This section will deal with interesting snatches of information. As the site progresses, hopefully you will learn more about the families directly concerned. I think this adds some colour to an otherwise black and white snapshot.

1. In all the documents I have examined during my research, I have come across only one family which truly 'feels' French. On June 10th, 1713, the register of St. James' Church, Ashurst, shows the baptism of Bethy Muzzell, daughter of Simion and Ghis (short for Ghislaine). No further mention is made of them at Ashurst, nor have I found them elsewhere. I believe that they were not directly related to the Ashurst Muzzells, but I feel that they may have been refugees from France, who stopped at Ashurst for the birth and baptism of Bethy

2. "Churchwarden Presentments, Cuckfield, 1674-1677".
Unfortunately details of  any punishment were not given.

"We present Richard Muzzell and Mary Pryor for haveing comitted (sinns) one with the other; which sinns they are knowne to be guilty of by their oppen confession of them both, made before one of his Majestie's justice of the peace."

3. "Half Sessions Orders Book, 1642-1649"
Details of any punishment were not given.

"Robertus Muzall of Lindfield, Shearman, keeper of the common pound there, for not releasing 3 cows and 3 heifers as directed by warrant."

4. "Sussex Apprentices & Masters, 1710-1752"

"Edward Andrews, son of John Andrews, Pattenmaker, to Abel Muzzall and Mary his wife of Steyning, Wheelwright - 6 years from 2nd April last, 1722."

5. Among the transportees from Sussex to Australia (none of them Muzzalls) I have located the following:

"Sharpe, George, Bargeman, 21st October, 1847, for stealing the following property of Thomas Muzzall (of Henfield):

48 lbs of pork - 30/-, 3 shirts - 3/-, 1 table cloth - 2/-, 1 sheet - 1/-, 2 pairs of stocks - 6d, 1 box - 6d, 20 pieces of linen - 1d,
and 1 frock - 5d.

Transported for 10 years"

NEW INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMERICAN MUZZALLS ...

On page 19 of Ernest Muzzall's 1965 publication (see home page) he expresses some regret at his failure to find the children of the first marriage of John, emigrant Abraham's father. On the same page, he also drew our attention  to another American branch of the Muzzall family: that of Thomas Abraham Muzzall who (like Abraham) was born in Brighton, England. Thomas Abraham emigrated to Indiana in 1852.  It is rather ironic that Ernest had the information in  his hands, but was unable to make the connection. I have as yet found no primary evidence to support what I believe to be true, but I am 100% confident that the following is an accurate account of the situation, based upon extracts from Ernest's publication, and a biographical publication dated 1882 concerning Thomas A. Muzzall (kindly supplied Hester Butler, nee Muzzall, of USA).

While Ernest Muzzall knew that Abraham's half-brother was called Thomas, and his wife Mary, and their second child  also called Thomas (see page 4 of Ernest's publication), he hadn't realised that Thomas jun. was in fact Thomas Abraham Muzzall.

So, Thomas Woodward Muzzall (father of Thomas Abraham Muzzall) was half-brother to Abraham. His wife was Mary Greenfield, and it was she who became the teacher at the Royal British School in Brighton, and subsequently corresponded with Abraham in America. Thomas Abraham Muzzall was their eldest son, and both the aforementioned sources agree that he was five when his father died.  In 1852 Thomas Abraham Muzzall decided to join his half-uncle Abraham in Indiana (who had emigrated in 1834), and I'm sure it's no coincidence that 1852 is also the year that Mary, his mother, wrote so despondently to Abraham (page 16 of Ernest Muzzall's publication): "we seem now as if we have no relations, or any one to care if we live or die".

The upshot of  all  this, of course, is that there are far more descendants of John Muzzall, born 1772 (grandson of Isaac, b 1718), resident in America than have so far been recognised. I'm sorry if all this seems rather complicated - hopefully the mist will clear eventually - see Henfield Family Tree.

The biographical information referred to above, indicates that Thomas Abraham Muzzall was a Pony Express Rider from 1858 to 1860. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Missouri  Volunteer Cavalry, and in 1864 he re-enlisted as a Hospital Steward, 1st class, for another 3 year muster.  His diary gives details of a Command  with a large train of waggons from Arkansas to New Mexico in 1866.