Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Benjamin MASTERS (c1808-1886)

and Maria DURRANT (1810-1882)

Benjamin Masters and Maria Durrant married by banns on Saturday 8 January 1831 at St. Mary's in Udimore, Sussex.  He was then of Udimore and she of Benenden, Kent.

Benjamin Masters may have been born about 1808 in Peasmarsh, Sussex and have been the son of George Masters (1779-1835) and Sarah Foster (1784-1842).  He may have been baptised at the Peasmarsh Methodist Chapel.  He died aged 80 years and was buried on 1 July 1886 at St. Mary's in Udimore.  (No possible baptism has been found for him in the East Sussex Record Office Baptism Index.)

Maria Durrant was baptised on 4 February 1810 in Benenden, Kent.  She was the daughter of Mary Ann Durrant.  Maria was buried on 22 December 1882 at St. Mary's in Udimore.  Her mother Mary Ann Durrant, was baptised on 14 February 1792 in Benenden and was the daughter of Daniel Durrant and Susannah Winder.  Mary Ann married William Mastus on 25 May 1820 in Newenden, Kent.  They lived in Beckley, Sussex for awhile and had seven children, they also emigrated ot Australia in 1838 aboard the "Maitland".  This William Mastus was the son of William Masters and Elizabeth Simmons.

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and their 5 children were living in Udimore Road, Brede, Sussex and Benjamin was earning his living as an agricultural labourer.  Also with the family on census night were 20 year old Sarah Cuthbert and 10 year old Sophia Hockern.  In 1851 the family were living in Udimore (the census says Kent).  Benjamin was then 43 years old and said he was born in Peasmarsh.  Maria was also 43 and gave her place of birth as Benenden.  Benjamin was still an agricultural labourer in 1851.  In 1861 the couple and 3 children were living at Court Lodge in Udimore.  Benjamin was then a 55 year old carter and Maria was said to be 54 years old.

Benjamin Masters and Maria Durrant had 9 known children:

1. Thomas Masters was born about 1831.  He was 10 years old in 1841.

2. Emma Masters was baptised on 5 August 1832 in Udimore, Sussex, at which time her father was a labourer.  She died aged 11 months and was buried on Friday 24 May 1833.

3. Spencer Masters was baptised on 1 February 1835 in Udimore.  He was buried on Thursday 5 March 1863.  He was said to be 4 years old in 1841.  In 1851 he was a 16 year old agricultural labourer and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

   Spencer married Jane Larkin in the second quarter of 1857 in the Rye registration district.

   Jane was baptised on Saturday 16 July 1836 in Udimore and was the daughter of John Larkin and Sarah Ranger.

   In 1861 the couple were living in Udimore.

4. Charles Masters was born on Saturday 4 March 1837 and baptised on Sunday 9 July 1837 in Udimore.  He Margaret Hunter Gasson in 1862.  (They have their own page.)

5. Maria Masters was born in Brede in 1839 (as per the 1851 census) or Udimore (as per the 1881 census).  She was baptised privately on 12 December 1839 in Udimore, at which time her father was a labourer of Brede.  She died in about 1909.  She was a year old in 1841.  In 1851 she was 11 years old.

   Maria married twice, firstly to Henry Sabbage in the third quarter of 1858 in the Rye registration district.

   The death of Henry Sabbage was registered in the third quarter of 1864 in the Rye district.

   Henry and Maria had 2 known daughters:

   1. Ann Sabbage was born in the third quarter of 1858 in Udimore.  In 1881 she was a general domestic servant.  Ann married George William Eldridge in the third quarter of 1883 in the Rye district.

   2. Harriet Sabbage was born in the fourth quarter of 1860 in Udimore.  She was a domestic servant in 1881.  In 1891 she was an unmarried 30 year old visitor in the home of her mother and step father.

      Harriet had a daughter:

      1. Caroline Sabbage was born in 1890 in Udimore.  She was 6 months old in 1891.

      Harriet married Charles Luke Harman in the second quarter of 1891 in the Battle registration district.

