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Until I tried the Gale trial website I thought I had all the answers. Now I find my great-gran had an illegitimate half-sister 15 years older than her. When I show my mum tomorrow she'll be shocked.
However, I can't find a record of hir birth or of her and her mother on any censuses.... or am I missing something?
Here's the newspaper cutting that set me on the trail:
7th March 1859
GUILDHALL - SATURDAY
GUARDIANS OF PUBLIC MORALS
William Hutt, a constable in the City Police Force, was summoned before Alderman Finnis and Alderman Humphery, to show cause why he should not be adjudged the putative father of an illegitimate female child, of which the complainant was the mother.
Louisa Barnaby, the complainant, said she lived in Maidenhead-Court, Moor-Lane. Her child was born on the 19th of December last in St Saviour’s Union [workhouse in Southwark], and the defendant, William Hutt, was the father.
Cross examined, she said she had not been intimate with a great many policemen. The defendant was the only one. She never had any intimacy with a policeman named Hodgson, but she had seen him round St Paul’s at night, when she was looking for the young man Hutt.
William Hutt, the defendant, was then examined, and said he had known the complainant about two years, but the intimacy which had existed between them ceased for about 11 months, and recommenced on 14th April. She told him she had been intimate with other men, and when he said he would bring up several to prove it, she said there was one he could not produce, as he was dead.
Police constable Johnson, 134, was then called, and said he knew the complainant, and had been intimate with her at various times during the last three years. He had also seen her with other policemen.
Alderman Humphery said it was not very reputable for either the defendant or the witness to get into the witness box to make such statements.
Witness said he had been summoned and was obliged to attend.
Alderman Finnis thought it was the duty of policemen to bring all prostitutes plying their calling before the magistrates; but it would appear they made it their duty to corrupt the morals of young girls. If twenty policemen came up and swore the same thing it would not alter his opinion of the case in the face of the defendant’s admission and the girl’s oath. Even if it were true that she had been intimate with so many, she must know best who was the father of her child.
The order for 2s6d per week was then made.
Now, I've found a Rosetta Barnaby that fits the birth but she appears on subsequent censuses with her parents, so it can't be her.
However, I can't find a record of hir birth or of her and her mother on any censuses.... or am I missing something?
Here's the newspaper cutting that set me on the trail:
7th March 1859
GUILDHALL - SATURDAY
GUARDIANS OF PUBLIC MORALS
William Hutt, a constable in the City Police Force, was summoned before Alderman Finnis and Alderman Humphery, to show cause why he should not be adjudged the putative father of an illegitimate female child, of which the complainant was the mother.
Louisa Barnaby, the complainant, said she lived in Maidenhead-Court, Moor-Lane. Her child was born on the 19th of December last in St Saviour’s Union [workhouse in Southwark], and the defendant, William Hutt, was the father.
Cross examined, she said she had not been intimate with a great many policemen. The defendant was the only one. She never had any intimacy with a policeman named Hodgson, but she had seen him round St Paul’s at night, when she was looking for the young man Hutt.
William Hutt, the defendant, was then examined, and said he had known the complainant about two years, but the intimacy which had existed between them ceased for about 11 months, and recommenced on 14th April. She told him she had been intimate with other men, and when he said he would bring up several to prove it, she said there was one he could not produce, as he was dead.
Police constable Johnson, 134, was then called, and said he knew the complainant, and had been intimate with her at various times during the last three years. He had also seen her with other policemen.
Alderman Humphery said it was not very reputable for either the defendant or the witness to get into the witness box to make such statements.
Witness said he had been summoned and was obliged to attend.
Alderman Finnis thought it was the duty of policemen to bring all prostitutes plying their calling before the magistrates; but it would appear they made it their duty to corrupt the morals of young girls. If twenty policemen came up and swore the same thing it would not alter his opinion of the case in the face of the defendant’s admission and the girl’s oath. Even if it were true that she had been intimate with so many, she must know best who was the father of her child.
The order for 2s6d per week was then made.
Now, I've found a Rosetta Barnaby that fits the birth but she appears on subsequent censuses with her parents, so it can't be her.
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