Wroughton Family Tales II

Wroughton Family Tales II

Morgan, Carpenter, Buckerfield, Jeffries and Bathe

Morgan, Buckerfield and Carpenter

At some point in the early decades of the 19th century, a tailor by the name of Morgan arrived in the Wiltshire village of Wroughton. It is unclear whether his first name was William or John – it seems he used both.

On 19 November 1827, he married a local girl, Honor Buckerfield, at Wroughton. On this occasion he signed his name as William Morgan[1].

Towards the end of 1829 the couple had a son, John Morgan. He was never baptised but on 9 May 1830, at the age of 8 months, was buried at Wroughton[2]. Almost a year later, on 1 May 1831, Emma Mary Morgan, daughter of William, a tailor, and Honor Morgan, was baptised at Wroughton[3].

Later that same year, and now appearing in the records as John Morgan, the tailor fell ill and was paid 5 shillings poor relief on 4 August 1831[4]. Wroughton was not his parish of legal settlement and so the Overseers of the Poor for Wroughton, not wishing to be saddled with the cost of supporting him and his family, obtained a Removal Order from the magistrates on 11 August. This order would have sent John Morgan, his wife Honor and daughter Emma Mary aged 4 months, to Morgan’s place of legal settlement – the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, in Somerset[5]. However, the removal had to be suspended because of John Morgan’s sickness and infirmity, and the Overseers had to continue paying relief of 9 shillings a week for the next 13 weeks[6].

He died in mid-November 1831 and was buried at Wroughton on 15 November, aged 32, under the name John Morgan[7].

A little over a week after the funeral, Honor and Emma Mary were taken to Taunton, at a cost of £7 19 shillings, but not before the Overseers had had to pay another two weeks’ relief of 9 shillings to John’s widow[8].

Honor was the daughter of Henry Buckerfield and his wife Mary (nee Ponting). Although Henry had been born in the neighbouring parish of Chiseldon in 1774 (he was baptised there on 31 July 1774[9]) and had married there on 15 December 1799[10], his place of legal settlement had become Wroughton and so on 9 April 1801, the Overseers of the Poor of Chiseldon obtained a Removal Order for Henry and his wife to be sent to Wroughton[11] and it was here that Mary gave him two children, Richard, baptised 27 February 1803[12], and Honor, baptised 26 April 1807[13].

Clearly Honor felt her roots were in Wiltshire rather than Somerset and by 1835, she was back in Wroughton where, on 28 May, a daughter, Mary, born to Honor Morgan, widow, was baptised[14].

Two years later, on 11 June 1837, Sarah Ann, described as the base born daughter of Honor Morgan, widow, was also baptised at Wroughton[15], followed by George, son of Honor Morgan, widow, on 23 July 1839[16], and finally Elizabeth, daughter of Honour Morgan, single woman, on 4 April 1841[17].

At the time of the 1841 census, taken on the night of 6 June, the occupants of one house in Wroughton were: John Carpenter, 37, a tailor, and Honor Morgan, 34, a female servant, together with her five children – Emma (10), Mary (6), Sarah (4), George (2) and Elizabeth (4 months)[18].

Towards the end of that year, 1841, John Carpenter married Honor Morgan, but not in the parish church[19].

John and Honor were to have two children after their marriage and it is possible, indeed probable, that John was the father of one or more of the children born to Honor earlier.

On 8 October 1843, the first of their legitimate children, Emily, was baptised in Wroughton[20] and at the same time, George was baptised as George Carpenter and described as the son of John, a tailor, and Honor[21]. There is no evidence that this was a different child to the one baptised in 1839.

Their second legitimate child, Ellen, was born in 1847[22] and baptised on 6 October 1849[23].

Honor’s oldest child, Emma Morgan, married William Smith, a labourer, at Wroughton on 8 July 1850. Both bride and groom were 19 years old and Emma’s father was given as William Morgan, tailor[24].

On census night 1851, (30 March), the Carpenter household consisted of John, Honor, Anne (=Sarah Ann), George, Elizabeth, Emily and Ellen[25], while newly-weds William and Emma Smith, both agricultural labourers, were about five miles away in Rodbourne Cheney[26].

The records of some members of the family are a little sparse after the 1851 census: John Carpenter, for example, disappears altogether and there is no further record linked to him. Honor’s second child, Mary, is missing from both the 1851 and the 1861 censuses but reappears, in Manchester, in 1862 (see later).

Meanwhile in Wroughton in the 1850s, three members of the family died: Honor, who was buried at Wroughton on 19 April 1855, aged 48[27]; Emily, buried 2 August 1855, aged 12[28]; and Ellen, buried 18 December 1860 and said to be aged 14[29].

In the 1861 census (7 April), George Carpenter was a carter, working for Charles Reach, a farmer in Iron Acton, Gloucestershire[30]. This is the last record so far found for George.

By 1861, Emma and her husband William Smith were back in Wroughton with their first child, Philip, aged 2. Also in their household was a dressmaker, “Ann Carpenter”, described as sister-in-law. This was Sarah Ann Morgan, who frequently dropped her first name (as in the 1851 census), and was then known as a member of the Carpenter family[31].

However, on 5 October 1861, “Sarah Ann Morgan”, spinster of full age, married Richard Osman, bachelor of full age, in Wroughton. In the marriage register Sarah’s father’s name was left blank[32].

The witnesses to this marriage were Richard’s older sister Martha Osman, and the man Martha was to marry on 14 July 1862, George Bathe[33].

On 14 May 1862, Elizabeth Morgan, spinster, married Philip Prince, bachelor, baker and son of James White Prince, former schoolmaster in Wroughton. Again, Elizabeth’s father’s name was left blank in the register. The witnesses on this occasion were Richard and Sarah Ann Osman[34].

Later the same year, on 24 August 1862, in St John’s Church, Manchester, Mary Morgan, 25, spinster, married Herbert Cuss, 22, bachelor, an engineer. Mary stated her father was John Morgan, tailor[35], and in later censuses, she claimed to have been born in Wroughton[36].

It is not known when Mary moved north, but Herbert Cuss (whose birth was registered in Cricklade, Wiltshire, in 1840 as Edward Herbert Cuss[37], but who was baptised as William Herbert Cuss[38]), was living in Yorkshire in 1861[39]. After they were married, Mary and Herbert moved frequently, their children being born in Manchester, Sheffield and Rotherham. It is not known when Herbert died, but Mary was widowed by 1891[40] and she herself died in Prestwich, Lancashire, in 1894[41].

Of her sisters, Sarah Ann died at the beginning of 1874 and was buried at Wroughton on 27 January that year[42], while Elizabeth, whose first husband Philip Prince died in 1871[43], married Eli Hughes, a baker, in Bath in 1872[44] and lived in Wroughton[45] until her death early in 1891. She was buried in Wroughton on 12 February that year[46].

