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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Hertfordshire => England => Hertfordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Hutton-Stirrup on Sunday 18 June 23 08:43 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I am looking into the past ancestry of my family history
I have found in the National Archive Newspapers, an article about James Watts of Little Hadham Hertfordshire 1843
he was up for warrant, charged by the overseers with deserting his children in the workhouse. chargeable to the parish. he was told he could either, Jion his children in the workhouse or go to jail, he chose to Jail.
I am trying to link him to my family tree, I know my 4x Great grandfather Henry Watts came from Little Hadham then the family moved to Rickmansworth. I am sure this James is part of the family.
Is there any way I can find information about children in Workhouse around Rickmansworth I have looked on Ancestry, but I am not sure where to look. any help would be apricated
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Hertfordshire Archives
Some limited info on line - but also docs available at archives
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/hertfordshire-archives-and-local-studies/whats-in-the-archives/poor-law-records-and-workhouses.aspx
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According to information at workhouses.org there was a new workhouse opened for Bishop's Stortford Union in 1837 at Haymeads Lane, Hockerill, Bishops Stortford. This Union included the parish of Little Hadham.
Since the newspaper article referred to Bishop's Stortford Petty Sessions I am assuming it will be this workhouse, but there were pre-1837 workhouses, so these may still have been operating (see workhouses.org for details of these).
For 1841 you can find this establishment either by browsing to county = Hertfordshire, parish = Bishop's Stortford whereupon you will see the workhouse has its own enumeration district; or by searching folio 48; piece 434; book 3; page 1.
The record has six pages. I have looked through and I can see no-one called Watts, but you should check too.
Added: side-by-side map view of the new workhouse here:
https://tinyurl.com/ycfya88v (https://tinyurl.com/ycfya88v)
The layout seems to be preserved in the modern map.
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Is he on Census as born c 1801 Little Hadham?
Bapts of his children are on FreeREG 1823-1838 Bishop's Stortford.
(bapt of Thomas has him of Hadham
He married Sarah PLAYER there 31 Aug 1822
SARAH was buried 13 Apr 1841, St Cecilia, Little Hadham, age 42
Above on FreeREG
There is a bapt Little Hadham for a JAMES Watts 3 Aug 1800 to RICHARD/MILLEY
When was your Henry born?
I cant see one born Little Hadham on 1851/1861 Census only Rickmansworth c 1812?
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If I have the right James he has the children in 1841 Census and as Wife had died may have been unable to look after them for a time.
1851 they are with him.
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Thank you for the information I will check it out. Henry was born about 1812, he lived in Rickmansworth and married Sarah hobbs. thank you again
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1851/1861 Census is Henry born Rickmansworth, not Little Hadham.
Your HENRY was bapt 09 Feb 1812, St Mary the Virgin, Rickmansworth to JAMES/MARTHA
And buried 23 May 1869 same Church age 57
SARAH was buried 06 Nov 1870 age 57
FreeREG has 11 Bapts to HENRY/SARAH there also.
William 1836
Mary 1838
James 1840
Edward 1841
Thomas 1843
George 1845
Hannah 1847
John 1850
Charles 1851
Joseph 1854
Frederick 1857
Sarah HOBBS was bapt 16 May 1813 St Michael, St Albans to WILLIAM/MARY
Father a Labourer
Abode Westwick
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A little more info if it helps.
James Watts married Martha Chapman 3rd Jan 1807 in Rickmansworth.
Children baptized to them as well as your Henry at St Mary were,
George 1808 died 1814
Susannah 1810
Harriet 1814
George1816
William1818
James Watts born c1779 died 1820 & was buried 6th Feb 1820 St Mary the Virgin Rickmansworth.
Martha Watts born c1781 died 1821 & was buried 5th Aug 1821 St Mary the Virgin Rickmansworth.
There was a James "Wats" baptized 24th Dec 1780 at St Mary the Virgin HAREFIELD Middx to a James & Jane. As Harefield is only 3/4 miles from Rickmansworth & Little Hadham about 40 mile I wonder if this one could be a good candidate for your Henry's father.
Maddie
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Thank you, Trish,
this will help me a lot. I found some watts children 1881 in the bishop Stortford workhouse but the dates don't match up.
their names are.
Albert aged 6
Julia aged 12
Lizzie aged 8
it must have been awful for them. I had a look at the website, and the conditions were bad. poor little things. Thank you again for your help.
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WATTS, JULIA mmn PRIOR***
GRO Reference: 1869 D Quarter in THE BISHOP STORTFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 265
1871 we have;
William Wake 60 Head Ag Lab/Army Pensioner
Susan Wake 33 Wife
Alice Wake 11 Daughter
Emily Wake 9 Daughter
Matilda Wake 6 Daughter
Mary A Wake 4 Daughter
JULIA Wake 1 Daughter*******
Image is WATTS
WATTS, ALBERT AUGUSTUS mmn PRIOR
GRO Reference: 1874 D Quarter in BISHOPS STORTFORD Volume 03A Page 299
WATTS, ELIZABETH ANN mmn PRIOR
GRO Reference: 1872 J Quarter in BISHOPS STORTFORD Volume 03A Page 296
FreeBMD has the Marriage Reg of William WATTS 1858, Susan PRIOR on same page
FreeREG has burials of;
SUSAN Watts 1875 and WILLIAM Watts 1876
(FreeREG mucking up and cant open images)
But GRO has Susan age 38 and William age 65
FreeREG has the Marriage 1858 also and confirms his Father as RICHARD