Hi everyone, In the early 1800s my ancestor Elizabeth Gilham had two illegitimate children to two different fathers. She lived in Aldington and the Overseers accounts records payments for her lying in and support. I am hoping that someone on the list can provide some additional information in relation to the entries that refer to: - a journey to Canterbury with Elizabeth Gilham and expenses paid to James Crothall in respect of Elizabeth Gilham. This was around 1803. Would she have been sent to a workhouse at Canterbury? Was James Crothall connected to the workhouse or overseer? The father of this child was Thomas Carpenter who had a farm at Aldington Corner. I would love to know more about the farm, about Thomas (late in life he married his servant, Sarah Mummery and seems not to have had any legitimate children as his property was left to his wife, nieces and nephews). - a payment for the journey to William Deeds Esquire with Thomas Carpenter. Was Deeds a solicitor by any chance? Perhaps the journey was to make arrangements for the regular payments that Thomas made towards his son's support. Or perhaps he was seeking to avoid the commitment? I would appreciate any relevant local and family history information - I think I have discovered all I can by googling but if you can point me in the direction of journal articles or local history publications that I can obtain (from Australia) that would be very much appreciated. Regards, Lynne (Canberra, Australia)

Lynne, Aldington was a sub-district in the East Ashford Poor Law Union and the workhouse was based at Willesborough. Regards Peter I would appreciate any relevant local and family history information - I think I have discovered all I can by googling but if you can point me in the direction of journal articles or local history publications that I can obtain (from Australia) that would be very much appreciated. Regards, Lynne (Canberra, Australia)