Nicholas Mursell born abt. 1768 Newport, Isle of Wight

[Beaujolaiswine]

Hi folks

I am seeking some help to locate the parents of Nicholas Mursell (sometimes spelled Musell or Mussell) born abt. 1768 in Newport, Isle of Wight (according to the 1851 Census).

I have possible parents as Nicholas Mursell (of Newport) who married Hannah Smith (according to the IGI) in 1750 — St. Nicholas', Carisbrooke, Hampshire.

Alternatively and possibly more likely (from the IGI) I have a baptism for a Nicholas Musell on 2 Sep 1772 at Whippingham on the Isle of Wight to a James Musell and his wife Elizabeth.

Any help to point me in the right direction would be great.

Thanks

Richard 

[Sandymc47]

Hi Richard
This is a hard one as there are two Nicholas's whose information seem to blend a little as they get older
I wondered why you think the second Nicolas with parents James and Elizabeth are his parents because having searched for the first Nicholas
his name is a constant Mursell and as his Dad was born in Newport I feel this is more likely your man.
I did find a Nicholas Mursell aged 70 living in London in a Workhouse but he is classed as a Gentleman and not one of the paupers living there.  His son also
called Nicholas is aged 40 and his wife Elizabeth aged 35 are the keepers of the Workhouse and someone called Sarah Smith aged 40 is the Schoolmistress so wondered if this was the first Nicholas as you said his Mother was called Hannah Smith?
I did then find a Nicholas Mursell aged 83 as a Publican on the 1851  with daughter Louisa and her children. 
This Nicholas with daughter Louisa had a wife called Ann. Do you know what
the name of your Nicholas wife was?
I have a marriage for a Nicholas with Ann Atwell on 21st November 1819 at
Northwood, Hampshire.
Maybe you might have a little more information that you can put towards the bits I have found?

regards Sandymc

[Little Nell]

A Nicholas Mussell/Mursell of West Cowes - formerly of Newport - left a will in 1815.  He was a bricklayer.

Nell

[Beaujolaiswine]

Hi Sandy MC and Little Nell

Thanks for your replies. The census records you mention Sandy I know are the correct ones for my Nicholas Mursell. I have also had some help from Kevin to indentify a report http://woottonbridgeiow.org.uk/pdf/mursell.pdf

The Nicholas who married Hannah Smith was born in 1749, whereas my Nicholas was born sometime between 1768 to 1771.

This report leads me to look favourably on a Nicholas Mussell born 1738 (died 1779) who married Mary Cook in 1770 (died in 1773) and had one child Nicholas Mussell born 1770 and baptised in 1771 Newport, who may well be my Nicholas Mursell. The above report doesn't give any deatils for the life of this Nicholas Mursell born in1770.

What do you think?

Regards

Richard

[Sandymc47]

Hi Richard

It seems a little strange that a man in those days didn't get married until he was 42 so presume this was his second wife.  I still think that it could be a Nicholas generation so that name goes through the family as that wasnt unusual in those days.Maybe because of that it does get complicated, NM constantly apart from the year of birth can get complicated.
I definitely think the Father Nicholas with the son Nicholas is the one you want unless anyone else proves me wrong lol

regards Sandym

[Beaujolaiswine]

Hi Sandy

Thanks for your reply. I got the marriage date wrong in my last post John Mussell married Mary Cook in 1768 (not 1770) when he was age 30, but this still seems a little old for a first marriage.

Looking at the report I note that The grandfather of the Nicholas I favour as my Nicholas Mursell was licensee of the Valiant Trooper (a pub in Newport) and others according to the National Archives Newport quarter sessions. In the 1851 Census Nicholas Mursell gives his occupation as Publican presumably at age 80 to 83 he would have been retired?
However in the 1841 he was living age 70 with his son in Whitechapel where he might also have been a publican but is described as a Gentleman (I presume this refers to someone of independent means).

Do you have any idea how I could find out where he was a publican.

I have presumed that my Nicholas was a publican in the Gosport Portsea area of Hampshire as this is where all his children (I believe) were baptised including my 3x great grandmother Ann Mursell (in 1791). I believe my Nicholas may have married Ann Tibbs in 1788 in Portsea and that he may have married again to Ann Glasspole in 1799 also in Portsea, as the Hampshire Parish Indexes give children born to Nicholas Mursell and a wife called Ann in the Gosport and Portsea areas between 1788 and 1810.

Any help to find my way through this maze would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Richard

[Little Nell]

There does not seem to be a burial for an Ann Mursell or Mussel in the Portsea area.  Which leads me to suspect (but no proof) that perhaps there are two Nicholas Mursell involved.

No listing for a Nicholas Mursell in 1828 directory of Hampshire.  Perhaps he was long gone by then 

Nell

[Little Nell]

An M Mussell was at the Barley Mow in Southsea in 1828.

Nell

[Beaujolaiswine]

Hi Nell

Thanks for your replies.

I have now obtained a death certificate for my Nicholas Mursell with the following information:-

Died Little Beach Gosport, age 88 years formerly a Sheriff's Officer of old age no medical attendant . Informant G. Whitehall (son in law?) present at the death.

I am not sure what a Sheriff's Officer is?

One of my Nicholas Mursell's daughters Eliza Mursell born abt. 1796 in Gosport married George Mcloud Whitehall (born abt 1803) on 27 Feb 1824 at St. Mary's, Portsea, Hampshire, England (according to the IGI).

I am now wondering if the 1841 Census record is for a different Nicholas Mursell as the date of Birth is given as 1771 and the death certificate gives a date of birth in 1767 which fits with the age given on the 1851 Census living with his daughter Louisa Gage which I know is my Nicholas Mursell.

Any help to identify my Nicholas' burial in 1855 would be very much appreciated.

Best Wishes

Richard