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RATTLE OF CHAINS Pt II
Previous installment in the March issue of the mag.
Judith was almost 10 when she joined the other girls of the poor neighbouring families
harvesting the flax - monotonous and poorly paid work.
Her eldest brother, Richard, found work where he could - at times labouring and ploughing
the fields; and Thomas and William too toiled as labourers, all of them contributing when
and where they could to the family table.
Perhaps fate did deal them a bitter blow - or perhaps luck had finally deserted them...At the Epiphany
Sessions of the St Albans Liberty Quarter Sessions on 14th January 1814 the following entry tells the
story... "On 12 January 1814 Thomas Millard and William Millard, late of the parish of Redbourn, labourers
and Judith Millard, later of the same parish, spinster did "with force and arms at the parish
aforesaid...(feloniously steal, take and carry away) four Bushels of wheat of the value of 30 shillings
of the Goods and Chattels of one John Lines".
Richard Brewer, servant to Stephen Raggett of Redbourn, miller, informed the Court that about 3am on 12th
January, Richard, Thomas, William and Judith Millard came to the mill
which he ground for them into flour.
Joseph Whitlock, tasker to John Lines of Redbourn, farmer, informed the
Court that on the night of 12th January his master's barn belonging to Foster's Farm in Redbourn was broken
open and about 4 bushels of wheat taken. From footsteps in the snow he observed from the smallness of the
foot that one of the persons present at the theft was a woman.
The plea - NOT GUILTY, and the verdict - GUILTY! SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS TRANSPORTATION!
Within 3 weeks Thomas and William were taken on foot in irons and disgrace
from St Albans Gaol to Maidstone Gaol near London, and then shortly afterwards to Woolwich to
languish from February to September with almost 500 other prisoners in the infamous foul-smelling hulk
JUSTITIA. Finally on 1st September 1814 they set sail on the convict ship MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON and
almost five months later on 27th January 1815 stepped ashore at Botany Bay and into colonial history.
Thomas was now 25 years old, 5'7-1/4" tall, of muddy complexion, sandy hair and hazel eyes; and William was
23 years old, 5'6-1/4" tall, also of muddy complexion, sandy hair and hazel eyes.
Almost one month after the crime, on
11th February Richard Millard too was captured and consequently tried at
the Easter Sessions on 21st April 1814.
John Lines of Redbourn, farmer,
4 bushels of wheat were taken from Foster's Farm. He heard that four persons viz Thomas, William and
Judith Millard, already convicted, and Richard Millard, now in custody, had a like quantity ground at a nearby mill and suspected them of theft.
The Plea - NOT GUILTY - and the verdict - GUILTY! SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS TRANSPORTATION!
Judith was delivered, shamed and ironed in an open cart to Northfleet and placed aboard the convict ship BROXBORNEBURY, and with 119 other female prisoners and settlers, sailed on 22 February 1814 in convoy with the SURRY, carrying 200 male convicts and settlers, for Port Jackson. What fear, trepidation and utter despair she must have felt in her heart as she began the long five months voyage into the unknown; knowing she would never see her beloved family or village again. She would begin her journey an innocent country lass, not knowing the likes of her 'travelling companions' - well seasoned and 'on the town' most of their young and old lives, who would
fight tooth and talon, without fear or favour for stolen rations of food and
ale. She would end her journey of lost innocence much hardened and
experienced in the art of mere survival.
The ship encountered, at times, brutal
weather and unrelenting seas and claustrophobia was a rampant feeling
amongst the women remaining so long confined below decks as they were
battened day after fearful day. Finally on 27th July 1814 the Broxbornebury
landed her exhausted cargo into Sydney.
Richard remained incarcerated in the St Albans Gaol until January 1815 when he and another
prisoner, John Hough, were fettered and carted from St Albans to Woolwich, to board the same hell-hole
as his brothers almost one year earlier. There he worked a daily 10-hour shift in the government
dockyards, stared and gawked at by tourists and townspeople and suffering the same shame, degradation
and fate of 400 other "compulsory passengers". Eight months later, on 25 August 1815 Richard was e
mbarked on the FANNY I with 173 other male prisoners, and a detachment of the 56th Regiment and
sailed, via Rio for Sydney arriving on 18 January 1816. Richard by now was 27 years old, 5'10" tall, of
sallow complexion with black hair and hazel eyes.
Final instalment in May Church & Village News.
Next installment in the May issue of the mag.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING 19th MARCH
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
We are supporting our local Farmers by closing all footpaths, but not the
recreation ground unless we become a red zone.
30 M.P.H SPEED LIMITS SIGNS
The position of these signs has been agreed by statute after the preliminary notification, which was circulated round the village before installation. To move
any now would be a lengthy process to get the order modified.
