Pro Patria or Maid of Dort Watermark

The illustrated watermark was observed in National Archives file C24/1354 (Chancery Town Depositions) dating from 1716.  There is a detailed article on this watermark at National Gallery of Australia (NGA) website (see link).

There are several different watermarks present in the file, suggesting that the paper came from different sources.  This is likely to be the different lawyers taken the depositions.

 

MINT 15/17 National Archives File

Partial Transcript of National Archives File MINT 15/17

Item 28

The examination of Hannah Cook 16 May 1697 [sic?]

Who sayeth that her father William Cooke was by Trade a Clockmaker and that he used to make clocks and Jacks and that she did never know or was privy to his making of Counterfeit money or tools for that purpose.

The mark of Hannah Cooke

John Packer

Item 30

The Examination of Cicilia Labree 16 May 1698

That about a quarter of a year since she [hired?] a house in Lille Ambrey in Westminster and that one Cook hired several rooms of her in the house aforesaid who had lodged with her about 6 weeks with his daughter a girl about 13 or 14 years of age the said Cook pretended to be a clockmaker by trade and made use of the [?] to cast metal in as he pretended for utensils in his Trade. And that she had been seen him several times in his [back?] she pretending some of the said tools that were taken in her house and now produced before me but that she did not know what use they were for or did ever see him make any false or counterfeit money or did know that ever he did but that he did give her a fake guinea half guinea and [Lewisd?] or for to lay by for him which he told her he had bought by weight to make use of in his [habit?].

Cecilia Labree

John Packer

Item 31

The examination of Edward Ivy als Jones late of [blank] Gent. Taken before the 17th May 1698

Who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists and saith that he has been acquainted with John Jennings Gent. In England upwards of three years which said Jennings was once footman to the late Duke of Monmouth that the said Jennings often came to the deponents house in London and about 4 years since came to his said house and walked with the deponent in the garden and took out a handful of Guineas which this deponent look to be Counterfeit.  That the said Jennings desired this examinant to utter as money of the said Guineas (being about 100) as the examinant could and particularly desire to take one hundred of the said guineas the deponent looking on the said showed to him told the said Jennings that he believed they were good and so they seemed to this deponent until that the said Jennings offered to sell them to the deponent for 12 or 14 [shillings] a piece and desired the examinant then to take one hundred of them and utter them. That they Examinant [?] the said Guineas told the said Jennings that the said Guineas exceeded any that Chaloner made whereupon the said Jennings replied that Chaloner was a fool to him that made the said Guineas who was a person that lived near Hampton Court and was near neighbour to the said Jennings and named his name being the son of widow woman but the examinant forgets the name and said of he and the other person coined stocks together and had a [?] house for coining and desired this deponent to put in a hundred pounds [?] the [?] and to come sharer with them, he likewise told the examinant that he used to utter them in the country in exchange for a pint of Wine and likewise desired the deponent to go into the country with him  to utter the said Guineas sayeth that the said Jennings when this examinant knew him was a married man and lived with his wife near Hampton Court which said wife the examinant believes is still living [?] when said Jennings offered the sad Counterfeit Guineas to the Examinant to [pass] Elizabeth Jones Widow was [perfect. The Examinant deponent that he has known Edward Bready late of St Anns parish in London upwards of 4 years past that the said Bready made it his constant business to utter counterfeit Guineas and Counterfeit English Money that the deponent has several times seen him utter such false coin and the said Bready told the deponent that he had the said Counterfeit money from one Cogswell and from a Dr that lived at the Glass House in Lambeth and as  that this deponent believes or from one Chaloner that this defendant believes or that the bready has uttered to the value of several thousand pounds in Counterfeit Gold and Silver he having practised it for several years past. […]

