Waterinbury cook enceinte (1843)

Post date: Apr 06, 2012 5:45:17 PM

Extract from West Kent Guardian 18th February 1843

The inhabitants of East Peckham and its neighbourhood have, during the past week, been thrown into a state of much excitement, in consequence of a person, named Hilder, residing at the Court-lodge, in the above parish, absenting himself from home, under very peculiar circumstances. The facts of the case, so far as they are known, are these :—About eleven eleven o'clock on the evening of Saturday, the 4th instant, he left his wife, who is a good and interesting looking woman, and walked over to the residence of Mr. Henry Welfear¹, residing at Wateringbury, on the estate of William Cook, Esq. to see the servant girl there, in the situation of cook, with whom, it appears, he has for some past held illicit intercourse. The girl is now enceinte by him. After he left the girl, which was by her confession about 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, he was seen going towards Wateringbury-street; nothing further that can be relied on has been heard of him since. A person, answering his description, was noticed to get on board a steam packet, at Greenhithe, and when arrived off Woolwich, he was observed to be sitting in a desponding state of mind; after remaining in this way some time be got up and deliberately walked overboard. The boatmen were immediately on the look-out, but the body could not be found. From accounts which have been received there is not much doubt that this person was Hilder."

1. Henry Wilfear is shown on the 1851 census as the steward of Manor Farm.