THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE DORSET MUDDLE FAMILIES THE WIMBORNE MUDDLES

 

Chart of William snr. & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family

 

William and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Mary Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 2 November 1726. When she was about 24 years old Mary married William Ridout at Sturminster Newton Church on 21 January 1750. (The name is missing on Mary’s baptism record, which just states that it was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Muddle of Marnhull, but it’s thought probable that the Mary who married at Sturminster Newton was in fact this daughter.) William and Mary had four children born at Sturminster Newton between 1751 and 1757.

 

William and Mary’s eldest child was Thomas Ridout who was baptised at Sturminster Newton Church on 12 June 1751.

 

William and Mary’s second child was Hanna Ridout who was baptised at Sturminster Newton Church on 25 July 1753.

 

William and Mary’s third child was Susanna Ridout who was baptised at Sturminster Newton Church on 17 September 1755.

 

William and Mary’s fourth child was William Ridout who was baptised at Sturminster Newton Church on 9 September 1757.

 

William and Elizabeth’s second child was an unnamed son who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church in 1728. (The name is missing on his baptism record, which just states that he was a son of William and Elizabeth Muddle of Marnhull.) It’s probable that this son died soon after his baptism as William and Elizabeth’s next child came fairly quickly after him.

 

William and Elizabeth’s third child was John Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church in 1729. John was also buried in Buckhorn Weston Churchyard in 1729.

 

 

William and Elizabeth’s fourth child was William Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 24 February 1732. When he was 27 years old William married Elizabeth Gallop, known as Betty, at St Peter & St Paul Church in Blandford Forum on 24 September 1759. They first lived at Lydlinch where they had five children born between 1760 and 1767, the last two of whom died soon after birth. William was described as being a butcher of Lydlinch when, by an indenture dated 23 August 1762, he was paid £2 2s to take Thomas Skeats as an apprentice for a term of 7 years, out of this William paid 1s 1d in stamp duty on 20 September 1762.[1] William was recorded in the Lydlinch Churchwarden’s Accounts of 1766 and 1767 as paying a Poor Rate of 2d as the occupier of land called Tethenses or Tithensis, he doesn’t appear in later years, so it’s thought that it was soon after the birth of their last child in 1767 that the family moved to Wimborne Minster.

The Land Tax Assessment of 4 June 1780 listed William Muddle as the occupier of land called Deans, Boltons and Russels in the Petersham Hundred of Wimborne Minster that was owned by Henry William Fitch Esq. on which the total tax assessment was £3 12s 0d. The Land Tax Assessments for 1781, 1782 and 1783, but not 1784, continue to record William as being the occupier of these pieces of land. William was still a yeoman of Wimborne Minster when he died at the age of 51, and was buried in Sturminster Marshall Churchyard on 22 April 1783. William died intestate and administration of his estate was granted to his widow Betty by Wimborne Minster Peculiar Court on 10 May 1784, when Betty and her son William were bound in the sum of £200 that Betty would truly administer the estate and exhibit a true account of the estate at the Registry of the Court by the last day of November 1784. When they had to sign the bond Betty could only make her mark but her son must have had some education because he signed.[2] Then three years later Betty died, and she was buried in Sturminster Marshall Churchyard on 26 April 1787.

 

Their children were:

William 1760-1799  Betty 1762-?  Jenny 1764-1813

Ann 1766-1766  Ann 1767-1767

 

William and Betty’s eldest child was William Muddle who was born at Lydlinch and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 29 April 1760. (It's thought that the baptism of a William Muddle, son of William and Betty of Lydlinch, in the adjacent parish of Fifehead Neville on 1 January 1761 was probably, for some reason, a second baptism of this William and not that of a second son, as there is no evidence that the first died, and there was only eight months between the baptisms.) Sometime between 1767 and 1780 William moved to Wimborne Minster with his parents and siblings. On 10 May 1784 William was described as being a yeoman of Wimborne Minster when he stood as a bondsman with his mother when she was granted administration of his late father's estate; he had probably been working with his father on his farm. When required to sign this bond William did so in at confident hand showing that he had received some education unlike his mother who could only make her mark. A year after his father's death, when he was 24 years old, William married 24-year-old Elizabeth Martin at Wimborne Minster Church in Dorset on 20 July 1784 by licence. Elizabeth had been baptised at Wimborne Minster Church on 7 April 1760 as the daughter of John Martaine. See the section headed ‘William jnr. & Elizabeth Muddle’s Family’ for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

