Person:Samuel Bent (3)

Samuel Bent was baptised on 20th June 1790 at Luton in Bedfordshire, son of Susannah Bent, formerly Sheffield, and her husband James Bent. In 1803, when Samuel was thirteen years old, his father died.

In 1818, aged 27, Samuel married Ann Barr, who was from Redbourn, a few miles south of Luton. They had five children baptised at Luton between 1819 and 1827. Samuel was described variously as a labourer and straw plait dealer. Samuel's mother died in 1822. In 1827 his wife Ann died, aged 28.

Just over three months later, in February 1828, Samuel remarried. His second wife was Fanny Humphrey, who was from the nearby parish of Houghton Regis. However, they did not marry in the Luton area, but at Islington in the northern suburbs of London. They returned to Luton after their marriage, having a further five children there between 1829 and 1846.

The 1841 census finds the family living at Gibb Square on Back Street in Luton, with Samuel working as a plait dealer and Fanny as a sewer, both occupations connected with Luton's hat industry.

In 1844, Samuel was convicted of stealing plait from his employer, George Seabrook. It seems that Samuel had hidden some of his employer's plait in the neighbouring garden, but was seen when he went to retrieve it and caught with the stolen plait under his smock. He was sentenced at the Bedfordshire Lent Assizes to six months hard labour, which he spent at the New House of Correction in Bedford. He was described as being five feet eight inches tall, with light sandy hair and being stout with a scar on his forehead.

The 1851 census finds Samuel working as an agricultural labourer and living with some of his children at Duke Street in Luton. Fanny was away from home on census night; she was staying with their son Samuel nearby. Fanny died in 1856.

Samuel appears in the 1861 census living at 15 Cobden Street with his son William and William's wife. Samuel died in 1863, aged about 73.

1. ↑ Bedfordshire Family History Society. Luton Parish Register Transcript. (Bedford).

   Baptisms 1790: Jun 20 Sam s Jas Susnh Bentt/Bennet

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 4; Book 19; Folio 16; Page 27, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Back Street or Gib Square, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Samuel Bent, male, 50 [1786-91], Plait Dealer, b. in county
   Frederick Bent, male, 20 [1816-21], Ag Lab, b. in county
   David Bent, male, 18 [1822/3], b. in county
   William Bent, male, 11 [1829/30], b. in county
   Samuel Bent, male, 9 [1831/2], b. in county
   Fanny Bent, female, 34 [1806/7], Sewer, b. in county
   Ann Bent, female, 7 [1833/4], b. in county
   Eliza Bent, female, 1 [1839/40], b. 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 1757; Folio 641; Page 20, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Duke Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Samuel Bent, head, married, male, 59 [1791/2], Ag[ricultural] Laborer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Ann Bent, daughter, unmarried, female, 17 [1833/4], Bonnet Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Bent, son, male, 5 [1845/6], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Smith, lodger, unmarried, male, 30 [1820/1], Labourer, b. Cublington, Buckinghamshire
   Mary Smith, lodger, married, female, 28 [1822/3], Nil, b. Ledburn, Buckinghamshire
   Joshua Smith, lodger, unmarried, male, 4 [1846/7], b. Ledburn, Buckinghamshire
   Joseph Smith, lodger, male, 2 [1848/9], b. Ledburn, Buckinghamshire

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 1014; Folio 143; Pages 5-6, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 15 Cobden Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Samuel Bent, head, widower, male, 72 [1788/9], Straw Plat Dealer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   William Bent, son, married, male, 31 [1829/30], Straw Bonnet Manufacturer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Mary Bent, wife, married, female, 31 [1829/30], Straw Bonnet Manufacturer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Emma Odell, visitor, unmarried, female, 18 [1842/3], Straw Bonnett Maker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Hannah Windmill, visitor, unmarried, female, 18 [1842/3], Straw Bonnett Maker, b. St Albans, Hertfordshire
   Eliza Smith, visitor, unmarried, female, 5 [1855/6], b. Hatfield, Hertfordshire

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

   d. Samuel BENT, June Quarter 1863, Luton Registration District, Volume 3b, page 282, aged 74 [1788/9]

6.   Bedfordshire Record Office. Bedfordshire Gaol Register. (Bedford).

   Name: Samuel Bent
   Record ID: 15453
   Commital Year: 1844
   Reference Doc: BLARS QGV11/2
   ID in Reference Doc: 6351
   Age: 53 [1790/1]
   Height: 5'8"
   Hair: Light sandy
   Complexion: Light
   Identifying features: Stout, scar on the forehead
   Occupation: Labourer
   Marital Status: Married
   Birth Town: Luton, Bedfordshire
   Residence: Luton, Bedfordshire
   Offence: Felony
   Committed by: Court of Assizes
   When committed: 14 Mar 1844
   Type of Gaol: Bedford, New House of Correction
   Sentence: 6 Calendar Months Hard Labour
   Prison Work: Wheel
   Discharge Date: 13 Sep 1844
   General Remarks: Good

7.   Hertford Mercury and Reformer
   Page 4, 23 Mar 1844.

   Bedfordshire Lent Assizes
   STEALING PLAIT, AT LUTON.-Samuel Bent was charged with stealing a quantity of straw plait, at Luton.
   George Seabrook stated that, on the 23rd July, he was informed that some plait, his property, was concealed underneath an old bag in his garden. He saw the prisoner, who was in his employ, afterwards with a bunch of plait under his smock.
   Jas. Wm. Banks stated that he found a heap of plait concealed under a tray in his garden, and informed the prosecutor, who lives next door, of the circumstance. He afterwards saw the prisoner take the plait from under the tray and put it under his smock.
   Guilty.-Sentenced to six months' hard labour.

8.   Northampton Mercury
   Page 4, 23 Mar 1844.

   Bedfordshire Lent Assizes
   Samuel Bent was charged with stealing some straw plait, at Luton.
   George Seabrook. On the 23d July I was informed that in his garden there was some plait of mine underneath an old tray. The prisoner was then taking supper; he was in my employ: I saw prisoner afterwards; he had a bunch of plait under his smock. Mr. Banks said it was the same that was put under the tray. It was my property.
   James Wm. Banks. I live in the next house to Mr. Seabrook. On raising a tray up that was in my garden I found a heap of plait under it. I knew it was not mine and told prosecutor. I then watched, and prisoner came and took the plai and put it under his smock. When he went into the house Mr. Seabrook made him take it from beneath his smock, and he identified it.
   Guilty - Six Months' Hard Labor.