MUSTON, Charles (Grimwade p.291, 334)

[MCB]

He was christened at St James, Clerkenwell in 1791, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth.
He entered a maker’s mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1816 from 13 St James’ Street, Clerkenwell.
Land Tax assessments recorded him at King Street, Clerkenwell 1818-22 and at Long Acre in 1822.
In 1821 he applied for freedom by patrimony in the Haberdashers Company.
He entered other maker’s marks 1824-48 as a watch case maker from 18 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell where he was recorded on further Land Tax assessments and as a Haberdasher in the 1831 Poll Book.
The 1841 UK Census records a George Muston, a watch maker aged 50 years, living at 18 Red Lion Street with an Elizabeth Muston aged 85 years. George was probably Charles’ brother and Elizabeth their mother but Charles’ whereabouts in 1841 has not been discovered. He was however listed in the 1843 Post Office Directory as a watch case maker from 18 Red Lion Street.
In 1848 he was listed by the Post Office at 13 Boxworth Grove, Islington.
He was recorded there in the 1851 Census as a merchant living with Eliza Muston aged 53 years and the Post Office still listed him there in 1856.
As a bachelor he married spinster Eliza Stockbridge in 1857 at St Dionis Backchurch (directly north of London Bridge but demolished in the 1880’s). His address was recorded as 15 Boxworth Grove and his trade as a watch manufacturer. Perhaps with some delicacy Eliza said she was living at another address before the marriage.
The 1861 Census shows him back at 18 Red Lion Street as a watch manufacturer living with his wife Eliza.
By 1871 he was an annuitant living with Eliza at St James Street, Covent Garden.
His death was recorded in the Strand register in 1873.

[dognose]

George Muston of 18 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, took part in chronometer trials at the Royal Greenwich Observatory from 1828 until 1835, but failed to win an award. George was recorded in directories as a Chronometer Maker, being located at the above address as from 1828 until 1846.

A George Muston, Watchmaker, Clockmaker, and Chronometer Maker was recorded at 1, Small Street, Bristol, in 1842, and is perhaps to be identified with the above.