William and Betty’s second child was Betty Muddle who was born at Lydlinch and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 19 October 1762. Sometime between 1767 and 1780 Betty moved to Wimborne Minster with her parents and siblings. When she was about 21 years old Betty married 19-year-old William Soffe at St Martin’s Church in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 30 September 1783 by licence. The licence issued at Sarum on 29 September 1783 described William as a 22-year-old yeoman and bachelor of Wimborne, and Betty as a 24-year-old spinster of Salisbury. As Betty was eight months into her pregnancy and St Martins was a known place for ‘convenience’ marriages, it’s likely that Betty had only been living at Salisbury just long enough (three weeks) to meet the required residency condition for marrying there. William had been baptised at Millbrook Church near Southampton in Hampshire on 20 September 1764, the son of William and Jenny Soffe. The land tax assessments for Petersham Hundred in Wimborne Minster for the period 1781-1784 lists a William Soffe as being the occupier of Honeybrook Farm; this was probably William’s father. William and Betty had three children, the first born just a month after their marriage, and the other two in 1788 and 1790. In the Militia Ballot List of 1798 William was described as being a labourer of Wimborne Minster with a wife and four children, to be 5ft 6in tall, and exempt from service as he was maimed. The Militia Ballot List of 1799 gave the same details except that he now had three children and was 5ft 8in tall. William died at South Stoneham near Southampton in Hampshire on 27 May 1808 at the age of 43, and he was buried in Millbrook Churchyard in Hampshire on 1 June 1808 .

 

William and Betty’s eldest child was Betty Soffe who was born at Wimborne Minster in Dorset on 31 October 1783, and baptised at Wimborne Minster Church on 1 January 1784.

 

William and Betty’s second child was Jenny Soffe who was baptised at Wimborne Minster in Dorset on 12 February 1788.

 

William and Betty’s third child was William Soffe who was baptised at Holt Chapel in the parish Wimborne Minster in Dorset on 12 September 1790.

 

William and Betty’s third child was Jenny Muddle who was born at Lydlinch and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 1 July 1764 . Sometime between 1767 and 1780 Jenny moved to Wimborne Minster with her parents and siblings. When she was 23 years old Jenny married Thomas Arnold at the Holt Chapel in the parish Wimborne Minster on 22 October 1787 by licence. In the Militia Ballot List of 1799 Thomas was described as being a tithingman (parish constable) of Sturminster Newton. Jenny died at the age of 48, and she was buried in Sturminster Newton Churchyard on 31 March 1813.

 

William and Betty’s fourth child was Ann Muddle who probably died unbaptised soon after birth, and was buried in Buckhorn Weston Churchyard on 9 May 1766.

 

William and Betty’s fifth child was Ann Muddle who probably died unbaptised soon after birth, and was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 7 May 1767.

 

William and Elizabeth’s fifth child was Grace Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 29 March 1735. Grace never married. She died at the age of 34, and was buried in Stalbridge Churchyard on 18 May 1769.

 

William and Elizabeth’s sixth child, one of twins, was John Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 1 June 1737 . When he was 22 years old John married Mary Upshall at Lydlinch Church on 4 November 1759. Mary was the daughter of John and Ann Upshall, and she had been baptised at Haselbury Bryan Church in Dorset on 4 March 1729. John and Mary lived at Lydlinch where they had eight children born between 1760 and 1775, one of which died young.

John and his family seem to have been a considerable burden on the parish of Lydlinch. From at least 1765 until 1801 the Accounts of the Overseers of the Poor of Lydlinch record payments to John and his family, these included sums of money, bags of barley, payment of the yearly rent for their house and the window tax. There were also payments of 6s 0d per month to Mary, between December 1772 and June 1773, for looking after the bastard child of Mary Brown who had been left in the care of the parish. From 1785 there were several payments for their daughters, and then from 1793 more general payments to the family including one for John being ill during November 1800.

Mary died at the age of 72, and she was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 19 August 1801. Then four years later John died at the age of 68, and he was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 28 May 1805.

 

Their children were:

Jane 1760-?  John 1761-?  James 1764-1834  Martin 1766-1833

Anne 1768-?  Samuel 1771-1772  Mary 1773-1837  William 1775-1799

 

John and Mary’s eldest child was Jane Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 31 March 1760.

