With an ancestor with the distinctive name of Kingston Bedford you might think it would be easy for Jeni to prove that Kingston Bedford shoe maker of Chesham, was the son of Kingston Bedford, bone-setter and farrier of Hemel Hempstead.
The general problem is explained in Where to look before 1837 when the Parish Registers don't help and in Kingston BEDFORD, Hemel Hempstead, circa 1800 I look at the options. If Kinston senior was Kingston junior's father the Land Tax records for Hemel Hempstead and Chesham might provide a last date living at Hemel Hempstead and a first date at Chesham (if he was ever there). Something might also trun up in the Chesham burial registers.
When on Ancestry did you notice that Kingston Bedford age 26 was sentenced to 6 months at Bucks Assizes in 1841 for "cartilage breaking." Was this perhaps related to the profession of bone setting? Was he so compromised that he switched to cordwaining as a result? I notice he died in Union Workhouse Amersham of phthisis or TB (certificate posted on Ancestry). Anthony
ReplyDeletere Kingston Bedford
DeleteHe was actually sentenced to 6 months hard labour for stealing 5 rabbits property of Mr Thomas Field this is the report
A certain building there situated, He feloniously did break and enter the same building being within the CARTILAGE of the DWELLING HOUSE of Thomas Field. In the same buiolding feloniously did steal take and carry away 5 tame rabbits of the price of 5shillings of the goods and chattels of the said Thomas Field
Thanks Anthony - I had missed that - and it could be very relevant - I have passed the information on to Jeni, and will be adding this information to the main page later today.
ReplyDeleteThank you to both of you for these very helpful comments and observations. we have been searching for well over twenty years!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many clues/links now indicating that the two Kingston's probably were related (father and son.)
I will to try to find the court proceedings or newspaper reports of the case which would seem to be rather unusual - six months hard labour- maybe for trying to set the leg of a horse.