Charlotte Helston Dymond (abt. 1826 - 1844)

Born about 1826 in Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Died 14 Apr 1844 at about age 18 in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England

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Biography

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Charlotte Dymond is Notable.

This profile is part of the Dymond Name Study.

Charlotte Dymond was born in Cornwall, England.

Charlotte Dymond was a Cornish servant girl who was infamously murdered on Bodmin Moor in 1844. There have been books, television programmes, a famous poem by Charles Causley, and an opera based on her life and death; and her ghost reputedly haunts the place where she died. There is even a Charlotte Dymond Memorial Page on Facebook.

Birth

Charlotte was born about 1826. Although it has been stated by many, including Pat Munn ^[1] and Linda Stratman, ^[2] that it has not been ascertained for sure who her parents were, there seems to be a fairly clear trail to her parentage - or at least to her mother.

Both Munn and Stratman (who relies heavily on Munn's work) make the connection between Charlotte and a Mary Dymond from Boscastle, but the missing link for them both is a baptism. However, on 1 October 1826, a Mary Place Dayman, spinster of Boscastle, had her 'base' child, Charlotte Helston Dayman, baptised in the parish of Cardinham.^[3][4] Cardinham is an inland parish, about 20 miles due south of the coastal parish of Boscastle, and probably far enough away to avoid gossip. However, the rector of Cardinham liked to make sure any 'base-born' children were obvious in his records, since alongside each of their baptismal entries he drew a little hand pointing it out. ^[5]

Cardinham Parish Church where Charlotte was baptised

The spelling of the surname is different, but a Mary Place Dymond is later recorded on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census returns in St Juliot (3 miles NE of Boscastle), so we can be fairly certain that this record is for the baptism of Charlotte Dymond.

Early Life

Very little is known about Charlotte's early life. There is no documentary evidence of her life between her baptism in 1826 and the 1841 census; although there is, retrospectively, the testimony of various witnesses at the trial for her murder. However, we do know that she was literate ^[6] so she must have had some education. We know that when Charlotte was about 3, her mother was sentenced to a £10 fine and three months in prison for the assault of another woman, ^[7] but we also know that by 1841 Charlotte's mother was recorded as being a schoolmistress.^[8]

Pat Munn records that Charlotte had been working as a servant for six years when she was murdered: first at Penhale Farm, then at Tremail (where she is found, recorded as aged 13, on the 1841 Census) and then back at Penhale until her death. ^[9] This would mean that she was a servant from at the latest, the age of 12, possibly even younger. Munn also notes how it had been said that her mother would kill her rather than have her in the house - ^[9] although this could of course be exaggeration or scandal-mongering by members of the community in the wake of her death.

England and Wales Census, 1841

In 1841 Charlotte was working as a servant for Digory Hayne, a farmer, and his family. In 1844, Digory was to be a juror at the inquest on Charlotte's death. ^[10] Now, however, he was living at his farm at Tremail, a hamlet about a mile south of Davidstow, with Gerrance, his son by his first wife Grace; his second wife Ann; and Thomasine, Emanuel and Digory, their children.^[11] Also in the house were four servants: Charlotte, who had been recorded as 13 but was probably 14 or 15 given her baptism date of 1826; 35 year old Ann Tremeer, 25 year old William Batten, and John Hayne, recorded as aged 13. This John Hayne was probably a relative, the son of a John Hayne and his wife Ann, also from the hamlet of Tremail, who had been baptised on 20 May 1827 in Davidstow and thus probably 14. ^[12]

1841 Census: Tremail, Davidstow, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom,^[13][14]

The household from which, in 1844, Charlotte would leave to meet her death had, in 1841 a similar set-up. Penhale Farm was run by Phillippa Peter, a widow. She was aided by her son Thomas, and four servants, one of whom was Matthew Weeks.