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Well [?] that John Gibbons now Porter at Whitehall Goal very well knows the truth of what the Deponent now deposes  (as to the [?] [?] to be true that the Jacob Goldsmith that lived in [?] lane used to buy the filings of clipped money and clippings from several clippers that one price a watchmaker that lived near [?] Cross used to make the tools for [?] Counterfeit Guineas say that the said Gibbons [corresponding] with a great many Clippers and Coiners and used to receive several sums of money from them as [contribution?] for conceiving at them and was went to [?] for any of them when they were [mis..]. That this deponent will knew one Samuel Jackson in England who are clippers and coiners the cause of the deponent’s knowledge as that the said Jackson lodged in the deponent’s house in London but he hears that the said Jackson is lately come into this Kingdom together with George Emerson, Joseph Forster and other [Examinant?] Coiners and Clippers from England who the deponent believes go by other names in this Kingdom, saith that John Hicks late of Little Chelsea in England and his wife Mary Hicks and his daughter Hucelt [? [?] in Clippers in London having seen them often clip English shillings half crowns and crowns all mild money. Saith that he very well knows one Chaloner who lived near Charing Cross and used to coin gold pistols and guineas and this deponent likewise knoweth one William Deane that belongs to the Royal Oak Lottery in London to have been a clipper and coiner, he likewise knoweth Thomas Bane of London to be a Clipper. And further deposeth that he the said Bready is a Highwayman and that Gibbons used to furnish him [with?] [horses?] to go aboard to [?].

Edward Ivy

Ri Lyne / Thomas Coote / Is Newton

Item 32

The information of Rupert Street in Piccadilly Gent. 20 day June 1698

He saith that Moses Stringer of Villers Street in York Buildings [Chipm?] hath an exchequers Bill which was cancelled and that the [cross?] wherewith it was cancelled is done out and the paper where the lines of the cross are done out is mended with [?] on the [?] to [?] then it the said Stringer

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[?] rendezvous and that Thomas Hall a littleman [or lighterman?] hath told him this deponent that he the said Hall who now lives by London Wall   next door to the Pettycoat and one Bambrigg fellow servants in Kings James’ Mint in Dublin have coined together meaning as the deponent understood him in England and that the said Hall offered the deponent to be concerned with him in [coining?] about 2 or 3 years ago and that last Sunday the said Hall told the deponent that he should soon be in a better condition and was going to take a great House near the Customs House in Thames Street and he desired the deponent not to go into the inner room of his house where some company were saying that some of them know him and it would be a disgrace to appear in that  [guarb?].

And that Robert [Attey?] told him that also a day or two before he was committed to the Marshallsea  for coining for coining that he had given about 17 or 19 dyes to the Warden of the Mint and had got [10?] more and was going to work again and that Bainbrigg above mentioned lives or did lately live at a Chander’s shop  in Wild street.

And that some things that have passed between the deponent and Mr carter have been betrayed by Mr Inch by which the deponent [?] suspects that there is a correspondence between Mr Inch and whom he lately takes to be one of the Clerks of the Bank and unto Carter and that when the deponent was here before upon doing some service to the Bank of England and was betrayed and hindered by a person whom the Bank employed as he has mentioned in another paper he understands that person to be Mr inch as being the only person employed by the Bank in that matter.

And that Pearce Butler a soldier or pretended solider belonging to the Guards being lately taken up in Surrey and bailed  of the Marshallsea for putting off Counterfeit pistols corresponded with Carter Fitzgerald, Thomas White, Mr Tilly, Warden of the Fleet, Beauchamp they and is suspected to have his pistols of that gang and that he this deponent is told by Mr Gunn of the Temple and late prisoner with the deponent in the Kings Bench and of Carter Fitzgerald and Tilly that the said Gunn is very sure of White Fitzgerald and Tilly have a workhouse somewhere in Westminster. And that Mr Latchfield a prisoner in the Fleet lately told the deponent that Thomas White and an attorney are gone to Sir Symon Leech near Exeter   about raising money on some part Sir Symans estate.

And that Thomas Wreay [fined?] 500 marks the last [Michaelmas?] for counterfeiting of Bills can do great service if he may have his pardon and that he escaped

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Out of Newgate by the consent of Mr [offell?] as the Deponent hath been told. The deponent saith further that Sir Symon Leech is a great acquaintance of Carter and has all along supported him and procured the money by which the bail was bought for getting Carter out of Newgate and that Sir Symon is a Roman Catholic and a great Enemy to the Government and yet Carter told the deponent that Sir Symon proposed to the said Carter the following way of getting 15000 [?] a little before Carter was taken [?] by the Bank Viz that Sir Symon should go upon the Road with 1500 about him and delivered it Carter who should meet him in the way and pretend he was [?] by Carter and sue the [Countrey?] for the money.

William Butler

Is Newton

 

Item 33

Westminster

John Snow of St Andrews Holborn Distiller make the oath that Mrs Jane? The late supposed wife of Robert Attey informed him on Saturday last and again today that the said Robert Attey had left 4 pair of dyes for coning in the custody of Mrs Gardiner the Land Lady near Pepper Ally 2 pair of [which the?] said Mrs Gardiner had pawned to another woman for 50 [shillings?] and the other 2 pairs which she kept and were the [best?] were of [King] William and [Queen] Mary.

