Mary Jane Hillier Biography
Mary Jane Hillier was born 28 March 1865 in Kilmersdon Registration District in the County of Somerset. Her father was Tradue Hillier (yet another version of the spelling!) a coal miner. Her mother was Eliza Hillier formerly Maggs. Her mother, on 21 April 1865 registered her birth.She married Joseph William Mudford on 17 October 1882 in the Parish Church of Midsomer Norton in the County of Somerset. He was aged 30 and a labourer living in Midsomer Norton. He didn't sign his name but made his mark. She was supposedly aged 19 and resident in Midsomer Norton. She signed her name. His father was Thomas Mudford, a labourer and her father, although at first glance is looks like Freddie, was in fact Treddue Hillier, a miner. This looks like the source of the Tredew forename given to one of their sons, although it is yet another spelling. The witnesses were George and Martha Hillier.
She and Joseph William had 6 children :- Arthur Thomas Mudford, Joseph William Mudford, Ethel Maud Mudford, George Tredew Mudford, Mary Mudford, and Mabel Mudford born 4 months after J W's death).
Subsequent children found to be hers: Edward Short Mudford, No father's name on BC; Emily Mudford, Joseph William Mudford (deceased) on BC; Leslie Mudford Joseph William Mudford (dead) on BC, and Violet Mudford, No dad on BC.
Marriage details found for 9 May 1908 at the Holy Trinity Church in the Parish of Coleford. George Reinford Forchen, bachelor 35 years old, a blacksmith of Highbury, Coleford, Father George Reinford Forchen (deceased), a horse doctor and Mary Jane Mudford, widow 40 years old of Highbury, Coleford, Father Tredhue Hillier a miner. Witnesses Henry and Emma Pike.
Subsequent child - Born 29 November 1909 Coleford, Somerset, England, Kenturia Evendine Forchan. Bert Willmott is her son. George's place of birth in the 1911 Census is given as Jamaica. He was in Shepton Mallet Prison doing 6 months with hard labour for unlawful wounding.
She died on 20th May 1923 in the Fry's Well, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England. Her death was registered by E Pike her sister who was present at the death. She died on Schirrhosis of the liver, Bronchitis and Emphysyma
In the 1921 Census Mary Jane (transcribed as Torchan) is living in Fry's Well, Chilcompton, Somerset, England with her son Leslie, her daughter now going as Katrina, her grandson William (Ehel Maud's illegitimate son), her married daughter Mary's Dennett family, including her illegitimate son, Thomas.
| Name | Position | Occupation | Age | Where Born | BK No |
| Mary Jane Torchan | Head | Home Duties | 58 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | 50 |
| Leslie Mudford | Son | Coal Miner | 19 | 565 | |
| Katrina Everdine Torchan | Daur | 12 | Somerset | 728 | |
| William Mudford | G Son | 11 | Frome,Somerset | 2032 | |
| Edmund S Dennett | Visitor | Labourer | 31 | Welton,Somerset | 334 |
| Mary Dennett | Visitor | Home Duties | 26 | Chilcompton,Somerset | 321 |
| Albert G Dennett | Visitor | 1 | Somerset | 885 | |
| Thomas Mudford | Visitor | 5 | Bristol,Glous | 888 |
The 1911 Census Wells Way Square, Radstock, Somerset, England
| Name | Position | Occupation | Age | BK No |
| Mary Jane Forchen | Wife | Enumerated Elsewhere | 47 | 50 |
| Lesley Mudford | Son | School | 10 | 565 |
| Violet Mudford | Daughter | 6 | 661 | |
| Kathra Forchen | Daughter | 2 | 728 |
No mention of the husband or the length of time married, as George was in prison. The 1911 Census has Emily, along with brother Edwin (Edward Short) resident in the Shepton Mallet Workhouse as inmates.
The 1901 Census Redhouse Farm, Stratton om Fosse, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England
| Name | Position | Age | Where Born | Occupation | BK No |
| Mary Mudford | Head | 40 | Kilmersdon | Milker on Farm | 50 |
| Joseph W Mudford | Son | 14 | Midsomer Norton | Farm Labourer | 52 |
| Ethel Mudford | Daur | 11 | Midsomer Norton | 1568 | |
| George Mudford | Son | 9 | Midsomer Norton | 51 | |
| Mary Mudford | Daur | 6 | Chilcompton | 321 | |
| Mabel Mudford | Daur | 4 | Chilcompton | 566 | |
| Edwin Mudford | Son | 3 | Midsomer Norton | 69 | |
| Emily Mudford | Daur | 4m | Stratton on Fosse | 734 |
The 1891 Census 40 Redfield Road, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England RG14PN14661 RG78PN889 RD315 SD4 ED11 SN135)
| Name | Position | Age | BK No |
| Joseph Mudford | Head | 41 | 49 |
| Mary Jane Mudford | Wife | 29 | 50 |
| Arthur Thomas Mudford | Son | 5 | 13 |
| Joseph Mudford | Son | 3 | 52 |
The 1881 Census Kilmersdon Village Piece 2404 Folio 13 Page 20.
| Name | Position | Age | Where Born | Occupation | BK No |
| Tredhue Hillier | Head | 62 | Coleford, Somerset | Coal Miner | 319 |
| Eliza Hillier | Wife | 48 | Radstock, Somerset | 384 | |
| Elizabeth Hillier | Daur | 21 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Domestic Servant | 385 |
| Issac Hillier | Son | 19 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Coal Miner | 386 |
| Mary Hillier | Daur | 16 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Domestic Servant | 50 |
| Sarah Hillier | Daur | 14 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 387 |
| Eliza Hillier | Daur | 12 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 388 |
| Emm Hillier | Daur | 9 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 389 |
| Louiza Hiller | Daur | 5 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 390 |
| Henry Elliott | Lodger | 19 | Marston Bigot, Somerset | Coal Miner |
The 1871 Census Kilmersdon Village, Kilmersdon, Frome, Somerset, England
| Name | Position | Age | Where Born | Occupation | BK No |
| Dwey Hillier | Head | 50 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Coal Miner | 319 |
| Eliza Hillier | Wife | 37 | Radstock, Somerset | 384 | |
| George Hillier | Son | 16 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Coal Miner | 1342 |
| Martha Hillier | Daur | 13 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 1343 |
| Elizabeth Hillier | Daur | 11 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 385 |
| Issac Hillier | Son | 9 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 386 |
| Mary J Hillier | Daur | 6 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | Scholar | 50 |
| Sarah Hillier | Daur | 3 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | 387 | |
| Eliza Hillier | Daur | 1 | Kilmersdon, Somerset | 388 |