Charles MASSON Surgeon in Frome Somerset

[Descendant of Murby]

Hello

I am researching Charles Masson (c. 1776 - 1850), a French POW from the Napoleonic Wars who ended up in Somerset, first as a POW and later because he wanted to stay here - his movements seem to be: Wincanton, East Cranmore, Evercreech (in 1841 living at The Kennels - which is still there!) and finally Frome, where he was a surgeon. He married Lucy Joyce in 1815 and they brought up a large family. They lived for many years in Frome, where he died in 1850. His daughter Lucy Murielle Chivante Masson, (1830-1903, born Evercreech), married Charles Holloway (1820-95) the 'practical hatter' of Frome, in 1855.

I am researching for a friend who has lots of information about Charles Masson's children including some lovely photos but not much information on Charles Masson and Lucy Joyce apart from their dates, the name of their children etc. No pictures. Charles Masson must have been quite unusual as he was French and a surgeon (e.g. well qualified) and lived in a small market town in Somerset. He may also have been African in descent.

Has anyone got any information on him? This is a lovely photo of his daughter Lucy Masson who married the hatter Mr Holloway of Frome.

Many thanks

Descendant of Murby

[Jo Harding]

Hello Descendant of Murby,

You might find that The Frome Museum can assist with information etc.

http://www.fromemuseum.org/

It reopens on 13th March 2012.

There is also a website dedicated to Frome family research at http://www.fromeresearch.org.uk/

I did a name search on Masson and it produced a number of hits.

The Joyce family were prominent in that area and around West Cranmore in The Mendips. Let me know what details you are seeking.

Jo.

[Descendant of Murby]

Dear Jo

Many thanks for your useful advice. We have used the fromeresearch website and got some results for Charles and other family members - the Holloways of Frome. In fact, Charles and Lucy Masson only had 3 children Lucy (she of the photo above), Charles and Edward so the direct descendants of Charles Masson and Lucy Joyce may be rather thin.

We would be interested in finding out more about the local Joyce family if possible. We know Lucy Joyce married Charles Masson in 1815 in East Cranmore. But we don't know about Lucy Joyce's family or much about her. You say they were prominent in the Mendips.....

It is very kind of you to respond. I live in Frome, so when my friend, who is the direct descendant of Charles Masson, comes down for a visit later this year, we can go for a visit to the museum, with the research so far.

Thanks again.
Saira (Descendant of Murby)

[Jo Harding]

Hello Saira,

I am pleased you have managed to make some progress.

I have Joyce ancestors in my tree. They were intermarried with several of my lines from West Cranmore, East Cranmore, Doulting and Downhead.

I tried to find the baptism of Lucy Joyce and the most likely appears to be as follows:

Frome, St John the Baptist, 20 October 1792, Lucy, daughter of Joseph and Lucy Joyce. The notes state, "William and Lucy". This seems to refer to the fact that there was another baptism on that day for a William Joyce, son of Joseph and Lucy Joyce. So, Lucy was a twin by the look of it.

There were sibilngs baptised in Frome as well.

There was a marriage in Frome 7 November 1791, Joseph Joyce, Of this parish, to Lucy Cabble, Of This Parish. Witnesses were: T Jones and John Deacon. Notes state," Bride signed Cabel".

The Cabel (and variants) family are another prominent family in this area.

This information is on Freereg http://www.freereg.org.uk/

There is a local history book called, "The Cranmore Chronicle" by Mary de Viggiani who has lived in Cranmore all her life. This has some references to the Joyce family, plus photos of some of them. It was for sale in the Frome museum a while ago.

Let me know if I can be of further help to you.

Jo.

[Jo Harding]

There is also the Whitstone Hundred Group which may be of use to you.

http://www.groupsyahoo.com/group/whitstone/

Jo

[trish1120]

On the 1815 Marriage Joseph was Widowed so you might have some other French relatives

Marriage;
05 September 1815, St James, East Cranmore, Somerset
Charles MASSON, Widower, of Parish of Frome, Somerset
Lucy JOYCE, Spinster Of this Parish
Witnesses, Joseph Webb, Elizabeth Sommers
By Licence with Consent of Parents
(Source FreeREG)

Not sure how to go about finding the Licence but it may contain extra info on her Parents.

Trish

[trish1120]

1851 Census Lucy says she is born c 1798, Frome, Somerset.

I can find a Lucy christened Frome but in 1792 to Joseph/Lucy.

Her Parents might be;
Joseph JOYCE and Lucy CABBLE who Married 07 Nov 1791, St John the Baptist, Frome, Somerset
Note has Bride signed Cabel

Tracking down Richard BEAVIS c 1842 who is Lucys Nephew in the 1851 Census may uncover her Sister.
He is in the Barracks in Kent in 1861

Apologies Jo as you had already posted this

[trish1120]

Edwards Baptism has;
Father fornerly of Nanci in the Department of Meurthe in France(sic)
This should be Nancy, a Nth Eastern Department of Meurthe et Moselle
(Wikipedia)
Williams Baptism has Charles as Charles Joseph Masson
(FreeREG)

LUCY Massons Burial 11 Feb 1853 has her as age 60, birth c 1793
CHARLES Massons has him as age 73 in 1850, Buried 24 March 1850, birth c 1777

[jorose]

There may be some records of Charles at the National Archives in ADM 103 (records of prisoners of war, 1793-1815)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0kv4/

If Charles was from Nancy then that is somewhat lucky as Meurthe et Moselle archives have records online:
http://www.archives.cg54.fr/archives/DefautBureau.aspx?Onglet_ID=888

However these are not name-searchable and there are several parishes, so finding a baptism would be time-consuming; this also assumes that he was born Nancy, as opposed to just residing there at some point.

However, Tables (indexes for civil records) start in 1803 on that site, and I can see:
1. there is a will on one of the previous linked sites for a Mary Masson, nee Cook(e), of Frome in 1810
2. In Nancy in 1809, Charles Masson m. Marie Cooke

The indexing is odd in this set; at the start of 1809 there is an index (more usually at the end of each year) it has him indexed as "27", but it is entry No. 42 on image 36 of 628 (facing page has been hand-numbered "vingt-huit").

The marriage entry is taken from an extract of the parish registers of Wincanton, Somerset, so unfortunately it doesn't have as much information as a French marriage would. However, it does state at the beginning that Charles Masson is a doctor and surgeon "service de la marine" (e.g. Navy), and gives an address for him in Nancy as "rue du Moulin ville neuve".

The entry is dated 4th Mar 1809, the original entry was 22 December 1807. There is also a birth in 1809 in Nancy, of a son Charles to Charles Masson and Mary Cooke.  However, this wee boy died at the age of 4 months, on the 6th of July.

http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeofwilliambar00scotuoft#page/n7/mode/2up
 - here there is a mention of Charles, on page 24.