He examined the contents and estimated there to be at least forty removal orders, with each sheet of parchment dealing with a separate person or family. Once he had established that the contents were arranged chronologically, he flicked through to the late 1820s and began to skim through, seeking out the handwritten names amongst the pre-typed sections. Then he found them.
To the overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Westwell in the County of Kent. Take notice, that Harriet Lovekin aged eighteen, Keziah Lovekin aged fifteen and Ann Lovekin aged ten and lately residing at St Clements, Hastings have become chargeable to the said Parish and that an Order of Justices has been obtained for their removal to your Parish of Westwell as their last place of legal settlement (a copy of which order, and also a copy of the examination on which the same was made are herewith sent).
Dated this First day of May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Seven.
James Crispe, Churchwardern
Samuel Harman, Churchwarden
Slowly and purposefully, Morton drew his index finger under the first line of the parchment. The Lovekin sisters had been removed to Westwell. That must have been the wording missing on Eliza’s grave, he thought. Formerly of the parish of Westwell, Kent. What had brought them to Hastings? he wondered. Probably the enticement of free land and new prospects.
He photographed the document and, as he did so, noticed the date upon which the order had been signed: 1st May 1827. The very day of their mother’s burial, the girls had been carted miles away to a parish of which they likely had little recollection. The next page was the record that had sealed the girls’ fate.
The examination of Harriet Lovekin, now residing in the parish of St Clements in the Town and Port of Hastings in the County of Sussex, taken upon Oath before Us, Two of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace acting in and for the Town and Port of Hastings in the County of Sussex the 1st May 1827.
Who, saith that, she was born as she believes, in the parish of Westwell in the said County of Kent, her father and mother Joseph Lovekin and Eliza Smith having once lived and married there. That she, with her two sisters and afore-mentioned mother and father afterwards moved in or abouts the year 1822 to the Town and Port of Hastings. She and her two sisters are now living in the Town and Port of Hastings, where they are to be maintained by and at the expense of the Parish of St Clements following the deaths of both parents.
Signed Harriet Lovekin.
Having photographed the parchment, Morton scribbled the new information onto his notepad. He smiled, knowing that this propitious information would likely lead him directly to Joseph and Eliza’s marriage and their children’s baptisms in the parish of Westwell.
On the following page was a copy of the instruction given to remove the girls.
Benjamin Barker, common carrier.
We whose names are hereunder written being churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the Parish of St Clements, Hastings, having the management of the poor there do employ the above named Benj. Barker to remove and convey Harriet, Keziah and Ann Lovekin, the paupers named in the removal order from and out of the said parish of St Clements, Hastings to the parish of Westwell in the county of Kent and deliver them to the churchwardens and overseers of the poor there and do hereby also authorise the said Benj. Barker to receive from the churchwardens and overseers of the poor the sum of three pounds and fifteen shillings incurred by the illegal settlement of the said Harriet, Keziah and Ann Lovekin.
1st May 1827.
James Crispe, Churchwardern
Samuel Harman, Churchwarden
He had seen such terse language used in historical documents on countless occasions, but each time Morton was struck afresh by the brutal treatment shown to society’s most vulnerable.
He looked up at the clock and was dismayed to see that he had just thirty-two minutes left to order up any original documents. He was satisfied with his progress on the Lovekin sisters and so now needed to switch his attention to trying to find out more about Eliza’s murder.
He closed the register, stood up and was about to head towards the help desk when he stopped in his tracks; Oliver was at the other end of the desk with a telephone to his ear and Morton’s arch-enemy, Deidre Latimer was at the service end of the counter with her usual scowl on her face. Brilliant. Thirty-two—no, thirty-one minutes to go and she suddenly appears, he thought. If he had more time, he would have feigned interest in one of the books that lined the shelves around the room until Oliver became free again, but time was running out, so he took a deep breath and marched confidently over to her.
‘I’d like to return this, please,’ Morton said.
Miss Latimer wordlessly took the proffered file, placed her glasses on her nose then set about scanning it back into the system.
‘I was also interested in coroners’ records or inquests that you…’ Morton stopped short when Miss Latimer ignored him and disappeared out the back. ‘Charming,’ he mumbled.
A few long seconds later, Miss Latimer returned with a smile on her face that made Morton wonder if she was in pain. ‘Yes?’ she asked.
‘I’m searching for information on a murder in Hastings in 1827—do you hold coroners’ records or inquests?’ he ventured.
Miss Latimer laughed an exaggerated, mocking laugh and removed her glasses. ‘Not unless you think they’ve miraculously appeared?’
Morton turned briefly to one side and confirmed that most of the archive was now looking at him. He flushed crimson. ‘I… I don’t understand.’
‘You asked me the very same question just a few months ago and the answer is still the
