ensuing week. That on the same day one mind that she never applied to the parish for Joshua Lines, the constable of Horpenden, ar-relief during his absence, nor ever declared rested deponent by virtue of some warrant, she did not know where deponent, her hus and was about to take him, deponent, to the band, was gone. That he was taken to the cage, but at deponent's request he was taken prison at Hertford by the said Joshua Lines, to the overseers', the said Joshua Jennings and the constable, who apprehended him, deppWilliam Kingston, of whom he, deponent, nent, on the warrant, in the first instance, as demanded to know why he was to be taken to hereinbefore mentioned; and on the return of the cage, but the said Joshua Jennings and the said constable to Harpenden, he, depoWilliam Kingston refused to tell deponent for nent, sent back to his said wife, who was at what he had been taken into custody, and or- that time confined, the sum of 5s. 6d., being dered the said Joshua Lines to lock up depo- all the money he had, with the exception of nent in the cage where he, deponent, was con- 2s. 6d., which deponent retained for his persofined from the Sunday until the Monday nal use during his confinement in prison. morning, without being allowed any food That when he was about leaving the prison at whatever. That on Monday morning he, de- Hertford, on the expiration of the term for ponent, was taken by the constable to the re- which he had been committed, he was taken sidence of John Hawkins, Esq., a magistrate before Mr. Lloyd, with other persons who for the county of Herts, who resides in the were discharged at the same time, when said said parish of Harpenden, and was followed Mr. Lloyd said to deponent, he hoped he there by the said Joshua Jennings, and when should not see deponent there again; and that the said Joshua Jennings reached the house he understood deponent had been sent there of the said John Hawkins, he was in the com- for abusing the overseers, and neglecting his pany of the said John Hawkins, with whom wife and family, which he deponent denied, the said Joshua Jennings retired into the par- and told the said Mr. Lloyd he had been sent lour of the said John Hawkins. That shortly there because he could not get a house for his afterwards he was taken into the presence of wife and family, whereupon the said Mr. Lloyd the said John Hawkins, who said to deponent said he had not got the warrant, but should as soon as he entered the room, "I will give see Mr. Wilson, who was the governor of the you a month's hard labour at Hertford," prison. That the said Mr. Lloyd then in and on deponent's requesting to know for quired who it was that committed deponent what, was told by the said John Hawkins that to prison; and on deponent's informing him it was "for neglecting deponent's wife and fa- it was Mr. Hawkins, of Harpenden, the said mily, and letting them become chargeable to Mr. Lloyd replied he did not know that genthe parish;" and deponent saith he imme- tleman, and had never heard of such a comdiately replied that his wife and family had mitment in his life, or words to that or the had nothing from the parish; whereupon the like effect. said Joshua Jennings said they were chargeable to the parish while they lived in the church-house, and defendant then offered to "That she has been the wife of the said pay rent for the house until he could get William Wells about thirteen years, who has another, which the said Joshua Jennings re- for several years last past worked at Turner'sfused to accept, but offered to allow the war-hall, in the said parish of Harpenden. That rant to stand over for a week or two. That her said husband occupied a cottage at Kars at the time he was taken to the prison at man's-green of Mr. Bunn, who requiring the Hertford he was engaged in full harvest work, same for his own occupation, gave notice to with his regular employer, Mr. Bates, of Tur- the said William Wells to leave the same. ner's-hall, near Harpenden, and maintaining That after her said husband received notice and supporting his family without any relief from the said Mr. Bunn to leave the said cot. whatever from the parish, and that he con-tage, she, deponent, and her said husband, tinued to reside in the church-house, belong-made great efforts to obtain a house or lodg ing to the said parish, not from his inability to pay the rent of a dwelling, but because he, deponent, could not procure any tenement or lodging for his said wife and family. That he, offered not only in the presence of the said Mr. Hawkins, but at other times, to pay rent for the occupation of the said church-house until he, deponent, could obtain another place to put his wife and family into. That he did never absent himself from his wife and children and leave them chargeable to the parish of Harpenden; on the contrary, he, deponent, when he left his wife to proceed to the hay-harvest, always provided her, from time to time, with money sufficient for the maintenance of herself and children, and deponent feels confident in his

AFFIDAVIT OF ELIZABETH WELLS.

ings for themselves and family to live in, but were unable to obtain either, in consequence of the small number of tenements in Harpenden aforesaid fit for the reception of working labourers. That owing to the impossibility of either her husbaud or herself obtaining a dwelling as aforesaid, her husband herself and children, were compelled to lodge themselves on the public green of Harpenden aforesaid, where they remained some time, until the overseers of the said parish were requested, by the magistrates assembled at St. Alban's, to find them a lodging. That her husband, herself, and family, were, with a person of the name of Parrott and his family, allowed to occupy one of the church-houses at Harpenden; and they continued to occupy the same until

