PUBZ3/9/8

Folio.13-15 Joshua William Beard of St Paul, Bedford, miller.

c.July 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

I am about 22 years of age, was born at Hawnes. My father was a miller and a baker and resided at Hawnes up to Lady Day 1831 when he came to live at St Peter, Bedford and carried on the trade of a mealman. After he had been in Bedford about three months he took a house which he paid twelve pounds a year rent for. He remained in this house for one year and then removed into a smaller house at the rent of £6 per annum. I have heard my father say that he rented the house in St Peter at £12 per annum on purpose to gain a settlement in the town. I remained with my father and worked with him up to about a month after he came to reside at Bedford (Lady Day 1831) when I went into the employ of Mr Jefferys of Thurleigh, miller. I continued with him about 6 months then returned home to my father and remained with him about three months and then went into the employ of Mr John Measures of Great Catworth, Hunts, miller with whom I remained about 9 month and then again returned to my father at Bedford. I remained in Bedford up to last Christmas working as a journeyman baker (except for about three months when I was with Mr Manton for instructions). At Christmas last I went to reside at Hawnes where I hold a mill at the rent of £17 per annum and am now carrying on the trade of a miller. The mill belongs to my mother during her life and then to be equally divided among her children according to the direction of my fathers will. I was married on Thursday last the 21st instant at St Peter, Bedford to Elizabeth Dickson Mallows.

item

Beard, Joshua William,
Beard, Elizabeth Dickson,
Mallows, Elizabeth Dickson,
Jefferys,
Measures, John,
Manton

BEDFORD, HAYNES, Great Catworth, Great Catworth, THURLEIGH, Poor Law Unions, Settlement, employment, wages/conditions, MARRIAGE, mealman, miller, baker, MILLS, rentals, tenancy