John Snow

7 June 1698 Is Newton

 

 

Item 153

The information of Cicilia Labree 23rd February 1698/9

She saith that in last May was a twelve month John Kisten who keeps a coffee house at the [blank]

Saith that when the deponent’s press was set-up at the house of John Kisten, the deponent’s father in Law Samuel Tibbs and Maximillian Laloo were present and Lalo helped to set up the said press and put in blanks to be coined. And that when the said press was set-up at the house of the said Kisten they had blanks there mixed of two parts of gold and one part silver ready to be coined but did not coin any of them but tried the press by coining blanks of copper and of blanks of lead and the press broke in pulling up either the copper blanks or the gold blanks for the [trial?] also the Gold blanks and Lalo said that the Gold was too hard and saith also that some of the copper blanks were coined very well.

Cicilia Labree

Is Newton

Item 154

The examination of Samuel Tibbs of Church Lane in the Strand 24 February 1698/9.

Who saith that about a year and three quarters ago his daughter in law Cicilia Labree being newly convicted of High Treason for coining did give the examinant something wrapped up in brown paper which she called either stamps or blanks and said they were unfinished and desired the deponent to throw them into the Fleet ditch. And the deponent did so and about half a year or a year ago told the Warden of the Mint that he had done so and before that told Mr Parker the same. And that about 3 years ago his daughter told him that her press for coining of guineas was carried to the house of John Kristen in Westminster by the Horse Ferry and there set-up in his cellar and continued there for some weeks and that they there tried to coin guineas with it but without success, the press breaking in the trial and that the metal which they tried to coin was good gold and good silver mixed and that Laloo and Kisten were assisting but this examinant was not there in the cellar to see it.

Samuel Tibbs

Is Newton

 

 

 

Item 291

The information of Thomas Sadler of Stretham in the Isle of Ely taken upon oath this 30th day of June 1699 before Roger Jennins Esquire and Francis Tern Prebendarie of Ely two his Majesties Justices of the Peace of the said Isle.

This informant sayeth that on or about the 16th day of April in the year of our Lord 1698 William Thornton of Neat Sett [Neatishead]  in the County of Norfolk came to this informant’s house at Stretham aforesaid and about five days after one Henry Holder alias Harrison came also to this informant’s house who brought dyes and several other coining instruments with him wherewith the said William Thornton and Henry Holder alais Harrison did coin several mild shillings in imitation of the current coin of this kingdom in the cellar of this informants house in Stratham in the [?] aforesaid and further this informant sayeth not.

Thomas Sadler

Roger Jennins / Fran: Tern

Item 290

A letter from Roger Jennings Esq. of the Isle of Ely to Isaac Newton Esq.

Received yours of the 24th ? Mr Mountaques enclosed and I have accordingly an information from Thomas Sadler against William Thornton and Henry Holder with? I have here sent you enclosed; hoping that you apprehend them both hearing that they keep much together Sadler’s wife being aboard. I could take no further information from her but if I find her on examination anything material therein I send it also to you ? which any service to Mr Mountague delivering you to accept him here which is all from

Sir your assured friend and servant

Roger Jennins

Ely ? 20th [16]99

 

Item 297

The examination of Samuel Tibbs now in custody taken this 11th day of January AD 1699/1700.

 

Who being duly examined saith that about six weeks or two months ago he was in company with one John Fenton Russell in Westminster and the said Russell asked this examinee if there was any good things stirring meaning counterfeit money as this Examinant doth believe and this Examinant did then show a counterfeit half-crown to the said Russell and Russell looked upon it and it would do and took it and gave this examinant change out of it and this Examinant told one Cecilia Labree his Daughter in Law of the passage with the said Russell concerning the counterfeit half-crown as aforesaid and the said Cecilia Labree gave to this Examinant about three weeks ago four half crowns and ten shillings in counterfeit money and desired this Examinant to sell the same to the said Russell for [?] shillings in part payment thereof and this Examinant further saith that he knows one Mrs Biggs now in custody and that he hath seen her frequently in company with the said Mrs Labree and that they used to lye together last summer.

Samuel Tibbs

Is Newton

Item 433

The information of Ciciliah Labree of the Parish of St Andrews Blackfriars taken this tenth of August 1702.