While Emma’s husband William Smith lived into his nineties and died on 25 January 1926[47], Emma herself died in 1897 and was buried at Wroughton on 7 April[48].

The Jeffries

The 1841 census referred to earlier lists some relations of Honor’s in the house next to that occupied by her and John Carpenter.

This family’s surname was variously spelt Jefferies, Jeffris, Jefferys, Jaffries, etc, but for consistency, the most common variant at the time, Jeffries, is the one used in this article.

The occupants of the next house were: Ann Jeffries (75) and Thomas Jeffries (25), Martha Buckerfield (40) and her children Harriet (14), Joseph (12), James (10) and Mary (7)[49].

Honor’s elder brother Richard Buckerfield had married Martha Jeffries in Wroughton on 20 August 1828. Martha’s sister Mary Anne Jeffries acted as one witness[50].

Martha was the second daughter of Joseph and Ann Jeffries, born 30 September 1803 and baptised in Chiseldon on 30 October[51].

Joseph Jeffries, like Henry Buckerfield, had been born in Chiseldon. He was baptised there, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jeffries, on 27 May 1764[52]. He married Ann Jeffries in Wanborough on 27 September 1798[53]. She had been born in Broad Hinton and baptised there on 18 June 1775[54], the daughter of John and Elizabeth Jeffries. If there was any familial relationship between Joseph and Ann, the closest link would have been first cousins, but as the Jeffries name was fairly common across north Wiltshire, it is likely they were only distantly related if at all.

Joseph and Ann moved frequently after their marriage. Their children were baptised in Wroughton (Lucy 1802)[55], Chiseldon (Martha 1803)[56], Wanborough (Mary Anne 1806)[57], Liddington (Joseph 1810)[58], Chiseldon again (Richard 1812, Thomas 1815, Elizabeth 1818)[59], and then Swindon (John 1821)[60]. There may have been other children who were never baptised before they died: when the younger Joseph was baptised in 1810, he was referred to as their sixth child, although only three older siblings have been identified.

The Chiseldon baptismal records gave the Jeffries’ abode as Badbury both when Thomas was baptised in 1815 and when Elizabeth was baptised in 1818, but on the latter occasion, it was also noted that the family were parishioners of Swindon[61]. Badbury is a hamlet in the parish of Chiseldon about 2 miles south of Swindon and on the road from Chiseldon to Liddington.

After a period in Swindon in the 1820s, Joseph and Ann, as well as other members of the family, moved to Wroughton sometime around 1827. Joseph died in Wroughton in 1830 when he was nearly 66 and was buried there on 7 April[62]. Ann survived him by over 25 years and was buried at Wroughton on 1 June 1856 when she was 81[63]. In the census of 1851, Ann was described as pauper pastry cook[64].

Lucy Jeffries

Of the eight known children, the oldest, Lucy Jeffries, baptised in Wroughton on 12 July 1802[65], married John Cox in Chiseldon on 23 May 1820[66] and their first child, Ambrose Cox, was baptised In Chiseldon two months later, on 23 July 1820[67]. In all, Lucy gave John Cox five children, the last, Thomas Cox, being baptised in Chiseldon on 20 December 1835[68]. It appears that this final pregnancy did not go well and three months after his birth, Thomas died and was buried on 17 February 1836[69]. Lucy died a week later and was buried on 25 February 1836[70].

Martha Jeffries

Martha Jeffries, born in Chiseldon on 30 September and baptised a month later on 30 October 1803[71], was working as a servant in Wroughton in the mid-1820s when she fell pregnant. The fact that her parents were living in Swindon at the time meant the Wroughton Overseers sought a Removal Order against her to send her to Swindon. This was granted on 21 September 1826[72].

However, as Joseph and Ann moved from Swindon to Wroughton shortly afterwards, Martha’s new daughter, Harriet, was baptised there on 4 February 1827[73], about 18 months before Martha married Richard Buckerfield.

Mary Anne Jeffries

The story of Mary Anne Jeffries, who was baptised at Wanborough on 18 May 1806[74], appears in more detail later. Suffice it to say at this stage, she also fell pregnant before she was married. On this occasion, a Bastardy Order was made against the reputed father – Robert Cook, yeoman of Roundway, Devizes. This order was made on 7 May 1829 for the male child born to Mary Anne on 7 March 1829[75].

Mary Anne decided to call the child Robert, after the reputed father, and he was baptised on 7 June 1829[76].

Joseph Jeffries

Joseph Jeffries junior was born in Liddington on 16 February 1810 and baptised there on 4 March[77]. He never married and was buried in Wroughton, aged 22, on 22 February 1832[78]. Since the beginning of the previous November, he had been receiving poor relief of 2s 9d a week, paid fortnightly, because he was sick[79].

Richard Jeffries

A Richard Jeffries was baptised at Chiseldon on 12 July 1812[80], but he may have died and a second child given the name Richard.

Richard Jeffries was in Wroughton at the beginning of 1832 when he received various small sums in poor relief – possibly because he undertook certain jobs for the parish[81] – but on 11 October 1833 he enlisted in the army[82], claiming that he was 19 years and 5 months old (ie born May 1814). However, there is no direct evidence of the child born in 1812 dying soon after baptism nor of a second child with the same name being born within two years.

Richard was not too enamoured of army life and soon deserted. In fact, he ran when at Bristol just 10 days after taking “the King’s Shilling” – in fact 2s 6d – on enlistment. He returned to Wiltshire where he was arrested for desertion and then later accused of arson[83], an event described in more detail later.

He was held at Fisherton Gaol, Salisbury, until his trial at the Lent Assizes when he was found not guilty of setting the fire, but then turned over to the military authorities on 18 April 1834. He was taken to Sunderland where the reserve of his regiment, 8th (King’s) Foot, was stationed, and brought before a district court martial on 28 April 1834.

His punishment was 9 days’ imprisonment and 21 days’ loss of service (the days between his enlistment and his desertion, and the days between his release from Salisbury and his court martial). These 21 days were restored to his service record by War Office authority on 4 October 1845.

The depot companies of 8th Foot embarked for Ireland in the summer of 1835, and landed at Cork on 30 June. Then, in December 1836, 1021 Private Richard Jeffries joined one of the service companies of his regiment in Jamaica, where he stayed until April 1839. The regiment then sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving in May. Richard’s military records show he was 2 years and 137 days in the West Indies and a further 1 year and 164 days in North America. On 2 December 1841, the service companies embarked at Halifax and sailed for Ireland, landing at Cork on 27 December where they were joined by the depot companies.

