Person:Joshua Draper (2)

Joshua Draper was baptised on 3rd June 1804 at Weston in Hertfordshire, son of William and Ann Draper. Some time prior to 1828, he moved to the neighbouring parish of Willian.

At Willian, on 10th May 1828, aged 23, Joshua married Sarah Moles. Between 1830 and 1849, they appear to have had eight children together, all born at Willian. The 1841 and 1851 censuses both find Joshua and Sarah living with their children in Willian. Joshua worked as an agricultural labourer, whilst Sarah was a straw plaiter.

Sarah died in 1852, aged 45. At the time of her death, their youngest child was only two years old. Three years later, in June 1855, Joshua was charged with having deserted his family. The three youngest children had needed to be supported by the parish authorities in Willian. Joshua was sentenced to two months' hard labour at the Hitchin Petty Sessions.

The 1861 census finds Joshua and his youngest child, Susannah, in the Union Workhouse in the local market town of Hitchin.

Joshua died in Hitchin Union Workhouse in 1862, aged 57. He was buried back at Willian, where he had spent most of his adult life.

1. ↑ Church of England. Weston Parish Registers, 1539-1932. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   Christenings 1804 / June 3 / Joshua S[on] of William & Ann Draper

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 437; Book 11; Folio 8; Page 10, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Willian, Hertfordshire
   Joshua Draper, male, 35 [1801-6], Lab[oure]r, born in county
   W[illia]m Draper, male, 11 [1829/30], Lab[oure]r, born in county
   James Draper, male, 7 [1833/4], Lab[oure]r, born in county
   Sarah Draper, female, 30 [1806-11], born in county
   Elazabeth [sic] Draper, female, 2 [1838/9], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1709; Folio 136; Page 6, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Village, Willian, Hertfordshire
   Joshua Draper, head, married, male, 46 [1804/5], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Weston, Hertfordshire
   Sarah Draper, wife, married, female, 44 [1806/7], Platting maker, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Elizabeth Draper, daughter, unmarried, female, 11 [1839/40], Platting maker, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Jane Draper, daughter, unmarried, female, 6 [1844/5], Platting maker, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Susannah Draper, daughter, female, 1 [1849/50], b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   William Draper, son, unmarried, male, 21 [1829/30], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   James Draper, son, unmarried, male, 16 [1834/5], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   John Draper, son, unmarried, male, 9 [1841/2], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   George Draper, son, unmarried, male, 8 [1842/3], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Draper, son, male, 3 [1847/8], b. Willian, Hertfordshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 819; Folio 126; Page 3, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Union Workhouse, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   [many inmates, including:]
   Joshua Draper, head, widower, male, 61 [1799/1800], Farm Labourer, b. Weston, Hertfordshire
   Susannah Draper, daughter, female, 12 [1848/9], Scholar, b. Willian, Hertfordshire

5. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Joshua DRAPER, March Quarter 1862, Hitchin Registration District, Volume 3a, page 177, aged 62 [1799/1800]

6. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   No. 274
   When buried: 24 Mar 1862
   Name: Joshua Draper
   Aged: 61
   Abode: Hitchin Union

7.   Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal, and General Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 5, 30 Jun 1855.

   HITCHIN.
   PETTY SESSIONS, June 26th... Joshua Draper of Willian, was brought up on warrant, charged with deserting his six children, whereby three of the youngest became chargeable to the parish of Willian. Sentenced to two months hard labour.