Where space between two signs on the opposite side of a lane, is insufficient for wide vehicles to pass through, adjustments are being made.
WAR MEMORIAL
We have sought out the company that installed the original monument, asking
their advise on how we can best preserve and care for the names on it.
Restoration will then be undertaken as soon as possible.
RURAL WHITE PAPER
There are major concerns this Council would like to open up to public discussion. They are the vital village services, i.e. shops, post office, pubs, schools, village hall and sports association. All of these have and will be under threat unless this community supports them. There are many ways
this can be achieved so come to the open annual parish council meeting on the 23rd April
at the village hall at 8.p.m.
(St .George's Day).
On that agenda we will also have transport in all its aspects.
Remember, we won last year the best village community award, here now is a
golden opportunity to show how we can support and even improve the total well being of our small village.
EXTRA DUST CART FOR LARGE RUBBISH
This will be in the village on Saturday the 21st April, - 1st September and 27th October.- It will be at Parsons Close at
9 a.m. and then at the Village Hall Car park from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
QUEEN'S JUBILEE
How does the village wish to remember this very auspicious occasion? We really would like some feedback, ideas and here is hoping volunteers eventually.
M.W.
Please Note:
The Parish Council Meeting in June has been changed from 4th to 11th
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LUTON AIRPORT UPDATE
LLA have proposed that all modern aircraft that are equipped with Flight Management
Systems and which at present fly the westerly Compton route will for a trial period
of 6 months use the FMS route north of Flamstead. This means that the number of flights
over the village will decrease by up to 38 per day, it is also possible that this will
become the normal departure route for such aircraft. Obviously there will be objections.
The downside is that all older aircraft will still use the present route and that
night disturbance will continue to occur, although DHL are in the process of replacing
the old noisy B737-200s. which will take time. DHL's decision to replace these is due
to pressure from LLA who in turn are re-acting to pressure and complaints from the public
and other groups.
The saga of the northern departure route continues and the decision will probably be made
this summer, the parish council has been asked for their final comment on Olney 1L and
have suggested that both be used on alternate weeks, the council believe that this is
the most equitable solution and would result in other noise burden.
If you are disturbed by aircraft at night and wish to pass on your thoughts to LLA,
simply make a note of the time and at your leisure ring 01582 395382 your message
will be recorded, noted and acted upon. It does make a difference.
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A TASTE OF THE PAST
The brilliantly coloured new rhubarb is now in the shops and here is a different way of using it. Rhubarb pie and crumble always gave my mother terrible indigestion, but this jelly went down a treat with no problems - and it's such a glorious colour.
RHUBARB JELLY
21/2 lb bright pink, forced rhubarb
2 pints water
Caster sugar
Gelatine (7 leaves or a scant 2 sachets of the powdered kind)
You will also need a jelly bag, or a piece of muslin folded in 4 resting in a sieve.
Cut the rhubarb into chunks and put it in a saucepan with the water and 2 oz sugar. Cover
it with the lid and cook very gently for about 20 minutes until it's thoroughly cooked. It is sure
to collapse into lots of shreds - but this matters not a jot! It's the juice we want, not the shreds.
Scald the jelly bag, or the muslin, with boiling water and wring it out. Otherwise the precious rhubarb
juice will soak into the material and go to waste! Rest the bag or the muslin over a deep bowl and strain
the juice through. Don't press or squeeze it, or it will go cloudy. Let it drip through at its own rate.
Now measure 11/2 pints of the strained pink juice. Sweeten to taste with caster sugar - I find I need another 6 oz. If there is any scum floating on top, it's best to strain it again. Use some of the juice to soak the gelatine. I find leaf gelatine far easier to use than the powdered sort - just break it up to fit inside the saucepan. When it has gone soft and swollen, dissolve it over a gentle heat and add to the rest of the juice. Pour into a mould or a glass serving dish and leave to set.
Eliza Acton, 1845
Marian Pochin
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FOUNTAIN ACROSS INDIA
Well not quite across India but 306 miles of roads full of potholes, sand drifts, hills, dust and open sewers
to negotiate; but vibrant and friendly, colourful and a wonderful experience, mind blowing in fact!
They say a picture paints a thousand words and to describe a journey from Agra to Pushkar needs a book written.
Fortunately I have 360 colour slides to be condensed into a presentation, firstly to our JMI school then to
villagers and organisations who would like to view the words painted on pictures and to hear the epic which
involved a broken leg, fractured skull (not serious, thank goodness) amongst grazes and cuts and bruises and
sore back-sides.
Yes it was a huge challenge, yes it was harder than I imagined but was it worth it - come to the presentation!! -
once dates have been fixed they will be published!
John Fountain
The full story plus photgraphs can be found in the June Issue. |
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