Who saith upon her oath that she been acquainted Jane Housden about six years and that about three years since she saw a parcel of counterfeit mild money in the hands of the said Jane Housden which then confess to this deponent she had made herself by casting it in sand and this deponent further saith that she hath several times since been in company with the Jane Housden and heard her confess that she sells her counterfeit mild money to Susannah Smith, Hannah Madgwell, Alice Madgwell, Mary Crow, Elizabeth Bond, Mrs Roudom, Judith Faulker and Jane Salt after the rate of forty counterfeit shillings for twenty good shillings and Susannah Smith hath owned to this deponent that she hath lately had of Jane Housden three pounds of counterfeit mild money for twenty shillings of good money and this this deponent further saith that about one year since saw in the hands of Francis Smith two half-crowns which were counterfeit milo shillings not finished and a piece of metal of about 6 ounces weighting which money and metal the said Smith declared he found in a cellar in his then dwelling house in Earls Court by Drury Lane which said house was the late dwelling house of the aforesaid Jane Housden the said Housden’s goods being then in the aforesaid house and the aforesaid said Smith did then declare to this deponent that he did believe the said half crowns and shillings with the metal to be Jane Housden’s because it was very like some counterfeit milo money which the said Francis Smith had several times before brought of the said Jane Housden after the rate of forty shillings bad money for twenty shillings good. And this deponent further saith that about two months since she did meet one John Lallue who showed her three counterfeit milo shillings and told her that his brother Charles and himself did work at a brazier’s shop and did take opportunities when their master was from them to make counterfeit money of white metal and silver it over, and this deponent further saith that she hath within this 6 months last past seen mild money in the custody of Susannah Smith, Susannah Madgwell, Alice Madgwell, Elizabeth Bond, Mrs Roudom,  Jane Salt and Francis Smith which they all owned to this deponent they bought of Jane Housden.

Sicily Labree

J Stanley

Item 434

The information of Eliz. The wife of John Bond of the parish of St George’s Southwark in the County of Surrey taken this 7th day of September 1702

Who upon her oath that she this informant being at one Mrs Nickolls’s house in Thames Street London about three quarts of a year ago did then and there see Siciiy Labree and Jane Salt in a room, one pair of stairs on the said house and at the same time did see Labree pour metal into flasks in the presence of the said Salt did see the said Labree open the flasks and there appeared pieces of counterfeit money like Shillings resembling the current coin of this kingdom and that she did hear the said Salt say that they were cast fine and would do, only they were a little too soft and she this informant further saith that she did nurse a child for the said Labree about 4 years ago together and that the said Labree did pay in part for the nursing of the said child to this informant about fifty shillings in counterfeit money about Christmas East and she further saith that the said Jane Salt told this informant that she could make counterfeit money better than that of Labree and showed her how she might distinguish of one’s making from the other.

Elizabeth Bond – her mark

J Stanley

Item 512

The examination of Cicillia Nokey als La Bree als Jackson als Bayley taken before the Right Honourable Secretary Hasley

She examinant saith that in May 1704 or in June following she pleaded her Majesties’ gracious pardon, some fileings of silver being shown to this examinant which were found in a [paper?] Market December 23rd 1704 paid in part £5. CN the examinant saith her child went to sea about a year ago but that some before he went and [brother?] this paper and told her it was silver sand and that she the examinant did keep it because it was all she had to remember her child by.

Cicilia Nokey

Item 517

The information of Amy the wife of Richard Angell taken upon oath this 20th November 1705.

Who saith that she knows Sir Richard Blackham and his lady and that the said Sir Richard did invite her said husband and desired him to bring this deponent and their daughter Sarah to his house in Kentish Town about 2 months ago and accordingly they went thither and saith that the said Sir Richard   did furnish her said husband with money to buy and procure metal and other materials in order to cast and counterfeit Dutch Shillings with [?] said husband did accordingly.[?] that she hath seen the said Sir Richard assist by amending repairing and blowing the fire whilst the said husband Richard Angell was casting Dutch Shillings as a foresaid, And [?] the furnace in which the metals was melted was of Sir Richards own present and likewise that the flask in which the same was moulded and cast was provided by the same Sir Richard . And further saith that she this informant hath seen the lady Blackham (wife to Sir Richard) [?] about the fire as her husband Sir Richard had done as aforesaid and she hath seen the said Lady Blackham rub, drust and whiten the shillings so cast as aforesaid. And that Sir Richard had the shillings when finished as a foresaid.

