Queen's bench court records

[Ashtone]

Also - these bits from the court case:

"It was proved that young men frequented the dressmaker's shop, smoked cigars, and drank brandy and water".

"One witness deposed that he was on the most intimate footing with the sister, and that he had sat in the plaintiff's lap".

The above suggests there was some "procuring" going on at the dressmakers' shop in Battle. 

[willyam]

Have you considered that Edward's mother may be Harriett?

Three things have brought this to mind:

first - that Mr Pegge's rather salacious defence to Caroline's court action was the implication that the sisters were operating a house of ill repute at their dressmaker's shop;

second - that Harriett "declined to answer questions regarding her general continence" - perhaps this was a reference to her own 'general continence' rather than Caroline's;

third - at the time of the 1851 census (on 30th March - shortly before Edward's birth) Harriett was living on her own in Aldgate, East London, which is not so very far from the area covered by the Lambeth registration district.

Perhaps Mr Pegge fancied himself as something of a Lothario when it came to trifling with the affections of both sisters at the same time?

BUT there again.......also in the 1851 census there is a Caroline Goodwin, a 'married' woman aged 28 & born in Brighton (occupation recorded as [a] 'Husband Traveller') - who is on her own living in Lambeth.

My apologies to Harriett might be in order?