      Charles was born about 1861 in Icklesham and was the son of Charles Harman (c1813-?) and Ann Ledbetter (1814-?).  At the time of the 1881 census he was a 20 year old agricultural labourer living in Icklesham with his widower father.  Charles was an unmarried 30 year old carman in 1891.

   Maria then married Alfred Potter in the fourth quarter of 1866 in the Rye district.

   Alfred was baptised on 8 August 1841 in Icklesham and was the son of George Potter (1815-1897) and Mary Jane Harman (1817-?).

   When the 1881 census was recorded the couple and their 5 children were living at 1 Camden Hill Cottage in Icklesham.  Alfred was then a 39 year old agricultural labourer.  At that time their next door neighbours at No. 2, were John Coleman and his wife Maria (nee Masters).   In 1891, the couple and their 3 children were living at 1 St. Johns Cottages in Westfield.  Alfred was a 50 year old farm labourer and Maria was 51.  Also with them on census night were 3 visitors, namely Harriet C. Sabbage and her daughter Caroline and Charles Harman.

   Alfred and Maria had the following known children:

   1. Frederick Potter was born about 1868 in Icklesham.  In 1881 he was a 14 year old agricultural labourer and he was living at home.  The 1891 census records that he was an unmarried 24 year old general labourer, living at home with his parents.

   2. Ellen Potter was born about 1870 in Icklesham.  She was an 11 year old scholar in 1881.

   3. Frank Potter was born about 1873 in Icklesham.  In 1881 he was an 8 year old scholar.  He was a 19 year old cowman in 1891.

   4. Rose Potter was born about 1877 in Icklesham.  She was a 4 year old scholar in 1881.

   5. Alice Flora Potter was born in the second quarter of 1878 in Icklesham.  In 1881 she was 3 years old Alice Potter.  The 1891 census records that she was 13 year old Flora Potter.

6. William Masters was born in Brede (as per the 1851 census) and baptised on 5 January 1840 in Udimore, at which time his father was a labourer of Brede.  He died in about 1917.  He was a year old in 1841.  In 1851 he was 11 years old.  The 1861 census records that he was a 21 year old agricultural labourer and a lodger, although he seems to be alone in the household.  The previous family was that of William Barden and his wife Mary and their 3 children.  The next household was that of William's elder brother Spencer.

7. George Masters was born about 1842 in Udimore.  George married Susannah Jane Henley in 1862.  (They have their own page.)

8. Benjamin Masters was baptised in May 1844 and buried on 7 July 1844 at St. Mary's in Udimore.

9. James Masters was born about 1847 in Udimore.  He was 4 years old in 1851.  In 1861 he was 14 years old and living at home.

1881 census - 1 Camden Hill Cottage, Icklesham, Sussex (RG11/1020, folio 54, page 23)

Alfred Potter, Head, Mar, 39, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Icklesham

Maria Potter, Wife, Mar, 41, born Sussex, Udimore

Frederick Potter, Son, 14, Ag Lab, born Sussex, Icklesham

Ellen Potter, Daur, 11, Scholar, born Sussex, Icklesham

Frank Potter, Son, 8, Scholar, born Sussex, Icklesham

Rose Potter, Son, 4, Scholar, born Sussex, Icklesham

Alice Potter, Daur, 3, born Sussex, Icklesham

Piece: RG12/769 Place: Battle -Sussex Enumeration District: 13
Civil Parish: Westfield Ecclesiastical Parish: St. John Baptist
Folio: 156 Page: 10 Schedule: 75
Address: 1 St Johns Cottages

POTTER Alfred Head M M 50 Farm Labourer (Em'ee) Sussex - Icklesham
POTTER Maria Wife M F 51 Sussex - Brede
POTTER Frederick Son S M 24 General Labourer (Em'ee) Sussex - Icklesham
Page: 157/11
POTTER Frank Son S M 19 Cowman (Em'ee) Sussex - Icklesham
POTTER Flora Dau - F 13 Sussex - Icklesham
SABBAGE Harriet C Visitr S F 30 Sussex - Icklesham
SABBAGE Caroline Dau - F 6m Sussex - Udimore
HARMAN Charles Visitr S M 30 Carman Sussex - Icklesham
 

MASTERS