Mr. Joshua Jennings and Mr. William Kings- unfit for deponent and the infant to lie upon; ton became overseers of the said parish at and the parish officers were therefore obliged, Easter 1831. That shortly after the said par- by the direc'ion of the parish surgeon, to let ties had come into office, she, this deponent deponent have a bed from the workhouse. and her family, were forcibly expelled by the That, at the time of her confinement, her hus said overseers from the said church-house, and hand was working at the hay harvest, for Mr. were again obliged to lodge themselves upon Wimbush, at his farm at Whetstone; that she the public green of Harpenden aforesaid, ex-well knew her husband was working there, posed to the inclemency of the weather both by because he had given to her his wages on the night and by day. That herself and family day preceding that on which she was delivered; were exposed both by day and by night on the aud this deponent, therefore, most positively said public green for upwards of a fortnight, denies that she, shortly previous to the 23d day during all which time she was continually of July, or at any other time, told Mr. Joshua making inquiries for, and endeavouring to Jennings, one of the overseers of the said procure, a lodging for herself and family, but parish of Harpenden, that her said husband being unable to meet with any, her said hus- was absent, and that she did not know where baud, the said William Wells, took lodgings he was gone; or that she told the said Joshua for her and their family at Redbourn, in the Jennings that she and her family of children county of Hertford, to which they all removed had no means of subsistence, that they required in the beginning of the month of June. relief from the parish, or that she, deponent, That when he went to lodge at Redbourn and her family, received their food from the aforesaid her husband went to Whetstone, poor-house of the said parish of Harpenden. near Barnet, to hay-harvest, for Mr.Wimbush, That the only relief she received from the said and she used generally on the Sunday to be parish of Harpenden, during her confinement, visited by her husband and receive part of his was the sixpence hereinbefore adverted to, wages from him, or he used to send it to her. and a jug of gruel, which was never used either After living five weeks at Redbourn aforesaid, by herself or her children-for neither of she was compelled to leave her lodgings there, which she made an application, having the in consequence of her landlord refusing to means of providing them herself. That she permit her to continue by reason of the near herself paid the midwife for attending her, approach of her confinement; and she there- deponent, upon ber confinement; and that fore proceeded to Harpenden, and again used she supported herself and children the whole her utmost endeavours to procure either a of the ensuing week, without receiving any house or lodgings for herself and children, but food from the poor-house of the said parish of was not able to obtain either.. That she again Harpenden. That, about two years back, in lodged herself and children by day on the pub-consequence of a thorn having forced itself hic green of Harpenden aforesaid, and by night she retreated, with her children, to an open and exposed hovel, in a field belonging to Mrs. Kingston, at Harpenden, where deponent and her children slept upon the straw laid down for the cattle, leaving her bedding upon the green, which she was unable to carry, owing to her being very ill, and very near her coufinement; and she, deponent, and her chil dren, continued thus to live, by day on the green, and by night in the hovel, for six days. That on Monday, the 18th of July last, whilst she was sleeping in the said hovel, at about three o'clock on that morning, she, this deponent, was taken with the pains of labour; and, in the course of the day, she managed to get to the Church-green with her children; and that, when there, she was visited by Mr. Leedham, the work house-keeper. That, about eight o'clock on the evening of the 18th of July, she was allowed to go into one of the church-houses, in which she was delivered in less than half an hour after she was admitted. That shortly after she was delivered, and when she was very ill, a woman of the name of Dalbec brought to her, deponent, sixpence, saying, the workhouse-man had given it to her, with directions to buy deponent some tea, and whatever else she wanted. That the bed belonging to deponent's husband, and on which she had been lying on the Church-green, was in such a wet and damp state that it was totally

into her great toe, she was attacked with a locked-jaw and fever, and was confined to her hed many weeks; and the fever having settled in her left-hand, she became and was some time a cripple, and incapable of using it; and she now, at times, has no use whatever of it. That, during the severe part of her illness. she received assistance from the parish, which was gradually reduced, first to two shillings per week, then to one shilling per week; aud Anally it was withdrawn altogether, on deponent and family being admitted into the church-house, Mr. Oakley, the overseer at that time, declaring he should retain the said oue shilling for the rent. Both deponents further say, that after the said William Wells was discharged from prison as aforesaid, both of thein made many efforts, and used much exertion, to get a house or lodgings, and lost several days labour in doing so, but they did not succeed. And said Joshua Jennings came to deponent's, at the church-house, in which they resided, and desired them to leave the same; and threatened deponent, William Wells, to send him again to prison if he did not at once quit the house. That the only relief they and their families ever received from the said parish, previous to the said William Wells being committed to prison,