 

John and Mary’s second child was John Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 15 November 1761.

 

John and Mary’s third child was James Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 4 July 1764. In the Militia Ballot List of 1799 James was described as being a bachelor and cordwainer of Lydlinch, and to be 5ft 4in tall. James never married. He died at the age of 70 (not 72 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in Pulham Churchyard on 29 November 1834.

 

John and Mary’s fourth child was Martin Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 13 April 1766. When he was 23 years old Martin married 27-year-old Elizabeth Harding at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 26 October 1789. Elizabeth was the daughter of Philip and Anne Harding and she had been baptised at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 8 August 1762. Martin and Elizabeth always lived at Okeford Fitzpaine. In the Militia Ballot List of 1799 Martin was described as being a tailor of Okeford Fitzpaine, to be 5ft 9in tall, and to have a wife but no children. Their three children were born at Okeford Fitzpaine born between 1800 and 1808. Martin died at Okeford Fitzpaine at the age of 67 (not 68 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard at Okeford Fitzpaine on 12 December 1833. Five years later Elizabeth died at Okeford Fitzpaine on the 9 June 1838, at the age of 76, from palsy, and she was buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard at Okeford Fitzpaine on 14 June 1838.

 

Martin and Elizabeth’s eldest child was William Muddle who was born at Okeford Fitzpaine, and baptised at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 2 February 1800. When he was 24 years old William married 23-year-old Elizabeth Adams at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 8 November 1824. Elizabeth had been born at Fiddleford in Dorset, and baptised at Sturminster Newton Church on 11 January 1801 as Betty the base born daughter of Maria Adams. William and Elizabeth lived at Okeford Fitzpaine where William worked as a tailor. They had one child, born in 1825, before William died at Okeford Fitzpaine, at the age of 25, and was buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard at Okeford Fitzpaine on 4 December 1825.

Nine years after William’s death Elizabeth, at the age of 34, married 23-year-old Joseph Pethen at St Andrew's Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 22 February 1835. Joseph was the son of Robert and Priscilla Pethen, and he had been baptised at St Andrew's Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 2 June 1811. Joseph and Elizabeth had three children; the first was a son born at Okeford Fitzpaine in 1836, and the other two were twin sons born at Iwerne Courtney in 1837 who only lived for three weeks. In the census of 6 June 1841 they were living at Okeford Fitzpaine with their surviving son; Joseph was working as a shoemaker and they had 13-year-old Thomas Pethen, who was Joseph's young brother, living with them. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 they were living at Child Okeford in Dorset with their son; Joseph was continuing to work as a shoemaker and his 15-year-old son was working with him. In the census of 7 April 1861 they were living at Child Okeford with their son and Joseph was a boot and shoemaker employing two men and one boy, one of these would have been his son. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 they were living at the Hollow in Child Okeford; Joseph was a boot and shoemaker employing two men; Elizabeth was a bootbinder, and they had 28-year-old farm labourer James Ames as a lodger. In the census of 3 April 1881 they were living at Child Okeford; Joseph was a bootmaker employing one man and one boy, and they had two of their grandsons, Charles and George Pethen, living with them, Charles probably being the boy working for Joseph.

Elizabeth died at Child Okeford, at the age of 88, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Child Okeford on 20 November 1888. Two years later Joseph died at Child Okeford, at the age of 79, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Child Okeford on 8 August 1890.

 

William and Elizabeth’s only child was William Muddle who was born at Okeford Fitzpaine in Dorset, and baptised at St Andrew's Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 9 October 1825. In the census of 6 April 1841 William, at the age of 15, was a live-in servant at Okeford Fitzpaine to Marian Bendenell and Mary Hunter, who were both of independent means. Then in the census of the 30 March 1851 William, now aged 25, was a live-in servant at Sutton Waldron in Dorset to the family of Rev A Huxtable, rector of Sutton Waldron and magistrate of the county.

When he was 28 years old William married 21-year-old Eleanor Robinson at St Sepulchre’s Church in the City of London on 12 January 1854. They were both then living at Smithfield in the City of London, and William was a bailiff. Eleanor was the daughter of John and Martha Robinson; she had been born at St Pancras in London on 24 April 1832, and baptised at St Pancras Old Church on 2 September 1832.

