Trying to find out about my great grandfather, James Baylis Hill
Birth 25 Nov 1842 in County Prison, North Hamlet, Gloucester
Death 22 Feb 1907 in Steam Mills, Cinderford, Forest of Dean, Glous, England
i have found a woman called Ann Hill in the County Prison, North Hamlet, Gloucester
She was in for the theft of 15 sovereigns. Her record describes her behaviour whilst in prison as 'base'.
There is no father on the birth certificate but the second name 'Baylis' leads me to wonder whether this was the surname of the father who abandoned the child.
Ann Hill was arrested on 14th April 1842 accused by Richard Chamberlayne of Moreton Valence of stealing ten sovereigns from him on 11th April. The record sheet states that she was:
'Charged on the oath of Richard Chamberlayne with feloneously stealing ten sovereigns at Moreton Valence on the 11th April. His Property.'
Under the section entitled 'Discription' is an illegible sentence: ' ??? at ??? Sessions 1837'
This indicates that she might have been imprisoned early too.
[Ann Hill aged 20yrs. 14th April 1842. Moreton ref Q/Gc 5/7]

Ann was imprisoned by order of HC Clifford Esq on 14th April and was brought to trial at the Shire Hall, Gloucester on 28th Jun at the Trinity Sessions . Her name appears on the List of Prisoners in the Penitentiary House for Oct 18th 1842. Amongst a list of 100 inmates she is described as:
No 41. Ann Hill, 20yrs. Stealing 10 Sovereigns. Trinity Session un 28th 1842. 15 Calendar Months
[Gloucester Quarter Sessions Gaol Calendar Q/sG2 fiche 1 1842]

Also in Gaol at that time were two men named Balylis.
1. John Baylis Q/Gc 5/6 (1841) labourer
2. James Baylis Q/Gc g/1
The child she gave birth to on 25th November was named James Baylis Hill and the Birth Certifictae names no father.
Can anyone help?

for starters...

as James BAYLIS was born 25 November 1842 - he must have been conceived start/middle of February 1842 (having six grandchildren, am used to working out dates..!!!, although one of my grandson's was born at 27.4 weeks.....)

(the photo-copy of the records on Ancestry 30 April 1842 - give Ann HILL's age as 25 c1816 - and imprisonment for two months)

'her behaviour whilst in prison as base'

????

FOD records

Ann HILL - 31 December 1817 - Newent Poor House - base daughter of having been previously baptized received into Church
: mother Elizabeth

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re:

1837 in the notes....

Ancestry Criminal Records - Gloucestershire

Ann HILL - 1837 - age 22, Larceny - 6 months
---

John BAYLIS 25 June 1841 - age 32, Assault with intend to Ranish? - 12 months (was he let out early!!!)

?????

1841 Census, Moreton in the Marsh

BAYLIS

John - 40 - not born in County (possible father !!! of James?)
Mary - 30
William - 12
Ann - 10
Sarah - 3

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1851 Census, Moreton in the Marsh

BAYLESS

John - 53 - Ag. Lab. born Worcester, Evenlode
Mary - 44 - Washerwoamn - born Oxen, Chastleton
Ann - 21 - Hope Maker - born Ditto
Sarah - 15 - born Ditto
Jane - 2 - born Glos. Moreton (GlosBDM - would appear to be no mother's maiden name given)

----
???
Looking at Glos BDM : there is BAYLIS - mother's maiden name HULLS

Sarah - 1838
William - 1840
Elenor - 1843
Emma - 1846

---

can only see a James BAYLIS - 26 November 1844, age 40 - Larceny- 4 months

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FOD records

Marriage at Longhope

16 February 1868

James Baylis HILL of full age, Batchelor, Labourer, residence Longhope

father: John HILL

married: Mary LLOYD age 20 Spinster, residence Longhope

father: Thomas LLOYD, labourer by banns

witnesses: D. SMITH & E LLOYD

---

Not with the Chamberlains in 1841 at Moreton Valance - City of Gloucester

CHAMBERLAIN

Richard - 40 Farmer
Hester - 45
Mary - 15
Richard - 13
John - 11

---

Thank you so much for all this work. The one certainty is the marriage in 1868. I have the actual marriage certificate handed down via my mother, their granddaughter. The John Baylis you have found in prison certainly might fit the bill..
As for the other info I'm not sure how to fit it all together. The reference to an Ann Hill c.1816/17 sounds promising.
What does FOD mean? You've used this term but I'm afraid I don't know it.
Thanks once again.

FOD

Forest of Dean

In previous note: Criminal Records

Ancestry has the record of Ann Hill 27 June 1837 age 22 at Gloucester - and Gloucs. Genealogical Database - gives her address as Cheltenham.

There is an Ann HILL age 25 on the 1841 census in Cheltenham - Female Servant, not born in County.