The regiment proceeded to Dublin in the spring of 1842 and a year later, on 10 April 1843, sailed from Dublin and, after landing at Liverpool, marched to Bolton, furnishing detachments to several places in Lancashire.

In 1846, the regiment began a 14-year posting to India, stationed initially in the Bombay Presidency, an area covering parts of modern-day Pakistan as well as a large area of western India and the port of Aden, now in Yemen[84].

Richard Jeffries went to India with the regiment and served there for 3 years and 119 days before his discharge on medical grounds was considered. A regimental board assembled at Kurrachee (Karachi) on 27 November 1849 to consider the case.

The board recorded that Richard had served for 15 years and 226 days, of which a total of 7 years and 55 days had been abroad. It noted that his conduct had been good, apart from having to face a court martial at the start of his service.

But the reason for the board was Richard’s health. Assistant regimental surgeon Richard Domenichetti MD stated: “Pte Richard Jeffries suffers from epilepsy in its most aggravated shape, and the paroxysms are generally of long duration. It is not attributable to the effects of climate and has its origin in constitutional predisposition.”

Richard was shipped back to the UK and admitted to the military hospital at Chatham, where, on 31 May 1850, the medical officer reported: “After examination and 19 days treatment in this General Hospital I am of opinion that Richard Jeffries is unfit for service and likely to be permanently disqualified for Military Duty.”

His discharge was then confirm on 25 June.

Richard’s discharge papers also give a brief description of him: he had dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and a fresh complexion and he was 5ft 7⅞in tall – he had grown since his enlistment when he measured 5ft 6½in. He was also said to have a “scar from a burn, form circular and nearly the size of a shilling under the lower jaw, mark of a cut obliquely across the last joint of the right forefinger palmar aspect”[85].

By 1851, Richard was back in Wroughton, working as a farm labourer and lodging in a cottage on the Blagrove Farm with, among others, his nephew Robert Jeffries and next door to his sister Elizabeth and her husband Charles Collier and their children[86].

The following year, Richard acted as a witness at the marriage of Robert to Susannah Cook[87]. He died on 4 July 1855[88].

Thomas Jeffries

Thomas Jeffries was born in Chiseldon on 6 February 1815 and was baptised there on 27 March[89]. He worked as an agricultural labourer and never married, living with his mother in Wroughton[90] until she died in 1856. He was living on his own in 1861[91] and died at the end of 1869, aged 54. He was buried on 23 December 1869[92].

Elizabeth Jeffries

Elizabeth Jeffries was born on 30 August 1818 and baptised in Chiseldon on 27 September[93]. On 25 December 1838 she married Charles Collier, a labourer from Elcombe, one of the tithings of Wroughton[94].

Charles and Elizabeth had eight children before Elizabeth died in 1861, aged 42. She was buried in Wroughton on 15 February 1861[95].

John Jeffries

Little is known of the youngest of Joseph and Ann’s children, John. He was baptised in Swindon on 18 January 1821[96], but no further records have so far been found.

Richard Buckerfield and Martha Jeffries

Richard Buckerfield had a number of clashes with the law during his 20s. His name appears in the Wiltshire Quarter Session Calendar on two occasions in 1824, once in 1825, twice in 1826 and once in 1835[97].

At the January 1825 session of the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions, he was charged with “offences under the Game Laws”, ie poaching, but he was found not guilty[98]. A year later, he was again in court charged with poaching and this time was found guilty. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at the House of Correction, Devizes[99].

Later the same year, he was indicted for assaulting Daniel Jerom “to which indictment he neglected to appear”[100].

At the end of 1833 he was remanded for further examination at the time his brother-in-law was accused of setting the fire at Pickett’s farm, but was never charged with anything in connection with that event[101]. The following year, he and another Wroughton man, Joseph Cooper, were jailed for six weeks each, “for destroying an elm tree, the property of the right honourable the Governor of the Charter House in the parish of Wroughton”[102].

Richard Buckerfield married Martha Jeffries on 20 August 1828[103]. Martha already had one child, Harriet, and four more children were baptised in Wroughton, but one of them, Elizabeth, died within a few months of her birth. She was baptised on 21 April[104] and buried on 26 June 1833[105].

The other three were Joseph, baptised 9 February 1829[106]; James, baptised 20 April 1831[107]; and Mary, baptised 19 October 1834[108].

It is not clear what happened to Richard Buckerfield after 1835 – he just seems to disappear from the records.

In the 1841 census, Martha and her children were living with her mother and younger brother[109]. Martha died at the beginning of 1847 and was buried in Wroughton on 7 February[110].

James died when he was 10 years old and was buried on 17 August 1841[111]. Harriet died when she was 21 and was buried on 6 June 1848[112].

Joseph Buckerfield

It is not known where Joseph was in 1851, but on 4 December 1853 he married Emma Osman at St Stephen’s, Shepherds Bush, in the west of London[113]. Joseph and Emma’s first child, Elizabeth Emma Buckerfield, was born there on 8 July and baptised at St Stephen’s on 6 August 1854[114]. By the summer of 1856, the family had moved to Alverstoke in Hampshire, when their second child, Joseph William Buckerfield, was born[115]. Two more children were born in Alverstoke by 1861[116], but by mid-1863, the family were back in London where a daughter was born in St Giles registration district[117]. Then Joseph moved his family south of the Thames, to Wandsworth where another child was born in 1865[118].

Again, it is not clear what happened to Joseph. He was still in Wandsworth in 1881[119] and his widow was there in 1891[120]. The only Joseph Buckerfield (a not very common name) to die in that decade was in Wroughton in 1890. It is possible that Joseph had returned to his place of birth, some 50 years since he was last recorded in the village, and died there. Certainly the Joseph Buckerfield buried in Wroughton on 24 September 1890[121] was of the right age (61) and there are no other candidates.

Mary Buckerfield

On census night 1851, Joseph’s younger sister Mary was a pauper at the Union Workhouse in Stratton St Margaret[122]. She was in the Workhouse again in 1856 when she gave birth to a base-born son, who was baptised Joseph on 20 January[123]. The child died when a year old and, although he died at the Workhouse, he was buried at Wroughton on 18 March 1857[124].

Not long after this, Mary left Wiltshire and travelled to Alverstoke, where her brother Joseph was by then living. Here, on 25 December 1857, she married John Pratt[125] and in 1861 was living with her husband and three children not far from Alverstoke in Portsea[126]. The 1861 census is the last record of Mary or any members of the Pratt family so far found in the UK which suggests they may have emigrated.

