Eighth Generation
John Mudford (1791 - 1852) - son of Robert Mudford (1751- ?) -
son of John Mudford (abt 1710-1753) - assumed son of John Mudford
(1687-1753) - son of Thomas Mudford (1663-1732?) - son of John Mudford (about 1630- about 1677?) -
assumed son of John Mudford (1605- ?) - son of Thomas Mudford (about 1570 - ?)
Go to Parents' page
(The detail of John Mudford's life in New Zealand comes from David Boyd -
dboyd@clear.net)
John Mudford was born in 1791 in West Chinnock, Somerset.145
The West Chinnock Baptism Register states: John, son of Robert and Ann
Mudford was baptised on 27th May 1791 (Duty not paid).
He moved to London with other members of his family and married Joanna
Hewitt on 12 November 1812 in St Dunstans, Stepney, London.56
The Marriage Register of St Dunstan's Stepney states: Banns of
Marriage between John Mudford and Joanna Hewitt were published 1,8,15 November
1812.
John Mudford of this Parish and the Hamlet of MEOT, bachelor,and
Joanna Hewitt of this Parish and same hamlet, spinster were married by Banns
in this church the Sixtenth day of November One Thousand Eight Hundred and
twelve by me Charles Kenrick Priscot? curate. This Marriage was solemnised
between us Signed X John Mudford and X Joanna Hewitt. Witnesses: Daniel
Hewitt and X Mary Burnard. John and Joanna signed with a cross as did the
witness Mary Burnard. They had many children and appear with them in the 1841
Census.
See 1841 Census
Later in 1841 John Mudford must have been told about
an advert concerning free emigration to New Zealand.
See advert by the New
Zealand Company. The New Zealand Company were set up to persuade people
to emigrate to New Zealand. The advert states that they only want people
under 40 years old. John Mudford and his wife were both 50 years
old, so they reduced their ages to 44 years. Because they were going as
a party with much younger children it seems that they were accepted despite
their age. They departed from Gravesend on October 2, 1841 on the vessel
"Clifton".284 On
the passenger list were:
John Mudford Snr. Sailmaker, age 44
his wife
Johanna Mudford, 44,
George Mudford aged 21, Seaman,
Ann Mudford aged
18, Servant,
William Mudford aged 8,
John Mudford Jnr., Sailcloth
maker, aged 23,
his wife Susan Mudford aged 22,
Susan Mudford aged 7
weeks (born on board ship) (It is unclear what happened to daughter
Mary Mudford, who was 15 at the time they left England. Was she left
behind?). Details about the ship were recorded in the newspapers in New
Zealand.
See
Newspaper reports. John Mudford, Senior and Junior, both feature in ‘An
Alphabetical List Of The Founders Of the British Colony of New Zealand’ –
www.shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlersd.html.
John Mudford senior died on 25 September 1852 at the age of 61 in
Wellington, New Zealand.282
The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian, 29 September 1852, have
a report of the coroner's inquest: An Inquest was held on Monday, at
the Thistle Inn, before Dr. Fitzgerald, coroner, on the body of Mr. J. Mudford,
sailmaker, who died suddenly the previous day. Deceased complained of being
unwell on Saturday night, and early on Sunday morning he woke the boy who was
staying with him, and told him to go for his son (this is John Senior sending
for John Junior) as he felt very ill, and had been ill all night. The boy set
out on his errand, when he returned he found Mr. Mudford dead. The Jury
returned a verdict of “Died by the visitation of God.” He was
buried in the cemetery of St. Paul’s, Molesworth Street, Thorndon in
Wellington, New Zealand.282
The Burial Register has the entry: John Mudford, sailmaker, aged 60,
was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul’s, Molesworth Street,Thorndon, on 26
September, 1852. Joanna Hewitt
was born in 1788.284
She
died on 1 September 1876 at the age of 88 in Auckland, New Zealand.284
The following is an entry in the Auckland Star, 2 September 1876 DEATH
MUDFORD– On the 1st September, at the residence of her son, Albert-street,Johanna
Mudford aged 88 years. – Wellington and Thames papers please copy. The funeral
will leave on Sunday, at 4 o’clock p.m. Friends please accept this invitation. 284
The following reports come from two newspapers in Wellington New Zealand. It
is possible that they refer to Joanna Mudford.
1.
Evening Post, 20 March 1865 RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT THIS DAY
William Harris vs Mrs Mudford - suspicion of lunacy. Remanded for medical
examination.
2. Wellington Independent, 23 March 1865
RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT, WELLINGTON
A WOMAN, BY NAME OF Mrs Mudford, was
brought up on suspicion of lunacy. The apprehending constable stated that he
had often seen her out at nights lying on the hills.
She said – I like to
go to bed at nights, but people often rush against the house making a great
noise – screeching and hallowing out. They call me scandalous names, and I
cannot go to sleep.
Mr Moxham stated that there were no noises, that he
could hear and he did not live but a short distance from the woman’s house.
Mr Ward – As the woman seemed evidently to be labouring under some illusions,
ordered an examination as
to lunacy to be made according to
the Act…
John Mudford and
Joanna Hewitt had the following children: i. |
John Mudford was born on 12 May 1817 at Meot in St Dunstans,
Stepney, London.56 He
was baptized on 12 October 1823 in St Dunstans, Stepney, London.56
The Baptism Register of St Dunstan, Stepney states: John Mudford,
son of John and Joanna Mudford, labourer of MEOT, was born 12/5/1817 and
baptised 12/10/1823. | ii. |
George Mudford was born on 12 August 1819 in MEOT.56
He was baptized on 12 October 1823 at Meot in St Dunstans, Stepney,
London.56 The Baptism
Register of St Dunstan, Stepney states: George Mudford, son of
John and Joanna Mudford, labourer of MEOT, was born 12/8/1819 and baptised
12/10/1823. | iii. |
Ann Mudford was born on 17 July 1821 in MEOT.56
She was baptized on 12 October 1823 at Meot in St Dunstans, Stepney,
London.56 The Baptism
Register of St Dunstan, Stepney states: Ann Mudford, daughter of
John and Joanna Mudford, labourer of MEOT, was born 17/7/1821 and baptised
12/10/1823. | iv. |
James Mudford was born on 3 May 1823 in MEOT.56
He was baptized on 12 October 1823 in St Dunstans, Stepney, London.56
The Baptism Register of St Dunstan, Stepney states: James Mudford,
son of John and Joanna Mudford, labourer of MEOT, was born 3/5/1823 and
baptised 12/10/1823. He was buried. The Burial
Register if St Ann Limehouse states: James Mudford, of Limehouse
was buried 15/8/1824, , aged 15 months.
| v. |
Mary Ann Mudford was born on 26 November 1825 in MEOT.56
She was baptized on 25 December 1825 in St Dunstans, Stepney, London.56
The Baptism Register of St Dunstan, Stepney states: Mary Ann
Mudford, daughter of John and Joanna Mudford, labourer of MEOT, was born
26/11/1825 and baptised 25/12/1825. She died . | vi. |
Hannah Elizabeth Mudford was born in 1829 in Lisbys, Rope
Walk, Limehouse.56
She was baptized on 1 July 1829 in St Dunstans, Stepney, London.56
The Baptism Register of The Lying-in Hospital of the City of London
states: Hannah Elizabeth Mudford, daughter of John and Joanna
Mudford, labourer of Lisbys, Rope Walk, Limehouse, was baptised 1/7/1829 | vii. |
William Mudford was born in 1835.9 |
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