was on the occasion of the said Elizabeth

Wells being laid up with the locked-jaw and fever, and the sixpence and jug of gruel at her

nings for any relief whatsoever, and the only
relief she, this deponent, received, was food
for eight days out of the fourteen that her
husband was in confinement. That in two or
three days after her husband was discharged
from prison, herself and family were again
turned into the street by the overseers of the
said parish, the said Joshua Jennings declaring
her husband should be again sent to prison,
unless they quitted the said house; in conse-
quence thereof, herself and family were again
obliged to lie exposed upon the Church-green,
where they remained until they were permit-
ted by the landlord of the Cock-inn to go into
his stable, for which this deponent's husband
paid one shilling per week, and they remained
in the said stable until a week before
when her husband procured the house in which
she now resides."

confinement; and on one occasion being ad-sent to prison, she and her children were mitted for a fortnight into the workhouse, entirely supported by her husband, from about three years and a half ago." whose wages she also paid and discharged the AFFIDAVIT OF CHARLOTTE JENNINGS. claim of the midwife, except one shilling, which is now due to her. And deponent most That she is the wife of George Jennings, positively denies that, previous to her huslate of Harpenden aforesaid, labourer, to band's being sent to prison as aforesaid, or at whom she has been married upwards of seven any other time, she informed the said Joshua years. That her said husband was employed Jennings that her husband had left her, and as a labourer, by three or four respectable that she did not know whither he was gone, farmers residing at, or in the neighbourhood and that she, this deponent, required relief of, Harpenden aforesaid. That at Easter, from the said parish, and she also most dis1831, she was residing with her husband and tinctly denies that she and her family received three children in the Treadwheel-house at St. their food from the poor-house of the said Harpenden aforesaid, and on the 1st of May parish. She knows her husband did not, nor one of her children was buried. That on the did she, this deponent herself, make any ap19th of May, herself, husband, and two chil-plication whatever to the said Joshua Jendren, were forcibly driven from the said house, by the constable of the said parish, acting under the orders of Joshua Jennings, one of the overseers. That at the time herself and family were driven from the said Treadwheelhouse, three other families, viz. Barber, Wells, and Parrott, were in like manner driven from other houses belonging to the said parish. That the whole four families, consisting of eight grown persons, and sixteen children, were obliged to go upon the Church-green of Harpenden, where they took their stations, and remained exposed, both by day and night, to the inclemency of the weather. That whilst there, they were seen by Mr. Launder at that time living in the town of Harpenden, who permitted deponent and her children to sleep four nights in his dog-kennel. That not only herself and husband, but also the other families, endeavoured to get houses to live in. That Parrott succeeded in getting a house in a few days. Wells and family, in about a week, went to Redbourn. Barber and family continued on the green, or in Mr. Kingston's hovel, about a month, when they were allowed to go into Butcher Freeman's barn; and deponent and family continued on the green, or in Mr. Kingston's hovel, or Mr. Freeman's barn, from the 19th of May to the middle of August. That Mr. Freeman at first refused to allow the deponent and family to go into the barn, because she was near her confinement. And deponent further saith, that she was taken with the pains of labour in Mr. Freeman's barn, very early in the morning, and fearing Mr. Freeman would be angry, she went to the Church-green, and whilst there, she was seen by the workhouse-man, who having learnt in what state deponent was, went to Mrs. Wells, who was in one of the church-houses, and asked her to make room for deponent, which she did, and deponent was admitted accordingly. And deponent further saith, that her husband, said G. Jennings, from the time he and the family were from the Treadwheel-house, until he was sent to prison on the 27th of August last, maintained and supported this deponent and his family, without any relief from the parish. And deponent further saith, that at and after her confinement, and until her husband was

AFFIDAVIT OF ALFRED WILLIAM
NICHOLLS.

"That he has known William Wells, late of Harpenden, but now residing at Wheathempsted, in the county of Herts, labourer, for the space of four years last past, and that he believes him to be a hard-working, honest, and industrious man. That he well remembers the said William Wells and his wife and family being exposed on the Church-green of Harpenden aforesaid, and that he and his wife did, while so exposed, on several occasions, make application to him, deponent, to let him a tenement which he, deponent, had the possession of, and referred him, deponent, to Mr. Smith, a schoolmaster at Harpenden, who would become answerable for the rent, but the said tenement was occupied, and continued to be so, or he would have let the same to said William Wells; nor did he, deponent, know of any tenement or lodgings to let, otherwise he would have recommended him, said Wm. Wells, to the same. That he was also applied to by George Jennings and George Barber, two other persons who were exposed on the said Church-green, at Harpenden aforesaid, to let them the same tenement, but the same reason prevented him complying with their request as prevented deponent letting the same to the said William Wells. That he has no doubt said William Wells, George Jennings,

