Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John MASTERS (1770-?)

and Ruth EVERSFIELD (1758-1844)

John Masters and Ruth Eversfield married by banns on 5 May 1794 at the parish church of All Saints in Icklesham, Sussex.  The banns were published without impediment on 9, 16 and 24 March 1794.  John was then a bachelor and Ruth a spinster and they were both of Icklesham.  They both signed their names.  The witnesses to the marriage were Elizabeth Beale who made her X mark and John Peirce who signed his name (ref. 1).  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

John Masthouse was baptised on 1 July 1770 in Icklesham, Sussex.  He was the eldest son of Robert Masters (1747-1819) and Mary Hicks (c1741-1819).  He may have died before 1841.  He was not buried in Ewhurst.

Ruth Eversfield was baptised on 15 January 1758 in Crowhurst, Sussex.  She was the daughter of William Eversfield and Ann King.  In 1792 she was a cookmaid. When the 1841 census was recorded, 80 year old Ruth Matus was living with the family of Sarah Crouch in Battle, Sussex.  The death of a Ruth Mastus was registered in the third quarter of 1844, and the death of another Ruth Masters in the fourth quarter of 1844, both in the Rye registration district.  (The other Ruth was probably an infant who was born in the second quarter of 1844.)  Ruth was not buried in Ewhurst or Icklesham.

Before her marriage, Ruth had an illegitimate daughter:

1. Ruth Eversfield was baptised on 9 July 1788 in Bodiam, Sussex.

John Masters and Ruth Eversfield had 4 known children:

1. Ann Mastus was baptised on 15 February 1795 in Icklesham.

   Ann had an illegitimate daughter:

   1. Maria Mastus was baptised on 23 May 1813 in Ewhurst.  In 1851 she was an unmarried 37 year old house servant, living the home of Francis Barough, a 63 year old widower and tea dealer, on Tooting Common in Streatham, Surrey.

2. Mary Mastus was baptised on 19 November 1797 in Icklesham.

   Mary married her cousin William Carey on 9 January 1819 in Ewhurst.  (She also had a cousin Mary Masters born in 1795.)

   William was born on 7 December 1797 and baptised on 21 January 1798 in Ninfield, Sussex and was the son of John Carey and Ann Masters.

   In 1841 the family were living in Icklesham and William was a carpenter.

   William and Ann had the following known children:

   1. John Carey was baptised on 25 April 1819 in Ninfield.  He died in 1863 in Hastings.

      John married Grace Griffin on 8 April 1842 in Tenterden, Kent.

   2. Ann Carey was born/baptised on 5 November 1820.  She was 20 years old in 1841.

   3. William Carey was born/baptised on 29 June 1823.

   4. James Carey was born/baptised on 28 February 1825.  He was 15 years old in 1841.

   5. Mary Carey was born/baptised on 23 March 1827.

   6. Caroline Carey was born/baptised on 23 March 1828.  She was said to be 10 years old in 1841.

   7. George Eversfield Carey was born/baptised on 25 February 1831.  The 1841 census records that he was 10 years old.  George married Martha Smeed.

3. Frances Masters was born on 14 March 1800 and baptised on 6 April 1800 in Ewhurst.

   Frances may have married William Eversfield.

   When the 1851 census was recorded the couple were living at Brookhill in West Teynmouth, Devon.  William was then a 54 year old servant and gave his place of birth as Brenchley, Kent.  Frances was 51 years old and gave her place of birth as Ewhurst.

4. Sarah Masters was baptised on 23 January 1803 in Ewhurst.  She married Thomas Crouch in 1820.  (They have their own page.)

Ref. 1 - ESRO XA 30/77, PAR 401/1/1/4

MASTERS