1841 Census: Penhale, Davidstow, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom^[15][16]

Death

Roughtor, Bodmin Moor

By 1844 Charlotte was living back at Penhale farm, where Pat Munn reports she had previously worked for about three years before moving to Tremail. She had been 'walking out' with Matthew Weeks, who had been working at Penhale for Mrs Peter for 7 years. ^[9]

On Sunday, April 14th 1844, at about four in the afternoon, Charlotte and Matthew Weeks both changed into their Sunday best and left the house together. They didn't say where they were going, but Charlotte told Mrs Peter, her employer, that she although she would not be back in time to milk the cows, Matthew would. Charlotte was wearing a green striped dress and a red shawl, while Matthew was wearing a dark velvet frock-coat, blue stockings and a fancy waistcoat. ^[17]

Matthew arrived back at about half past nine, but without Charlotte. He told Mrs Peter he didn't know where she was. Charlotte was not seen alive again. ^[18]

Charlotte's body was eventually found, by a search party, nine days later on Tuesday April 23. She was found by the side of the River Alan below Roughtor. Her throat had been cut. ^[19]

Matthew Weeks, Charlotte's erstwhile sweetheart, was tried and hanged for her murder at Bodmin Gaol.^[20] There has been much written about the case, and many people, including Pat Munn, have proposed that Matthew was innocent. Even a short account of the case and the events and evidence which led to Matthew's conviction and execution would be too lengthy to include here, but Linda Stratman's article, available online, does a good job of summarising the events. Pat Munn's book, based as it is on research of primary sources, is even better, but is sadly out of print. Interestingly, each writer extrapolates from the evidence a different conclusion about the guilt or otherwise of Matthew Weeks.

Burial

Charlotte Dymond's Grave in 2019

Charlotte was buried at St David Churchyard, Davidstow, Cornwall on 25 April 1844. ^{[21] [22] [23]} For many years the only marker on Charlotte's grave was a broken cross that had fallen, in 1875, from the eastern gable of the church. It was not until 2001 that her grave had its own marker, this being a flat stone, engraved with her name and dates, and donated by the Goodenough family of Higher Tremail Farm. On 18 June 2017, thanks to public donations and fundraising, including a concert at the church, a raised headstone was added to the grave. ^[24]

Memorial on the Moor

Charlotte Dymond Memorial

A memorial to Charlotte was paid for by public subscription, and was erected near the murder site on the edge of Roughtor soon after the execution of Matthew Weeks. It consists of a granite obelisk inscribed:

This monument is erected by public subscription in memory of Charlotte Dymond who was murdered here by Matthew Weeks on Sunday April 14 1844

The memorial has been listed Grade II for historical, architectural, and group value interest. The listing states the reasoning thus: ^[25]

• Historical interest: its rarity as a highly unusual mid-C19 memorial to a domestic servant paid for by public subscription; the macabre details of the story have continued to capture the public imagination in the region and become a significant part of Bodmin Moor folklore; the story has been immortalised in a poem by Charles Causley CBE, Cornish poet and writer.
• Architectural interest: as a well-crafted granite obelisk with stylish and emotive inscriptions and a distinctive pyramid capstone; the robust granite form reflects the geological character of Bodmin Moor and its plain style befits the tragedy of the murder that it is commemorating; it is little altered.
• Group value: with nationally important multi-layered historic landscape at the Roughtor Scheduled Monument and with a Grade II clapper bridge.

Cultural Legacy

• The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond, a poem by Charles Causley CBE.
• The Murder of Charlotte Dymond, an opera by Russell Pascoe, libretto by Christopher William Hill, first performed at Hall for Cornwall, December 1999 ^[26][27]
• BBC TV's Pebble Mill at One screened an investigation, including a reconstruction, into the murder by journalist and presenter Donny McLeod on January 9, 1978. ^[28]
• The Life of Charlotte Dymond: Flesh & Bones on a True Cornish Murder , by Jill Batters, a speculative novel based on the events of the murder. ^[29]
• 'Charlotte Dymond', a song by the folk group The Carrivick Sisters, from their album From the Fields.^[30]
• 'Charlotte Dymond', a song by the folk singer Anna Shannon, from her album Overland.^[31]
• Cornish Murders by John van der Kiste and Nicola Sly has a chapter about Charlotte Dymond's murder.^[32]

Research Notes

Who was Charlotte's Father?

