Harriet (Hutchings) Langbridge (1800 - 1870)

Born 1800 in Moretonhampstead, Devon, England

Wife of John Langbridge — married 4 Apr 1823 in Dunsford, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 1870 at about age 70 in Gloucester Crescent, Regents Park, London

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bob Howlett [send private message]

Biography

Harriet Hutchings was baptized on 20 April 1800^[1] in Moretonhampstead^[2] in Devon. Her father's name was Samuel, but unfortunately the baptism register does not record her mother's name.

The Moretonhampstead History Society^[3] kindly provides an online facility for searching baptisms, marriages and burials in Moretonhampstead^[4], and it shows two marriages of men named Samuel Hutchings who might have been Harriet's father: Samuel Hutchings married Mary Soby on 5 January 1788, and Samuel Hutchings married Betty Matthews on 6 October 1788.

Searching Moretonhampstead baptisms of children with surname Hutchings uncovers twelve with father's name Samuel:

• Mary (6 January 1788),
• Ann (13 December 1789),
• Sally (4 November 1792),
• Elizabeth (27 December 1795),
• George (26 October 1817, born February 1798, father's occupation farmer, mother's name Elizabeth),
• Hariot (20 April 1800),
• William Soby (10 February 1802),
• Anna Maria (9 October 1803),
• John (15 July 1815, age: 13 years 6 months, father's occupation woolcomber, mother's name Betty),
• Samuel (9 November 1806),
• Samuel (19 February 1809),
• Samuel (9 October 1810).

We can deduce that both couples married in 1788 had children, and Harriet could have been the daughter of either of them.

According to Devon Family History Society transcriptions, now available through findmypast.co.uk, a John Langbride and a Harriet Hutchings were married in Dunsford^[5], Devon, on 4 April 1823.

John and Harriet Langbridge had the following children:

• John Langbridge, baptized on 9 February 1824 in Moretonhampstead^[6], Devon, and buried in Moretonhampstead on 21 February 1824^[7];
• John Langbridge, baptized on 7 August 1825 in Moretonhampstead^[8];
• Harriet Hutchings Langbridge, baptized on 31 January 1828 in Moretonhampstead^[9];
• Mary Ann Langbridge, born on 13 July 1829 and baptized on 27 June 1830 in Moretonhampstead^[10];
• William Langbridge, baptized on 21 May 1831 in Moretonhampstead^[11];
• Louisa Langbridge, born on 1 August 1837, in Moretonhampstead.

The Moretonhampstead History Society^[12] kindly provides an online facility for searching baptisms, marriages and burials in Moretonhampstead^[13], giving more information than provided by the FamilySearch transcriptions. In particular we discover that, according to the baptism register entries, John Langbridge was a husbandman at the time of the baptism of his first son John, a collier at the time of the baptism of his second son John, an innkeeper at the time of the baptism of his daughter Harriet, and a husbandman again when Mary Ann and William were baptized. We also learn that the first John was 11 days old at his death.

John Langbridge of Moretonhampstead, and formerly of Dunsford, Charcoal Burner and Victualler, is named in The London Gazette of 20 June 1828 as one of seventeen insolvent debtors whose petitions are to be heard in Exeter on 11 July 1828^[14]. And similarly, five years on, John Langbridge, formerly of Moreton Hampstead, Devonshire, then of Totnes, Devonshire, and late of Moreton Hampstead aforesaid, Stone-Cutter and Victualler, is named in The London Gazette of 15 February 1833 as one of the insolvent debtors whose petitions are to be heard in Exeter on 11 March 1833^[15].

Let us interrupt Harriet's biography with a brief account of a noteworthy event in the history of Moretonhampstead. It is interesting in its own right, and does give us a little information about Harriet Langbridge.

Jonathan May was murdered near Moretonhampstead on 16 July 1835. The case is notable for the fact that—in a rare example of the British justice system conceding that it made a mistake—one of the two men convicted of the crime was pardoned 43 years later, and awarded £1000 compensation for wrongful conviction.

Harriet Langbridge gave evidence in the case, her testimony helping to convict the innocent man.

