Day 20 and 21 - The National Archives

Thursday I headed out to go to the Archives from Diom's place in Croydon. On the way to the station I received a call from one of the staff from my old school Lambeth College who as it happens lives out that way. So I headed over to Aman's for a cup of tea and a quick catch up on all things Egyptian.
Now running a bit late I got my skates on and motored towards Kew Gardens via Clapham Junction and Richmond in search of the National Archives. Thankfully it was well signposted from the station as it must be the main attraction in the area.

As I walked in I noticed a sign for a talk that began in 10 minutes on researching Crimes and Criminal Records in the 1700s and 1800s - what a stroke of luck! I lockered up my contraband and placed my pencil, notes and camera in my see through bag. I headed up the 'talks' room and took my place amongst the assembled throng of retirees and researchers. The talk told me alot of things I already knew but helped clarify what I might find in the Archives and what I would need to track down at County Records Offices. Also enlightened me to the prospect of chasing up records such as Gaol transfer books. Question time made me realise that I now know a bit on the subject of transported convicts as my eyes rolled several times at some of the other's questions.

Talk over I headed for the desk with the big sign that said NEW TO KEW - the chap there didn't know much but said go and ask the red desk. I went to the red desk - the pointed me in the direction of the red books. I found in the red books the document numbers I needed and then headed for a terminal to order them. It was then I realised I needed A READERS TICKET.

SOOOO it was up to the second floor to see the very bored young man who handed out the tickets - I had to fill in the form which required proof of my identity as well as proof of my residential address. Being of 'no fixed abode' this was somewhat of a problem - I explained my dilemma to the nice young man and he thankfully agreed to allow my now out of date driver's licence as proof that at some stage I did indeed have an abode.

The only thing that stood in my way now was the quiz on how to handle documents - which took another half an hour to complete. Finally it was mine! But as 'last orders' was fast approaching I realised I would have to wait until tomorrow to begin exploring the Assizes Records.

The next day I moved my bags from Diom's to Waterloo to the Walrus. Then back out to Kew. Knowing what I wanted and having my readers ticket in hand I plastic bagged up and raced up to level 1 to place my order. Wait time 40 minutes. Well enough time for a cup of tea and an egg sandwich - seemed like a fitting meal in such a place. I listened to the surrounding tables eagerly discussing their finds and sharing the sausage rolls they'd brought from home along with a plate of chips from the caf'.

I reckoned 40 mins must have been up by then so I headed up to 'The Reading Room' to find my assigned table - and what a beauty it was. All set up with a terrific stand for my camera which I duly screwed in and then sat swivelling in my chair waiting for my documents. There are corresponding clear lockers where your documents are delivered so I kept getting up to go and see if a delivery had been made. Nope - nope - getting bored I took a picture of myself sleeping while I waited.

It really was very quiet in there - people studiously reading documents, typing them up busily being busy. I went and sat by the lockers waiting listening to the young staff on the other side give reviews of the latest sci fi trailers they had just seen. Finally one of my allowed 3 arrived. Christmas - I hurried it back to the desk, arranged my foam cushions and delicately turned page after page until I found the date of the Carter trials - of which I did not know the date but thankfully found it was the Lent 1795 Worcester Assizes. There were many more documents available for this so I photographed what I needed and waited for the next document.

Did you know that Julian is only 23? I was surprised also along with many of the facts I found out sitting behind the perspex wall waiting. I watched box after box come up the conveyor belt from the depths of the archives. But eventually more came and I had some of the details on Elizabeth Wilmott and John Gosling trial as well.

Next I recived the summation of the Assizes with included the below:


It would appear that both John and William's sentence was requested to be changed to transportation. Their trial took place in the Lent 1795 Assizes which is almost 2 years before William sailed to Australia on the Barwell. If indeed both sentences were changed to transportation then perhaps instead of being hung as previously thought John may have died in prison? This will require further research of gaol records and see if we can find the death records for John as well.

My next lots came into the second floor room - big items and maps. Oooo what could they be? So I headed upstairs to the document collection room and the stressed out loner working behind the counter - surely some of the stand around lot downstairs might be dispatched upstairs to assist?

Anyway here I had rolled up bits of paper. Rolled up for god knows how many years and the tough paper of the time made it difficult to unroll. I was worried that I would rip something. A kindly security guard brought me over a sand black pudding to assist with hold the beasites down as my two tiny sandbags weren't doing the trick. Realising these would be impossible to photograph I've ordered copies to be made and emailed to me of the pages that mention William and John Carter and Elizabeth Wilmott. Last orders were called and in my rush to make it to the copying room I hastily unscrewed my camera and as I removed it from the frame the batteries flew out around the desk with a loud clank. I could feel the shhhhhhhhhhhhhh from the quiet ones around. Time to go - but I will be back archives!