En route from Rotherhithe, Surrey, to Holborn, Middlesex • November 30th, 1796, Wednesday morning
Come, come! I have a Hackney waiting to take us back across the Thames! But, I say, where is the rest of your Luggage? If that is the case, I shall instruct the Coachman to have his Boy fetch the Remainder.
Now your Chest has been safely loaded, and you and I are comfortably seated in our Coach—no, no need to thank me for the Basket of warm Rolls—I will describe our Itinerary for Today. Our Transportation being by Road, we shall travel through Surrey to London Bridge;—you are quite correct, we shall catch Glimpses of Bermondsey and Southwark after all!
Once across the River, we will pass through diverse Streets to our Destination: Brook-St., Holborn. We will alight at the Market end of the said Street, then make our way on Foot to its Terminus at High-Holborn-Rd. From thence, we will walk the short Distance to the Parish Church of St. Andrew, where we will conclude our Walking Tour. Fear not! Our petite promenade requires hardly any Exertion at all.
To pass the time en route, permit me to relay News of your Relatives’ early years in Holborn.
When Mr. & Mrs. Greensword and their little son, Edward, vacated their Accommodation in Dover to return to London, they did not live in Brook-St. at first. My Research shews that they went to Fox-Ct., where they dwelt for some 6-years. This Court forms a connecting Passage leading from Gray’s Inn-Lane to no. 28, Brook-St.
Here, dear Guest, take my Map and you shall see the Location of Fox-Ct. for yourself. Indeed, you will be able to follow our Tour through Holborn to Brook-St. and anticipate the Route to our final Destination, the Church.
As to Fox-Ct., my fellow Scholars—Historians, Topographers and Genealogists, among others—universally agree that this Place’s main claim to Historical Significance pertains to a Scandal. According to Mr. Thornbury,
There is nothing attractive about its outward appearance, but, like nearly every nook and corner of old London, it has its own story to tell. “In this wretched alley,” says Mr. Jesse, “the profligate Countess of Macclesfield was delivered of her illegitimate child, Richard Savage”—incognito by the way since she apparently wore a mask during the labour and delivery.[1]
As this Event occurred in 1697, a Century before our present Tour of Holborn, one should not assume that Fox-Ct. was “wretched” when our Protagonists were Residents there. [2] .
On the basis of the Information currently at my Disposal, I can accurately date Mr. & Mrs. Greensword’s arrival in Holborn as no later than October, 1776, since on the 12th inst. their second child, George, was baptised at St. Andrew’s. The Baptism Register shews the family lived in Fox-Ct., and that at least two more children were born at that House.
John William was baptised on the First Day of November, 1778. Next came a Daughter, Mary, whose Christening was on the 23rd of April, 1780. I regret to tell you that little Mary went to her Grave on the 15th of August 1781. Then, a mere 2-weeks later, the bereaved Family was the Victim of a Robbery!
This dreadful Event occurs on the 30th of August 1781. The following day, Mrs. Greensword gives a Statement describing the Crime under oath to Mr. Joseph Girdler, Esquire, Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex. I have transcribed the hand-written original:
This Informant upon her Oath saith that She hath sufficient reason to Believe that One Mary Williams did come into her Husband’s Dwelling House on the 30th. of this Instant August about seven O Clock in the Evening in Fox Court in the Parish of St. Andrew Holborn in the said County & did feloniously Take & Carry away One Cotton Gown the Property of Joseph Greensword.[3]
At the 7th Session in the Mayoralty of The Right Honorable Sir Watkin Lewes, Mistress Sarah Greensword appears in the Justice Hall at the Old Bailey to give her evidence.
The Session commences on the 12th of September, 1781, and it continues over the ensuing days. The first case is no. 464; our Protagonist’s is no. 571. One can but hope Mrs. Greensword is not required to endure days in the Court-Room waiting to be called to give Evidence, for surely it would be a great Burden to a Respectable Woman like your Ancestor!
At last, Mrs. Sarah stands in the Witness Box, facing the Prisoner at the Bar. Picture the Courtroom if you will.
There is a Mirror above the Bar: it is designed to reflect the Light from the Windows onto the Accused. This day, it illuminates the Face of Mary Williams. A Sounding Board will amplify the Defendant’s voice, though she will have little to say.
