This file gathers together references to people with a connection to, or who lived in, Dorchester that I have come across whilst researching the history of the parish, building the website, and writing the biographies that appear on line. I have not so far however carried out a sytematic search but simply recorded information from the documents I was using. They are invaluable in adding to our store of knowledge about what was happening in Dorchester and it provides me with a platform for linking to specific areas of reasearch or individuals. I have provided links to relevent documents on site where I felt this was appropriate. Where I have copied Dorchester entries from Newspaper Indexes such as the Bridgewater Advertiser they are often very abbreviated entries so it may be worth accessing the original newspaper the get a full account

The Full Index to the Taunton Courier for the years 1810-1815 or Sherborne & Yeovil Mercury for the years 1773-1775 and 1804 & 1806 can be found via this link.

Lawrence SHEPHERD

Edward CHAFFEY

DORSET COUNTY TRANSPORTATION RECORDS: The 26th May 1730 I do hereby acknowledge that I have this day received of James CHAFFEY Keeper of the prison at Dorchester in the county of Dorset the bodies of John BREWER, Thomas ROBBINS, Jonathan CHURCHILL, Joseph BURT and Thomas BUTLER within named at the port of Weytmouth & Melcombe Regis pursuant to the within written Indenture. Signed Thomas LIELL Witness: illegible first name TEMPLEMAN, illegible first name CRELLOWES?

THIS INDENTURE made the 25th day of may in the year of our Lord Christ One Thousand Seeven Hundred and Thirty Between Joseph DAMER of Dorchester in the County of Dorset Esquire and John MEECH of Charminster in the same County Esquire two of his Majesty's Justices of the peace in and for of the county on the one part and Thomas [illegible surname] of London Mariner of the other part Whereas at the Gen^t Goal [gaol] delivery held at the Dorchester in and for the said County of Dorset on Thursday the twelfth day of March in the Third year of the reign of the present Majesty King George the Second before said Thomas PENGELLY Knt then Chief Baron of his Majesty's Court of Exchwquer and Sir Fortiscue ALAND? knt one of his Majesty's Justices of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas Justices & John BREWER, Thomas ROBBINS, Jonathan CHURCHILL, Joseph BURT and Thomas BUTLER were convicted of felony and entitled to the benefit of Clergy and were ordered and adjudged at the said Court to be Transported to some of his Majesty's Colonies and plantations in ?????? for the term of seven years according to the Act of Parliament made the forth year of the reign of his Majesty' King George the first entitled An Act for the further preventing robery, burglary, and other felonies and for the more essential transportation of felons and unlawful exporters of wool and for declaring the law upom some points relating to pirates And Whereas in pursuance of a late Act of Parliament made in the sixth year of the reign of the said late King George the First entitled An Act for the further preventing Robbery Burglary and other felonies and the more essential transportation of felons, the said Justices of Assize their assizes enforced did ???? and appoint the said Joseph DAMER and John MEECH and also Richard BRODREPP, Richard BINGHAM, John MICHEL, John TUCKER and William FFREKE Esquires ??? other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace of and for the the said County of Dorset, or any two of them, to contract with any persons for the performance of transportation of the said offenders Now Witness this Indenture that the said Joseph DAMER and Joseph MEECH do by these presents assign convey transfer and make over the said John BREWER, Thomas ROBBINS, Jonathan CHURCHILL, Joseph BURTand thomas BUTLERthe aforesaid felons unto him the said Thomas LIELL and his assigns

Vagrant Pass: Whereas by a pass signed by William Milford Esq one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Sussex Ann BENTFIELD a Vagrant was brought to the House of Correction at Fisherton Anger now further conveyed to the House of Correction in Sherborn in the said County of Dorset I do hereby order the said vagrant to be conveyed by the Master of the House of Correction at Sherborn aforesaid to the Parish of St Peters in the Town of Dorchester in ye said County of Dorset on horse back in two-days time and order her to the Church Wardens, chapel wardens, or overseers of ye poor of ye said parish of St Peters in the town of Dorchester aforesaid or one of them together with the pass for which the said Master is to be allowed the sum of five shillings & ten pence and no more Given under my hand this 6th day of January 1740/41Thomas Medlyiott