Amy Angell

J Stanley

Daniel MACQUIRE Affidavit

Extract from National Archives file KB1/19/1

This document relates to Kings Bench case WILLIAMS v GRIFFITHS (1773) See list of related Affidavits and other background material

[The IMG references reference(s) are the number of the image taken when the document was copied]

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Daniel MACQUIRE aged 19 of Manningtree in the County of Essex Fisherman upon his oath saith that on Saturday the 18th day of January last past this deponent was with his Master in the fishing sloop called the Good Intent of Manningtree sailing down  the Wallet and discovered a wreck on the Cork sand  and soon afterwards in the afternoon discovered a schooner steering toward Handfleet Water instead of Harwich and her ensign being but the said fishing sloop went to her when William WILLLIAMS the Master of the said schooner inquired the course into Harwich Harbour and asked what they would to steer before him when this examinant’s Master asked him half a guinea whereupon the said William WILLIAMS offered a crown which being refused the sails of the said Fishing sloop were set to off towards the wreck they had before discovered on the cork whereupon the schooner waived another signal and the fishing sloop was immediately put about and brought to the schooner. And the said deponents Master bid them follow the said sloop and made the direct course for the harbour of Harwich when the schooner instead of following the said fishing sloop went four or five points to the seaward and in about a quarter of an hour the said schooner being on the Rocks called the inner Hallidays made another signal which this deponent took to be signal of distress whereupon the said fishing sloop directly went to her assistance and this deponent with his said Master went on board the said schooner at the request of the said William WILLIAMS and afterwards this deponent with the said Master went in the boat belonging to the said fishing sloop round the schooner sounding the depths of water and went again on board soon after she was got off the rocks this deponent ‘s Master having first acquainted the said William WILLIAMS that she might be got off without the help of an anchor as the board lay on the long side of this deponent’s Master bade the said William WILLIAMS hoist his jeb and afterwards in less than 10 minutes this deponent got on board and saw his Master at the Helm which he kept. And this deponent went kept the lead continually sounding and called out the depths of Water till the said schooner got into the chops of Harwich Harbour and in about half an hour this deponent’s Master brought her up to anchor against the town of Harwich.

And this deponent further saith that he well remembers that when the said schooner was leaving the said fishing sloop and going off towards the said rocks this deponents said Master waived the speaking trumpet as well as called to the Master of the schooner that he was going wrong. But this deponents Master was disregarded by the Master and crew of the said schooner until they found themselves in danger by the said schooner striking on the said rocks called the inner Holidays.

The mark of Daniel MACQUIRE

Sworn at Colchester in the said County of Essex this 26th day of May 1772 before me Thomas DANIEL 

 

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Daniel MACQUIRE aged 19 of Manningtree in the County of Essex Fisherman upon his oath saith that on Saturday the 18th day of January last past this deponent was with his Master in the fishing sloop called the Good Intent of Manningtree sailing down  the Wallet and discovered a wreck on the Cork sand  and soon afterwards in the afternoon discovered a schooner steering toward Handfleet Water instead of Harwich and her ensign being but the said fishing sloop went to her when William WILLLIAMS the Master of the said schooner inquired the course into Harwich Harbour and asked what they would to steer before him when this examinant’s Master asked him half a guinea whereupon the said William WILLIAMS offered a crown which being refused the sails of the said Fishing sloop were set to off towards the wreck they had before discovered on the cork whereupon the schooner waived another signal and the fishing sloop was immediately put about and brought to the schooner. And the said deponents Master bid them follow the said sloop and made the direct course for the harbour of Harwich when the schooner instead of following the said fishing sloop went four or five points to the seaward and in about a quarter of an hour the said schooner being on the Rocks called the inner Hallidays made another signal which this deponent took to be signal of distress whereupon the said fishing sloop directly went to her assistance and this deponent with his said Master went on board the said schooner at the request of the said William WILLIAMS and afterwards this deponent with the said Master went in the boat belonging to the said fishing sloop round the schooner sounding the depths of water and went again on board soon after she was got off the rocks this deponent ‘s Master having first acquainted the said William WILLIAMS that she might be got off without the help of an anchor as the board lay on the long side of this deponent’s Master bade the said William WILLIAMS hoist his jeb and afterwards in less than 10 minutes this deponent got on board and saw his Master at the Helm which he kept. And this deponent went kept the lead continually sounding and called out the depths of Water till the said schooner got into the chops of Harwich Harbour and in about half an hour this deponent’s Master brought her up to anchor against the town of Harwich.

