Biography:
George Margrave
1804 –10/08/1868
George Margrave

GEORGE MARGRAVE: 1804 – 1868
George was born in Berkhamsted in 1804 and baptised at St Peter’s church. He was the first of two children born to Mark and Sarah Margrave. George’s sister, Sarah, was born in 1807. The Margrave family lived on Berkhamsted’s High Street where George’s father, like George’s grandfather, worked as a cordwainer, an occupation that George himself would also follow.
George married Mary Ann Redding on the 21st June 1824. Mary Ann’s father, Joseph Redding, was a farmer of 120 acres at Northchurch. Mary Ann had also been born in 1804. George and Mary had seven children[1] before Mary died of consumption on 18th May 1841. Three years later in 1844, George married again. His second wife, like his first, was also called Mary Ann; Mary Ann Collins. George had a further five children with his second wife.[2]
In the census of 1841 George’s occupation was recorded as “cordwainer”,[3] making George the third generation of the Margrave family to make shoes in Berkhamsted. In 1836 one James Osborn broke into George’s house and attempted to steal “a quantity of boots and shoes” At James’ trial in the Crown Court, George testified that he “…went to bed on the night in question between ten and eleven o’clock. At about two, he heard a noise in his house, and upon getting up he saw the prisoner at the foot of the stairs. He said ‘Hallo, what are you doing here?’ The prisoner replied ‘Ho!’ and jumped out of the window.” James did not get far. “He was followed by the prosecutor [George], who fired at him with a pistol and wounded him and he was then caught.” Osborn was tried before the Crown Court, and “The jury returned a verdict of guilty…” As if being shot by George was not bad enough, “…a sentence of death was recorded.”[4]
Shoemaking was not only George’s source of income. Whilst in the 1841 census his only recorded occupation was that of “cordwainer”, the 1861 census[5] notes his occupation as “cordwainer and beer retailer.” We know that he was engaged in selling beer by at least 1838[6], and he is described in the 1839 Tithe records as the occupier of a beer shop and garden. He is also mentioned in Pigot’s Directory of 1826-27 as a linen draper and haberdasher and as beer retailer and shopkeeper, linen draper and haberdasher in Kelly’s Directory of 1855.
In the 1820’s and 1830’s widespread drunkenness through gin consumption was believed to be detrimental to the working class. Beer at the time was heavily taxed, making it prohibitively expensive, despite the fact it was safer to drink than water. To encourage people to turn away from gin and drink beer instead, the Beerhouse Act of 1830 abolished beer tax. The Act also introduced beerhouses and beershops. These establishments could only sell beer, ale, cider and perry. For a small fee of 2 guineas anyone could brew and sell beer. Although these premises, like public houses, were licensed, supervision of beershops by the local justices was limited. Many shopkeepers opened their own beershop and sold beer alongside their shop wares. Beer was brewed on the premises or bought from brewers.
Concern over law and order led to an increase in the licence fee to 3 guineas, but it was not until 1869 that a change of law brought such premises back under the control of the local justices. Many then closed, or were purchased by breweries and changed to fully licensed public houses.
George and his family lived in Castle Street in the picturesque property originally built in 1605 still standing today and known as The Boote. George came to occupy the premises through his wife’s family; the 1839 tithe records tell us that whilst George was the occupier, it was owned by his father-in-law, Joseph Redding. There is no evidence of beer being sold from the Boote prior to the passing of the Beerhouse Act in 1830 and George appears to have been the first person to sell beer from the premises. Perhaps the property came by its name of The Boote through its association with George and his shoemaking activities. The first record of the property being referred to as “The Boot, public House” appears in a newspaper article in May 1836 describing “…great rioting and fighting…” which broke out at The Boot amongst navvies who were working on the construction of the railway bridge and retaining wall.
The Boote subsequently became part of the tied estate of Locke & Smith whose brewery was in Water Lane and was sold to Benskins in 1913.[7] Locke & Smith purchased the brewery from Alfred Healey in 1868 and we know from a notice in the Bucks Herald in 1861[8] that the freehold of The Boote was auctioned by the executors of the estate of Joseph Redding that year, so the property may have been acquired by Alfred Healey in 1861 and was passed to Locke & Smith when they acquired the brewery seven years later. The sale of beer ceased at the property in 1920 and it is now a residential property.
