes Sclater, and 18-year-old general servant Ann Knife.

When she was 27 years old, and spelling her name Muddelle, Ellen married 37-year-old Edwin Foot at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Ryde, Isle of Wight on 21 October 1862 by license. Edwin was then a brewer living at Whitechapel in London, and Ellen was living in Ryde. Edwin was the son of Eli and Grace Foot; he had been born at Iwerne Courtney (alias Shroton) in Dorset and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Iwerne Courtney on 26 May 1825.

Edwin and Ellen had one child, a son, born at Peterborough in Northamptonshire in 1869. In the census of 3 April 1881 they were living at Slingo Brewery, 187 Marylebone Road, Marylebone, London with their son, Edwin was a brewer and they had 19-year-old Minnie Brand as a live-in general domestic servant. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 they were still living at Slingo Brewery with their son, and Edwin was still a brewer. Edwin died at the age of 74, his death being registered in Windsor registration district in Berkshire during the 4th quarter of 1899. In the census of 31 March 1901 Ellen and her son were living at 41 Royal Crescent in Kensington, London; they were both living on their own means, and they had two live-in servants, 18-year-old parlour maid Agnes Cherrett and 17-year-old cook Louisa Cherrett.

When her spinster sister Georgina Conjuit Muddelle died intestate Ellen was granted administration of her estate, valued at £3067 6s 10d, by the London Probate Registry on 6 June 1913.

 

Edwin and Ellen’s only child was Edwin John Foot who was born at Peterborough in Northamptonshire, and his birth registered during the 1st quarter of 1869. Edwin was baptised at the Church of St John the Baptist in Peterborough on 18 June 1869. In the census of 3 April 1881 Edwin, at the age of 12, was living with his parents at Slingo Brewery, 187 Marylebone Road, Marylebone, London, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Edwin, now aged 22, was an electrical engineering student and continuing to live with his parents at Slingo Brewery. In the census of 31 March 1901 Edwin, still unmarried at the age of 32, was living with his widowed mother at 41 Royal Crescent in Kensington, London, and they were both living on their own means.

 

William and Christian’s ninth child was George Muddle who was born at Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in Kent on 9 December 1806, and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene at Gillingham on 4 January 1807. George died at Gillingham when he was only 2 years old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham on 4 January 1809.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2009-2016

Last updated 2 May 2016