and George Barber, were unable to procure a dwelling in consequence of the scarcity of small tenements for labourers in Harpenden aforesaid; and deponent saith, that at this time said William Wells and his family, said George Barber and his family, and the wife of said George Jennings, are all living out of said parish of Harpenden, in consequence of their inability to get a residence in Harpenden aforesaid. That he knows John Hawkins, of Byelands, in said parish of Harpenden, Esq., that he frequently attends the public vestries of said parish, and is the only magistrate livng in the same. That he knows some of said church-houses are occupied by widows, who are in them by compulsion, and not by desire, and that they would willingly leave them if the overseers would continue their weekly allowance if they resided elsewhere, but they are not now appropriated exclusively to widows, inasmuch as one of them is, and has been for a length of time, occupied by a man and his wife, with the authority of said over

seers.

AFFIDAVIT OF WM. WELLS, BUILDER.
"That he recollects William Wells, a la-
bourer (but no relation to deponent), and his
family, together with two or three other fami-
lies, being turned out of certain parish-houses,
and being exposed on the public green, near
the church at Harpenden aforesaid, about May
1831, making applications to him, deponent,
to know whether he, deponent, could let them
tenements, or tell them where they could get
a habitation in which to dwell. That he well
knows certain parish-houses in Harpenden
aforesaid, called church-houses; that they
were put into good and substantial repair in
the month of July 1830; that he, deponent,
was employed by the officers of said parish to
do part of the repairs thereof, and his bill of
charges for and in respect of such repairs was
paid by said parish accordingly. That he does
not believe said church-houses were dilapi-
dated and out of repair at the time when said
families were turned out of the same, because
said houses were repaired in July 1830-were
put into good and substantial order and con-
dition. That said church-houses, previous to
their repair in 1830, were not devoted to the
exclusive occupation of widows, but on the
contrary thereof; deponent saith they have
been occasionally occupied by families, and a
rent has been set aside for the same. They
are now occupied by widows, some of whom
reside therein against their desire; but they
were compelled to go into the said church-
houses in consequence of the weekly allow-
ance made to them having been discontinued
until they went to reside in said houses, as
deponent has been informed and verily be-
lieves. That he knows said John Hawkins, of
Byelands, Esq., who is an inhabitant of this
parish, and who has occasionally attended,
and acted as chairman, at the vestry meetings
of the said parish."

AFFIDAVIT OF SARAH KING.
"That she had been a widow six years, and

from the time of the death of her husband up to September last, she was living with her daughter in the parish of Harpenden. That shortly after the decease of her husband, the officers of the parish of Harpenden aforesaid, made an allowance to her of Is. 6d. per week, which was subsequently increased to 2s., which amount she now receives. That when she was residing with her said daughter, she was found with fire, candles, washing and lodging, free of expense, and the 2s. she received from the said parish weekly, provided her with tea and other articles of food. That in Septemher last, Mr. Joshua Jennings and Mr. Wm. Kingston gave notice to deponent that she must occupy one of the church-houses, which she objected to do, as she was very happy with her daughter, and derived comforts from her said daughter, which she, deponent could not enjoy in the church-house. That in consequence of her declining to inhabit one of the church-houses, the said overseers discontinued to her the said allowance of 2s. per week, and they refused to make any more payments to her in respect thereof, until she went to live in one of the said houses. That she was therefore obliged to go into one of the said churchhouses, much against her inclination, and she is now compelled, out of her said allowance of 2s. per week, to provide herself with every necessary, and the most expensive of which she was furnished with by her daughter, when she resided with her, and she continues to live in the said house only in consequence of the threats of the said overseers to discontinue her allowance if she leave the same."

"That she inhabits one of the houses at

Harpenden aforesaid, called the church-
houses, and has lived there about ten months.
That previous to going to reside in the said
church-house, she was living in a cottage the
, rent-free, at the
same time receiving an allowance of 2s. per
property of Captain
week, as a widow belonging to the said parish
of Harpenden. That before she went to reside
in the said church-house, she was told by Mr.
Joshua Jennings, one of the overseers of the
said parish, that she must go into the same,
which she at first declined, as she was very
comfortable in the cottage belonging to the
said Captain and was paying no rent
for the same; but the said Joshua Jennings
having withheld the weekly allowance of 2s.
from her, she was obliged to go into the said
church-house against her inclination."

AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN STANT SMITH.

"That he well remembers William Wells, of Harpenden, aforesaid, labourer, and his wife and family, being exposed on the Churchgreen of Harpenden aforesaid. That the window of deponent's chamber commanded a view of the said Church-green, and that when he went to bed the feelings of deponent were much harassed by observing the dreadful manner in which the family of the said Wm. Wells was exposed to the weather. That feel