Mary Anne Jeffries and John Bathe

As mentioned earlier, Mary Anne Jeffries gave birth to an illegitimate child, Robert Jeffries on 7 March 1829 and a Bastardy Order was made against the reputed father, Robert Cook. This order meant that, first, Cook had to pay £2 16 shillings towards Mary Anne’s lying-in, maintenance of the child until the date of the order, and the cost of making the order. Second, Cook had to pay 2 shillings a week to support the child for as long as the child was chargeable on the parish[127].

The Overseers’ Accounts show that Cook paid £7 16 shillings for the period from the birth of the child to 23 April 1830[128], £3 12 shillings for the year to Lady Day (25 March) 1831[129], and another £4 up to 25 February 1832[130]. There is no record of any further payment by Cook to 5 April 1833, the last period for which records are available.

Mary Anne, however, received one payment of 15 shillings towards her lying-in on 13 March 1829[131], six days after the birth, and a further 5 shillings on 27 March[132]. She then started to receive “bastard pay”, of 8 shillings every four weeks[133].

Then, on 28 December 1835, Mary Anne married John Bathe, who was eight years her junior[134]. With the marriage, Robert Jeffries, by then six years old, ceased to be chargeable on the parish and Robert Cook would no longer have to pay towards his maintenance.

John Bathe was baptised on 11 April 1814, the son of Robert Bathe and Susanna (nee Whale)[135]. John and Mary Anne had one child of their own, Sarah Bathe, baptised on 9 April 1837[136], but early in 1840, John died and was buried at Wroughton on 8 March 1840[137].

Before they were married, both John and Mary Anne received small amounts of poor relief. For example, John received 16 payments between November 1831 and June 1832 totalling £3 11s 4d; Mary Anne received £1 19s 0d in 12 payments over the same time[138].

In 1841, Mary Anne, an agricultural labourer, was living in Wroughton near her mother-in-law, Susanna, and her sisters-in-law and their families. With Mary Anne were her son Robert, aged 12, and daughter Sarah, aged 4, together with two male agricultural labourers, George Speck and William Osborne, both in their early 20s[139].

The 1841 census was taken on the night of 6 June, and the next day, William Osborne married another near neighbour, Dinah Gingall, with George Speck as one witness[140].

George Speck was a younger brother of James Speck, the husband of Elizabeth Bathe, Mary Anne’s sister-in-law. George and Mary Anne had at least one, and possibly two children, outside marriage: Harriet Speck Bathe who was baptised on 2 October 1842[141] and Lucy Bathe who was baptised on 1 December 1844[142] but who died in infancy and was buried on 21 February 1847[143].

Mary Anne Bathe died about two and a half years after her youngest daughter and was buried on 29 July 1849.[144] A month before Mary Anne’s death, on 26 June 1849, George Speck had married another woman, Maria Gale[145]. Nevertheless, at the time of the 1851 census, besides their own three-month old baby daughter, George and Maria had the 9-year-old Harriet Bathe, described as an orphan, living with them[146].

It is not known where Harriet was in 1861, but on 14 June 1863, there is a record of the baptism of Lucy Ann Bathe, daughter of Harriet Bathe, spinster and occupant of the Stratton Union Workhouse[147].

In 1871, Harriet was working as a cook in a household in Acton, under the name Harriet Bathe[148], while her daughter Lucy was a boarder with George Speck and his family in Stratton St Margaret[149].

When Harriet married John Bradley at Acton parish church on 15 June 1873, she used the name Speck and gave George Speck as her father. The witnesses to this marriage included Emma Young, the daughter of the house where Harriet had worked in 1871, and Hannah Treacher, housemaid in the same household[150].

What happened to Lucy Ann Bathe is not known, but Harriet had six children with John Bradley. Harriet died on 9 October 1898 and was buried at St Mary, Acton, on 13 October[151].

John and Mary Anne’s only legitimate child, Sarah Bathe, was with her mother in Wroughton in 1841 but after her mother died she entered the Stratton Union Workhouse where she was at the time of the 1851 census[152]. Ten years later, she was working as a housemaid in Swindon[153] and then, on 30 November 1862, she married a cousin, William Bathe, son of Joseph Bathe[154].

William and Sarah had eight children and Sarah died in 1902, being buried at Wroughton on 27 May[155].

The Fire at Samuel PIckett’s Farm

The fire at Pickett’s farm on the night of 4 November 1833 was widely reported. This was a period of considerable discontent among the rural poor and the crime of “Incendiarism”, of setting light to barns, hay ricks, and other farm materials, had become widespread in response to high food prices, and low wages. It was only natural that the press and the authorities saw this fire as another case of arson.

The newspaper reports immediately after the fire and at the time the alleged perpetrator was arrested and committed for trial were damning. Such phraseology if used today would result in the newspaper publishers being charged with contempt of court, or of perverting the course of justice, or with both offences.

However, the details of the case as reported at the time make interesting reading, giving insights into where the Jeffries family and others villagers lived. Like many reporters, then and today, names were often misspelt, facts were wrong, and a certain amount of fantasy added.

Because of the national interest in such a crime, many of the reports were syndicated to other newspapers throughout the country, and some of these added further mistakes during typesetting.

The chief suspect was Richard Jeffries who had deserted his regiment only a few days before. His brother-in-law Richard Buckerfield was suspected of being an accessary and was also detained.

Richard Jeffries was tried and found not guilty[156]; Richard Buckerfield was never charged.

The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette 7 November 1833

On Monday evening two wheat ricks, a bean rick, a hay rick, a barn and a stable, the property of Mr Samuel Pickett of Wroughton, near Swindon, were consumed by fire – the work of an incendiary. The wretch took care to kindle the fire in that part of the farm yard where the wind (blowing strong at the time) was likely to have the greatest effect; and if his object was merely the destruction of property, it has been fully accomplished. Mr Pickett, we are happy to say, was insured. The fire was discovered at about 7 in the evening, and raged with ungovernable fury, until it could find no further vent. Mr Pickett, at the time, was not returned from Swindon market.

