Edwin son of Henry Mockett of Selmeston, laborer, and Esther (baptismal record)
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At the time of the 1861 England Census Edwin Mockett, age 21, born in Selmeston, journeyman blacksmith, was with his maternal aunt and uncle Mary [sic] and William Denman in Ironmonger's Shop, Willingdon Sussex.
In Jun 1867 Edwin Mockett was a witness at the marriage of his sister Abigail Button Mockett to George Hutson in Reigate Surrey.
At the time of the 1871 England Census Edwin Mockett, age 31, born in Selmeston, blacksmith, and wife Ellen, age 33, born in Newick, were living in Willingdon Village, Willingdon Sussex.
At the time of the 1881 England Census Edwin Mockett, age 41, born in Selmeston, ironmonger & smith employing 2 men, and wife Ellen, age 43, born in Newick, were living in Willingdon Village, Willingdon Sussex.
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WILLINGDON.
PARISH MEETING.—Mr. John Filder presided over the annual vestry meeting on Monday, which took place at the Red Lion Hotel, and was numerously attended. Messrs. Filder and Charles Climpson were re-elected churchwardens ; Messrs. H. A. Hutchings and Edwin Mockett were nominated overseers....
Eastbourne Chronicle, 29 Mar 1884, p. 6
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At the time of the 1891 England Census Edwin Mockett, age 51, born in Selmeston, blacksmith and ironmonger, and wife Ellen, age 53, born in Newick, were living in Red Lion Street, Willingdon. Edwin's brother, John, was living nextdoor.
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Edwin Mockett of Willingdon died aged 51 years (burial record).
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AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH: WILLINGDON.
SUPPOSED POISONING BY MUSSELS.
The inhabitants of the pretty village of Willingdon received a very painful shock on Friday morning, when it became known that Mr. Edwin Mockett, the respected proprietor of the village smithy, had died during the previous night almost without warning. He spent a portion of the evening with friends at Eastbourne, and after walking back to Willingdon, went to the Reading-room. A little before ten o'clock he left, and on his way homewards called at the Red Lion, where he had a glass of liquor. On getting to his own house he sat down, and without attempting to have anything like an ordinary supper, ate three mussels. He then left the house and on his return, some five minutes later, complained of feeling very unwell. He was shortly afterwards seized with severe vomiting and purging and almost directly brought up the mussels. He then made his way to his bedroom, where he grew faint and fell down. He was assisted up, but in a few minutes, while seated in the room, he breathed his last. Mr. Sherwood was at once fetched over from Eastbourne, but of course was then powerless to do anything, life being quite extinct.
All the symptoms seem to point to mussel poisoning, for Mr. Mockett was in every respect a hale and hearty man, and was not, so far as is known, at all affected with any disease of the heart. He was a good-natured, genial man, universally liked and respected by all who knew him. He was about 50 years of age, and leaves a widow but no family. He had lived in Willingdon for many years, and formerly was in the employ of his uncle, Mr. Denman, whose business he purchased some nine years ago.
The county Coroner has notified his intention of holding an inquest this (Saturday) morning.
Eastbourne Chronicle, 11 Apr 1891, p. 5
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The Will of Edwin Mockett late of Willingdon in the County of Sussex, blacksmith, who died 9 April 1891 at Willingdon, was proved 7 May at Lewes by Ellen Mockett of Willingdon, widow, the relict, the sole executrix. Personal estate £533 13s. 6d. 5
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