PUBV34/2/28

Examination and removal order for George Chapman. Removed to Kempston.

5 August 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

To the Overseers of the poor of Kempston and the Guardians of the Bedford Poor Law Union: Wheras heretofore at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden at Bedford in and for the County of Bedford on tuesday the 4th day of April last past, one George Chapman then charged with simple larceny being acquitted and the Jury finding specially that he was insane at the time of the commission ofthe offence so charged against him and declaring that he was so acquitted by them on account of said insanity. it was Ordered by the Court at the said General Quarter Sessions that he the said George Chapman should be kept in strict custody in the Common Gaol for the said County of Bedford until Her Majesty's pleasure should be known. And whereas it is necessary in pursuance of the Statute of such case made and provided to inquire into and ascertain by the best legal evidence that can be obtained under the circumstances the place of the last legal settlement and the circumstances of the said George Chapman, therefore We Thomas Charles Higgins Esquire and William Shove Chalk, clerk, being two of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Bedford having accordingly inquired by the best legal evidence that can be procured under the circimstances into the place of the last legal settlement of the said George Chapman and into his circumstances and it being now proved before us as well by oath of Samuel Wing as otherwise that the said Parish of Kempston in the County of Bedford is the place of the last legal settlement of the said George Chapman. We do therefore hereby adjudge the place of the last legal settlement of the said George Chapman to be in the said parish and because it appears to us that the said George Chapman is not possessed of sufficient property which can be applied to his maintenance. We do therefore hereby order the Guardians of the said Bedford Union within which the said parish of Kempston is situate on behalf of the said parish to pay unto the Treasurer for the time being of the said County of Bedford the sum of seven shillings weekly and every week for the maintenance of the said George Chapman in the County Lunatic Asylum or such other weekly sum for the maintenance of the said George Chapman in the Lunatic Asylum of and for the said County of Bedford as we or any of the said Justices of the said County shall by writing under our or their hands from time to time direct. Statement of Samuel Wing, Clerk to the Guardians fo the Bedford Union verifying the Order above and with excerpts of Kempston Parish Register: Births 1796 March 8th George son of William and Frances Chapman baptised 8th April. Examination of Sophia Chapman at present residing in the parish of St Mary, Bedford, spinster: I know George Chapman who is now confined in the Lunatic Asylum of this County. He is my brother. He was born in the parish of kempston in this County on the 8th March 46 or 47 years ago last March. I was 49 yesterday. He is the son of William Chapman and Frances Chapman. My fathers settlement was at Kempston. He hled some ground of Sir William Long for which he paid rent and taxes. My father died about 38 years ago when my mother and four of her children of whom George was one became chargeable to the parish of Kempston and the four children I have mentioned were brought up in that parish. My brother George has never to my knowledge obtained any settlement in his own right. George Chapman continued to live in the parish of Kempston until he removed to Bedford about 10 years ago. I do not know of any property that he is possessed of. From the earliest of my recollection he was living with my fatehr and mother at Kempston as one of their children. Statement from the Churchwardens and Overseers of Kempston: We do by this writing under our own hands hereby agree to submit to and abide by the Order hereunto annexed whereby the legal settlement of George Chapman is adjudged to be our said parish of Kempston. Dated this 30th August 1843. Edwin Dudley (Churchwarden) John Sanders, Christopher Bennett (Overseers).

item

Chapman, George,
Chapman, Sophia,
Chapman, William,
Chapman, Frances,
Wing, Samuel,
Higgins, Thomas Charles,
Chalk, William Shove,
Long, William,
Dudley, Edwin,
Sanders, John,
Bennett, Christopher

BEDFORD, KEMPSTON, POVERTY, Poor Laws, Poor Law Unions, employment, Settlement, removal, relieving officer, Overseers, churchwardens, lunacy, Bedford Asylum, County Lunatic Asylum, Bedford Gaol, mental health, illness, larceny, Quarter Sessions