Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    PUBZ3/7/172
  • Title
    Folio.294-296 William Townsend residing in St Paul, Bedford.
  • Date free text
    9 December 1830
  • Production date
    From: 1830 To: 1830
  • Scope and Content
    I am about 26 years of age, was born in Eaton Socon where my father George Townsend then and still resides and belongs, he having a birth settlement in that parish. When I was about 10 years old my father let me to Mrs Blackshaw of the Red Lion Inn in St Paul, Bedford to clean knives and draw beer at the wages of one shilling a week. I was to board in the house. I continued there on those terms for a year all but a fortnight. At the end of the year I have left her intending never to return, but I did return in about a fortnight or three weeks afterwards and again engaged to serve her on those terms. I served her in the second year for about nine months when I left and returned home. When I was about 14 years of age I entered into the service of Mr Christopher Walker of Alconbury Hill in the parish of Alconbury in the County of Huntingdon as a postboy. I heard he wanted a post boy and went to him and got the place. I told him Iheard he wanted a boy and he told me I might have a pair of horses to look after. Nothing was said about the time I was to serve my Master. We were at liberty to part at any time without any previous notice to each other.I boarded in the house. I received no wages but my pay was in the prerequisites I recieved from the gentlemen whom I drowve. I continued there on those terms for about two years and slept at all the time at Mr Walkers at Alconbury. I then entered into service at several other places but at no place for more than four months til I came to bedford in the month of May 1825 on the 31st of that month I was hired by Mr Higgins of the Swan Inn in St Paul, Bedford to clean and wash the chaises. One of the boys in the yard told me he wanted a chaise washer and I went to him. He gave me the place and agreed to give me three shillings a week besides what the boys gave me. They gave me two shillings more. He told me at the same time that in three or four weeks he would give me two pairs of horses. I continued chaise washer about 4 or 5 weeks when my Master told me I might have two pair of horses to drive and look after and hoped I should do my best by them. Nothing was said about wages but I knew my pay would come from the Gentlemen who used the horses - those prerequisites were optional, nothing was said about the time I was to serve we were at liberty to part at any time without previous notice. I did not sleep or board with my Master during the whole time but always lodged in the parish of St Paul. I considered I could leave my Master's service when I pleased. I continued in it upon those terms fro about three years and a half. I was married in May 1827 to Mary Ann Smith by whom I have two children living namely William aged two years and Harriett eleven monmth. I have done no act to gain a settlement subsequently to my leaving Mr Higgins.
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