The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette 28 November 1833

COMMITTED TO FISHERTON GAOL – Richard Jefferies, charged on suspicion of having wilfully set fire to a stack of straw, the property of Samuel Ballard Pickett, at Wroughton

The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette 28 November 1833

INCENDIARISM

We are sure it will give great satisfaction to our readers generally, and to those of the agricultural class in particular, (they being the most frequent sufferers by incendiarism) to be informed, that the perpetration of an instance of that dreadful crime is likely to be fully brought to light in this county, and the guilt of the perpetrator established by a chain of strong evidence. – We are alluding to the destructive fire which happened at Mr. Samuel Ballard Pickett’s, at Wroughton, on the night of Monday, the 4th of November. We gave an account of that calamity in our paper of the 7th instant, and we now feel it our duty to relate the active measures which were afterwards taken, and are now likely to bring to conviction and punishment the perpetrator of that atrocious act. On Thursday after the fire, a meeting was convened of magistrates, gentry, clergy, and other respectable inhabitants of Swindon, Wroughton, Chisledon, and the adjoining parishes; at which meeting resolutions were entered into, expressive, in the first place, of the utmost abhorrence of the crime of incendiarism; and in the next, of an absolute determination to co-operate in every possible manner to discover and bring to justice all persons concerned in the odious crime of maliciously setting fire to property. It was further resolved to enter into a subscription, and raise a fund, to be placed at the disposal of a select committee, who should have full power to apply it in any manner they might deem expedient, to discover the author of the fire at Mr. Picket’s, or any future similar offence. To shew the spirit with which these resolutions were agreed to, we need only to state, that upwards of £150 was collected in the room, and a committee was at once chosen. No sooner had the meeting broken up, that the gentlemen of the committee assembled privately, and amongst other measures (such as corresponding with the Home Secretary of State, issuing divers hand-bills, &c. &c.) they determined on sending for a police officer from London. Samuel Stevens, a most active and diligent officer, was sent down, and arrived at Swindon on the Saturday following, the 9th instant. He immediately commenced his enquiries and investigation, and employed himself unceasingly from that time until Wednesday, the 20th, in investigating every circumstance that could throw the least light upon the transaction; but so dark, secret, and almost impenetrable are the acts, the motives, and designs of the perpetrators of this species of crime, that it was not until the day last mentioned that Stevens had collected sufficient information to satisfy himself as to the discretion of apprehending any suspected persons. On that day he obtained warrants against divers persons, and caused them to be apprehended ‘all at one and the same time.’ A man named Richard Jeffries, a deserter from the 8th foot, then a prisoner in Marlboro’ Bridewell, was also brought to Swindon, and on Friday morning an examination of all the prisoners was commenced before T. Calley, esq M.P. Col. Vilett, and the Rev. T.H.Ripley. Here we must record, though we cannot do justice to, the indefatigable exertions, the unshrinking labour, the long and patient attention, and the persevering energy, combined with temperate judgment, displayed by those Magistrates throughout the trying and laborious investigation which ensued. The whole of Friday, part of the following day, and the whole of Monday and Tuesday, till a late hour each night, regardless of time or private convenience, were devoted by them to the investigation of every circumstance, which could form a connecting link in the chain of evidence, and those only who know or will reflect upon the difficulties that present themselves in detecting the crime of incendiarism, a crime often committed by one solitary individual, and (unlike robberies) seldom leaving a clue to discovery, one moment after the act has been committed, can form any idea of the pains and labour that were required and bestowed to sift out, unravel, and apply the numerous minute circumstances which now form a chain of evidence in this extraordinary case. The particulars it would not be right to give:– suffice it to say, that Richard Jefferies (the deserter) is fully committed for trial on the charge of being the person who actually set fire to the property. – Richard Buckerfield, another of the apprehended parties, has been remanded for further examination; and James Simkins, bound to appear to give evidence; besides whom, there is a long list of witnesses. Great satisfaction is felt in the neighbourhood of Swindon at this result, as it is hoped it will shew the wicked and malicious that they are not sure to escape detection in the perpetration of this crime. We must not concluded this account without adding that the Magistrates were so well pleased with the diligence and active exertions of Stevens, the Bow-street officer, that they not only publicly expressed their approbation of his conduct, but testified it also in very high terms in a letter to Sir Frederick Rose, the Chief Magistrate. Great praise is also due to Mr. Pickett, for his spirit and perseverance in promoting the purposes of justice.

Morning Advertiser 30 November 1833

INCENDIARISM

Yesterday afternoon, Stevens the officer reported to Mr Halls at Bow-street, that he had, in consequence of the order he had received, been down to Rawton, near Swindon, Wiltshire, to endeavour to detect the perpetrators of one of the most daring acts of incendiarism ever committed. On Sunday evening, the 3d instant, a corn-rick, two hay-ricks, two barns filled with corn, and several out-houses well stored, amounting in value altogether to nearly 2000l., were discovered to be on fire. The whole of the structures commenced burning at one time, a circumstance which afforded a convincing proof that the calamity was the work of an incendiary.

The ricks, barns, &c. were the property of Samuel Ballard Pigott, Esq. of Rawton. The local Magistrates had sent a special messenger to Bow-street, to request the assistance of one of their most experienced officers. Stevens was sent down, and on making inquiries ascertained that a young man, named Richard Jefferies, the son of a tenant of Mr Smith, was confined in the gaol at Marlborough, on a charge of being a deserter from the 10th Regiment of Foot – that he was a young man of loose habits, and had been seen under very suspicious circumstance near the premises of Mr Pigott, on the night of the fire. Stevens made inquiries, and testimony was adduced to prove that the prisoner went into a chandler’s shop close to the premises of Mr Pigott, and purchased several bundles of matches, and some tobacco, with which he filled a pipe and lit it, and then was seen to leap a five-barred gate, leading into the enclosures in which the barns and ricks were situated. In a very few minutes after the prisoner went into a cottage, within which were two elderly woman, and begged to be allowed to remain for a short time, as officers were in pursuit of him on account of a bastard child. They consented to shelter him, and placed him in the back part of the cottage; but he had not been many moments there before an alarm of fire was given, and the whole of the property already mentioned was in a blaze. The prisoner ran out to assist in extinguishing the flames, and left part of the matches which he had bought behind him at the cottage. It was further proved that on the same evening he had called upon his brother-in-law, who lives close to Mr Pigott’s estate, and said in the course of conversation, “there will be mischief to night or I am ––– deceived.” Stevens, upon ascertaining these facts, went to the prisoner at the gaol, who admitted having been in the cottage occupied by the two females, but said that he merely went in there to assist them in removing their furniture after the fire had broken out. Upon these facts being ascertained the prisoner was taken by Stevens before the bench of Magistrates at Swindon, and when, upon the above and other evidence of a corroborative nature, the prisoner, who seemed much depressed, and said nothing before the Magistrates, was fully committed to Salisbury gaol for trial at the next assizes for the county.

The loss sustained by Mr Pigott is immense.

