The America Ground (The Forensic Genealogist Series Book 4)

defence, and urged them not to give credit to the story that had been told by the three girls who had been called to make out the case for the prosecution. He also said he should produce witnesses to speak to the good character of the prisoner. Baron Alderson said it appeared to him that in the case of a man who had acted as the prisoner had clearly done, evidence to his character would not be of very great importance. The learned Judge then summed up the case, and the jury at once returned a verdict of guilty. His Lordship having made some remarks upon the abominable character of the offence he had committed, sentenced the prisoner to be kept to hard labour for two years.

Morton was slightly stunned by the twist that the Lovekin Case had just taken. It certainly added more excitement to the painting’s provenance. Although he was sure that Bunny would be secretly thrilled, he dreaded the thought of her reaction when he told her of his latest find. He could hear it now. Oh that poor, poor creature. Imagine! Taken advantage of at such an age only to be murdered years later…

Then something clicked in Morton’s mind: what if Thomas Honeysett had murdered Eliza? Here was someone who had displayed a severe lack of morality, and who after two years of hard labour would have had sufficient motive to exact revenge.

Morton quickly re-read the article, realising that it had failed to indicate whether by administering the drugs to the girls, Thomas Honeysett’s malicious endeavour had been successful.

‘Excuse me,’ Morton turned and asked Brenda Buxton.

‘Yes, can I help you?’

‘Do you have bastardy bonds for Westwell around 1803, please?’

Without saying a word, Brenda spun around on her chair and proceeded to pull a file from the shelves behind her. With a serious look on her face, she thumbed through the file then set it down in front of Morton, an absurdly long nail pointing to a section part way down the page. Then she turned away. Charming.

Morton jotted down the key information, completed the orange request slip then made his way inside the research room where, once he had handed in his request, he waited patiently. He took the opportunity to review all of his case notes, starting back at the very beginning. It was at times like this that he really appreciated just how far the Lovekin Case had progressed from that evening sitting in his father’s lounge when he had been presented with the painting of Eliza and the lease and release documents.

He flipped the page and cursed himself as soon as he saw the notes that he had made on the indentures. How could he have been so stupid? The signatory on the lease and release was Alderman Thomas Honeysett, the same name as the man that Eliza had seen locked up. It was certainly no coincidence.

He sat back, utterly confused. At worst, Thomas Honeysett had raped Eliza. At best, he had taken advantage of her vulnerability as a sixteen-year-old girl in his care, then tried to abort their unborn child. Eliza had then, at some point prior to her marriage in July 1803, left Westwell behind her and, following her marriage to Joseph Lovekin, had moved to the America Ground. Then, in 1827, of the thousand-strong number living on the America Ground, she had been the only person to receive a parcel of freehold land, granted to her by one Thomas Honeysett. She was then murdered just seven days later.

Morton was confused. More parts of the Lovekin Case puzzle were falling into place, whilst others were categorically refusing.

The same short lady with excessive eye make-up and heavy red lipstick, who had brought him his documents on his last visit, delivered him a thick wodge of loose paperwork.

Morton thanked her then began to tackle the stack. He took a moment to familiarise himself with the documents; they were pre-typed administrative forms with gaps containing the handwritten details of the individuals involved. Arranged chronologically, they contained the names of women who had given birth illegitimately in the parish of Westwell. They named the alleged father and gave his current parish of residence, which was chargeable for the child’s maintenance. Morton flicked through to 1803, checking the names carefully as he went. He quickly found all three of the girls, filed consecutively. The first was addressed to The Constable and Borsholder of the upper half hundred of Cobshill and contained Eliza Winter’s allegation.

Whereas information hath been made unto us Nicholas Howell esquire and Edward Brett esquire two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Kent one whereof is of the Quorum, and both of us residing in the Parish of Westwell in the said County as well upon the complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Westwell as on the oath of Eliza Winter of the Parish of Westwell aforesaid single woman, that on the second day of January last the said Eliza Winter was delivered of a male bastard child in the said Parish and that Thomas Honeysett of Westwell in the said County workhouse guardian is the Father of the said Bastard Child, and that the said Bastard Child is now living, and likely to become chargeable to the said Parish of Westwell…

Morton skimmed over the rest of the legal wording, as he digested what he had just read. Eliza had given birth to a son. And Thomas Honeysett had evidently been released from gaol after serving just one year of hard labour.

With a great eagerness, Morton turned the page. Amelia Odden had given birth to a daughter and also alleged the father to have been Thomas Honeysett. The next page was much the same as the previous two: Lydia Booth had given birth to a boy and accused Thomas Honeysett of being the