Although the licensing regime for beerhouses was more relaxed than that applicable to premises with a full licence, licensing hours, set by local magistrates and during which time beer could be sold, still had to be observed. In 1838 George and other beer sellers in the area found themselves in trouble for selling beer out of hours. In George’s case it was alleged that he had sold a pint of beer at ten minutes past 11 p.m. George denied the charge, declaring that “…his house was closed at 9, and they were all in bed a quarter of an hour afterwards.” George was convicted but as it was his first offence committed on a weekday, the fine was mitigated. He was fined 2 shillings and ordered to pay costs of 10 shillings.
The informer, one Moses Pegg, and his witness in this case were from out of the area, coming from Leicestershire. 14 beer sellers, including George, were convicted at this particular sitting of the Magistrates and a further 14 cases were adjourned to be dealt with on another day as a witness in those cases had “…been so severely handled on the night before that he was unable to attend.”
The publisher of a newspaper carrying a report of these proceedings took a dim view of the informer, sympathy clearly being with the beersellers. The report concluded “In no case did a conviction take place from DISORDERLY CONDUCT” and that the fines, costs and monies from forfeit of licences “…had been wrested from the hard earnings of fourteen industrious individuals!!!”[9]
The antipathy towards Pegg expressed in the newspaper article is more readily appreciated on learning that Pegg was a notorious informer. At this time, before the establishment of county police forces, any individual could lay a charge before magistrates in respect of a misdemeanour. Self-styled as President of the General Information Society, Pegg brought proceedings in Leicestershire against numerous tradespeople, publicans and beersellers. At first, he was thought to be an upstanding member of society, but it was soon realised that his motivation was financial. In the event of any defendant against whom he had laid an information being found guilty, Pegg was awarded costs and a share of the fine. The following report provides an example:
“MARKET BOSWORTH…
…- Moses Pegg, the informer appeared today to receive his share of the fine and costs in the case of Blockley, who was convicted three weeks ago for hawking without a licence, for which he was paid £10 and costs and which money had been paid by Earl Howe. Pegg received £5. 17s. 6d.”[10]
When one learns that the total fines and costs imposed by the Berkhamsted Magistrates for the 14 convictions was £46, one can appreciate how lucrative it must have been, but it was not without its risks.
The Loughborough Magistrates, on realising the game Pegg and his associates were playing and that the evidence they gave could not be trusted, branded them as perjurers and vagabonds and two of their number were convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury.
Finding Leicester too hot for them, Pegg and two accomplices, Westbury and Jackson, alias “Yorkee,” made a “professional” tour through Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Pegg, who laid the informations, sent the other two men to visit all the beershops and publicans on their route and to provide Pegg with information to enable him to “lay an immense number of informations.”
Although Pegg and his accomplices were well known in Leicestershire, it seems the Berkhamsted magistrates were not aware of their activities. Indeed, as one newspaper article put it “- we say that if the Berkhampstead gentlemen had been aware of these and equally gross facts affecting the character of these infernal imps in human form, they would not, they could not, have convicted on their evidence”[11]
Once the local publicans and beersellers realised what was happening they made up a large placard bearing the following words:
“PUBLICANS AND BEERSELLERS BE AWARE!
RASCALLY INFORMERS ARE ABROAD,
Practising their iniquitous claptraps on the unwary.”[12]
As may be imagined the informers were not popular and as referred to above 14 of the cases that Pegg had initiated had to be adjourned as his witness had been severely handled. Another newspaper report gave more details of what happened.
“The first hearing was on 17th December when 24 informations were fixed for hearing at Berkhampstead. When the time for going into the different cases arrived a great crowd assembled and “Yorkee” was recognised in the town and seized by the crowd and dragged to the pump where he was pumped upon, kicked and so much hurt that he was unable to attend the bench.”[13]
From Berkhamsted, Pegg and his associates moved on to Luton where 42 charges were brought. When they made ready to leave in a gig, “…they were assailed by the most horrible yells and pelted with bat, dead cats, rotten eggs, tin pots &cc. An attempt was made to drag them from the gig but they flogged the horse violently and he plunged away from the mob and galloped away with the informers who were completely covered in filth.”[14]
George died on 10th August 1868 at the age of 63 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery three days later. His widow continued to run a shop and sell beer at The Boote for a number of years after George’s death.[15] Mary Ann died in 1901 and was also buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.
George’s son, also George, born in 1828 was also a shoemaker. In 1841 he was living in Berkhamsted with his paternal grandparents, Mark and Sarah Margrave. In 1851 he was visiting the home of two sisters, Dinah and Martha Harris in St Ippolytes, Herts. He later married Dinah and settled in St Ippolytes.
George junior was a frequent trouble maker and appeared before the courts on a number of occasions. In 1847 “George Margrave, William Bazill, Thomas Buckthorpe, and William Potter, were charged with committing a trespass, by being, in the day time, on the 19th March, in search of rabbits on Berkhampstead-common in the occupation of the Earls of Brownlow and Powis and W. Egerton Esq.” George was fined £1 and costs of 11 shillings or in default of payment, one month imprisonment.[16]
Later in October of the same year, “…George Margrave, shoemaker, Joseph Fordham and William Stevens, labourers…” were charged with unlawfully assaulting John Birch … with intent to rob him.” Birch, who was in Berkhamsted for the fair was attacked by the three men near the mill pond bridge who knocked him down and kicked him. Birch got up and went to wash his bleeding nose in the stream. The three came back, caught him by the throat, kicked him and threatened to “…put him in the water…” Birch cried out “Murder!” Fortunately for him someone came with a light at a nearby widow and his assailants ran away. Margrave and Fordham were sentenced to three months imprisonment and Stevens to ten weeks.[17]
In March 1863 George was convicted at the Hertford Assizes of “feloniously receiving stolen goods” and whipped for his punishment. In May the same year he was found guilty of “unlawfully killing a deer in enclosed grounds”. And sentenced to “one fortnight” in prison.
In 1864 “George Margrave (37) and William Trapp (29), one of Great Berkhamstead, the other of Abbot’s Langley, were charged with receiving two stolen ducks knowing them to have been stolen…” On this occasion George was acquitted. The principle witness for the prosecution, the thief who stole the ducks and then turned King’s evidence against alleged receivers, was not believed.
Thomas, another of George senior’s sons, also a shoemaker also found himself in trouble in May 1864 when he was convicted of stealing a set of brass weights and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. In 1859 Thomas Margrave (24), shoemaker of Great Berkhampstead, was charged with housebreaking and stealing £6 10s, from Mary Ann Hipgrave and Emma Creasey Squires, at Paul’s Walden.
[1] Joseph, 1825 – 1863; Elizabeth, 1826 – 1893; George, 1828 -1878; William, 1829 – 1832; John, 1831 – 1896; Ann, 1832 – 1841; Sarah, 1840.
[2] Ann, 1844 – 1870; George Frederick, 1846 – 1848; James, 1847 – 1848; James, 1849 -1906; William, 1852 – 1919.
[3] A cordwainer made new shoes and boots from new leather.
[4] Herts Mercury & Reformer, 14th June 1836 and Morning Post, 9th July 1836.
[5] Oddly the 1851 census is silent as to George’s occupation.
[6] A report in The Crown 16th December 1839 refer to George and other beer sellers in the town being prosecuted for selling beer out of licensed hours.
[7] Whittaker, Alan. “Brewers in Hertfordshire” 2006
[8] Bucks Herald 06/07/1861
[9] The Crown, 16th December 1838
[10] Leicester Mercury, 2nd October 1858
[11] Leicester Mercury 29th December 1838
[12] Leicester Mercury 29th December 1838
[13] Leicester Mercury 19th January 1839
[14] Leicester Mercury 19th January 1839
[15] In the 1871 census the address of “Castle Street (The Boot)” is given and Mary Ann is noted as a “shop and beerhouse keeper.” In 1881 she described herself as a “Publican,” By 1890 Thomas Halsy, tailor and Beer Retailer had taken up occupation of the Boote.
[16] Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 24th March 1847.
[17] Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 30th October 1847.

in the cemetery
GEORGE MARGRAVE: 1804 – 1868
George was born in Berkhamsted in 1804 and baptised at St Peter’s church. He was the first of two children born to Mark and Sarah Margrave. George’s sister, Sarah, was born in 1807. The Margrave family lived on Berkhamsted’s High Street where George’s father, like George’s grandfather, worked as a cordwainer, an occupation that George himself would also follow.
George married Mary Ann Redding on the 21st June 1824. Mary Ann’s father, Joseph Redding, was a farmer of 120 acres at Northchurch. Mary Ann had also been born in 1804. George and Mary had seven children[1] before Mary died of consumption on 18th May 1841. Three years later in 1844, George married again. His second wife, like his first, was also called Mary Ann; Mary Ann Collins. George had a further five children with his second wife.[2]
In the census of 1841 George’s occupation was recorded as “cordwainer”,[3] making George the third generation of the Margrave family to make shoes in Berkhamsted. In 1836 one James Osborn broke into George’s house and attempted to steal “a quantity of boots and shoes” At James’ trial in the Crown Court, George testified that he “…went to bed on the night in question between ten and eleven o’clock. At about two, he heard a noise in his house, and upon getting up he saw the prisoner at the foot of the stairs. He said ‘Hallo, what are you doing here?’ The prisoner replied ‘Ho!’ and jumped out of the window.” James did not get far. “He was followed by the prosecutor [George], who fired at him with a pistol and wounded him and he was then caught.” Osborn was tried before the Crown Court, and “The jury returned a verdict of guilty…” As if being shot by George was not bad enough, “…a sentence of death was recorded.”[4]
Shoemaking was not only George’s source of income. Whilst in the 1841 census his only recorded occupation was that of “cordwainer”, the 1861 census[5] notes his occupation as “cordwainer and beer retailer.” We know that he was engaged in selling beer by at least 1838[6], and he is described in the 1839 Tithe records as the occupier of a beer shop and garden. He is also mentioned in Pigot’s Directory of 1826-27 as a linen draper and haberdasher and as beer retailer and shopkeeper, linen draper and haberdasher in Kelly’s Directory of 1855.
In the 1820’s and 1830’s widespread drunkenness through gin consumption was believed to be detrimental to the working class. Beer at the time was heavily taxed, making it prohibitively expensive, despite the fact it was safer to drink than water. To encourage people to turn away from gin and drink beer instead, the Beerhouse Act of 1830 abolished beer tax. The Act also introduced beerhouses and beershops. These establishments could only sell beer, ale, cider and perry. For a small fee of 2 guineas anyone could brew and sell beer. Although these premises, like public houses, were licensed, supervision of beershops by the local justices was limited. Many shopkeepers opened their own beershop and sold beer alongside their shop wares. Beer was brewed on the premises or bought from brewers.
Concern over law and order led to an increase in the licence fee to 3 guineas, but it was not until 1869 that a change of law brought such premises back under the control of the local justices. Many then closed, or were purchased by breweries and changed to fully licensed public houses.
George and his family lived in Castle Street in the picturesque property originally built in 1605 still standing today and known as The Boote. George came to occupy the premises through his wife’s family; the 1839 tithe records tell us that whilst George was the occupier, it was owned by his father-in-law, Joseph Redding. There is no evidence of beer being sold from the Boote prior to the passing of the Beerhouse Act in 1830 and George appears to have been the first person to sell beer from the premises. Perhaps the property came by its name of The Boote through its association with George and his shoemaking activities. The first record of the property being referred to as “The Boot, public House” appears in a newspaper article in May 1836 describing “…great rioting and fighting…” which broke out at The Boot amongst navvies who were working on the construction of the railway bridge and retaining wall.
The Boote subsequently became part of the tied estate of Locke & Smith whose brewery was in Water Lane and was sold to Benskins in 1913.[7] Locke & Smith purchased the brewery from Alfred Healey in 1868 and we know from a notice in the Bucks Herald in 1861[8] that the freehold of The Boote was auctioned by the executors of the estate of Joseph Redding that year, so the property may have been acquired by Alfred Healey in 1861 and was passed to Locke & Smith when they acquired the brewery seven years later. The sale of beer ceased at the property in 1920 and it is now a residential property.
Although the licensing regime for beerhouses was more relaxed than that applicable to premises with a full licence, licensing hours, set by local magistrates and during which time beer could be sold, still had to be observed. In 1838 George and other beer sellers in the area found themselves in trouble for selling beer out of hours. In George’s case it was alleged that he had sold a pint of beer at ten minutes past 11 p.m. George denied the charge, declaring that “…his house was closed at 9, and they were all in bed a quarter of an hour afterwards.” George was convicted but as it was his first offence committed on a weekday, the fine was mitigated. He was fined 2 shillings and ordered to pay costs of 10 shillings.
The informer, one Moses Pegg, and his witness in this case were from out of the area, coming from Leicestershire. 14 beer sellers, including George, were convicted at this particular sitting of the Magistrates and a further 14 cases were adjourned to be dealt with on another day as a witness in those cases had “…been so severely handled on the night before that he was unable to attend.”
The publisher of a newspaper carrying a report of these proceedings took a dim view of the informer, sympathy clearly being with the beersellers. The report concluded “In no case did a conviction take place from DISORDERLY CONDUCT” and that the fines, costs and monies from forfeit of licences “…had been wrested from the hard earnings of fourteen industrious individuals!!!”[9]
The antipathy towards Pegg expressed in the newspaper article is more readily appreciated on learning that Pegg was a notorious informer. At this time, before the establishment of county police forces, any individual could lay a charge before magistrates in respect of a misdemeanour. Self-styled as President of the General Information Society, Pegg brought proceedings in Leicestershire against numerous tradespeople, publicans and beersellers. At first, he was thought to be an upstanding member of society, but it was soon realised that his motivation was financial. In the event of any defendant against whom he had laid an information being found guilty, Pegg was awarded costs and a share of the fine. The following report provides an example:
“MARKET BOSWORTH…
…- Moses Pegg, the informer appeared today to receive his share of the fine and costs in the case of Blockley, who was convicted three weeks ago for hawking without a licence, for which he was paid £10 and costs and which money had been paid by Earl Howe. Pegg received £5. 17s. 6d.”[10]
When one learns that the total fines and costs imposed by the Berkhamsted Magistrates for the 14 convictions was £46, one can appreciate how lucrative it must have been, but it was not without its risks.
The Loughborough Magistrates, on realising the game Pegg and his associates were playing and that the evidence they gave could not be trusted, branded them as perjurers and vagabonds and two of their number were convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury.
Finding Leicester too hot for them, Pegg and two accomplices, Westbury and Jackson, alias “Yorkee,” made a “professional” tour through Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Pegg, who laid the informations, sent the other two men to visit all the beershops and publicans on their route and to provide Pegg with information to enable him to “lay an immense number of informations.”
Although Pegg and his accomplices were well known in Leicestershire, it seems the Berkhamsted magistrates were not aware of their activities. Indeed, as one newspaper article put it “– we say that if the Berkhampstead gentlemen had been aware of these and equally gross facts affecting the character of these infernal imps in human form, they would not, they could not, have convicted on their evidence”[11]
Once the local publicans and beersellers realised what was happening they made up a large placard bearing the following words:
“PUBLICANS AND BEERSELLERS BE AWARE!
RASCALLY INFORMERS ARE ABROAD,
Practising their iniquitous claptraps on the unwary.”[12]
As may be imagined the informers were not popular and as referred to above 14 of the cases that Pegg had initiated had to be adjourned as his witness had been severely handled. Another newspaper report gave more details of what happened.
“The first hearing was on 17th December when 24 informations were fixed for hearing at Berkhampstead. When the time for going into the different cases arrived a great crowd assembled and “Yorkee” was recognised in the town and seized by the crowd and dragged to the pump where he was pumped upon, kicked and so much hurt that he was unable to attend the bench.”[13]
From Berkhamsted, Pegg and his associates moved on to Luton where 42 charges were brought. When they made ready to leave in a gig, “…they were assailed by the most horrible yells and pelted with bat, dead cats, rotten eggs, tin pots &cc. An attempt was made to drag them from the gig but they flogged the horse violently and he plunged away from the mob and galloped away with the informers who were completely covered in filth.”[14]
George died on 10th August 1868 at the age of 63 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery three days later. His widow continued to run a shop and sell beer at The Boote for a number of years after George’s death.[15] Mary Ann died in 1901 and was also buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.
George’s son, also George, born in 1828 was also a shoemaker. In 1841 he was living in Berkhamsted with his paternal grandparents, Mark and Sarah Margrave. In 1851 he was visiting the home of two sisters, Dinah and Martha Harris in St Ippolytes, Herts. He later married Dinah and settled in St Ippolytes.
George junior was a frequent trouble maker and appeared before the courts on a number of occasions. In 1847 “George Margrave, William Bazill, Thomas Buckthorpe, and William Potter, were charged with committing a trespass, by being, in the day time, on the 19th March, in search of rabbits on Berkhampstead-common in the occupation of the Earls of Brownlow and Powis and W. Egerton Esq.” George was fined £1 and costs of 11 shillings or in default of payment, one month imprisonment.[16]
Later in October of the same year, “…George Margrave, shoemaker, Joseph Fordham and William Stevens, labourers…” were charged with unlawfully assaulting John Birch … with intent to rob him.” Birch, who was in Berkhamsted for the fair was attacked by the three men near the mill pond bridge who knocked him down and kicked him. Birch got up and went to wash his bleeding nose in the stream. The three came back, caught him by the throat, kicked him and threatened to “…put him in the water…” Birch cried out “Murder!” Fortunately for him someone came with a light at a nearby widow and his assailants ran away. Margrave and Fordham were sentenced to three months imprisonment and Stevens to ten weeks.[17]
In March 1863 George was convicted at the Hertford Assizes of “feloniously receiving stolen goods” and whipped for his punishment. In May the same year he was found guilty of “unlawfully killing a deer in enclosed grounds”. And sentenced to “one fortnight” in prison.
In 1864 “George Margrave (37) and William Trapp (29), one of Great Berkhamstead, the other of Abbot’s Langley, were charged with receiving two stolen ducks knowing them to have been stolen…” On this occasion George was acquitted. The principle witness for the prosecution, the thief who stole the ducks and then turned King’s evidence against alleged receivers, was not believed.
Thomas, another of George senior’s sons, also a shoemaker also found himself in trouble in May 1864 when he was convicted of stealing a set of brass weights and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. In 1859 Thomas Margrave (24), shoemaker of Great Berkhampstead, was charged with housebreaking and stealing £6 10s, from Mary Ann Hipgrave and Emma Creasey Squires, at Paul’s Walden.
[1] Joseph, 1825 – 1863; Elizabeth, 1826 – 1893; George, 1828 -1878; William, 1829 – 1832; John, 1831 – 1896; Ann, 1832 – 1841; Sarah, 1840.
[2] Ann, 1844 – 1870; George Frederick, 1846 – 1848; James, 1847 – 1848; James, 1849 -1906; William, 1852 – 1919.
[3] A cordwainer made new shoes and boots from new leather.
[4] Herts Mercury & Reformer, 14th June 1836 and Morning Post, 9th July 1836.
[5] Oddly the 1851 census is silent as to George’s occupation.
[6] A report in The Crown 16th December 1839 refer to George and other beer sellers in the town being prosecuted for selling beer out of licensed hours.
[7] Whittaker, Alan. “Brewers in Hertfordshire” 2006
[8] Bucks Herald 06/07/1861
[9] The Crown, 16th December 1838
[10] Leicester Mercury, 2nd October 1858
[11] Leicester Mercury 29th December 1838
[12] Leicester Mercury 29th December 1838
[13] Leicester Mercury 19th January 1839
[14] Leicester Mercury 19th January 1839
[15] In the 1871 census the address of “Castle Street (The Boot)” is given and Mary Ann is noted as a “shop and beerhouse keeper.” In 1881 she described herself as a “Publican,” By 1890 Thomas Halsy, tailor and Beer Retailer had taken up occupation of the Boote.
[16] Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 24th March 1847.
[17] Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 30th October 1847.
Relatives
- Mark Margrave (176) 1850 — father
- Sarah Margrave (176) 1850 — mother
- Sarah Margrave (176) 1889 — sister