In the census of 2 April 1871 William and Eleanor were living at Warren Farm, Banstead, Surrey, where William was farm bailiff of 618 acres employing 9 men and 4 boys, and they had Eleanor’s widowed mother, Martha Robinson, living with them. The following year William died at Warren Farm on 9 November 1872 at the age of 47. There was an inquest on 13 November 1872 into William’s death, which found that he died accidentally from a concussion of the brain 20 hours after he fall from his horse and was dragged a distance. William’s will, dated 30 April 1860, left his whole estate, which consisted of household effects, horses, carts and money, to his wife, who was also sole executrix. Probate of William’s will, which valued his estate at under £200, was granted to his widow on 21 December 1872 by the Principal Probate Registry in London. The 1878 edition of the Post Office Directory of Surrey listed Mrs Eleanor Muddle as having a preparatory school in St Nicholas Road, Sutton, which is 3 miles north of Banstead.

Six years after William’s death Eleanor, at the age of 46, married 60-year-old widower William Hards at St Pancras Parish Church in Middlesex on 23 July 1878. William was then a retired builder and they stated that they were both then living at 158 Seymour Street in St Pancras, but this was probably a convenience address for William as he had always lived at Ewell in Surrey where his first wife Elizabeth, the mother of his children, had died in 1875. William was the son of James and Mary Ann Hards; he had been born at Ewell and baptised at St Mary the Virgin Church in Ewell on 15 March 1818. William had been a builder and contractor like his father; he had been a member of the local Board of Guardians since 1868 and was the owner of property, particularly what became known as 1 to 13 Hards Cottages in West Street, Ewell.

In the census of 3 April 1881 William and Eleanor were living in Green Man Street in Ewell, and William was a retired builder. Living with them were two of William's children, 21-year-old Jessie Hards and 19-year-old Walter Hards. Three years later Eleanor died at the age of 52 (not 51 as given on her death certificate and burial record), and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary in Ewell on 3 May 1884. About seven weeks later William died at the age of 66, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Mary in Ewell on 24 June 1884.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s eldest child (Elizabeth’s second) was Pedro Charles Pethen who was born at Okeford Fitzpaine in Dorset, and baptised at St Andrew's Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 14 February 1836. In the census of 6 June 1841 Pedro, at the age of 5, was living with his parents at Okeford Fitzpaine. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Pedro, now aged 15, was working as a shoemaker with his father and living with his parents at Child Okeford in Dorset. In the census of 7 April 1861 Pedro, at the age of 25, was continuing to live with his parents at Child Okeford and work as a shoemaker with his father.

When he was 26 years old Pedro married 25-year-old Emily Lovell at the Chapel in the Parish of Hanford, Dorset on 25 September 1862. Pedro was then a shoemaker living at Child Okeford and Emily a servant living at Hanford. Emily was the daughter of William and Ann Lovell; she had been born at Aller in Hilton Parish, Dorset, and baptised at St Andrew's Church in the neighbouring parish of Melcombe Horsey, Dorset on 24 December 1837. Pedro and Emily lived at Child Okeford in Dorset where they had ten children born between 1863 and 1881, two of whom died in infancy in 1865 and 1870. In the census of 2 April 1871 they were living at Crews Buildings in Child Okeford with their then three surviving children; Pedro was working as a boot and shoemaker and Emily was a bootbinder. When the birth of their sixth child was registered in October 1871 Pedro was described as a journeyman cordwainer. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 they were continuing to live in Child Okeford, now with six of their children, and Pedro was a journeyman boot and shoemaker. In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living at The Hollow in Child Okeford with six of their children still at home, and Pedro was now a boot and shoemaker and an employer.

Pedro, who had been Parish Clerk of Child Okeford since about 1871 and local steward of the Dorset Friendly Society since about 1884, died at Child Okeford on Friday 4 March 1898, at the age of 62, from heart failure after an attack of pleurisy. He was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on Wednesday 9 March 1898. Pedro’s obituary was published in the local paper:

PETHEN, - March 4, at Childe Okeford, Mr. Pedro Pethen, aged 62.

-------------------------

CHILDE OKEFORD.

DEATH OF THE PARISH CLERK. – With deep regret the news of the death of Mr. Pedro Pethen, clerk to the parish church, was received on Friday morning. He had only been ill about 17 days, from a severe attack of pleurisy, but unfortunately early on Friday morning he succumbed through failure of the heart’s action. Deep sympathy is felt by the whole parish for the bereaved family. He was greatly esteemed by all, and his long connection with the church, of which he had been clerk for 27 years, has made a void not easily filled. Moreover, he had satisfactorily been the local steward of the Dorset Friendly Society for the past 14 years. Many years ago, it appears, he for ten years managed the Sunday school, taking the children to church, &c. The funeral took place on Wednesday, and the procession of villagers and members of the Dorset Friendly Society testified to the respect in which he was held. He was 62 years of age.

In the census of 31 March 1901 Emily was continuing to live at The Hollow, now with three of her adult children and a young grandchild. Emily died at Child Okeford on 24 July 1904, at the age of 66, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 27 July 1904.

 

Pedro and Emily’s eldest child was Annie Elizabeth Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and whose birth was registered during the 3rd quarter of 1863. In the census of 2 April 1871 Annie, at the age of 7, was living with her parents at Crews Buildings in Child Okeford, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Annie, now aged 17, was working as a dressmaker and continuing to live with her parents in Child Okeford. In the census of 5 April 1891 Annie, at the age of 27, was now a dressmaker and an employer living with her parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Annie, at the age of 37 and married to a Smith, was working as a dressmaker at home on her own account and living with her widowed mother at The Hollow.

 

Pedro and Emily’s second child was Charles Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and privately baptised by the rector of the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 19 February 1865. Charles died when he was only two weeks old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Child Okeford on 28 February 1865.

 

Pedro and Emily’s third child was Charles Lovell Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 6 May 1866. In the census of 2 April 1871 Charles, at the age of 5, was living with his parents at Crews Buildings in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Charles, now aged 15, was working as a shoemaker and staying with his grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Pethen, in Child Okeford. In the census of 5 April 1891 Charles, at the age of 25, was working as a boot and shoemaker, probably for his father, and living with his parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford.

 

Pedro and Emily’s fourth child was William Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 17 May 1868. In the census of 2 April 1871 William, at the age of 3, was living with his parents at Crews Buildings in Child Okeford. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 William, now aged 13, was continuing to live with his parents in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Five years later William died on 23 September 1886, at the age of 18, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Child Okeford on 28 September 1886.

 

Pedro and Emily’s fifth child was Joseph Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 5 July 1870. Joseph died when he was only a week old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Nicholas at Child Okeford on 9 July 1870.

 

Pedro and Emily’s sixth child was Harry Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset on 21 September 1871, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 18 October 1871. In the census of 3 April 1881 Harry, at the age of 9, was living with his parents in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Harry, now aged 19, was working as a groom and lodging with the family of coachman William Basrell at Merly Stable Yard, Canford, Dorset. Harry married in 1899 and had six children born between 1901 and 1913. Harry was a retired gas company foreman when he died at 4 Woking Road in the Parkstone area of Poole on 2 February 1943, at the age of 71, from a cerebral haemorrhage.

 

Pedro and Emily’s seventh child was George Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 5 April 1874. In the census of 3 April 1881 George, at the age of 7, was staying with his grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Pethen, in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 George, now aged 17, was working as a carpenter's apprentice and living with his parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford. In the census of 31 March 1901 George, at the age of 27, was working as a carpenter and living with his widowed mother at The Hollow.

 

Pedro and Emily’s eighth child was Frank Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 23 April 1876. In the census of 3 April 1881 Frank, at the age of 5, was living with his parents in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Frank, now aged 15, was working as a grocer's assistant and living with his parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford.

 

Pedro and Emily’s ninth child was Fred Lovell Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset on 3 May 1878, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 1 June 1878. In the census of 3 April 1881 Fred, at the age of 2, was living with his parents in Child Okeford. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Fred, now aged 12, was living with his parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford, and he was going to school. Fred married in 1905 and had two children born in 1906 and 1908.

