Ancestors of Mandy Willard

George MASTERS (1803-1839)

and Eleanor EDWARDS (1812-?)

George Masters and Ellen Edwards married on Sunday 4 September 1831 in Rye, Sussex

George Mastus was baptised on Sunday 13 February 1803 in Icklesham, Sussex.  He was the son of George Masters (1779-1835) and Sarah Foster (1784-1835).  George died aged 37 years and was buried on 22 April 1839 in Winchelsea, Sussex.  (He did have a cousin named George Masters (1801-1821) and there was also a George Masters baptised in Rye in 1797.)

Eleanor Edwards was baptised on 1 March 1812 in Winchelsea and was the daughter of Thomas Edwards and Ann (possibly Ann Fuller, widow, who had married Thomas Edwards by banns on 14 February 1804 in Rye.  Thomas was a bachelor and they were both of Rye.)  As a widow, Eleanor Masters married Luke Henry Lebetor on 31 October 1841 in Rye.  Their fathers were name as Luke Lebetor and Thomas Edwards.

The 1841 census records that Ellenor Mastus was living within the parish of St. Thomas Apostle in Winchelsea, where she was earning her living as a charwoman.  Also with her were 10 year old Elenor Mastus and 3 year old Emma Leadbetter.  They were then living in the household of William Field and his wife and children.

George Masters and Eleanor Edwards 3 known children:

1. Helen Masters was baptised on 10 April 1832 in Udimore, at which time her father was a labourer.

   Helen had 2 illegitimate sons:

   1. George Frederick Masters was baptised on 14 May 1848 in Winchelsea.  His birth was registered as George Boots in the fourth quarter of 1848 in the Rye registration district.  When the 1851 census was recorded he was 2 years old and living with his maternal grandmother and her husband.  The 1861 census records that he was 13 year old George Pain and he was then an agricultural labourer.

      As George Frederick Masters he married Louisa Clarke in the second quarter of 1867 in the Rye registration district.

      Louisa was born about 1849 in Icklesham and was the daughter of Simon Clark (1806-?) and Harriet Henley (1812-?).

      When the 1881 census was recorded the couple and their 5 children were living at the Old Queen's Head in Icklesham.  George was then a 33 year old journeyman bootmaker.  (I wonder if he was employed by Robert Coleman?  In the original 1881, George was at the end of the page and Robert at the top of the same page.  Robert was a master bootmaker, employing 1 man.)

      George and Louisa had the following children:

      1. Frederick H. Masters was born about 1869 in Icklesham.  He was a 12 year old scholar in 1881.

      2. Robert L. Masters was born about 1870 in Icklesham.  In 1881 he was an 11 year old scholar.

      3. Ernest Masters was born about 1872 in Icklesham.  He as a 9 year old scholar in 1881.

      4. May C. Masters was born about 1879 in Icklesham.  She was 2 years old in 1881.

      5. Ethel Masters was born in 1880 in Icklesham.  When the 1881 census was recorded she was 10 months old.

   2. Edwin Boots Masters was baptised on 29 July 1853 Rye.  His mother's name was recorded as Ellen Masters.  The 1861 census records that he was 7 year old Edwin Pain and he was then a scholar.

   As Helen Masters she married James Paine on 18 December 1853 in Winchelsea.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of full age and of Winchelsea.  Their fathers were named as William Paine and George Masters who were both labourers.  The witnesses to their marriage were Joseph Hode and James Foster who both signed their names.

   James was born about 1824 in Icklesham.

   When the 1861 census was recorded the couple together with 4 children and his 74 year old mother, Hannah Pain, were living at Four Houses in Icklesham.

   James and Ellen may have had the following children:

   1. Mary Ann Pain was born about 1855 in Winchelsea.  She was a 6 year old scholar in 1861.

   2. Emma Pain was born about 1860 in Icklesham.  In 1861 she was a year old.

2. George Masters was baptised on 31 August 1834 in Udimore and buried on Sunday 28 September 1834 as an infant.

3. Sarah Ann Masters was baptised on 1 October 1835 in Winchelsea and buried there on Monday 5 October 1835 as an infant.

    

When the 1851 census was recorded Eleanor was living at Mill Road in Winchelsea along with her 42 year old husband, Henry Ledbeter, 12 year old Emmy Ledbeter who was a scholar and said to be their daughter, and 2 year old grandson, George Masters.

Luke Henry was baptised on 24 February 1809 in Winchelsea.  He was a twin to John Ledbeter and they were the sons of Luke Ledbitter and Hester Cramp who had married on 1 April 1807 in Peasmarsh.  Luke Henry had previously married Elizabeth Moreton on 7 August 1833 in Winchelsea.  She had probably died before the recording of the 1841 census and Henry was then living with the home of his brother William.  (The twins had a sister, Ann Ledbitter was who was baptised on 5 July 1814 in Winchelsea.  She married Charles Harman on 2 November 1833 in Icklesham and they were the parents of Charles Luke Harman who married Harriet Sabbage in 1891.  There was also a brother, William Ledbeter who was baptised on 11 February 1812 in Winchelsea.  William married Martha Moreton on 1 June 1833 in Fairlight.)  Luke Henry's father remarried to Elizabeth Hoad on 12 February 1839 in Winchelsea.  He was then 52 years old and Elizabeth was 45.

Luke Henry and Eleanor may have had the following children:

1. Emily Masters was born in the first quarter of 1838 in the Rye registration district.  In the 1841 census she would seem to have been named as 3 year old Emma Leadbetter.  However, her mother was still married to George Masters in 1838, so what had happened to George and Eleanor's marriage?  Had they parted, and if so, why?

2. John Masters was baptised on 31 July 1841 in Winchelsea and buried there as an infant on 2 August 1841.  He was baptised as the illegitimate son of Ellen Masters.

EDWARDS          MASTERS