PART ONE

This story was written in 2021 while I was researching my own family stories for my Genealogy Certificate with The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies. Henry Corderoy is my Maternal 5 x Great Grandfather. 

Henry was born on the 18th October 1785 in the village of Blewbury, the illegitimate child of Martha Hampshire. On the 22 October 1785 during Martha’s examination, states to the Churchwardens and the Overseers of the village that Thomas Corderoy Junior is the reputed father.¹

Henry is baptised by both his parents on the 27th November 1785 at the Parish church of St Michael².

Thomas Corderoy and Martha Hampshire go on to marry on the 25th December 1785³ at the Parish church of St Michael in Blewbury legitimising Henry’s birth. Their witnesses were John Lousley and William Fruin.

Henry could both read and write, so education was important to his parents. He started his working life alongside his father as a Miller learning the trade from him.

At some point he added baker to his occupational repertoire.

At the age of 19 Henry married Anna Badcock the 20 year old daughter of Robert Badcock and his wife Martha Hall. Their marriage licence was granted on the 29th December 1804 from the Dean of Sarum.⁴ The reason for the licence was that both Henry and Anna were considered minors (under 21). Henry had his father’s consent and Anna had both parent’s consent. The bondsman was Johnathan Hall a Malster.

Henry and Anna go on to married in the Parish church St Michael on the 3rd January 1805.⁵ 

They had 12 children of which nine survived to adulthood.

⁶Henry first appeared in the newspaper when his rental property was put up for auction in 1834.

(The Rose, Wokingham is today the Rose Inn, Market Place, Wokingham.)

Henry is appointed as an assistant Parish constable in 1836.

By 1838 Henry is involved in a mistake during voting. Was this evidence of vote tampering or a genuine mistake?

Investigating the Poll books and Electoral Registers of the time⁷, I found that in 1835 Henry voted for both Thomas Noon Talfourd and Benjamin Oliveira and in 1837 he voted for both Charles Fyshe Palmer and Sergeant Talfourd. Concluding that Henry was politically Liberal.

On the fateful day Wednesday 5th June 1839 Henry lost his temper and fires a pistol in the direction of his wife.  The following newspaper articles sum up the repercussions.

Henry is arrested and on the 6th June 1839 he is remanded in the Borough Bridewell, (now Greyfriars Church in Friar Street).

This article feels a little sensationalised for dramatic effect, but it does give more information about what happened to Anna.

On the 10th June 1839 he was brought before the Mayor and the Magistrate charged with wilfully shooting with intent to kill his wife again underwent examination on that day held in Magistrates Room at the County Gaol (located at the time in Forbury near the Abby ruins), when the depositions of the witnesses were taken. The case was then adjourned due to Anna’s medical state.

An account of the depositions were reported in the newspaper and can be found here.

So from this report it appears that my 5x Great Grandfather Henry Corderoy was having a dalliance with Mrs Mary Cox from No 15 Somer’s Town. My 4 x Great Grandmother Jane Corderoy gave her evidence, along with other family members.

Henry was committed for trial at the Midsummer Assizes (13 July 1839) – this was postponed as it appears Anne was still recovering.

PART TWO : Henry Corderoy – The Incarceration and Appeal…….

(c) Emma Devroey – Three Surnames Genealogy

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Sources

Main Image – Photo by Clark Young on Unsplash

1. Berkshire Overseers Papers Volume 13, Wantage Union, Blewbury Ref. 303,19 – © Berkshire Family History Society – https://berksfhs.org ↩︎
2. Baptism record for Blewbury – Berkshire Archives – Ref. D/P20/1/3 via Findmypast – Berkshire Baptisms Index ↩︎
3. Marriage record for Blewbury – Berkshire Archives – Ref. D/P20/1/2 via Findmypast.co.uk – Berkshire Marriages Index ↩︎
4. Sarum Marriage Licence Bonds – Transcriptions © Wiltshire Family History Society via Findmypast.co.uk ↩︎
5. Marriage record for Blewbury – Berkshire Archives – Ref. D/P20/1/4 via Findmypast.co.uk – Berkshire Marriages Index  ↩︎
6. All Newspaper Reports – British Library via Findmypast.co.uk – Newspaper Collection – https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers – original data: British Library – https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/british-newspaper-archive ↩︎
7. UK and London Poll Books : The London Archives and Guildhall Library via Ancestry.co.uk – UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893.   ↩︎