Jonathan May, a farmer, was waylaid by two thugs, robbed and killed, while returning home at night, having attended the fair in Moretonhampstead. The murderers were one Thomas Oliver, known as Buckingham Joe, and his companion, known as Turpin. Thomas Oliver and Edmund Galley were tried and convicted.

Before he was hanged, Buckingham Joe confessed his guilt, but Edmund Galley maintained that he was not Turpin, and had never been in Devon before 1836. Joe corroborated this, saying that he had never met Galley until they were in Exeter gaol awaiting trial.

Harriet Langbridge was one of several witnesses who Identified Galley as the Turpin who had been Joe's companion at Moretonhampstead fair. Her evidence, as reported in the press^[16], was as follows.

I am the wife of John Langbridge; my husband keeps the Golden Lion Inn at Moreton; he did so in July last year. I remember the fair on 16th July last year.—in the evening of that day I was tending in my cellar, between 7 and 9 o'clock, I can't say the exact time, the prisoner Edmund Galley otherwise Turpin, came into the cellar, and asked me to give him a cork.—I did—I did not see where he went; I never saw him again till I saw him in May, in the gaol.—Pointing to the prisoner Galley—the witness said, that is the man—I am sure of it—I noticed that he was pitted with the small pox; I found a large vacant space in the side of his mouth, as if he had lost his teeth.

There were other witnesses, though, who said that the Turpin who was Buckingham Joe's companion at Moretonhampstead was not the accused Edmund Galley, but an entirely different man, one with a full set of teeth.

After both accused were convicted, and the Judge was in the process of sentencing them to death, Buckingham Joe interrupted the judge, saying "I hope, my Lord, that you will not hang an innocent man; I declare before God that this man was never with me in my life". An account of Joe's hanging^[17] goes as follows.

He surveyed the immense multitude with apparent anxiety, and, after the cap was drawn over his eyes, on being asked by the Chaplain if he wished to say anything? he replied, in a firm and distinct, but low tone of voice "All I wish to say is to inform this congregation that I am a guilty man, and that the other man is an innocent man.—This is all I have to say."—These were his last words.

Buckingham Joe's words led to further calls for Galley's alibi to be more thoroughly investigated. His execution was postponed for two weeks, and then for another month. Then his sentence was commuted to transportation for life. Eventually, after forty-three years, he received a free pardon.

In October 1879 the Sydney paper The Evening News reported as follows^[18].

YASS, Tuesday.—A free pardon, bearing the Queen's autograph, has been handed to Edmund Galley by sub-inspector Brennan. Galley, nearly 40 years ago, was sentenced to death for murder at Exeter, England, and his sentence was commuted to banishment for life. He is only now proved innocent.

Others, such as the Brisbane Telegraph, were outraged that Galley was merely pardoned, rather than exonerated^[19]. After a further delay, he was awarded compensation^[20].

We return now to Harriet's biography. Here is the 1841 census record for the Langbridge household.

Observe that Harriet Hutchings Lamgbridge was missing from her parents' household in 1841. In fact she was in London, at Carey Street, New Boswell Court, St Clement Danes, in the household of one Samuel Hutchins^[22]. It is quite possible that Samuel was her mother's younger brother.

At the time of the 1851 census only three of the family were in Moretonhampstead: the parents John and Harriet, and the 20 year old William^[23].

In fact, Harriet was rather lucky to be there. In February 1849 she was convicted of fraudulently obtaining a promissory note for £50 (which was subsequently cashed). She was sentenced to seven years transportation. Given that £50 was a lot of money in those days, and sentences were usually harsh, she was perhaps lucky to only get seven years. And very lucky to be released after less than two years.

The report of Harriet's trial published in Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser^[25] is reproduced herewith.