19th Jan 1740/1 Ann BENFIELD Conveyed by Robert Ringe, Master of the Sherbourne House of Correction, to Dorchester paid 5s 10d: Received the within mentioned Ann BENTFIELD a Vagrant one pass from Robert Ring Master of the House of Correction in Sherborn this 19th day of January 1740/41 Richard ROSE Overseer. Source Ancestry.com Vagrant Passes 1739-1791

QUARTER SESSIONS: [Image 154] TRANSPORT ORDER,

This Court doth order that the Western Treasurer of the County Stock of this County do pay unto Batt CHAFFEY Keeper of His Majesty's Gaol or Prison at Dorchester in this County the Sum of Forty Seven Pounds Nine Shliings and Six Pence for his trouble and expenses also clothing and necessaries and Conveying Six Covicts to Woolwich delivered over to Duncan CAMPBELL Esq the Overseer of Convicts in the River Thames Namely John NEW, Robert CASE, Edward GREEN, William BIDDLESCOMBE Joseph BIDDLESCOMBE and Nicholas MOORE who were severally convicted of Felony at the Assizes held at Dorchester the Tenth day of August 1784 and ordered and adjudged to be kept to hard labour on the Rover Thames,

AND ALSO the sum of Thirty Seven Pounds Fifteen shillings and Sixpence for his trouble and expenses also clothing and necessaries and conveying Five Convicts to Woolwich aforesaid delivered over to the said Duncan CAMPBELL and put on board the Ceres Hulk for the present by order of the Right Honourable Lord SYDNEY One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State Namely James WEBBER, James CHAFFEY, William LARCOMBE, George POWELL and Matthew LOVE severally convicted of Felony held at the Assizes held at Dorchester the Tenth day of march last past and ordered and adjudged to be transported beyond the Seas

AND ALSO the sum of Five Pounds and Five Shilings for Drawing Contract and Bond & writing letters and attending on the Justices to get the same executed when said several sums Amounting in all to the sum of Ninety Pounds and Tenshillings shall be allowed the said Treasurer on passing his accounts

Elizabeth Martha BROWN

EXECUTION At DORCHESTER - Of Elizabeth Martha BROWN -- This morning (Saturday 9th August) a few minutes after 8 o'clock, Elizabeth Martha BROWN, convicted of the wilful murder of her husband was executed on a scaffold erected over the gateway of the new entrance leading to Dorset County Goal from North Square. The culprit did not up to the last moment, appear to shed a tear. She on leaving her cell, shook hands with the chief warder and other officers. On her way to the scaffold her demeanour was extraordinary. The attendants on either side were entirely overcome, whilst she bore her awful position with the greatest resignation and composure. The Chaplain the Rev Dacre Clemetson , conversed with her on spiritual subjects, and she appeared to engage in fervent devotion and prayer, with her hands clasped firmly together and upturned eyes. On arriving at the place of execution she walked with firmness up the first flight of eleven steps. On this spot the ceremony of pinioning was proceeded with. Her female attendants here left her in the care of the executioner.

A cordial was then administered to her, a portion of which she drank. The pinioning being completed the culprit in company with the executioner then proceeded up the next flight of steps, 19 in number,to the platform and still walking with a firm step, crossed the platform to the next flight which led to the gallows, which with a slightly faltering step she then ascended in company with Calcraft. The Rev. Chaplain was unable to proceed further with her then the place of pinioning. He was most deeply affected, but the Rev Henry Moule accompanied her to the platform. Calcraft then proceeded to place the fatal rope over the beam. Having drawn a white cap over the culprits face, he adjusted the rope around her neck and retired from the scaffold, he however appeared to have forgotten to tie the culprits dress and for that purpose re ascended the steps. having again retired he immediately drew the fatal bolt and instantly the wretched woman fell with great force and after a few struggles ceased to exist. At this moment the most intense excitement prevailed in the crowd.

