What would have brought a London lad to Leicester circa 1790s/1800-10?

[johngosling]

Hi,

I'm making great progress (with the help of kind folks on this site) on researching the life of a great great great grandfather, William Crockett.

According to the 1851 census, which finds him at Castle View in Leicester, he was born 1791 in "London", a bit frustrating as "London" is a big place :-)

I think a record from 8th Sept 1804 refers to him, a William Crockett, apprenticed as a Framework Knitter in Leicester.

This would have have made him about 13/14 years old.

I pick him up again on a military service record in 1823, then again on the 1841 census.

But I keep coming back to the question, if that is him on the 1804 indenture document, and he was in his teens, and given that I can't find any evidence of his parents in Leicester (or indeed evidence of any Crocketts prior to the arival of William) then how did he get there?

I saw an episode of Who Do You Think You Are a while ago, and (no recollection of who the celeb was) it told the story of a London family who had fell on hard times and ended up in the workhouse. The children were then split up to various locations outside London, and one of them was set up as an apprentice.

It has crossed my mind that this might be William's story, though Leicester seems a way to go.

Would anyone have any theories? Or am I reading too much into this?

Regards,

John

[willsy]

Have come across an earlier marriage for the same name

Leicester, St. Margaret   13-Oct   1806   Banns   
William   Crockett   OTP      Bach      
Mary   Taylor   OTP      Spin

The next is this one which am guessing is your William

Leicester, St. Martin   15-Oct   1829   Lic   
William   Crockett   OTP      Bach   38   
Sarah    Porter   Leicester, St. Mary      Spin   24

if so, have you chased the marriage license?

Also

http://record-office-catalogue.leics.gov.uk/CalmView/Overview.aspx

[johngosling]

Hi,

The second one is certainly my William. I'm feeling pretty confident that the 1st one is as well.

William listed St Margaret on his army record.

Regards,

John

Have come across an earlier marriage for the same name

Leicester, St. Margaret   13-Oct   1806   Banns   
William   Crockett   OTP      Bach      
Mary   Taylor   OTP      Spin

The next is this one which am guessing is your William

Leicester, St. Martin   15-Oct   1829   Lic   
William   Crockett   OTP      Bach   38   
Sarah    Porter   Leicester, St. Mary      Spin   24

if so, have you chased the marriage license?

Also

http://record-office-catalogue.leics.gov.uk/CalmView/Overview.aspx

[johngosling]

Further to my question, I've just found a fascinating document which certainly suggests that William may have been apprenticed out of London to Leicester.

http://www.ehs.org.uk/dotAsset/81a01923-4ca9-4552-b71c-277c8c67d048.doc

It seems that many a London parish were happy to send their surplus poor out to other cities to work in mills.

Hi,

I'm making great progress (with the help of kind folks on this site) on researching the life of a great great great grandfather, William Crockett.

According to the 1851 census, which finds him at Castle View in Leicester, he was born 1791 in "London", a bit frustrating as "London" is a big place :-)

I think a record from 8th Sept 1804 refers to him, a William Crockett, apprenticed as a Framework Knitter in Leicester.

This would have have made him about 13/14 years old.

I pick him up again on a military service record in 1823, then again on the 1841 census.

But I keep coming back to the question, if that is him on the 1804 indenture document, and he was in his teens, and given that I can't find any evidence of his parents in Leicester (or indeed evidence of any Crocketts prior to the arival of William) then how did he get there?

I saw an episode of Who Do You Think You Are a while ago, and (no recollection of who the celeb was) it told the story of a London family who had fell on hard times and ended up in the workhouse. The children were then split up to various locations outside London, and one of them was set up as an apprentice.

It has crossed my mind that this might be William's story, though Leicester seems a way to go.

Would anyone have any theories? Or am I reading too much into this?

Regards,

John