Trevor was retained originally by Bernice Chatwin and Aurelia Richards (sisters) who are decendents through the Charlotte Elizabeth Stay Hawkins line. They expended considerable dollars from their own resources. The research was continued under the direction of Gary Stay and paid for by the Stay Family Organization after it was organized. It should be noted that the early work during 1986 was done by members of the family who did not have the information from Alice Bailey Stay family, thus Trevor was starting from scratch based upon the Richards and Chatwin records.
Notes from the research reports regarding Peter Stay are presented by date, all supporting documentation is available through contacting Gary Stay who has the original reports..
14 January 1986
Research Report Trevor Burborough
Peter Stay
A considerable number of record sources were consulted during this session in an effort to extend the Stay pedigree. Information to date has mentioned that Peter Stay was born in Hampshire, England circa 1778 and that he was married to a Sarah Muston born in Somersetshire. A list of children belonging to Peter and Sarah Stay was also given i.e.. Rebecca, John, Charles, Sarah, Ann, William, Eliza, Mary and Joseph your great-grandfather. These two items of information were critical in locating the origins of Peter Stay.
After a number of extensive searches into the civil registration indexes to deaths for England and Wales the death entry of Peter Stay was eventually located as follows:
Peter Stay - Lymington Registration District - 1859-2nd quarter-2b-337
Lymingtonis a registration district in Hampshire. It appeared that I was on course. Consulting the IGI an interesting reference was located:
Peter Stay bapt. 2 May 1779 Milford on Sea
Milford on Sea is a parish within the registration district of Lymington. This information encouraged a search into the 1841 and 1851 census for Milford on Sea and surrounding area. This effort produced a vital piece of information which confirmed the above IGI as ancestral:
1841 Census Hordle, Hampshire Eng.
Peter Stay-62-ag lab-yes
Sarah " -58-
-yes
1851 Census Milton, Hampshire Eng.
Peter Stay-head-widower-72-pauper-Hordle, Hamps. blind
John " -son -unmarr -39-ag lab-Milford
"
Rebecca "-dau - "
-31- -Milton,
"
Ellen " -g-dau "
- 6- scholar "
"
The age given in both censuses corresponds with information located in the IGI and also the location oftwo children, Rebecca and John helped to confirm the assumption that Peter did in fact originate in Milford on Sea. Secondly, Sarah is given as the wife of peter in the 1841 Census.
Unfortunately, the parish registers of Milford on Sea are not located at the Genealogical Library but correspondence with my agent in Hampshire should produce a substantial amount of information which will lead to the further extension of the pedigree.
The marriage of Peter Stay and Sarah Muston has been applied for from a lady in Hampshire who has indexed marriages in Hampshire through the period 1750-1837. The marriage was requested for the period 1795-1822. I am anxiously awaiting the results of this request.
A casual look at a parish in Dorsetshire by the name of Wimborne Minster which is very close to the Hampshire/Dorset border may be the area from which Sarah Muston originated. Information that you had provided suggested that she was born near Wishbourne, Somersetshire. There is no such place in Somersetshire and it is entirely possible that errors were made over time concerning her origins especially in light of the fact that there were a considerable number of Muston entries within the parish of Wimborne Minster, Dorset.
The possibilities for further discovery along both the Stay line and Muston family are currently excellent but will require correspondence with my agents in Dorset and Hampshire.
The marriage of Peter's parents was probably determined during this session but as was stated a search through the Milford on Sea parish registers will confirm this assumption:
Richard Stay and Mary Dean married 26 June 1779 at Hordle
Hordle is a parish next to Milford and it is entirely possible that the above entry is ancestral. It was at this juncture that the remainder of this research session was directed toward the extension of the Hawkins family.
6 March 1986
Research Report #3 Trevor Burborough
I had requested that my agent extract all baptismal, marriage and burial entries of the parishes of Milford, Milton, Hordle, Boldre and Lymington Hampshire for the name of Stay. A sizable list was returned from which a substantial amount of temple work can be performed. The information provided has now been transferred into the individual and marriage entry forms for temple processing.
I do plan to correspond once again with this agent to complete the searches from 1725-1837 at which time a helpful amount of information should be gleaned from those records pertaining to Richard Stay and his family.
29 April 1986
Research Report Trevor Burborough
Peter Stay
Correspondence had been sent off to an individual in Dorset who has indexed Dorset marriages. It was hoped that the marriage of Peter Stay and Sarah Muston would be located in this index and after several weeks the following information was obtained:
Peter Stay of Lower Lytchett and Sarah Mussen of Longfleet married 27 Oct. at Canford Magna witnesses Joseph Pearce and Matthew Young
This was a most exciting find because not only was the marriage obtained but the parishes of residence for both the bride and the groom i.e.. Lytchett and Longfleet was also provided. Possibilities for further discoveries along the Stay and Mussen families are very encouraging. The earlier years for parishes searched previously such as Milford, Milton, Lymington and Hordle should also produce more information along the Stay line. It will be necessary during the next round of research to send off a letter to my agents in Dorset and Hampshire to pursue those areas of research.
