The short sad story of Harriet Guest, once of Brislington

The Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1845 contains a notice of Harriet’s crime, the theft of three silver spoons valued at 20 shillings (£1), a sum of course, far greater in value then than today.

On the Ancestry & Find My Past websites there are a ridiculous number of references to Harriet Guest all referring to the same small crime but adding nothing much.

From the 17^th century, the theft of a silver spoon which could easily be slipped into a pocket was a common felony among servants, male and female. I had frequently seen the crime and its consequences noted in historical newspapers but assumed the stolen spoons were always exchanged for money. I have no doubt that this was the case with the destitute Harriet. However, a visit a few years ago to the Isle of Man and a pamphlet I picked up there told an alternative story of the popularity of silver spoons, though I think we can take it for granted that in 1816, Harriet at age 35, would have been considered well past it and beyond any such frippery.

A silver spoon could easily be transformed into a ring for those who could not afford a token of love or find the cash even to buy a wedding ring. A  silversmith could easily do a cheap job, but the fact that the employer’s crest was usually engraved on the spoon made it a risky enterprise, with detection easy; if caught it could land the culprit(s) with a flogging, or a sentence of “seven years transportation beyond the seas”.

Thus is the age-old Power of Love demonstrated.

According to the pamphlet, rings made from silver spoons were once again becoming popular. Any piece of old silver, especially if engraved, languishing unloved in a cutlery drawer could be transformed into a unique bespoke item.

I remembered Harriet from one of my Brislington Bulletins and have been thinking since that I would give her another few moments in the sun.

The Minute Book of the Refuge for the Destitute, held in Hackney (London) Archives, ref HAD/D/S/4/4 tells of

“Harriet Guest, of Brislington, Somerset, thirty-five years old. She has been in Town 16 years having been seduced from home by a gentleman with whom she has lived for 15 years who was lately transported to Botany Bay for having been concerned with some girls in the Town in stealing a watch. The petitioner was convicted at the last Sessions of pledging a tablespoon, the property of * (name omitted) No.13 Street, Strand, [which] she said she pledged to pay a debt of * (omitted) which she had borrowed of a person who lodged in the house where she was a servant. She was recommended by the Court. Admitted. 12.10.1816.” This account states “a tablespoon”, others suggest “three silver spoons” so Harriet could have been accused of two offences; if so, it was even more unusual that the Court decided she was more sinned against than sinning. The Bench was merciful.

If I read the above correctly, it means “Judgement Respited; Refuge”.  I assume “DD.” is “detained”. I hope it does not mean “died”.

Unfortunately, I can find no trace of Harriet in Brislington. There are several Guests in Bath of approximate date, but no Harriet. It is as if she never existed apart from the multiplicity of her court appearances over September/October 1816.