The Globe 30 November 1833

APPREHENSION and COMMITTAL of a SUPPOSED INCENDIARY

At seven in the evening of Sunday, the 3d instant, a fire broke out at the farm of Mr. Samuel Ballard Pickett, who resides at Wroughton, near Swindon, in Wiltshire, and the flames spread with such rapidity that before assistance could arrive a barn, containing 90 sacks of wheat, together with two wheat ricks, one bean rick, two hay stacks, and a large quantity of straw, were completely destroyed. As there could be no doubt that the fire was the work of an incendiary, information of the circumstance was transmitted to the public-office, Bow-street, and Stevens, the officer, was dispatched to the scene of the fire to endeavour to apprehend the offender, and, from information which he managed to obtain soon after his arrival, he was induced to suspect that a young man named Richard Jeffreys, was the guilty party. It appeared that a few days before the arrival of Stevens, and only two days after the fire took place, Jeffreys was apprehended as a deserter from the 10th Regiment of Foot, and lodged in the gaol at Marlborough, and Stevens, having ascertained that he was close to the fire when it took place, proceeded to Marlborough and questioned Jeffreys on the subject; and from the answers he received he was induced to take him to Swindon, where he underwent an examination before Messrs. Calley, Villett, and Ripley, Magistrates acting for Wiltshire. On being questioned as to where he was at the time of the fire he said he was on his way to Warrington, in company with a man named Matthews, who was a carter employed by Mr. Pavey, and that they were on Swindon-hill, which is two miles and a half from Mr. Pickett’s farm, when they first saw the flames. The Prisoner having made his statement was remanded, and from the inquiries which Stevens made subsequently he ascertained that the account which the Prisoner had given before the Magistrates was false in every particular, as he was proved not to have been in the company of Matthews, the carter, on the night in question, nor was he at Warrington at all with that person. The Prisoner, on being again brought before the Magistrates, admitted the falsehood of his former statement, and said the truth was, that when the fire broke out he was within 300 or 400 yards of it; that as soon as he saw the flames he ran with others to the farm to assist in putting them out; and that he helped to remove some furniture from a cottage adjoining the farmyard. This statement was contradicted by the evidence of the Prisoner’s mother, and other witnesses residing close to the spot, and it appeared that on the evening the fire took place the Prisoner went to his mother’s house and borrowed three matches in the name of his sister, to whose house he subsequently went, and lighted his pipe there. He then went out, and in about ten minutes after one of the ricks was observed in flames, and at that time the Prisoner was seen within fifteen yards of it. It was further proved that no sooner had the flames broken forth than the Prisoner rushed into one of the cottages close to the farmyard, and the woman who lived there said that he appeared as if he wished to hide himself. They also said that when they first saw the fire, which was just as the Prisoner entered, it was so small that had they been sufficiently near they could have covered it with an apron, but in a few seconds it blazed up in a terrible manner.

On this evidence the Prisoner was fully committed to Salisbury Gaol to take his trial at the next Assizes. His brother-in-law, a man named Buckerfield, against whom some suspicion of being an accessary attaches, is also in custody, awaiting the decision of the Magistrates. It did not appear in the course of the examination that the Prisoner could have any motive of revenge or spite to gratify, as Mr. Pickett had invariably behaved with great kindness to his family, who lived for many years on his farm; and in case of illness, or in seasons of scarcity, they frequently experienced his bounty.

The above facts were reported to Mr Halls on Friday by Stevens, on his return from Wiltshire.

The Salisbury and Winchester Journal 17 March 1834

Charge of Arson. – Richard Jefferies was indicted for setting fire to a rick or stack of straw, the property of Sam. Ballard Pickett, at Wroughton, on the 4th Nov 1833.

Samuel B. Pickett, occupying a farm at Wroughton, deposed that he went to Swindon Market on Monday, the 4th of November; heard a cry of fire there; left Swindon, and ran away homewards, and found that it was his own property which was burning. When he arrived, there was a straw rick and a barn burning. The barton consisted of a barn, stables, cow-house, wagon-shed, and all the other appendages of a farm-yard. The stock consisted of two stacks of straw, one hay-rick, two ricks of wheat, and one bean-rick. The two straw-ricks, the two wheat-ricks, the hay-rick, the barn, &c., were all consumed. A correct plan of the buildings, and of the other descriptions of property destroyed was produced. Witness said that the prisoner Jefferies lived about 90 yards from where the fire took place, along with his mother.

Elizabeth Pressey deposed that she lived servant with Mr. Pickett; on going into the yard she saw light and smoke; it seemed to come from the end of the house. She then went and alarmed her mistress; in about five or ten minutes, Mr. Pickett, the carrier, came up; it was about seven o’clock when it broke out.

Jane Collier is the wife of John Collier, the carter to Mr Pickett; lives in a cottage at the back of the premises; there is a window at one end of it, and an oven at the other. She heard footsteps going by the end where the oven was, and shortly afterwards the prisoner came to the window, and cried out “Fire, fire!” She ran out, and saw the straw-rick burning; it was not then so large but she might have covered it with her apron. She was so alarmed that she did not know what to so. She ran into her own cottage to secure her own things, and the prisoner ran after her, to assist her in bringing down her two boxes. Ann Avonhill then came out, and said, “who is it has done this?” Prisoner said, in reply, “How should I know?” On which she said to him, “D–n thee, thee hast done it!” There were two buckets standing near the spot. Ann Avonhill took up one of them, and ran with it to the pond, but was so alarmed, that she could not put down the bucket. Prisoner said he was at Mr. Pickett’s when the fire took place, and on hearing the cry of fire he ran home to alarm them, but he came round by the oven, which is the contrary road. Some persons came up in about ten minutes after the fire began; but there was no living soul near the spot when it first began but Jefferies.

Ann Avonhill confirmed the testimony of the preceding witness.

Martha Jefferies (the mother of the prisoner) deposed that on the 4th of November, in the evening, her son came to her, and said he wanted three matches for Martha Butterfield.

Martha Butterfield deposed that on the night of the fire, prisoner (who is her brother) came in about seven o’clock, went to the candle, lit his pipe, and went out; directly afterward she heard the cry of fire.

Richard Butterfield and Mary Butler deposed to the same effect.

Samuel Stevens, a Bow-street Officer, stated the result of several interviews he had had with the prisoner in Marlborough prison, where he was confined for being a deserter; but though he had convicted him of a hundred falsehoods, nothing was elicited which tended to bring home the charge of arson to prisoner in a satisfactory manner.