Her life would undoubtedly have been spared but for several contrary statements she made. The following confession was the last made which just previous to her execution she declared was the truth. " My husband John Anthony BROWN, deceased, came home on Sunday morning, the 6th July at 2 o'clock in liquor and was sick. He had no hat on. I asked him what he had done with his hat. He abused me and said "What is it to you, d---n you? He then asked for some cold tea. I said that I had none, but would make him some warm. He replied "Drink that yourself, and be d---d". I then said "What makes you so cross? Have you been at Mary DAVIS's ? He then kicked out the bottom of the chair that upon which I had been sitting. We continued quarrelling until 3 o'clock, when he struck me a severe blow on the side of my head, which confused me so much that I was obliged to sit down. Supper was on the table and he said "Eat it yourself, and be d--d". At the same time he reached down for the mantle piece a heavy horse whip with a plain end and struck me across the shoulders with it three times. Each time I screamed out. I said " If you strike me again, I will cry Murder"

He retorted "If you do, I will knock your brains out through the window". He also added " I hope I shall find you dead in the morning". He then kicked me on the left side which caused me much pain, and he immediately stooped down to untie his boots. I was such enraged and in an ungovernable passion, on being so abused and struck, I directly seized an hatchet which was lying close to where I sat and which I had been using to break coal with to keep up the fire and keep his supper warm , and with it (the hatchet) I struck him several violent blows on the head, i could not say how many. He fell at the first blow on his head, with his face towards the fire place. He never spoke or moved afterwards. As soon as I had done it I wished I had not, and would have given the world not to have done it. I had never struck him before after all his ill treatment but when he hit me so hard at this time, I was almost out of my senses and hardly knew what I was doing. Signed Elizabeth Martha BROWN. Source: Weymouth Journal - Daily News (London, England), Monday, August 11, 1856; Issue 3193

DEATH - COURT NOTICE: JOHN DEWFOL (otherwise Charles DUFALL) deceased - Pursuant to an Act of Parliament of the 22nd and 23rd Victoria, cap 35 instituted "An Act to further Amend the Law of Property and to relive trustees notice is hereby given that all CREDITORS and other persons having any claims or demands upon or against the estate of John DEWFOL (otherwise Charles DUFALL) formerly of Dorchester in the county of Dorset, but late of 121 Mostyn Road Brixton in the county of Surrey gentleman deceased (who died on the twenty sixth day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventy one and whose will was proved by Mary Leah DEWFOL of Brixton aforesaid the widow and the relict of the deceased, the sole executrix therein named, on the eleventh day of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy one at the Principal Probate Registry of Her Majestys Court of Probate are hereby required to send in the particulars in writing against the estate of the said deceased to the said executrix or to me, the undersigned Arden Avery Shapland of 61 King William Street in the City of London the solicitor for the said executrix, on or before the second day of August next; after which day the said executrix will proceed to distribute the assets of the said testator among the parties entitled thereto, having regard to the claims only which she shall then have had notice: and the said executrix will not be liable for such assets, or any part thereof, so distributed to any person of whose claim she shall not have received notice at the time of such distribution - Dated this 19th day of June 1871. ARDEN A SHAPLAND 61 King william St London Solicitor to the said executrix. Source: The Times, Thursday, Jun 22, 1871; pg. 13; Issue 27096; col A

George James ANDREWS;

James GROVES;

Gideon and Gideon Bennett WRIGHT;

George CROCKER elder and younger;

George KEATS;

Thomas ADAMS

Henry LEGG

Revd John COLSON

1. George James Andrews of Dorchester, gent 

2. Joshua Duffitt superintendent Minister 

3. James Groves provision merchant, Gideon Wright and Gideon Bennet Wright grocers, George Crocker the elder and George Crocker the younger ironmongers, George Keats yeoman, Thomas Adams warder, Henry Legg grocer, all of Dorchester, Levi Riggs and Joseph Adam Riggs of Cheselborne yeomen, George Cole of Dewlish cordwainer, Edward Selby Little of Winterborne Kingston yeoman, John Baker of Tincleton dairyman, John Bush miller and Robert Jessopp tailor both of Sydling, Richard Davis of Stratton yeoman, Walter Beckingham of Hartfoot Lane brick manufacturer and Edward Dingley of Sherborne draper 

Recital: of a deed dated 20 Feb 1862 between the Revd John Colson rector of St Peters, Sarah Warren and George Andrews. Whereby Warren requested Colson to pass the land to Andrews 

1 to 2 and 3 

Property: Messuage situated in St Peters Parish late in the occupation of Sarah Warren but now of Francis Curtis and William Durden. The property is a corner house bounded on the north with Durne Lane, on the east by the Wood and Stone Public House, on the south by a messuage occupied by Aaron Turner and the west with South Street 

Condition: To be used to build a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel