Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Robert MASTERS (1771-1847)

and Keziah BURTON (1764-1822)

and Jane GUTSELL (c1817-1866)

Robert Masters and Keziah Burton married by banns on 29 January 1793 at the parish church of All Saints in Icklesham, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor of Guestling, Sussex and she a spinster of Icklesham.  He made his X mark and she signed her name.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Woodsell, Ann Masters and Sarah Gateland who all signed their name.  The banns were published on 13, 20 and 27 January 1793 in Icklesham (ref.1).  As a widower, Robert married Jane Gutsell by licence on 22 May 1836 in Rye, Sussex.  Their marriage licence was issued on 12 May 1836 by the Archdeaconry of Lewes, and it recorded that Robert was a widower and land bailiff of Rye, aged 21 years and upwards and Jane was a spinster of Rye.

Robert Masthouse was baptised on 20 October 1771 in Icklesham.  He was the second son of Robert Masters (1747-1819) and Mary Hicks (c1741-1819).  The death of a Robert Masters was registered in the fourth quarter of 1847 in the Rye registration district.

Kezia Jacob Burton was baptised on 18 November 1764 in Udimore, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Benjamin Burton and Eleanor who had married sometime before or about 1754.  (Eleanor Burton, widow, married Samuel Stubberfield, widower and labourer on 24 October 1784 in Peasmarsh.)  Keziah died aged 64 years and was buried on 5 January 1822 in Beckley.  Her 2 month old grandson, George Masters, was also buried with her in same coffin.

Jane Gutsell was born about 1815-21 in East Guldeford, Sussex, as per the census, and may have been the daughter or granddaughter of John Goodsell (c1772-?) and Jane, although I have checked a transcript of the East Guldeford baptism register and Jane's baptism was not recorded, but John and Jane did have a daughter, Elizabeth baptised in 1815 and twin daughters, Sarah and Margaret in 1818.  Jane died aged 48 years and her death was registered as Jane Cloke in the first quarter of 1866 in the Rye registration district, (i.e. born about 1817/8).  Might she have been baptised as Jane Lockyer Goodsell on 26 May 1817 in Ewhurst, Sussex and have been the daughter of Mary Goodsell who married James Lockyer on 26 May 1817 in Ewhurst?  But, I would have thought that Jane went by the name Lockyer rather than Gutsell/Goodsell, if she survived childhood.  When the 1851 census was recorded, Jane's son was staying with his 45 year old aunt Mary Tickner, nee Goodsell, who was the daughter of John and Jane.  Therefore, were Mary and Jane sisters, or perhaps aunt and niece?

In 1851 Jane was a 32 year old widow earning her living as a laundress and living in Watchbell Street, Rye.  At that time she had 2 lodgers living with her, 23 year old Abel Cloak and 32 year old Elizabeth Clark, who were both unmarried.  As Jane Masters she married Abel Cloake on 26 February 1855 in Rye.  (See further below for details about Abel and Jane.)

The 1841 census records that 59 year old Robert Masters (thus born about 1782) was living at Leasham in Rye, along with 25 year old Jane Masters and 4 year old George Masters.  Also at the same property was, 40 year of Robert Masters with 40 year old Frances Masters, Sarah (15), Samuel (12), Charlotte (10), Mary (8), Elizabeth (6), Ellen (4), Emily (2) and 20 year old Edward Fielder.  They were all said to have been born in Sussex.

Robert Masters and Keziah Burton had 6 known children:

1. John Masthouse was baptised on 4 August 1793 in Icklesham.  He died aged 22 years and was buried on 14 March 1816 in Beckley.

2. Sarah Mastus was baptised on 21 June 1795 in Icklesham.  She was baptised on the same day as her cousin Mary Mastus, daughter of William and Elizabeth.

3. Edward Mastus was baptised on 1 July 1798 in Icklesham.

4. Robert Mastus was baptised on 27 October 1799 in Icklesham.  He may have died aged 80 years and his death registered in the first quarter of 1880 in the Medway registration district.