And this deponent further saith that he well remembers that when the said schooner was leaving the said fishing sloop and going off towards the said rocks this deponents said Master waived the speaking trumpet as well as called to the Master of the schooner that he was going wrong. But this deponents Master was disregarded by the Master and crew of the said schooner until they found themselves in danger by the said schooner striking on the said rocks called the inner Holidays.

The mark of Daniel MACQUIRE

Sworn at Colchester in the said County of Essex this 26th day of May 1772 before me Thomas DANIEL 

 

FO 369/885

Some notes from National Archives file FO 369/885.

1. Letter 26th September 1916 referencing appointment J G Millas as temporary Vice-Consul at Hammrfest.     Refers to Captain Hall of Naval Intelligence. Mr Millais requests termination of appointment.

Bateman Family History

Judith BATEMAN (1793-1857)

Born in Chappel (Pontisbright) Essex, England, although no record of her      baptism has been found. Judith had two illegitimate sons, David baptised      1811 and George baptised 1817. Judith was clearly very poor and is      featured in the parish account held at the Colchester branch of the Essex      County Record Office (Reference D/P 87/12/1). During the period 1820 to      1823 two shillings a week were paid to Judith for support of her child.

Judith is listed on 1841 Copford, Essex as a servant. In 1851she listed with her son John in Galleywood near Chelmsford and she died in 1857 in the Chelmsford District.

David BATEMAN (1811-1875)

David was baptised at Chappel, Essex 10th March 1811, baseborn      (illegitimate) son of Judith Bateman. David married Betsey (Elizabeth)      JAMES. In 1851, the family lived at 22 Barrack Street Colchester, with 6      children, a lodger and a visitor. David’s occupation is given as      Lime-Burner and David is recorded as being born in Chapel Essex, although      is age is given as only 30. In 1861, the family are living in Hythe Back      Lane, with 8 children (including George), 1      son-in-law and two grand-children. David’s occupation is given as      Lime-Burner. On the 1871 census David & Betsey are shown living      Parson’s Lane Colchester, together with 3 daughters and 1 son and      Elizabeth COATES (aged 19) a tailoress who was boarding with the family      and was later to marry George – one of the      sons that had already left home. In 1871 David’s occupation is simply      given as labourer. David died 25th October 1875 Hythe Hill Colchester Essex.

George      BATEMAN (1846-1905)

George BATEMAN was born on 13th February 1846, East Street, Colchester.      On 24th September 1872 at Colchester Register Office, George married      Elizabeth COATES (1851-1881) tailoress daughter of William COATES      (deceased), both living in Church Lane, The Hythe, Colchester On the 1881      census George and family are shown living at Hythe Hill Colchester.  Elizabeth died 1st May 1881 and on 9th April 1883 George remarried Eliza  BARNES daughter of Daniel BARNES mariner.

On the 1891 census they were living in Spring Close, Brightlingsea and by the  1901 census they had moved to Hall Cut, Brightlingsea. In 1930 Eliza was  living at 22 Queen Street Brightlingsea. Eliza was buried at Brightlingsea on  9th February 1940, although her address was given as 6 Hill Cottages, Great  Bentley, Essex.

Arthur William BATEMAN (1886-1945)

Arthur William BATEMAN married Jessie May ROUSE at the Primitive Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex 21st December 1913.

Catchpole Family History

Updated 2nd April 2021

George CATCHPOLE (1758 -1821)

George’s  birth place is unknown. George and Sarah Payne married 30th January 1781 at Bentley Suffolk.  Sarah was baptised at Stutton, Suffolk 22 April 1759.  Their children were born in Freston although there is no evidence of CATCHPOLEs in Freston prior to this period.

I have found at the Ipswich branch of the Ipswich Record Office (Ref FB 98/G1/494) “The examination of George CATCHPOLE residing in the parish of Tattingstone in the said county of Suffolk, Labourer. Who on his oath about four years ago let himself to one John BARLEY then of the parish of St Clements in the said borough of Ipswich, farmer for one year. That he served his said master all that year and during that time resided in the said parish of St Clement and that he hath done not anything since that time to gain settlement elsewhere. 29/1/1781”

This looks a strong possible to be my George CATCHPOLE, on the following      grounds (a) He would have been about 19 when the above George was in service to John BARLEY. (b) No mention of wife/family suggests a young  person. (c) Tattingstone is next to Freston, and later CATCHPOLEs lived in Tattingstone. (d) As yet no trace of a  second George has been found. Finding our more about John BARLEY is a future option for filling in the detail. (e) It is exactly one day before  his wedding.

