William Wilson, Chief Constable, St Albans, 1797-99

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St Albans

An anonymous comment on Was William Willson your Ancestor's Goaler referred to an Elizabeth Willson who had been born at St Machael's, St Albans, in 1791. A different William Wilson had been chief constable for the Liberty of St Albans between 1797 and 1799 I decided to look further. Elizabeth was one of six unmarried sisters who were living together in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses and I was able to trace their baptisms in St Albans, and that of a brother David, who was a coach builder. Their father moved to Newington, Surrey, some time between 1794 and 1804 and, if he is the same William, this could explain why the chief constable post became vacant in 1799.  For more information see WILSON or WILLSON, St  Albans, circa 1790

Was William Willson your ancestor's Goaler

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Hertford

Last year Mike asked about WILLSON, Gamels Hall, Rush Green, Little Amwell, circa 1850, where in 1841 the farmer was William Willson. William went on to be the governor of Bishops Stortford workhouse. 

Prisons

Now Ian has asked about John Byde Willson, whose father was the same William Willson. It turns out that the Willson family were governors of Hertford Goal and Bridewell for about 80 years, starting with a Cornelius Willson who was appointed in 1756. For more information on the Willson family and the Hertfotd prison see WILLSON, Governors of Hertford Goal, 1756-1838

Gamel's Hall, Rush Green, Little Amwell

Mike asked if I could locate Gemmells Hall Farm and provide a picture. It turns out that Gamel's Hall - also known as Amwellbury - was rather more a gentleman's residence than a simple farm. It was at Little Amwell, also known as Hertford Heath. William Willson was there in 1841 but he had moved out and was the master of a workhouse in 1851, which would have been a definite fall in social status. I decided to look in the British Newspaper Archive to see if I could fill in any details but nothing definite turned up.  [More information]

The query highlights the need to look at census information for social status information, the problems of places that change their name, and the potential value of the British Newspaper Archive.