Charles Thetford according to family knowledge, was born 17 Apr 1796 in Cripplegate. He was married to Fanny Barwell born as Mason on 1 Dec 1828 in All Saints Church, Northampton. On Aug 1830 poll, Charles Thetford a bootcloser resided on Tanner Street. On May 1831 poll he was a shoemaker on Gregory Street. In Feb 1832 Charles Thetford appears in the Northampton Mercury Newspaper and is said to be residing on Gregory Street. Dec 1832 Poll he is recorded as a Shoemaker on Quartpot Lane. Oct 1833 Poll he lived on Quartpot lane. 24 Jan 1834 he was admitted into Northampton General Hospital. Oct 1834 Poll he resided at Mount Pleasant place. Every census and poll since this time he resided on Mount Pleasant Place. He died 22 Jul 1874 in Northampton.
I have searched high and low for records pertaining to Charles Thetford. Many years ago I came across an extremely important record in the Children's Workhouse of Cripplegate. The entry states: "Thetford Chas 9y 3m - By Whom Sent: Committee, order of removal From St Dunstans Stepney 11 August 1808 - How Belonging: The Fathers Settlement" As another note in the record it says: "Discharged 12 August 1808 by being Taken out by his Mother".
Based upon this record I am brought to certain conclusions. Charles would had to have been born in 1799. Due to this record I have taken family knowledge and combined it with the knowledge from this Workhouse record. Charles Thetford would have been born 17 Apr 1799 in Cripplegate. *Not entirely sure if he was born Cripplegate.
Some Thetford's I have found who resided in Cripplegate were:
- Thomas and Jane. They had 2 daughters born in Cripplegate Elizabeth born 20 May 1786 and Jane born 24 Dec 1787. Thomas Thetford is the son of John Thetford and Susannah Richards. The Thetford name itself has been in Cripplegate since the late 1600's. One of the first Thetford's from there was Marmaduke 'Duke' Thetford born in 1686 the father of John Thetford.
- Mary Thetford who married James Killfoyl 13 Mar 1804. She was born about 1785 and was buried 1 Dec 1833 in St Pancras, Middlesex
Having never found mention of Charles Thetford in the Cripplegate records beyond the workbook entry, I searched for those who would have been non conformist that may have explained why the absence of a baptism record occurred. I was also looking for a couple where the mother was still living, but the father died around the same time that Charles Thetford would have been admitted into the workhouse (something that might explain why it was the mother that took him out of the workhouse. No mention of her name was in the record (really wish there was, it would help a ton...). There was one particular couple that caught my eye by the name of Thomas Thetford and Elizabeth Wells who were married 14 Apr 1782 in Westminster. Thomas Thetford was born about 1756 and was buried 5 Mar 1807. This was one year prior to when Charles would have been admitted to the children's workhouse. Elizabeth Thetford was buried 25 May 1809. Less than a year after Charles Thetford would have been released from the children's workhouse.
I wish I could find more records pertaining to the children's workhouse that would either show the mothers name or make mention of some additional detail that could help. There is mention of an order of removal from St Dunstans Stepney. There is also mention of the Father's Settlement, any one of these I feel could have additional insight to help find the family (not entirely sure though, not holding my breath). He was bootcloser later in life, I would imagine their would be some form of apprenticeship somewhere, but have not found anything. So is what I have regarding Charles Thetford.