George Catchpole received Poor Relief from the Parish of St. Clement in Ipswich in 1789-1790, even though the family was resident in Freston.

Children :- Sarah (1784), George (1786),  John (1786), Charles (1789), Benjamin (1791), Edward (1795), Isaac (1798),  James (1801) Henry (1802).

John Catchpole (1787-1848?)

John CATCHPOLE son of my George and  Sarah CATCHPOLE is listed in the recently compiled      National Archives (PRO) index of  the War Office (WO) pension records. PRO document WO 97/28 tells us that  John CATCHPOLE, labourer, was a private in Captain KEANES’ troop born in Freston, Suffolk, that he enlisted at the age of 18 years and served in the regiment for the space of ten years and eight days, but “in consequence” of a diseased liver which resulted from a bad fever in 1812 was discharged to pension. It also gives a description – twenty eight years old, five feet seven inches tall Brown hair, blue eyes and fresh complexion.

With information gleaned it was possible to try several other War Office sources. WO 120/20 (Chelsea Regimental Registers) lists John CATCHPOLE, age now given as 30, service as 10 1/ 12th years, at pension rate 9 pence. The complaint, where born and occupation are the same as before. In the Admission column it is marked “See Report”, “Dd 2.12.38”,   “D.21.366” the meanings of which remain unclear, 2.12.38 looks like a death date but St Catherine’s lists no deaths for John CATCHPOLE in 1838/39.

Finally I have looked at the regiment’s pay lists also held at the National Archives Kew in class WO 12 to trace in more detail where he served. In this instance they show he was stationed at Ipswich Barracks and enlisted 25th July 1804. John received £13 8s as bounty for enlisting and £2 6s 1d worth of equipment, and the recruitment party received £1 18s for their efforts.

A John CATCHPOLE died at the Tattingstone Workhouse on 3rd July 1848  aged 66 which would a birth year of 1782 (compared to an expected 1786), and it is probable that this is John CATCHPOLE’s death.

Children :- None Known.

Benjamin Catchpole (1791-1871)

Born 1791 Freston Suffolk married Elizabeth PALMER (1794-1816) in 1813 at Harkstead remarried after Elizabeth’s death

Mary WRIGHT or RIGHT (1786-1874) in 1820 at Ipswich St Matthews.

Children :- Mary Ann (1814), Benjamin (1822), Charles (1825) Sarah (1827)      Metelden/Matilda (1829).

Charles Catchpole (1825-?)

Chelmondiston Baptist Church’s birth register (National Archives RG4/1835;Suffolk        County Record Office J419/2) which was assembled at the start of  civil registration in 1837, records Charles’s birth in usual detail. Not only are his parents names and mothers maiden name given, but we are told Elizabeth BENNETT was the mid-wife and Sarah STANNING was the nurse in attendance at the birth. This implies that the CATCHPOLE family were regular attendees at the chapel.

Charles CATCHPOLE is listed on the Freston tithe assessment and his father Benjamin CATCHPOOL (sic) is listed on the Woolverstone tithe record (both approx. 1840). The Woolverstone tithe details are published in the book “Exploring the Past Through Place-Names : Woolverstone” by Sylvia Laverton and published by Paul  Watkins, Stamford, ISBN 1 871615 78X.

Children :- Maria (1845), Charles (1846), Sarah Ann (1848), William      (1849), Matilda (1851), Elizabeth (1853), Anna (1855), Walter (1858), Benjamin (1859), Charlotte (1864), Edith (1860), Ellen (1866), Frederick (1866) and Arthur (1869).

Benjamin Catchpole (1859-1907)

No trace of Benjamin’s birth certificate can be found, although through census and parish registers we can be confident that Benjamin was baptised  at Harkstead Parish church 13th April 1858, son of  Charles and Sarah Ann Catchpole. He is  shown at Harkstead on the 1861, 1871 censuses aged 2 and 12 respectively.  On the 1881 census he is listed as a Mariner at 12 Culloden Street, Bromplet, Poplar, London living with his sister and brother-in-law (Robert RANDALL).

Benjamin married Agnes Emma GILL daughter of Charles GILL 30th July 1882 in  Poplar parish church.

Widowed by first wife, married Eliza Sparrow from Sutton Suffolk (though born in Shotley) where she was in service, on 19th November 1887 at St Nicholas Church Harwich. Profession given on marriage certificate    as mariner, as on all the children’s baptisms. Addresses 1881  69 Church St, 1891-1893 1 Trinity Cottages, 1876 1 Alexander St, 1901 24  Hordle St.