9 June 1986
Research Report from Trevor Burborough
Lastly, searches were initiated into Dorset to extend the Musten or Mussen family. The court records for Great Canford were read to locate any information on the Muston family but without success. Probates for Great Canford were read but again no mention was given. It was then hoped that the1841 and 1851 Census had any Mustens or Mussens rcorded but again these records were blank. When the reply is received from my agent in Dorset it is believed that substantial headway will be made toward extending the Musten family and possibly the Stay family.
22 July 1986
Research Letter Trevor Burborough
Peter Stay
Research efforts during this session were directed toward the Stay and Muston/Mussen families of Hampshire. Correspondence was sent off to the Dorset County Record Office requesting information pertaining to the family of Peter and Sarah Stay at Canford Magna. Lytchett Minster and Corfe Mullen. Also the baptism of Sarah Muston/Mussen was requested.
The reply was received and a substantial amount of information was provide. The baptisms of two more children of Peter and Sarah Stay were also located:
Ann
dau of Peter and Sarah Stay bapt 21 Oct 1804 Lytchett Minster
Elisea dau of Peter and Sarah Stay bap 25 Dec 1806
Further, the baptism of Sarah Stay was also located as follows:
Sarah dau of Israel and Mary Mussen bapt 26 Oct 1783 at Canford Magna
It appears now after a rather lengthy amount of time that Sarah Mussen's ancestry has opened up. The marriage of Sarah's parents was also found in the Canford Magna marriage records:
Israel Mussen and Mary Cross married 16 June 1771
The IGI for Dorset has provided a possible marriage for Israel Mussen's parents:
Israel Mussen and Rebecca Miller married at Wimborne Minster 24 May 1737
Wimborne Minster is a neighboring parish to Canford Magna. Unfortunately, the baptism of Israel Mussen was not located in the IGI. Possibly these are the parents of Israel Mussen. Strength is lent to this present speculation because of the similarity in names i.e.. Israel and secondly because Peter and Sarah Stay had also named one of their children Rebecca.
A considerable amount of time was directed toward locating a probate which could have possibly made mention of the Stay or Mussen/Muston families. Although a number of entries were located none provided information which led to the origins of Israel Mussen.
Upon receiving the correspondence from Dorset prospects for further extensions are excellent. The filming efforts of the church in Dorset have been very successful and within the next 2-3 months it is anticipated that a majority of the Dorset parish registers will be available on microfilm.
This session has been successful and finally the Muston/Mussen family has been extended.
19 Aug 1987
Research Notes Trevor Burborough
As per instructions given efforts during this research session were directed toward locating the origins of Israel Mussen/Muston etc. A thorough search was made into the Bishop's Transcripts of parishes surrounding Canford Magna.
Unfortunately, the baptism of Israel Muston was not located although the probable baptisms of his brothers and sisters and the burials of his mother and father were located.
Isreal Mussen and Rebecca Miller married in Wimborn Minster 24 May 1737 and had their first child baptized in that parish by the name of William 27 Oct. 1737. Apparently, Israel and Rebecca Mussen were on the way to expecting their first child at the time of their marriage and it is entirely possible that they removed themselves to the parish of Wimborne Minster from their native parish to avoid embarrassment of the impending birth. There were no other baptisms to this couple in the parish of Wimborn Minster so it is entirely possible that this speculation may be correct.
In the rather extensive searches of parishes surrounding Canford Magna three children of Israel and Rebecca Mussen were noted i.e. John bapt 30 Nov 1742, Elizabeth baptized 7 Mar 1753 and Mary baptized 28 Feb 1747 in the parish of More Critchell a parish about two miles north of Canford Magna. Interestingly, both Israel and Rebecca Mussen were buried in the parish of More Critchell.
A search of the probate indexes for the county of Dorset provided a number of wills for the Muston, Cross and Stay families but after reading those wills it was readily determined that no relationship existed with your members of the family.
Since the church recordsthatwere searched were Bishop's Transcripts it is entirely possible that entries may have been missed. Also the parishes of Tarrant Rawston, Hammworthy, Stourpain and Poole St. James were not searched as Bishop's Transcripts were not available. The actual parish registers of More Critchell, Wimborne Minster and other parishes within the vicinity should be searched.
A number of Muston entries were located in other parishes which are recorded on the colored map. At this stage, I believe it would be wise to contact my research agent in Dorset to initiate the search suggested above.
4 Dec/87
Research Report Trevor Burborough
Research efforts during this session were quite broad in scope but a significant amount of new information was obtained. Secondly, exciting new possibilities for further extensions along different family lines have also been made available. Family names researched during this session were Stay, Lewis, Pearce, Stoner, Mussen, Aldredge, Hampton and Hathaway. The most exciting information located pertains to the Stay family about which we have already had a discussion but I will once again outline the results of that research.
Richard Stay
While reviewing materials that you had provided especially the letter from the minister of Milford parish dated 1952 and in conjunction with the parish register extraction's of the Stay family from Hordle and Milford and interesting "new" pedigree was constructed. Initially, we had thought that Peter Stay was the son of Richard Stay and Mary Dean. Peter Stay was baptized 2 May 1779 at Hordle, whereas Richard and Mary married two months later i.e.. 26 June 1779. It had been assumed that Mary was at least seven months pregnant at the time of her marriage. A more reasonable "family arrangement" is now proposed. Peter Stay's father was indeed Richard but his mother was Ann Aldredge instead.
