William Musson and the Blizzard

[KarenM]

Hi Nick
Please insert 'snowstorm' - I dont like using Americanisms if I can help it. I'm an Aussie, you see, hate the way the Queens English is misused.

A blizzard is a blizzard.  If you live where it's snows, it's self explanatory and nothing to do with Americanisms anymore or the Queen's english.

Karen

[nickgc]

Thanks Karen.  I originally posted just as a warning that the word blizzard was apparently not used before ca 1870 so that if David started doing a newspaper search it would not be a good word to use.  Language changes all the time, and I think 140 years worth of worldwide usage and its appearance in the OED takes it quite a bit beyond the accusation of being "an Americanism".   As an American I could say some things about the "Queen's English", especially as spoken in some parts of the English empire, but will abstain. 

Nick   

[chinakay]

I didn't have any trouble understanding Nick's point. None at all.

[David 58]

Hi Debbie,
yes, you've got my family,
I have only been able to find from FreeBMD indexes:
BIRTH:                            Joanna Rosella Musson
year of Reg:                   1852
Quater:                          Oct,Nov,Dec.
District:                           Hendon (1837 - 1947)
County:                          Middlesex
Vol.                                 3A
Page.                              80

Birth:                               Poynton Musson
year of Reg:                    1856
Quater:                           Oct,Nov,Dec.
District:                           Hampstead
County:                          Greater London, Middlesex.
Vol.                                 1A
Page.                              448

1881 England census:    Poynton Musson, age 24
                                       Jane Musson, age 50
It seems you have dates misprinted, perhaps ? although baptisms could be performed at any time.
Joanna Rosella Musson married Vorne William Rivers in last Qtr. of 1881, can't find her on census. I can't find the family in 1871 either, but Howard was in the Royal Navy at Spithead, Hampshire, aboard HMS. Minotaur.
He and Poynton turned up in Aus. around 1892.
Any opinions about the fate of William Musson would be most helpful, I am sorry if I offended anyone with my previous comments.

[cosmac]

http://historyofalcoholanddrugs.typepad.com/alcohol_and_drugs_history/2007/08/historical-reso.html
This link gives some names of organizations that you might try and find more information on.  It was previously suggested that William might have been a Quaker?  Do you have the marriage certificate that would give what church he married in?  Another article referred to NonConformists, Baptists and Congretionalists being opposed to alcohol consumption.

Joanna's baptism was in 1862 (it indicated that her birth was Nov 5, 1852).  It was entered, by the same minister, in both the St. John Hampstead records and St. Mary Kilburn records for the same date.  Perhaps you could find out more information about these parishes which would give an indication of their religous affiliation.  Poynton's baptism was in 1869 at St. Mary Kilburn.  Interesting question is why he wasn't baptized at the same time as his sister?  Perhaps they believed it was important that the child choose to become baptized?  Also interesting that his father's occupation on the 1862 baptism was labourer and on the 1869 traveller.  Does that perhaps push his death past 1861 and place it between 1861-1871?

Another thought - I wondered why Jane indicated she was married on the 1861 census.  Perhaps that might put William's death closer to 1861 rather than your earlier suggestions if she hadn't been notified. 


Unfortunately passenger  records into Canada aren'treadily accessible until 1865.  Places like Ships List have some sources transcribed. 

I would have to concur with the rest of the opinions expressed.  Canada is a large country with records not starting in the years that you are looking for.  His death is the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Debbie 

[David 58]

Thank you, Debbie
October 31, 1849, Parish Church of St. John, Hampstead, vol.3, p.178
I have the cert. image, no.418, p.209, Occupation: labourer.
Can you find any reference to William Musson being a Baker ? Also
there is a strong suspicion that he may have married previously, to an Eve _ _?
I agree about the baptism later in life, it is unusual though. I can't explain why he wasnt given as deceased in 1862 and 1869. I think there is something shady going on here.
Apparently son Howard Whiteman (Wightman) Musson was married to a Blanche Pooke in England on 10 Dec. 1873 prior to his Australian marriage to my Grandmother, Emily Jane Ord in 1907. - Whether this was bigamous or not is unclear at this time, but not impossible, given that Howard was a sailor, was supposed to have been shipwrecked, joined a Australian Masonic Lodge in1892, yet was not found on the Aus. Electoral Rolls until 1903. Nothing about this previous marriage is known by our family.

[cosmac]

The 1851 census with William, Jane and Howard as a young baby shows his occupation as baker.

I can see on the 1841 census for Waltham on the Wold Leicestershire that William Musson, 25, born in the county is enumerated with Eve Musson, 20, born out of county.

There is the marriage Dec 1838 Coventry 16 497 with Eve Heed and William Musson both listed. 
William Musson s/o William Musson married 7 Oct 1838 at St Michaels Coventry Warwickshire to Eve Heed d/o Charles.   Eve Heed d/o Charles and Ann was christened 19 Aug 1821 Drypool, York.

I guess it depends on the parentage of your William if this fits or not.

There is a marriage between Howard Masson and Blanche Elizabeth Pooke Dec 1873 Liverpool 8b 217 and then one for Jun 1874 Kensington 1a 281 for Blanche Elizabeth Pooke and Howard Musson.
Marriage was St Mary Paddington Green 1 April 1874 with banns read March 15, 22 and 29.  Howard s/o William Musson, Butcher (at least it looks like butcher, not baker).  Howard's occupation was engine driver.  Marriage to Blanche Elizabeth Pooke d/o William Pooke plasterer.

I can find Blanche Musson, wife, married, 35, caretaker, b. Marleybone on the 1891 census in St. John Paddington and on the 1861 in St. Marleybone, Christchurch Blance E. Pooke, living with her mother Elizabeth Pooke, 58.     Haven't found her on any other census.
Death for a Blanche E. Musson at age 68 in Jun 1921 Kensington 1a 103
Birth of a Blanche Elizabeth Musson Sep 1877 Kensington 1a 32 and a marriage Sep 1904 Paddington 1a 176 to Edward James Holliday>  I can find the Banns read 29 May and the 5th and 12th of June but not the marriage with parents.

Debbie