Great Eastern Railway (GER) records in National Archives File Reference RAIL 227/488 record Benjamin’s career with the GER’s steam ships operating from Harwich. Benjamin served on SS Berlin (1895), SS Norwich (1896), SS Peterborough (1897), SS Vienna (1897), SS Amsterdam (1900), SS Berlin (1902).

Benjamin died 21st February 1907 when the Great Eastern Railway (GER) ship SS Berlin upon which Benjamin was a fireman (the coal shovelling type!), sunk off the Hook of Holland. Over a hundred      people died and many of the crew lived in Harwich. A photograph of      Benjamin appeared in the Daily Mirror on 22nd February 1907.      Administration granted to Eliza CATCHPOLE (wife). Estate value £53. Witnessed by John SPARROW (Shotley) and Charles PRATCHETT (Maria St Harwich).

Benjamin’s death is recorded in a Register of Deaths at Sea (National Archives Reference BT 334/040). The details are as follows :-    CATCHPOLE Benjamin Age 48 Occupation Fireman, British Subject, Residence  Dovercourt. Drowned, lost with Vessel at Hook of Holland, 21st February 1907, Vessel Berlin, Vessel Official number 99454, Registered Harwich,  Tonnage 586, References C&D 6a and LB 7/07. (Meaning of these  references unclear (LB could mean letter book)).

Children :- Frederick (), Ethel Emma () , Frank (), Sidney (), Ivy Mable      (), Arthur (), Irene (),William ()

Ethel Emma CATCHPOLE (1891-1969) b Harwich Essex m John CARTER (1891-1945)

Will of Margaret Eliza GAMBIER (-1852)

National Archives Reference PROB 11/2116

This is the last Will and Testament of me Margaret Eliza GAMBIER of Langley in the County of Kent Spinster and which I make in exercise and pursuance of a power of is position given me in and by the last Will and Testament of my late father the Reverend James Edward GAMBIER and in exercise of every other power and authority right and property hereunto enabling.

I give my sister Charlotte Sophia GAMBIER my wearing apparel jewels trinkets ornaments of the person woif boxes and also my poplar press.

And as to any and all and singular the messuages lands and tenements or parts and share of messuages lands and tenements and real estate whatsoever that I may be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my decease and also all my monies stocks funds and securities whether in procession or in revision remainder or expectancy and whether in my own keeping or vestee in any person or persons in trust for me and to my disposition and personal estates whatsoever and whosesoever (except as aforesaid) I give unto my brother William Henry GAMBIER and my sister Charlotte Sophia GAMBIER and Eleanor Catherine GAMBIER in and by equal parts shares and proportional as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and to their respective heirs executors and administrators absolutely.

And I hereby appoint the said William Henry GAMBIER sole executor of this my Will directing him in the the first place to discharge and reimburse himself out of my estate all costs charges and expenses incurred by him therein and to discharge all debts and obligations if any chargeable thereto.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord 1839 Margaret Eliza GAMBIER Signed by the said Margaret Eliza Gambier the testatee as her last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the time who at her request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witness. J C STEPHENS Solr Maidstone Thomas PEARCE Clerk? In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in the Goods of Margaret Eliza GAMBIER spinster deceased.

Appeared personally John Cribb STEPHENS of Maidstone in the County of Kent Gentleman and made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the Last Will and Testament of Margaret Eliza GAMBIER formerly of Langley in the county of Kent aforesaid but late of Chart Place next Sutton Valence in the same county, Spinster, deceased, bearing the date the twelfth day of November 1839 written on a sheet of foolscap paper and now hereunto annexed. And he further made oath that on the twelfth day of November aforesaid the said testatrix duly executed her said Will by signing her name at the foot or end thereof in the presence of this opponent and of Thomas PEARCE the other said subscribed Witness thereto present at the same time and this deponent and the said Thomas PEARCE thereupon attested and subscribed the said Will in the presence of the said testatrix and in the presence of each other. J C STEPHENS. On the 24th day of May 1852 the said John Cribb STEPHENS was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me F J PRATT [?] – Present John BOSWELL [?]

Proved at London the 10th June 1852 before the Worshipful Frederick Thomas PRATT Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of William Henry GAMBIER the brother the sole Executor to whom Admin was granted having been first sworn only to Administer.

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