PUBZ3/8/169

Folio.277-280 Ann Bastfield, singlewoman, at present residing in St Paul, Bedford.

30 Jan 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

I am the daughter of George Bastfield and Martha his wife. I was born in Danes Lane, St Paul, Bedford. I do not remember my father but have been informed that he was convicted of felony at Bedford Assizes March 1819 and transported for 14 years. My mother continued to reside at Bedford after my father's transportation until about six years ago whe she went with her second husband to live in London. She married again to Joseph Chettles, seven or eight years after my father was transported but my fatehr was heard of about three years ago when his sister Ann Bosworth of Shefford received a letter from him to say that he was coming home shortly but I have not heard of him since and suppose he is now dead. I was living with my grandmother Sarah Cooper at the time my father was transported. She did then and still does occupy one of the Harpur Street almshouses. I have lived entirely with my grandmother to the present time except about a year and a half when I lived with my mother in London. My mother died in London about three years ago. I once went for a month upon liking as a servant to Mr Adams of New Town, Bedford, but did not stay and have not been to service anywhere else except two or three months for two or three houses in the day with Mr E T Palmer and I have done no other act to gain any settlement. I have heard that my father belonged to Meppershall but I do not know how he gained his settlement, but from the time he was transported the parish officers of Meppershall paid to my mother and to my sister and myself half a crown a week for our maintenance whilst we were living in Bedford. I almost always had to meet the Shefford carrier to fetch the money. I used to pay 1/- of it to my grandmother for keeping me and the remainder I paid to my mother. The payment was continued weekly I think until i removed with my mother to London. I have had nothing of that parish since. I remember Mr Pestell one of the Overseers fo Meppershall once going to my grandmothers but I did not see him. I only heard so. I am now actually chargeable to the parish of St Paul. Annotated: Orders to Meppershall.

item

Bastfield, Ann,
Bastfield, George,
Bastfield, Martha,
Bosworth, Ann,
Chettles, Joseph,
Chettles, Martha,
Cooper, Sarah,
Palmer, E T,
Pestell,
Adams

BEDFORD, MEPPERSHALL, Bedford Danes Lane, London, SHEFFORD, poor law settlements, overseers of the poor, magistrate, POVERTY, poor laws, marriages, transportation, Assizes, felony, family correspondence, servants, Harpur Charity, almshouses, women's history