1815: Rogues and Vagabonds
The charge was heard on 17 October 1815 at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions held at Kingston in Surrey. My 4th great-grandparents Joseph Sherlock and Caroline Warton were fortunate to have been "released due to proclamation."
The Sherlocks were part of a large group charged together with Vagrancy.
Jointly charged were - Elizabeth Sherlock and her four children, her son Joseph Sherlock and his wife Caroline and two children, Caroline's mother Mary Wharton.
Joseph Sherlock and his wife, Caroline Sherlock, and their two children.
Stated - he believed he was born in Betchworth, and that his late father William Sherlock had been settled in Upman [Upmarden] SSX. Married his wife, Caroline in Betchworth some two years previously and had children Edmund (2) and William (8 months).
Elizabeth Sherlock, a widow, jointly charged with her two children. Elizabeth is Joseph's mother.
Stated - she was born in Shipley SSC, had been married to her late husband William Shergold [Sherlock?] in Betchworth 22 years previously, that he had died 15 years previously while residing in Upman [Upmarden] SSX, that they had children Henry (19), Samuel (17), and that she had subsequently given birth to David (11) in Bletchingly and Sarah (6) in Hadleigh [Hadlow?], Kent, both outside of wedlock.
Henry Sherlock and Samuel Sherlock.
Stated - believed born in Dorking late father William Sherlock, had resided at Upman [Upmarden] SSX. Henry - had no other place of settlement, and William - never gained settlement himself.
Mary Wharton, wife or widow of John Wharton, jointly charged with her four children. Mary is probably Caroline Sherlock's mother.
Stated - she was married at Hadleigh [Hadlow?], Kent, 23 years previously, her husband had settlement at Charlwood, they had been together seven years but he had left her 20 years previously, she had given birth to children outside of wedlock, being Charlotte (17) born in Egdean SSX, Sarah (16) born in Upman [Upmarden], SSX, Mary An (8) born in North Capel SSX and Joseph (6) born in Buckland.
The family in the charge who have been identified are included in Table 1.
Joseph Sherlock and his family appear to have been travelers, although probably not Romany Gypsies. There is an online Traveller-Tinker-Gypsy surname index of Great Britain available which was updated in 2010. It includes the surname "Wharton" and notes that it is a reference from the Romany and Traveller Family History Society. "Sherlock" is noted in 1738, and "Sharlock" in 1784. Further research as to the origins of the names, and analysis of related DNA matches may provide answers.
Back to the "rogues and vagabonds charge" at Dorking in 1815, and others were jointly charged with the identified family group. There appears to be no common relationships as to names and places of birth or settlement, and it is unclear whether they may be related to the Warton or Sherlock families. Charged were -
Thomas White, his wife Charlotte White, and their four children.
Stated - that he did not know where he was born, had no known place of settlement, that he was married to his wife Charlotte in Kingston upon Thames on 17 May 1802.
William Arnold, his wife Mary Arnold and their four children.
Stated - born in Rudgwick, Sussex, that he had no place of settlement, his father lived on relief at Ringwould, Kent, where he had too received relief, married to Mary in Newdegate. Children - Charlotte (15), Jane (13), Phoebe (9), and David (6.)
Diana Arnold and one child. [Inferred daughter of William and Mary Arnold.]
Stated- single woman, believed that she was born in Hadley [Hadlow?], Kent and had no other place of settlement, that her father's settlement was Ringwould, Kent, that she had a child by James Bennet four months previously, born in St. John, Lewes, Sussex.
James Deacons and his wife Sarah Deacons.
Stated by James - he believed he had been born in Cranleigh and that he had a wife, Susan, who he had married in Oxted some 27 years previously, and a child, Elizabeth, aged 21.
James Bennett
Stated - that he believed he was born in Yeovil, Somerset, that he had no other place of settlement, having received relief in Yeovil, that he maintained two children and that his wife had died four or five years previously
Ann Willoughby and two children
Stated - wife of John Willoughby, that her husband was receiving relief in Buckland, that they had children Sally (3) and Patience (10, that she was married in Hurstmonceaux, Sussex fuor years previously, and that her husband had deserted her in Dorking the previous day.
FURTHER READING:
FamilyTreeDNA, Celtic Traveller project -
https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/celtic-traveller/about/background
Record Source (subscription required) -
Surrey Quarter Sessions 1780-1820, sourced from gaol calendar, archive ref: QS2/6/1815/MIC/68
https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=GBOR%2FSURREY%2FQS%2F11562%2F1
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