Family Vignette-Hannah Kett

 

Family Vignette-Hannah Kett

Hannah Kett was born around 1792 in Wissett, Suffolk, England.  Her father was Francis Kett 1773-1845 and her mother was Hannah Liddamore 1771-1843.  Hannah was baptised at the parish church in Wissett on August 10, 1794.

In 1817, Hannah had an illegitimate son, William Scarfe Kett, and the father was named as William Scarff Kett, 1794-1869.  This child was raised by Hannah’s parents, Francis  and Hannah.

(You may recall that the story posted about Samuel Kett, the miller from Wenhaston who was tried and convicted for burning his mill for the insurance money.  The story was posted in November 2025.  William Scarfe Kett was also a miller in Wenhaston and ran the water mill.  He was called, along with his wife Bridget Mahon, to offer testimony during the trial of Samuel Kett who was his 1st cousin 1x removed.)

In November 1820, Hannah gave birth to her second illegitimate son, Francis Bruning Kett and the father was Henry Brunning, farmer 1803-1854.

In July 1824 Hannah gave birth to her third illegitimate child, a daughter named Mary Kett.  Mary’s father is not known.

In January 1832, Hannah gave birth to her fourth illegitimate child, a son named David Wright and the father was Samuel Wright, thatcher 1815- ?.

At this point, Hannah was tried and found guilty of having multiple illegitimate children—“. . . she having 3 bastards by 3 and several fathers, two of the bastards are now chargeable to the Parish of Chediston”.  She was sentenced in January 1832 to six calendar months at work in the Beccles goal for having three illegitimate (base-born) children.

Hannah died on August 24, 1832 and her daughter, Mary Kett, and newborn baby, David Wright, were sent to the Bulcamp Union workhouse.  David Wright died 1833 at the age of 13 months.  Mary was discharged sometime after the death of her step-brother.

Mary Kett married James Peck at St. Mary’s church in Chediston on October 14, 1845.  She and her husband had eight children and Mary died a widow in Hackney, London in April 1919.

Footnote:  Many people—the old, the sick and many infants—died at Bulcamp.  It is estimated that there are several thousand buried there in unmarked graves in a piece of consecrated ground.  No tombstones were erected, and in most cases, no coffins were used.  The dead were simply wrapped in sackcloth and placed in the ground.  This is a sad resting place for thousands of poor, humble villagers.

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