His Lordship summed up at great length. The Jury hesitated about their verdict, and solicited leave to retire; but in a few minutes after the bailiff had been sworn, and without leaving their box, they returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

Hampshire Advertiser and Salisbury Guardian 15 March 1834

WILTS LENT ASSIZES

Richard Jeffery, for setting fire to the premises of Samuel Ballard Pickett, on the 4th of November, at Wroughton, was acquitted. The reasons why suspicion attached to the prisoner were these: - He was heard going to the rick yard, and was the only person in the yard at the time. He said that he had seen the fire while at Mr. Pickett’s brother’s, which Mr. Pickett denied, saying that he had never seen him all that day; that he hastened to the spot to alarm the people, but took the way to the yard, instead of taking to the window of the carter, who, he said it was his intention to alarm; that after the alarm was given, although there were two buckets standing by him, he never took one of them to assist in extinguishing it; that on the night of the fire, and just before it took place, he went to his mother’s, Ann Jeffries, and said that he wanted three matches for his sister, Mary Butterfield. Mary Butterfield denied that she had ever sent him for any matches, or had ever seen any, although she let him have some; that just after he called at his sister’s, where there were four persons, lit his pipe, and went away. The house is about ninety yards from the farm yard; and in about ten minutes after he left the house, the straw rick was discovered to be on fire. – The prisoner said that he was with Mr. Pavey’s carrier, on Swindon Hill, when he first saw the fire. – The carter denied that he had ever seen him, being at that time in a distant part of the country. Mr Stevens, a Bow-street officer, went and questioned him in Marlborough Gaol on the subject; but he could get nothing from his lips but falsehoods. – The Judge, however, considered that although the circumstances were very strong against him, yet he did not consider the fact as to his setting fire to the rick brought home to him. He had told a number of gross falsehoods, – his conduct had been unjustifiable; but no motive could be adduced for the deed; and he had no doubt the Jury in returning their verdict would exercise a wise discretion. – Verdict – Not Guilty.

---

[1] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1813-1837 p51 No 152, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/12

[2] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p48 No 378, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[3] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p109 No 869, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[4] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 5th month 1831/2 Aug 4, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[5] Wroughton Removal Orders 1736-1845, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/105 (via “A History of Wroughton Poor Law Records” ed Jean A Cole, WFHS 1995, p31)

[6] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 5th-9th months 1831/2 various dates, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[7] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p52 No 416, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[8] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 9th month 1831/2 Nov 24, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[9] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1759-1802, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/3

[10] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1794-1813, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/5

[11] Wroughton Removal Orders 1736-1845, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/105 (via “A History of Wroughton Poor Law Records” ed Jean A Cole, WFHS 1995, p21)

[12] Wroughton Church of England Parish Register 1785-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/9

[13] Wroughton Church of England Parish Register 1785-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/9

[14] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p142 No 1135, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[15] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p158 No 1260, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[16] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p171 No 1363, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[17] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p181 No 1447, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[18] 1841 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1176, book 13, Wroughton District 4, folio 52, page 1 line 8 GSU roll 464196 (via Ancestry.com 1841 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 4 image 2)

[19] England & Wales Civil Marriage Registration Index 1837-1915 Highworth Vol 8 p575 Q4 1841

[20] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p201 No 1604, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[21] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p201 No 1603, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[22] England & Wales Civil Birth Register 1837-1915 Highworth Vol 8 p298 Q3 1847

[23] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1844-1873 p35 No 279, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/16

[24] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p59 No 117, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[25] 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 205 page 15 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7a image 28)

[26] 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 431 page 27 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Rodbourne Cheney>District 13a image 16)

[27] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p151 No 1205, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[28] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p152 No 1212, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[29] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p173 No 1380, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[30] 1861 England Census, The National Archives, RG9, piece 1746, folio 124, page 23 GSU roll 542861 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Gloucestershire>Iron Acton>District 8 image 24)

[31] 1861 England Census, The National Archives, RG9, piece 1271, folio 15, page 24 GSU roll 542787 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7h image 25)

[32] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p133 No 266, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[33] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p140 No 280, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[34] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p138 No 276, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[35] St John, Manchester, Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages Feb-Oct 1862 p198 No 396, Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives ref GB127.M403/6/3/36

[36] eg 1871 England Census, The National Archives, RG10, piece 4705, folio 110, page 10 GSU roll 847242 (via Ancestry.com 1871 England Census Yorkshire>Kimberworth>District 6 image 11)

[37] England & Wales Civil Birth Register 1837-1915 Cricklade Vol 8 p279 Q3 1840

[38] St Sampson, Cricklade Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1833-1915 p37 No 292, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1189/17

[39] 1861 England Census, The National Archives, RG9, piece 3497, folio 65, page 24 GSU roll 543141 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Yorkshire>Brightside Bierlow>District 19 image 25)

[40] 1891 England Census, The National Archives, RG12, piece 2251, folio 23, page 42 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Staffordshire>Walsall Foreign>Walsall>District 14 image 43)

[41] England & Wales Civil Death Registration Index 1837-1915 Prestwich Vol 8d p210 Q3 1894

[42] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p28 No 233, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[43] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p20 No 156, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[44] England & Wales Civil Marriage Registration Index 1837-1915 Bath Vol 5c p1046 Q3 1874

[45] 1881 England Census, The National Archives, RG11, piece 2017, folio 43, page 41 GSU roll 1341487 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 11 image 42)

[46] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p112 No 889, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[47] England & Wales National Probate Calender 1926 p374

[48] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p143 No 1141, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[49] 1841 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1176, book 13, Wroughton District 4, folio 52, page 1 line 8 GSU roll 464196 (via Ancestry.com 1841 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 4 image 2)

[50] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1813-1837 p55 No 164, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/12

[51] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1803-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/6

[52] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1759-1802, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/3

[53] Wanborough Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1798-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1788/8

[54] Broad Hinton Church of England Parish Register 1773-1806, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1505/4

[55] Wroughton Church of England Parish Register 1785-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/9

[56] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1803-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/6

[57] Wanborough Church of England Parish Register 1801-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1788/5

[58] Liddington Church of England Parish Register 1794-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1123/4

[59] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1803-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/6; Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p9 No 71 and p25 No 196, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[60] Swindon Christchurch with St Mary Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p42 No 336, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1357/5

[61] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p25 No 196, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[62] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p47 No 374, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[63] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p155 No 1236, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[64] 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 441 page 1 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7b image 2)

[65] Wroughton Church of England Parish Register 1785-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/9

[66] Chiseldom Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1813-1840 p18 No53, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/7

[67] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p33 No 258, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[68] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p105 No 836, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[69] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1886 p60 No 477, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[70] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1886 p60 No 478, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[71] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1803-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/6

[72] Wroughton Removal Orders 1736-1845, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/105 (via “A History of Wroughton Poor Law Records” ed Jean A Cole, WFHS 1995, p28)

[73] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p82 No 650, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[74] Wanborough Church of England Parish Register 1801-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1788/5

[75] Wroughton Bastardy Orders 1742-1839, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/107 (via “A History of Wroughton Poor Law Records” ed Jean A Cole, WFHS 1995, p50)

[76] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p95 No 760, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[77] Liddington Church of England Parish Register 1794-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1123/4

[78] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p54 No 426, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[79] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 9th month 1831/2 Nov 4 et seq, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[80] Chiseldon Church of England Parish Register 1803-1812, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/6