 

Pedro and Emily’s tenth child was Winifred Marian Pethen who was born at Child Okeford in Dorset, and baptised at the Church of St Nicholas in Child Okeford on 1 May 1881. In the census of 3 April 1881 Winifred, at the age of 3 months, was living with her parents in Child Okeford. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Winifred, now aged 10, was living with her parents at The Hollow in Child Okeford, and she was going to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Winifred, at the age of 20, was working as a dressmaker and living with her widowed mother at The Hollow.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s second child (Elizabeth’s third), one of twins, was Joseph Pethen who was born at Iwerne Courtney in Dorset and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Iwerne Courtney on 6 April 1837. Joseph died when he was only three weeks old and he was buried with his twin brother in St Mary’s Churchyard at Iwerne Courtney on 26 April 1837.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s third child (Elizabeth’s fourth), one of twins, was Robert Pethen who was born at Iwerne Courtney in Dorset and baptised at St Mary’s Church in Iwerne Courtney on 6 April 1837. Robert died when he was only three weeks old and he was buried with his twin brother in St Mary’s Churchyard at Iwerne Courtney on 26 April 1837.

 

Martin and Elizabeth’s second child was Anne Muddle who was born at Okeford Fitzpaine, and baptised at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 3 April 1803. Anne died at Okeford Fitzpaine at the age of 16, and she was buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard at Okeford Fitzpaine on 23 May 1819.

 

Martin and Elizabeth’s third child was Philip Muddle who was born at Okeford Fitzpaine, and baptised at St Andrew's Church in Okeford Fitzpaine on 26 June 1808. In the census of 6 June 1841 Philip, at the age of 32, was a tailor lodging with the family of farm labourer John Clark at Okeford Fitzpaine. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Philip, at the age of 42, was a tailor lodging with the family of farm labourer William Williams at Okeford Fitzpaine. In the census of 7 April 1861 Philip, at the age of 52, was at tailor lodging with widowed farmer Harriett Gedman in Okeford Fitzpaine. Then in the census of 2 April 1871 Philip, at the age of 62, was living alone in a cottage on Okeford Common in Okeford Fitzpaine, and he was still working as a tailor. Philip never married. He died in Sturminster Union Workhouse at the age of 68 (not 69 as given on his burial record or 67 as given on his death certificate), and he was buried in St Andrew's Churchyard at Okeford Fitzpaine on 9 August 1876.

 

John and Mary’s fifth child was Anne Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 24 March 1768. When she was 25 years old Ann married widower William Ridout at Lydlinch Church on 18 November 1793 by licence. In the Militia Ballot List of 1799 William was described as being a baker of Okeford Fitzpaine with a wife and eight children, to be 5ft 8in tall, and to have been drawn in ballot and discharged.

 

John and Mary’s sixth child was Samuel Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 31 March 1771. Samuel died at Lydlinch when only a year old, and he was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 10 May 1772 .

 

John and Mary’s seventh child was Mary Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 21 February 1773. It’s thought that Mary may have suffered from some disability as she never married, and there are numerous payments to her recorded in the Accounts of the Overseers of the Poor of Lydlinch until she died at Lydlinch, at the age of 64, and was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 13 February 1837.

 

John and Mary’s eighth child was William Muddle who was born at Lydlinch, and baptised at Lydlinch Church on 1 October 1775. William never married. He died at Lydlinch at the age of 23, and was buried in Lydlinch Churchyard on 7 April 1799.

 

William and Elizabeth’s seventh child, one of twins, was Martin Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 1 June 1737. Martin died very soon after he was baptised, and he was buried in Buckhorn Weston Churchyard on 2 June 1737, the day after his baptism.

 

William and Elizabeth’s eighth child, one of twins, was Susanna Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 25 May 1740. Susanna died at Marnhull when about 2½ years old, and she was buried in Buckhorn Weston Churchyard on 11 November 1742.

 

William and Elizabeth’s ninth child, one of twins, was Diana Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 25 May 1740 . Diana died at Marnhull when about 2½ years old, and she was buried in Buckhorn Weston Churchyard on 24 November 1742, just thirteen days after her twin sister.

 

William and Elizabeth’s tenth child was Hannah Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 16 November 1741. Hannah never married. She died at the age of 56, and was buried in Sturminster Marshall Churchyard on 5 May 1798. Hannah may have moved to Wimborne Minster with her brother William’s family as they were buried at Sturminter Marshall.

 

William and Elizabeth’s eleventh child was Ann Muddle who was born at Marnhull, and baptised at Buckhorn Weston Church on 19 April 1747. When she was 32 years old Ann married James White at Kington Magna Church on 18 October 1779.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2005-2011

Last updated 29 June 2011