   Robert married Frances Powell on 19 September 1821 in Beckley.

   The death of a Frances Masters was registered in the first quarter of 1850 in the Rye registration district.

   By 1851 Robert was a 52 year old widower and agricultural labourer living in Spring Crescent, Rye, along with his 5 children, brother Samuel and a visitor, 23 year old Henry Silvester who was a railway time keeper who had been born in Peckham (Sussex says the census).  In 1861 Robert was a 62 year old widower and agricultural labourer, living at Ovenbridge House in Iden, along with his 2 daughters Ellen and Emily.

   Robert and Frances had the following children:

   1. George Masters was born on 2 October 1821 and baptised on 28 October 1821 at the Rye Wesleyan Chapel, at which time his parents were of Beckley.  He died aged 2 months in Guestling and was buried in the same coffin as his grandmother on 5 January 1822 in Beckley.

   2. Sarah Masters was born about 1826 in Beckley.  In 1851 she was an unmarried 28 year old living at home with her father.

   3. Samuel Masters was baptised on 5 September 1828 in Rye.  He was an unmarried 23 year old shipwright in 1851 and living at home.

      Samuel married Catherine Clark in the third quarter of 1852 in the Eastry, Kent registration district.

      Catherine was born about 1828 in Peasmarsh, Sussex

      When the 1861 census was recorded, Samuel was a 32 year old shipwright and he was living in Delf Street in Sandwich, Kent, along with his wife, children, brother Edwin, a 21 year old boarder George Wilkinson, and 2 visitors, namely, Charlotte Randall a 30 year old shirt maker and 1 year old William Randall.

      Samuel and Catherine had the following known children:

      1. Charlotte Ann Masters was born in the third quarter of 1853 in Sandwich.  She was 8 years old in 1861.

      2. Frances R. Masters was born about 1856 in Rye.  She was 5 years old in 1861.

   4. Charlotte Masters was baptised on 19 May 1830 in Rye.  In 1851 she was most probably an unmarried 19 house servant in the home of Elizabeth Lamb in Mermaid Street, Rye.

   5. Charles Masters was baptised on 31 August 1831 in Rye.

   6. Mary Anne Masters was baptised on 17 August 1832 in Rye.  In 1851 she was most probably an unmarried 18 year old visitor and general servant in the home of John Bourner and his wife Julia at 10 Peel Place in Tenterden, Kent.

   7. Elizabeth Frances Masters was baptised on 26 December 1834 in Rye.

   8. James Thomas Masters was baptised on 6 July 1836 in Rye.

   9. Ellen Maria Masters was baptised on 3 November 1837 in Rye.  She was 14 years old in 1851 and living at home.  In 1861 she was an unmarried 23 year old and living with her father.

   10. Emily Susanna Masters was born about 1839 and baptised on 3 July 1844 in Rye.  She was a 12 year old scholar in 1851 and living at home  In 1861 she was an unmarried 21 year old housekeeper, living with her father.  She had an illegitimate son:

       1. Henry Robert Masters was baptised on 13 March 1864 in Iden.

   11. Edwin Spencer Masters was baptised on 3 July 1844 in Rye.  The 1851 census records that he was a 10 year old scholar.  In 1861 he was an 18 year old shipwright living with his elder brother in Sandwich.

5. George Mastus was baptised on 28 June 1801 in Icklesham.  He died aged 20 years and was buried on 16 June 1821 in Beckley.  (He had a cousin George Masters (1803-1839) who married Ellen Edwards in 1831.)

6. Samuel Masters was baptised on 5 April 1807 in Beckley, Sussex.  In 1851 he was a married 40 year old agricultural labourer, living with his brother Robert in Rye.  The death of a Samuel Masters was registered in the fourth quarter of 1858 in the Rye registration district.