The Ancestry criminal record page I've found re Ann Hill features a girl of 14yrs in 1837 imprisoned one month for larceny. I'm not on ancestry at the moment so I'm not able to check for any more details.
It's a pity that Ann Hill is such a common name.
In the 1851 census there is a James Hill, orphan scholar aged 9 born at Preston Gloucestershire, living in the New orphan House Ashley Down, Bristol St Andrew Parish. I have worked on the assumption that this is he and that his mother died in prison in 1843. I certainly haven't been able to find a James Baylis Hill in 1851 and neither in the 1861 census. I've got the right one in'71.'81,'91 and '01 as all the other family members are correct. It's just that 1951 census and that seems to be the only possiblity.
what do you think?

1851 Census, Herefordshire, Aston Ingham

MEEK

William - 40 - born Gloucester Lea
Ann - 28 - born Hereford, Aston
William C MEEK - 6 - Scholar, born Aston Ingham
Comfort MEEK- 4 - ditto
Dorcas MEEK - 2
James B HELL (transcribed on Ancestry) HILL - stepson, 8 - Scholar, born Gloster

---
1861 Census, Longhope

Collage

MEEK

William - 50 born Glos. Lea Bailey
Ann - 39 - Hereford Aston Ingham
Dorcas - 18 - born Longhope
Miles - 5
Job - 3
Alfred - 1

(William, Comfort, Dorcas, baptisms on Forest of Dean records at Aston Ingham)

-----
1871 Census, Longhope

MEEK
William - 65 - married - born Lea Bailey
Job - 13 - born Longhope (looking at Gloucestershirebdm - mother's maiden name HILL)
Alfred - 11 - born Longhope
Alice Ann - 6 - born Longhope

(Ann - not with the family)

???

1871 Census, Aston Ingham

L....se Tree

Elizabeth FAWKES - 22 General Servant, born Hereford, Yatton
James PHIPPS - 18 - born Aston Ingham
Anne MEEK - Visitor - 50 born Aston Ingham

----

----

1881 Census, Longhope

MEEK

Ann - 59 - Charwoman, born Herefordshire, Aston Ingham
Alfred - 20 - born Longhope
Alice - 16 - born Longhope

----

Gloucestershirebdm

MEEK - mother's maiden name HILL

Alfred - 1859 - Gloucester, Huntley
Alice Ann - 1864 - ditto
Ann - 1851 - Gloucester, Newent
Comfort - 1847 - ditto
Dorcas - 1849 - ditto
Job - 1857 - Gloucester, Huntley
Miles - 1855 - ditto
William Charles - 1845 - Gloucester, Newent

Trying to find out about my great grandfather, James Baylis Hill
Birth 25 Nov 1842 in County Prison, North Hamlet, Gloucester
Death 22 Feb 1907 in Steam Mills, Cinderford, Forest of Dean, Glous, England
i have found a woman called Ann Hill in the County Prison, North Hamlet, Gloucester
She was in for the theft of 15 sovereigns. Her record describes her behaviour whilst in prison as 'base'.
There is no father on the birth certificate but the second name 'Baylis' leads me to wonder whether this was the surname of the father who abandoned the child.
Ann Hill was arrested on 14th April 1842 accused by Richard Chamberlayne of Moreton Valence of stealing ten sovereigns from him on 11th April. The record sheet states that she was:
'Charged on the oath of Richard Chamberlayne with feloneously stealing ten sovereigns at Moreton Valence on the 11th April. His Property.'
Under the section entitled 'Discription' is an illegible sentence: ' ??? at ??? Sessions 1837'
This indicates that she might have been imprisoned early too.
[Ann Hill aged 20yrs. 14th April 1842. Moreton ref Q/Gc 5/7]

Ann was imprisoned by order of HC Clifford Esq on 14th April and was brought to trial at the Shire Hall, Gloucester on 28th Jun at the Trinity Sessions . Her name appears on the List of Prisoners in the Penitentiary House for Oct 18th 1842. Amongst a list of 100 inmates she is described as:
No 41. Ann Hill, 20yrs. Stealing 10 Sovereigns. Trinity Session un 28th 1842. 15 Calendar Months
[Gloucester Quarter Sessions Gaol Calendar Q/sG2 fiche 1 1842]

Also in Gaol at that time were two men named Balylis.
1. John Baylis Q/Gc 5/6 (1841) labourer
2. James Baylis Q/Gc g/1
The child she gave birth to on 25th November was named James Baylis Hill and the Birth Certifictae names no father.
Can anyone help?

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=29434

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

This certainly looks promising with the connection to Longhope, the middle initial 'B' for James Hill and his age and place of birth. I wonder would you know whether May Hill is near to Longhope? Older family members used to say that James Baylis Hill had been born there. I am not too familiar with the Forest so wouldn't know that one.

. I wonder would you know whether May Hill is near to Longhope?

Yes it is ! as the crow flys maybe a mile...

http://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SO7020

http://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SO6921

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2400253

come due south into Longhope parish

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thanks. This appears to confirm the family story of great grandfathers birth!