EPPS / HUMPSTONE

[Kim Pearce]

An ancestor of my husband appears to have been born in County Jail Maidstone in 1857.  He also appears in the 1871 census as a juvenile offender.    These criminal aspects of his life, combined with some confusion regarding his surname, have me quite intrigued.

His first name is Frederick but his last name might be Epps or Humpstone or Romany, depending on who you ask.

Can anyone help me learn more about his prison background or why there is confusion surrounding his surame?

Thanks in advance,

Kim (Montreal, Canada)

[KGarrad]

I'm not seeing anything in Maidstone, but FreeBMD shows:

Births, June qtr 1857
Faversham Registration District     vol 2a, page 537

Epps, Frederick James

The GRO Index Search (www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/) is showing a Mother's Maiden Name of Jones.


Do you have the census reference for 1871?
I'm only seeing a Frederick Epps at home with parents William & Sarah.



Alternatively, there is this birth:
March qtr 1857
Maidstone Registration District     vol 2a, page 445

Humpston/Humpsten, Frederick

Mother's maiden name: Draper

[Kay99]

I think Frederick may be on the GRO Birth Index as
    
FREDERICK  HUMPSTEN   Mother's name    DRAPER
March Qtr 1857 MAIDSTONE  Volume 02A  Page 445

Kay

[rosie99]

An ancestor of my husband appears to have been born in County Jail Maidstone in 1857. 

Could you please give full details from the birth certificate. 

What name is he using in 1871, could you please give the census reference

[Kim Pearce]

I don't have a birth certificate but he appears to have been born in February 1857 and on the 1871 census is using the name Epps,  At that time he is at the District Philanthropic Society Farm School as an inmate as pupil. 

[rosie99]

1871
RG10/833 folio 130 page 9
Frederick Epps age 16 - Juvenile Offender under detention born Ashford, Kent

Who does he marry & when.  What information do you have that indicates the Frederick Epps above is the same person as the 1857 Humpston birth. 

[Kim Pearce]

I got the info from word of mouth.   Personally, I am not convinced that the two Fredericks are the same lad.  "My" Frederick would be 14, not 16, in '71. 

Everyone I have spoken to that "our" Frederick used the both the surnames of Epps or Humpstone at various times in his life.

After arriving in Canada, he married Euphemia Aitken Meldrum in 1881.

[rosie99]

St Augustines jail records
Frederick Epps age 14 pauper
date of warrant 15 Oct 1869
received into custody 15 Oct 1869
Stealing one sovereign from Charles Vigden Carter at Bridge on 5th Oct also receiving said money knowing it to have been stolen
Charged with the same offence Edwin Webb 12 & John Johnson 14 - all listed as Paupers
Each sentenced to 1 months imprisonment with hard labour & 5 years at Reformatory School

[Kim Pearce]

Hi Rosie,

I don't think that's "my" Frederick.  But I am intrigued by the info you found.  I wish I could find similar information for his mother, since she was apparently jailed when he was born.