Wednesday, September 7, 2011

New Discovery Service at the National Archives

The National Archives are introducing a new "Discovery" service for searching their records and are asking for people to try out the Beta version and let them know what you think of them, I don't have time to do a complete test but a search for "Hemel Hempstead revealed 1458 records including the following:



  • Reference: HO 47/6/20
  • Description:
  • Report of Alexander Thomson on 1 collective petition (10 people, including John Wheeldon, rector, the churchwardens and overseers of the poor, from Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire) on behalf of Thomas Smith alias Cockle, a "little" farmer, of Wheathampstead, convicted at the Hertfordshire Assizes, for stealing 5 ewe sheep, value £4, and 3 lambs, value 20/-, property of Thomas Fellows the elder, a farmer at Hemel Hempstead. Evidences supplied by Thomas Fellows the elder, Thomas Fellows junior, the prosecutor's son; Richard Gaddesden, Henry Randall, Thomas House and the prisoner. It was claimed that the stolen property had turned up at Tuddington Fair in December 1786. Mention is made of Tuddington, Dunstable and Kingsworth. Grounds for clemency: has a wife and 5 young children, first offence and was a hard worker. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 85-89. See also HO 47/6/14 folios 55-56.
  • Date: 1787 Mar 31
  • Related Material: See also HO 47/6/14 folios 55-56. 
  • Let me know, with a comment to this message, if you find anything interesting using the new service.

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