It was common practice for an illegitimate child to be baptised using the father's surname as a middle name. As Charlotte was baptised with the middle name Helston, it is quite possible that her father was called Helston. A Thomas Helstone married a Sarah Baker in Forrabury, Boscastle, in 1818, so he would be a possibility. ^[33]However, there is a potential candidate of a different name. In 1841 and 1851 Charlotte's mother Mary was living with a James Medland. Research ongoing to assess the likelihood of him being Charlotte's father. Rowe-6599 08:36, 22 August 2019 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Munn, Pat The Charlotte Dymond Murder, Cornwall 1844 Bodmin: Bodmin Books Limited, 1978, p 151.
2. ↑ Stratman, Linda, The Murder of Charlotte Dymond, accessed 14 August 2019
3. ↑ Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database, Baptisms: Day Month 01-Oct; Year 1826; Parish Or Reg District Cardinham; Forename Charlotte Helston; Surname DAYMAN; Sex dau; Father Forename ; Mother Forename Mary Place; Residence Boscastle; Father Rank Profession spinster; Notes base; Transcriber Notes src: Exeter BTs; Transcriber Kay Halley
4. ↑ Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database, Baptisms: Also Parish register transcript by David Coppin, same details as above.
5. ↑ Image available at: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2Z4-PNVP : 19 July 2017), Charlotte Helston, 01 Oct 1826; citing Baptism, Cornwall, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
6. ↑ Munn, 1978, passim
7. ↑ Quarter Sessions held at Bodmin, 13 July 1830 Ref QS/1/11/614-657, this record: QS/1/11/642 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/581090fa-3b7d-4a6e-9141-5dc3b0a3acf4
8. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYY-S8X : 23 May 2019), Mary Pleas Dyman, St Juliot, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Image with transcript at Find My Past (£).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Munn, 1978, p 18
10. ↑ Munn, 1978, p 45.
11. ↑ Relationships confirmed by records at Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database.
12. ↑ Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database Baptisms, Day Month 20-May; Year 1827; Parish Or Reg District Davidstow; Forename John; Surname HAYNE; Sex son; Father Forename John; Mother Forename Ann; Residence Tremeal; Father Rank Profession Farmer; Transcriber Mike Gabriel.
13. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYY-MLS : 23 May 2019), Charlotte Dimond in household of Digory Hayne, Davidstow, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
14. ↑ 1841 Census Image and Transcription available at Find My Past (£)
15. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYY-MZF : 23 May 2019), Phillippa Peter, Davidstow, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
16. ↑ 1841 Census Image and Transcription available at Find My Past (£)
17. ↑ Munn, 1978, p 23
18. ↑ Munn, 1978, p 24
19. ↑ Munn, 1978, p 39 - 41
20. ↑ Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database, Courts: Year 1844; Sessions County Assizes, July; Surname Accused WEEKS; Forename Accused Matthew; Age Accused 22; Offence Murder; Verdict Death (executed 12 Aug 1844) Trial Notes Imp (Degree of Instruction); Transcriber Notes Src: National Archives, Cornwall Criminal Registers; Transcriber John Evans
21. ↑ Death Registration - https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp - Volume 09 Page 36
22. ↑ "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J8ML-QW5 : 12 February 2018), Charlotte Dymond, burial 25 Apr 1844; citing Davidstow, Cornwall, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,595,485.
23. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #15590718
24. ↑ 'Charlotte Dymond finally gets a headstone', The Cornwall Advertisers, (online), 10 July 2017, accessed 22 August 2019.
25. ↑ Historic England, Listing for Charlotte Dymond Memorial
26. ↑ The Stage, 16 July 1998, p 10. Available at Find My Past
27. ↑ Malone, Roger, Review of production at Hall for Cornwall, The Stage, 9 November 1999, p 15. Available at Find My Past
28. ↑ Munn, 1978, p 6 and back cover matter
29. ↑ CB Productions SW, 2014
30. ↑ The Carrivick Sisters Label, released 22 Aug, 2011
31. ↑ Chloe Productions, 15 Feb 2010
32. ↑ The History Press (1 Oct. 2007)
33. ↑ "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLK-DSQH : 2 February 2018), Thomas Helstone and Sarah Baker, 11 Jan 1818; citing Marriage, Forrabury, Cornwall, England, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.

Please Note: Cornwall OPC asks users to NOT link to indvidual records, as the numbers change when corrections are uploaded.

See Also:

• Munn, Pat The Charlotte Dymond Murder, Cornwall 1844 Bodmin: Bodmin Books Limited, 1978
• Stratmann, Linda The Murder of Charlotte Dymond
• Charlotte Dymond Memorial Page on Facebook (Accessed 16 August 2019 by Sally Douglas)