Harriet Langbridge, 49, was charged with having stolen from Wm Squire Rowe, of Thornbury Farm, in the parish of Hittesleigh, an interest note of the Devon and Cornwall Banking Company, for £50; the said note being the property of Charlotte Rowe, his daughter. The prisoner in this instance is a woman of plausible manners and good address; and is set forth in the calendar as being able to read and write well. The case too is peculiar; and in the absence of Mr Bird, she was defended by Mr Jerwood. Mr Cox was for the prosecution, and stated the case to the Court and jury. The prisoner is the wife of a labouring man, residing in Moretonhampstead; and Mr W. S. Rowe, the prosecutor, is a farmer, residing in the parish of Hittesleigh, a few miles distant. With this family the prisoner was intimate, and Mrs Rowe being bedridden, frequently visited them. One of these friendly visits took place soon after last Midsummer, when Langbridge told Mrs Rowe she had brought her good news, as a Miss Davis, a lady whose home was on the other side of London, but who was then lodging at Mrs Shears' in Moreton, had told her there was £20 a year for Mrs Rowe. This was by means of an annuity from a benevolent society, to which she (Miss D.) belonged. It was necessary, however, that some money should be deposited by the person who was thus to be benefitted, and, for this purpose, Mrs Rowe furnished the prisoner with £5. And, afterwards, through similar artful pretence, with £5 more. It was likewise artfully represented to the infirm old lady by the prisoner, how advantageous it would be to her daughter Charlotte Rowe, as if £50 were thus invested in her name, she (the daughter) would receive £100 on her mother's death. Thus wrought upon, Mrs Rowe gave into the prisoner's possession an interest note of her daughter's for £50, with authority to receive the amount, which was soon after done at the Cornwall and Devon Bank.

Mr Samuel Hunt, of Chagford, surgeon, the medical attendant of Mrs Rowe, stated that she is bedridden, and could not be brought to Exeter to give her evidence without endangering her life.

Mr M. W. Harvey, of Moretonhampstead, solicitor, and clerk to the magistrates of the Crockernwell division, was present when the deposition of Mrs Rowe was taken in her bedroom, and sworn before the Rev. Wm Ponsford, a magistrate, in the presence of the prisoner.

The examination was now put in and read, when Mr Jerwood objected that no offence was set out: it was an examination under circumstances in which the prisoner was charged with obtaining money, and a valuable security for money, which in itself was not an offence. The prisoner should have been charged with feloniously obtaining the money, and security for money.

Mr Cox felt the difficulty, but thought that it might be got over, if it could be proved by other evidence that when this deposition was taken, the prisoner was charged with stealing. And asked Mr Harvey if this were the case? Mr Harvey said the prisoner was charged with obtaining under false and fraudulent pretence—not with stealing.

The Chairman on this proceeded to consult Mr Bere on the point, who was presiding in the other court, and on his return said he would admit the deposition, subject to the opinion of the court above, on the point raised. But Mr Cox feeling it to be very questionable whether the deposition could be sustained, intimated that he would abandon the charge of stealing and proceed with that of obtaining by false pretences. And a verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury accordingly.

The prisoner was again indicted under these circumstances; but the deposition being read, Mr Jerwood made a similar objection, and the point was referred for the consideration of the Judges.

A stamped receipt for the £50, purporting to be signed by several ladies, the managers of a society in Exeter, and promising to give the daughter £100 for the £50 deposited, three months after her mother's decease, was read. But Mr J. H. Hutchings, of the Devon and Cornwall Bank, stated there was no such society in Exeter. Mr Massy, also a clerk in the same establishment, proved the payment of the note, but could not identify the prisoner.

Mrs Shears, of Moreton, stated that no Miss Davis had ever lodged with her.

And the jury found the prisoner guilty.

There was two other indictments against the prisoner—the one charging her with stealing the two £5 notes, and the other with obtaining them under fraudulent pretences; but, as she was already convicted, no evidence was offered on these.

The Chairman told the prisoner that under the verdict given against her by the jury, it was his duty to sentence her to transportation for seven years, but in consequence of the point reserved, he should respite that sentence until the assizes.

It is no surprise that at the assizes the judges ruled that Mrs Rowe's deposition was admissible. The conviction was affirmed^[26].

According to his profile in FamilyTree on FamilySearch^[27], John Langbridge died on 11 January 1858, at Market Place, Moretonhampstead. Presumably this information comes from a death certificate. Certainly the death of a John Langbridge was registered in the first quarter of 1858^[28] in the Newton Abbot district (which includes Moretonhampstead), his age recorded as 75.