Robert Masters and Jane Gutsell had 3 known children:

7. George Masters was baptised on 28 October 1836 in Rye.  In 1841 he was 4 years old and living with his parents.  When the 1851 census was recorded he may have been the 14 year old baker's apprentice living in the home of Frederick J. Rubie in Lion Street, Rye.

8. Elizabeth Masters was baptised on 16 November 1838 in Rye.  She may have died young as she has not been found in the 1841 census.

9. William Masters was baptised on 3 July 1844 in Rye.  The 1851 census records that 8 year old William was a scholar and living in the home of his aunt Mary Tickner, a 45 year old widow in Huckstepps Row, Rye.  (As Mary Goodsell she most probably married John Tickner on 26 August 1823 in Winchelsea.  Mary was born in Rye.  She may have been baptised there on 27 October 1805, the daughter of John Goodsall and Jane.)

Jane Masters, nee Gutsell had the following known children:

1. Sarah Masters was baptised on 28 March 1849 in Rye.  (Her parents were named as Robert and Jane, however, Robert may have died in 1847.)

2. Elizabeth Mary Masters was baptised on 29 March 1850 in Rye.  Only her mother's name (Jane) was recorded in the baptism register.

3. Fanny Masters was born in the fourth quarter of 1851 in the Rye registration district.  She was 10 year old Fanny Cloke in 1861.  In 1881 she was an unmarried 29 year old housekeeper, visiting the home of 43 year old widower, William Atkins at 4 Wish Ward in Rye.

   Fanny had the following known children:

   1. Louisa Jane Masters was born on 12 July 1877 in Canterbury and baptised on 17 March 1886 in Rye.  The 1881 census records her name as 3 year old Jane Masters and she was a scholar.  In 1891 she was 13 year old Louisa J. Masters and she was living with her mother and step father.

   2. Amy Eliza Masters was born on 29 April 1883 and baptised on 18 May 1883 in Rye.  She was an 8 year old scholar in 1891.

   3. William John Masters was baptised on 17 March 1886 in Rye.  He was a 5 year old scholar in 1881.

   Fanny married James Parker Butcher in the fourth quarter of 1886 in the Romney Marsh registration district.

   At the time of the 1891 census, 42 year old Fanny was living with her 45 year old husband, James Butchers at New Romney, Kent.  James was then a dealer and gave his place of birth as St. Mary's Kent.  With the couple on census night were Fanny's 3 children, James's 3 children and their 2 young children.

Jane Masters married Abel Cloake on 26 February 1855 in Rye.  He was then 28 years old and she was 36.  His father was named as William Cloake.

Abel was born about 1828-30 in Rye and was the son of William Cloake and Jane Wickens.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was 13 years old and living with his parents in Mermaid Street, Rye.  His father was then a mariner.

The 1861 census records that 34 year old Abel and 40 year old Jane were living near the railway station in Rye.  He was then a bargeman and gave his place of birth as Rye.  Also with them were their children, namely, 10 year old Fanny Cloke, 6 year old Jane Cloke and 5 year old Henry Cloke, all of whom were scholars.

The 1871 census records that Abel was a 41 year old widower and general labourer, living alone in Cinqueports Street, Rye.

Abel Cloake and Jane Masters, nee Gutsell had the following known children:

1. Jane Cloak was baptised on 12 April 1855 in Rye.  She was 6 years old in 1861.  She appears to have been recorded twice in the 1871, firstly as a 19 year old servant in the home of William Pinson at 1A Robertson Street, within the parish of The Holy Trinity in Hastings, and secondly as a 19 year old visitor in the home of James Hollands at 33 Cinqueports Street in Rye.  Where they one and the same, or might one or both of them have been 19 year old Fanny going by her mother's name?

2. Henry John Cloke was baptised on 27 March 1857 in Rye.  He was 5 years old in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 16 year old apprentice on board the "Welcome".  The master of the ship was James Sussex Shelley and they were a crew of 6.

3. Mary Eliza Cloak was baptised on 28 August 1859 in Rye.

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

MASTERS