Figure 7. Detail of Inside view of the Justice Hall, in the Old Bailey, the Court sitting, and the manner of Trying Prisoners at the Bar. Engraving with Etching. Published by Mr. Alexander. Hogg, December. 13th , 1794.[4]
I am able to reproduce what is said by the Prosecutrix, Witness and Defendant, for it was recorded by Mr. Joseph Gurney, one of my Contacts at the Old Bailey. He is an Individual of considerable Distinction in his own Right;—one of the Kingdom’s most renowned Brachygraphers, he has brought the Method of his father, Mr. Thomas Gurney, to near Perfection.[5]
Mr. Gurney the Younger made the Proceedings of Mrs. William’s Trial available to me before they were made Publick, a Genealogical Coup upon which I unfortunately could not capitalise. Being unable to decipher Short-Hand writing, I am compelled to reproduce the following Transcript from the published Proceedings of the Court: [6]
MARY WILLIAMS was indicted for Stealing a Cotton Gown, value 6s. the Property of Joseph Greensword, August the 30th
MRS. SARAH GREENSWORD sworn.
On the 30th of August, between six and seven in the evening, I was below in the kitchen. I came up, and saw the prisoner just going out of the door. I ran after her, and called out Stop thief! and Mrs. Davis stopped her. When she was stopped, she flung my gown in Mrs. Davis’s face. Mrs. Davis took it up. I sent for a Constable, and gave charge of the prisoner.
MRS. ELEANOR DAVIS sworn.
I was standing at my door. I saw the prisoner come by. Mrs. Greensword came out, and said she had robbed her. I ran after and catched her, and she threw the gown over her shoulder into my face. I brought the gown home to Mrs. Greensword’s, and gave it her.
(It was produced in court, and deposed by the Prosecutrix.)
PRISONER’S DEFENCE.
A woman came after me, and threw this gown down. A person came after me, crying, Stop thief! and I took up the gown, and threw it at her.
GUILTY. W. & Imp. 6 Months.
Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. RECORDER.
§
Reader, you will have no doubt have felt much alarm at Mrs. Williams’s Sentence, the Harshness of which evidently reflects the Court’s resolution to discourage Crime with Penalties of disproportionate Severity. Meanwhile, my Client shews no sign of forming any Intention of passing Comment, being quite engrossed in my Map.
Perhaps this is just as well, for our Coach is about to enter Brook-St. and shall reach its Northern End in mere minutes. I must, therefore, instruct the Coach-man on the Delivery of our Luggage to our Lodgings and ensure that my Client is ready to Alight. Adieu.
[1] Mr. Walter Thornbury, “Holborn: The Northern Tributaries”, in Old and New London, &c., &c.,Volume II, London, 1878, pp. 542–552.
[2] Mr. John Heneage Jesse, London: Its Celebrated Characters And Remarkable Places, Volume III, London, Mr. Richard Bentley, New Burlington-St., 1871, p. 93.
[3] Sessions Papers–Justices’ Working Documents, 31st August 1781, Ref. no. LMOBPS450240380, London Metropolitan Archives.
[4] Reproduced with gratitude to Mr. Henry Wellcome for his kind permission reproduce this Etching, which is held by his Foundation, the Wellcome Collection, Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.
[5] Mr. Thomas Gurney, Brachygraphy, or an easy and compendious System of Short-Hand, Adapted to the Various Arts, Sciences and Professions; Improved after more than Forty Years Practice & Experience by Thomas Gurney; and brought still nearer to Perfection upon the present Method by Joseph Gurney, 9th Edition. Printed for Messrs. J. and M. Gurney. Sold by Mr. M. Gurney, Bookseller, no. 34, Bell-Yard, Temple-Bar, London. Published as the Act directs, 1st of March 1778. Price Half a Guinea.
[6]The Whole Proceedings on the King’s Commission of the Peace, Oyer and Terminer, and Gaol Delivery for the City of London; And also, The Gaol Delivery for the County of Middlesex; Held at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, On Wednesday the 12th of September, 1781, and the following Days; Being the SEVENTH SESSION in the Mayoralty of The Right Honourable Sir Watkin Lewes, Knt. Lord Mayor of the City of London. Taken in Shorthand by Mr. Joseph Gurney. Number VII, Part I, London, printed for Mr. Joseph Gurney (the Proprietor) And Sold by Mr. M. Gurney, No. 34, Bell-Yard, near Temple-Bar, MDCCLXXXI, p. 76.
A FAMILY TOPOGRAPHY 