At the 1861 census Harriet Langbridge, a 61 year old Charcoal Burner's Widow, was living at Cross Street in Moretonhampstead, the only person in the household^[29]. According to her profile in FamilyTree on FamilySearch^[30] she died on 15 June 1870 at Gloucester Crescent, near Regents Park, London. The death registration record^[28] says that she was 71.

Sources

1. ↑ Hariot Hutchings, 20 Apr 1800: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
2. ↑ Moretonhampstead: Wikipedia article
3. ↑ Home page: Moretonhampstead History Society
4. ↑ Parish records: Moretonhampstead History Society
5. ↑ Dunsford: Wikipedia article.
6. ↑ Moretonhampstead: Wikipedia article.
7. ↑ John Langbridge baptism, 21 February 1824: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
8. ↑ Baptism of John Langbridge, 7 August 1825: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
9. ↑ Baptism of Harriet Langbridge, 31 January 1828: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
10. ↑ Birth and baptism of Mary Ann Langbridge: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
11. ↑ Baptism of Wm Langbridge, 21 May 1831: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" database (FamilySearch, 11 February 2018), index based on data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,868, 916,869.
12. ↑ Home page: Moretonhampstead History Society
13. ↑ Parish records: Moretonhampstead History Society
14. ↑ The London Gazette, 20 June 1828, page 1210: Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors. (The Gazette, www.thegazette.co.uk.)
15. ↑ The London Gazette, 15 February 1833, page 347: Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors. (The Gazette, www.thegazette.co.uk.)
16. ↑ Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 4 August 1836. See Gale Historical Newspapers.
17. ↑ The Royal Cornwall Gazette, 19 August 1836. See Gale Historical Newspapers.
18. ↑ Forty Years' Injustice: The Evening News (Sydney NSW 1869–1931), 7 October 1879, page 2. (National Library of Australia, Digitised Australian Newspapers, retrieved 23 November 2019.)
19. ↑ The "free pardon" to Galley: The Telegraph (Brisbane Qld 1872–1947), 29 October 1879, page 2. (National Library of Australia, Digitised Australian Newspapers, retrieved 23 November 2019.)
20. ↑ Compensation to Edmund Galley: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney NSW 1870–1907), 3 September 1881, page 11. (National Library of Australia, Digitised Australian Newspapers, retrieved 23 November 2019.)
21. ↑ John Langbridge and family at 1841 census (piece 254, folio 6, page 6). FreeCEN – UK Census Records from Free UK Genealogy, accessed 23 November 2019.
22. ↑ Harrt Langbridge in household of Saml Hutchins, St Clement Danes, Middlesex: "England and Wales Census, 1841" database with images (FamilySearch, 22 May 2019); from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census" database and images (findmypast); from PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
23. ↑ John, Harriet and William Langbridge at 1851 census (piece 1871, folio 59, page 8, schedule 30). FreeCEN – UK Census Records from Free UK Genealogy, accessed 23 November 2019.
24. ↑ John Langbridge and family at 1841 census (piece 1871, folio 59, page 8 schedule 30). FreeCEN – UK Census Records from Free UK Genealogy, accessed 23 November 2019.
25. ↑ Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser, 1 March 1849. See Gale Historical Newspapers.
26. ↑ Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser (Exeter, England), Thursday 28 June 1849 (page 3); Issue 4360. British Library Newspapers, Part I: 1800–1900. See Gale Historical Newspapers.
27. ↑ John Langbridge's profile in Family Tree on FamilySearch. Viewed 23 November 2019.
28. ↑ ^{28.0 28.1} General Register Office: birth, death and marriage registrations in England and Wales since July 1837.
29. ↑ Harriet Langbridge at 1861 census (piece 1404, folio 8, page 7 schedule 33). FreeCEN – UK Census Records from Free UK Genealogy, accessed 23 November 2019.
30. ↑ Harriet Hutchings's profile in FamilyTree on FamilySearch. Viewed 23 November 2019.