[81] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 eg Extra Pay 11th month 1831/2 Jan 18, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[82] Royal Hospital Chelsea, Soldiers’ Service Documents, Discharge Papers 1760-1854, 8th Foot, National Archives ref WO 97/297/114

[83] Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette 28 November 1833

[84] Richard Cannon, “Historical Records of the King’s Liverpool Regiment of Foot”, Harrison & Sons, London, 2nd Edition 1883, page 142 et seq

[85] Royal Hospital Chelsea, Soldiers’ Service Documents, Discharge Papers 1760-1854, 8th Foot, The National Archives ref WO 97/297/114

[86] 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 475 page 28 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7c image 29)

[87] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p73 No 145, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[88] Royal Hospital Chelsea, Return of Payments of Army and Other Pensions 1842-1883, The National Archives ref WO22/2 Bath District 1852-1862 p37 July 1855

[89] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p9 No 71, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[90] 1841 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1176, book 13, Wroughton District 4, folio 52, page 1 line 8 GSU roll 464196 (via Ancestry.com 1841 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 4 image 2); 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 441 page 1 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7b image 2)

[91] 1861 England Census, The National Archives, RG9, piece 1271, folio 15, page 24 GSU roll 542787 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7h image 25)

[92] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p10 No 78, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[93] Chiseldon Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1858 p25 No 196, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 639/8

[94] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p3 No 5, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[95] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p174 No 1387, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[96] Swindon Christchurch with St Mary Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p42 No 336, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1357/5

[97] Wiltshire Quarter Sessions Calendars 1728-1890 reported by findmypast.com

[98] Criminal Registers, England & Wales 1791-1892, National Archives Class HO27, piece 30, page 253: Wiltshire 1825

[99] Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 23 February 1826

[100] Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 5 October 1826

[101] Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 28 November 1833

[102] Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 13 February 1834

[103] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1813-1837 p55 No 164, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/12

[104] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p125 No 996, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[105] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p59 No 470, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[106] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p93 No 741, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[107] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p109 No 868, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[108] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p137 No 1094, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[109] 1841 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1176, book 13, Wroughton District 4, folio 52, page 1 line 8 GSU roll 464196 (via Ancestry.com 1841 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 4 image 2)

[110] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p112 No 896, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[111] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p90 No 718, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[112] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p120 No 954, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[113] St Stephen, Shepherd’s Bush Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1850-1874 p41 No 81, London Metropolitan Archives ref p80/ste/013

[114] St Stephen, Shepherd’s Bush Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1850-1895 p46 No 372, London Metropolitan Archives ref p80/ste/001

[115] England, Select Births and Christenings, Ancestry.com FHL film no 918901

[116] 1861 England Census, The National Archives RG9, piece 646, folio 111, page 9, GSU roll 542677 (via Ancestry.com 1861 England Census Hampshire>Alverstoke>District 10 image 10)

[117] England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915 St Giles Q3 1863 Vol 1b p461

[118] St Mary, Mortlake Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1852-1870 p138 No 1102, Surrey History Centre ref 2397/1/6

[119] 1881 England Census, The National Archives RG11, piece 658, folio 96, page 11, GSU roll 1341153 (via Ancestry.com 1881 England Census London>Wandsworth>District 17 image 12)

[120] 1891 England Census, The National Archives RG12, piece 447, folio 22, page 35 (via Ancestry.com 1891 England Census London>Wandsworth>District 12 image 33)

[121] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p110 No 880, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[122] 1851 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1833, folio 275 page 13 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Stratton St Margaret>Highworth & Swindon Union image 14)

[123] Stratton St Margaret Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1855-1880 p4 No 26, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 819/9

[124] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p158 No 1258, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[125] Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 FHL Film Number 918907

[126] 1861 England Census, The National Archives, RG9, piece 633, folio 96, page 4 GSU roll 542674 (via Ancestry.com 1861 Census Hampshire>Portsea>Kingston>District 12 image 5)

[127] Wroughton Bastardy Orders 1742-1839, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/107 (via “A History of Wroughton Poor Law Records” ed Jean A Cole, WFHS 1995, p50)

[128] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 “Money received for the Year ending Lady Day 1830”, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[129] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 “Money Received for the Year ending Lady Day 1831, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[130] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Money Received for the Year ending Lady Day 1832, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[131] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 13th month 1828/29 March 14, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[132] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 13th month 1828/29 March 27, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[133] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Bastard Pay 1th month 1829/30 et seq, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[134] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1813-1837 p83 No 249, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/12

[135] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p8 No 57, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[136] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p156 No 1242, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[137] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p83 No 657, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[138] Wroughton Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1817-1833 Extra Pay 8th month 1831/32 et seq, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/81

[139] 1841 England Census, The National Archives HO107, piece 1176, book 13, Wroughton District 4, folio 57, page 11 line 13 GSU roll 464196 (via Ancestry.com 1841 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 4 image 7)

[140] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p19 No 37, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[141] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1813-1844 p192 No 1536, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/13

[142] Wroughton Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1844-1873 p2 No 16, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/16

[143] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p113 No 898, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[144] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1813-1867 p126 No 1004, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/14

[145] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p55 No 109, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[146] 1851 England Census, The National Archives, HO107 piece 1833 folio 453 page 24 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Wroughton>District 7b image 25)

[147] Stratton St Margaret Church of England Register of Births and Baptisms 1855-1880 p58 No 459, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 819/9

[148] 1871 England Census, The National Archives RG10 Piece 1322 folio 47 page 31 GSU roll 828269 (via Ancestry.com 1871 England Census Middlesex>Acton>District 2 image 32)

[149] 1871 England Census, The National Archives RG10 Piece 1879 folio 25 page 19 GSU roll 830858 (via Ancestry.com 1871 England Census Wiltshire>Stratton St Margaret>District 15 image 17)

[150] St Mary, Acton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1867-1915 p149 No 297, London Metropolitan Archives ref dro/052/020

[151] St Mary, Acton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1891-1944 p 195 No 1554, London Metropolitan Archives ref dro/052/034

[152] 1851 England Census, The National Archives HO107 piece 1833, folio 276, page 14 GSU roll 220980 (via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Wiltshire>Stratton St Margaret>Highworth & Swindon Union Workhouse image 15)

[153] 1861 England Census, The National Archives RG9 piece 1271 folio 51 page 5 GSU roll 542787 (via Ancestry.com 1861 England Census Wiltshire>Swindon>District 09f image 6}

[154] Wroughton Church of England Register of Banns and Marriages 1837-1880 p145 No 289, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 551/15

[155] Wroughton Church of England Register of Deaths and Burials 1867-1911 p164 No 1309, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre ref 1847/9

[156] Criminal Registers, England & Wales 1791-1892, National Archives Class HO27, piece 48, page 363: Wiltshire 1834