John Maslen was born on the 23rd September 1787 in the village of Wilsford, Wiltshire, UK. He Married Mary Webb on the 26th October 1806 at Manningford, Wiltshire and they had nine children.
The first of these children, John (1807 - 1891), Married Sarah Neat and from that union there were five children, the oldest of which was Charles (1830 - 1876). Charles married Ann (unkown), who had four children, the oldest of which was another John (1853 - 1924).
Little is known of the above, at this stage, with the exception of John Maslen who was born on the 9th January 1853 at Box, Wiltshire. He had four brothers and three sisters.
According to a newspaper article in December 1924 "John Maslen had a thirst for adventure as a boy, and emulating the example of "Dick Whittington", walked to London, but did not find the streets "paved with gold". Homeless and hungry, he was glad to take a job as a pot boy at the "Old Bucks Head Hotel" at Battersea, where, to use his own expressive phrase, "he got more kicks than ha'pence!"
After a few months he joined the Royal Navy, and served with the fleet in the Crimean War. He had sailed round the world, and was one of the crew of the ship in which King Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales, took the journey on his historic visit to India. He had completed about 20 years service when he fell from aloft while on duty, receiving injuries which necessitated him being invalided from the Navy. At the end of his service he was rewarded with a monetary bonus and returned home to Box.
Shortly after he was invalided from the Navy, he had a trance, and was pronounced to be dead. His body was actually placed in a coffin for interment but even his mother refused to believe he was dead. That she was justified in her belief was proved just before the coffin lid was screwed down, because he showed signs of returning to consciousness. He was hastily removed to his bed, a doctor was fetched, and he eventually recovered his full vigor and lived to reach the great age of 71 years.
He became a stonemason, and was employed for many years by Messrs. Jacob Long and Sons. His last job for this firm and indeed his trade, was on the building of the Empire Hotel at Bath. Afterwards he was employed by Messrs. Bladwell at the Broad Quay, for whom he repaired cement bags, and latterley he did odd jobs for them and other local firms.
John
Maslen was a picturesque figure in the streets of Bath at Christmas time.
With his long flowing beard, and robed in his wonderful red gown, he endeared
himself to a host of the younger generation. Shortly before his last collapse
he was returning to the shop where he was employed (Messrs. Currys of Southgate
Street) to disrobe. He appeared to be in his usual health, and yet
a few minutes later he fell down. He died on the way to the Royal
United Hospital. He had suffered from a chest infection which he
had been receiving treatment for over the last three weeks. He had always
looked forward with much pleasure to again assuming the robes of "Father
Christmas" which he had done for the last three years. However on this
occasion he was not destined to wear it long because within an hour and
a half, he had entered his last rest.