PUBZ3/7/219

Folio.385-388 Sarah Wykes residing in St John, Bedford.

1 October 1831

From: 1831 To: 1831

I am about 20 years of age, was born in St John, Bedford where my father James Wykes then resided but belonged to Kempston, where I believe he still belongs, he having gained a settlement by being hired by Mr John Emery for a year and by service under that hiring. My father has often received relief from the Overseers of Kempston. About a week or a fortnight before Christmas 1825 my mother let me to Mrs Mary Kemp of St John, washerwoman to wash and iron for her at one shilling a week and my board. My mother told me that if I stopped more than one year I was to have more wages. I stopped with her for that year and my mistress then increased my wages to one shilling and three pence a week and my board. I was not paidweekly but received the money as I wanted it. I continued in Mrs Kemps service til April 1827 when I was taken ill and left. In the beginning of the month of May following I let myself to Mr John Swepson of St Mary for one twelvemonth at the wages of £3. I continued in his service til 19 April 1828 when my mistress and I had a few words and i left. I received £2.15 as my wages. I then went home til the following Michaelmas when I let myself to Mr Crow of St Peter for a twelvemonth at 2/- a week, where I remained until Christmas. I then went home and remained until Michaelmas 1829 when I let myself to Mr Michael Joseph of St Paul for a twelvemonth at fifteen pence a week, where I remained til Christmas following when my master left the town and I quitted his service. I again went home and stopped til 12 weeks before Michaelmas 1830 when I let myself to Mr William Coombs of St Paul til Michaelmas. At Michaelmas i let myself to Mr John Marsden of the parish of St Paul by the month where I remained until April 1831. From that time to the present I have been living at home with my father in St John. I am now with child, likely to be born a bastard and to be chargeable to the parish of St John. John Moore, apprentice to Mr James Francis of St Mary, bricklayer, is the father.

item

Wykes, Sarah,
Wykes, James,
Wykes, Ann,
Emery, John,
Kemp,
Swepson, John,
Crow,
Peck, William,
Joseph, Michael,
Coombs, William,
Moore, John,
Francis, James

BEDFORD, KEMPSTON, POVERTY, Poor Laws, Overseers, magistrate, Settlement, bastardy, trade & industry fairs, washerwoman, laundries, wages/conditions, apprenticeship, bricklayer, illness