PUBV34/2/17

Removal order and settlement examinations regarding the place of settlement for John William Smith, Eliza his wife and their two children Mary Ann aged about 4 years and Thomas aged 1 year. Removed from St Paul, Bedford to Elsworth in the County of Cambridge.

13 April 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

Removal Order. Bedford union Certificate of Chargeability 1st April 1843. Examination of Robert Wootton, Overseer of the Poor of St Paul stating that John William Smith, Eliza his wife and their children Mary Ann & Thomas were chargeable. Examination of Samuel Wing, Clerk to the Guardians of the Poor of the Bedford Poor Law Union: I produce an extract from the register of Burials of the parish of St Paul in this Borough by which it appears that John Whitehouse was buried in that parish of the 29th November 1834. I examined that extract with the original and it was a true copy of theentry of the said burial in that register. I knew Mr John Whitehouse the attesting witness to the Indenture now produced by Mr Leech. At the date of that Indenture the said John Whitehouse was Clerk to the Trustees of the Bedford Charity. He is since dead and is the person mentioned in the said Extract from the register of burials produced by me. The names John Whitehouse set and subscribed to the said Indenture as the witness attesting the execution thereof are of the proper handwriting of the said John Whitehouse, deceased. Examination of Henry Frederick Leech on his oath saith: I am Clerk to the trustees of the Bedford Charity. I produce an indenture bearing date the 6th November 1828 wherein it is witnessed that John William Smith of the parish of St Cuthbert in the town of Bedford in the County of Bedford with the consent of the trustees of the Bedford Charity did put himself apprentice to William Bull of the parish of Elsworth in the County of Cambridge, blacksmith to serve from the date of the said Indenture for the term of seven years. The said Indenture is in my custody as Clerk to the said trustees. Examination of John William Smith: I am about 28 years of age. On 6th November 1828 I was bound apprentice by Indenture of that date (now produced by Mr Leech) with the consent of the trustees of the Bedford Charity to William Bull of the parish of Elsworth in the County of Cambridge, blacksmith to serve from the day of the same Indenture for the term of seven years. I served my master under the term of the said Indentures and residied and inhabited with him in the said parish of Elsworth upwards of 40 days from the time of the binding until Michaelmas following year 1829 when in consequence of having burned my foot I came to Bedford to see my parents and was shortly afterwards admitted to the Bedford Infirmary where I remained about three weeks. Whilst I was living with my parents I was maintained at their expense and did no work for and was not employed by my said Master. When I was discharged from the Infirmary my mother took me back to my Master at Elsworth and from that time I again served and inhabited with him in that parish for two or three weeks when in consequence of his ill treatment of me my father and mother came to Elsworth to fetch me away. I heard my father aask my master whether he would deliver up the Indentures. My master replied that he would and should be glad to get rid of me. My master then gave me up the Indentures which were taken to the Trustees of the Bedford Charity and I finally left Elsworth have not since in any respect served my master under the said Indenture or otherwise. I have done no act since to gain any other settlement. On 12th October 1835 I was married in the parish church of the parish of St paul in this Borough to Eliza Newman, spinster, my present wife by whom I have issue two children Mary Ann aged about 4 years and Thomas aged one year. I and my said wife and children are the persons referred to in the certificate of chargeability produced by Mr Samuel Wing and I am now actually chargeable to the said parish of St Paul. Indenture of apprenticeship between John William Smith and William Bull as referred to in the above examinations 6 November 1828.

item

Smith, John William,
Smith, Eliza,
Smith, Mary Ann,
Smith, Thomas,
Wing, Samuel,
Bull, William,
Leech, Henry Frederick,
Newman, Eliza

BEDFORD, Elsworth, POVERTY, Poor Laws, Poor Law Unions, employment, Settlement, removal, relieving officer, Overseers, clerk, MARRIAGE, illness, apprenticeship, Bedford Infirmary, injury, blacksmith, Bedford Charity