Richard Stay married Ann Aldredge at Milford as follows:
Richard Stay of Hordle and Ann Aldredge of Milford married 24 Oct. 1774
Both Richard and Ann were buried in Hordle the place of Peter's baptism as follows:
Richard Stay age 80 buried 4 July 1828
Ann Stay age 72 buried 20 July 1820
Peter Stay's baptism did not record the name of his mother and therefore, the confusion with Mary Dean.
The baptism of Richard Stay whose calculated birth from his burial should
have been about 1748. Unfortunately, the
Hordle church records were not extracted to that early period and a
search of the baptismal register should hopefully, produce his baptism.
It is most likely, that Richard Stay will be the son of Richard Stay and
Hannah Hampton married 5 May 1746 at Hordle. It is this Richard Stay
SR. whose wife Hannah was buried at Hordle 13 Dec 1778 remarried as a widower
to Mary Dean 26 June 1779 seven months after his first wife's burial.
A reading of the original marriage register in Hordle for this second marriage
hopefully, will record Richard Stay as a widower. Lastly, Richard
Stay SR. may be the son of yet another Richard Stay located in the burial
registers of Milford. Further searches into the parish registers
of Milford parish should prove or disprove that speculation:
Richard Stay buried 11 Jan 1724 Milford
With a thorough search of the two parishes of Milford and Hordle it is felt very strongly, that the Stay line will be extended.
A letter has-been sent to Harry Stay to search these registers and we are anxiously awaiting his reply. A last piece of research along with the Stay family was also conducting during this round of research i.e.. the marriage entry for Joseph Stay and Sarah Jane Pearce was sought since the actual marriage date seems to be missing. It is felt that application for the actual marriage certificate may be interesting and I would recommend that for the next research session or send off for it immediately if you would rather. The marriage was located in the registration district of Gloucester 1846 third quarter XI 439
Israel Mussen
A substantial amount of searching in eastern Dorset church records was undertaken in a previous research session looking for the baptism of Israel Mussen. A number of Mussen entries were located for the probable family but Israel's baptism was not located. The parents and grandparents of Israel Mussen and his brothers and sisters were pot together and another search of More Critchell parish was undertaken. Speculation was made that More Critchell was the ancestral home of the Mussen family. Unfortunately, the Bishop's Transcripts for More Critchell are only available at the library back to 1730 and it looks very probable that the Mussen family extends back into the parish prior to 1730,.
Secondly, I would suggest another reading of church records for Israel Mussen's baptism but this time looking for the baptism in parish registers as Bishop's Transcripts may not always contain the complete information. Certainly, the parish registers of More Critchell should be searched. I feel very strongly that Israel Mussen and Rebecca Miller are the parents of Israel Mussen Jr. and that, Israel Mussen and Edith Burt are the parents of Israel Mussen Sr. Remember, Israel Mussen and Mary Cross named one of their children Rebecca as did Peter Stay and Sarah Mussen. I feel that further research should bear this relationship out.
A search of the parish registers in eastern Dorset, although considerably time consuming, should prove beneficial and hopefully, result in the location of Israel Mussen's baptism.
12 April 1988
Research Report Trevor Burborough
The last part of this research session pertains to the Stay family. Unfortunatly, the report from our agent in Hampshire and Dorset has not yet been received.
A request was sent off to Mrs. Clench in Hampshire and Mrs. Coalbran in Dorset for the marriages of Richard Stay 1758-1789
Another request was sent to our agent in Hampshire to search the chruch records of Hordle, Milton and Lymington and Christchurch for the baptism of Ann or Hannah Aldridge 1744-1758.
In conclusion, more hard work is in store but with relentless, thorough searching the blanks will be filled in. Exciting possibilities continue to exist for further successes.
1 August 1988
Research Report Trevor Burborough
Since the last research report I received two replies to my inquiries previously sent to England i.e. the Dorset Marriage Index by Mrs. Coalbran and the Hampshire Marriage Index by Margaret Clench.
Mrs. Coalbran did not locate any other marriages for a Richard Stay in Dorset through the period 1750-1800. It is possible therefore, that Richard Stay did in fact move down to the Hordle and Milford area from northern Dorset, marry and had his children in the area. The tantalizing bit of information which suggests this move is his age at the time of his burial putting his calculated birth at 1748. There was a Richard Stay, son of Henry Stay baptized in 1748 at Pimperne, Dorset.
Mrs. Clench also returned my request with no additional Richard Stay marriages apart from thos already located again leading greater support to the suggestion that Richard Stay's origins lie in Dorsetshire.
The request put to my agent in Hampshire seems to have gone awry along with check that I sent several months ago. Another letter has been sent off, however, requesting that parish registers be searched for settlement certificates for Hordle and Milford hoping to locate the settlement certificate for Richard Stay. Secondly, thebaptism of Ann, Anne, Anna, Hannah Aldridge baptized between 1744-1758 has been requested.