PUBV34/2/41

Removal order & Settlement Examination for Mary Kent, wife of Edmund Kent and her four children viz John aged 10 years, Frederick aged 8 years, George aged 2 years and William born on 12 May last. Removed from St Peter, Bedford to Ampthill.

5 January 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

Removal Order. Certificate of Chargeability - chargeable from 28th December 1843 to the parish of St Peter, Bedford. Examination of Robert Cave, Overseer of St Peter, Bedford verifying the above. Examinations of Samuel Wing, Clerk to the Guardians of the Bedford Poor Law Union: ExaminationMary Kent: I am the wife of Edmiund Kent to whom I was lawfully married at the parish church of St Peter in this Borough on 23rd February 1833 by my then maiden name of Mary Lord, spinster by whom I have four children viz John aged 10 years, Frederick aged 8 years, George aged 2 years and William born on 12 May last. On or about the 3rd November last my husband deserted me and I have not seen or heard of him since that time and I and my said children are now actually chargeable to the parish of St Peter in this Borough and are the persons mentioned in the Certificate of Chargeability now produced. My husband has done no act to my knowledge to gain a settlement in his own right. Examination of Elizabeth Kent: Edmund Kent referred to by the last witness is my son by my husband James Kent, to whom I was lawfully married in the parish church of St Peter 29th July 1811 by my then maiden name of Elizabeth Gilbert, Spinster. My said son Edmund was born in 1813. My husband about 27 years ago went abroad and I have not seen or heard of him since. My husband is a settled parishioner of the parish of Ampthill in the County of Bedford. After my husband left me which was in or about 1817 I was residing in the parish of ST Peter and I personally applied to the Overseers of the Poor of the parish of Ampthill for relief. I recollect Mr Furze was one of the Overseers at that time. The Overseers received my application and agreed to allow me four shillings per week for myself and my family (of whom my said son Edmund was one) and from the time of that application I did actually receive the sum of four shillings per week from the Overseers of Ampthill for the space of three years and upwards, when I was reduced to three shillings per week which latter sum I received for about two years when I was enabled to do without parish relief and during the whole period before mentioned namely 1817 to 1822 whilst I was receiving the said relief I resided in the said parish of St Peter. My said sone has done no act in his own right to my knowledge to gain a settlement. Second copy of removal order.

item

Kent, Mary,
Kent, Elizabeth,
Kent, Edmund,
Kent, James,
Kent, John,
Kent, Frederick,
Kent, George,
Kent, William,
Bass, Thomas,
Gilbert, Elizabeth,
Lord, Mary,
Wing, Samuel,
Cave, Robert

BEDFORD, AMPTHILL, POVERTY, Poor Laws, Poor Law Unions, Settlement, removal, relieving officer, Overseers, churchwardens, clerk, workhouses, emigration, MARRIAGE