The Testimony of Alfred and Ann Lambe in the House of Lords
On June 9, 1830, Alfred and Ann Lambe testified in the House of Lords in the divorce case between Samuel Boydell and Jane Boydell (Philpot) Boydell. The following testimony of Alfred Lambe gives us some key information about their family relationships and their history:1Then Alfred Lambe was called in; and having been sworn, was examined as follows:
(By Counsel.) “Are you acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Boydell?”
“Yes.”
“Were you present at their Marriage in 1823?”
“I was.”
“Had you Opportunities of seeing how they lived together after that Period, for some Time?”
“For about a Twelvemonth.”
“Did they visit at your House in 1827?”
“They did.”
“Did they visit there again in 1829?”
“They did.”
“Upon all Occasions on which you have seen them together, was the Conduct of Mr. Boydell that of an affectionate and attentive Husband towards his Wife?”
“I think decidedly so.”
“Do you remember, in 1829, Mrs. Boydell being left to stay at your House on a Visit, when Mr. Boydell returned to Ilchester?”
“Perfectly well.”
“After she had staid there some Time, did Mr. Boydell come back?”
“Yes; he came back some Time after that; about a Fortnight, or it might be Three Weeks.”
“Were you present at the Interview between Mr. Boydell and his Wife, on his returning from the Country?”
“I was.”
“Was the Subject of that Interview with respect to a Letter?”
“It was.”
“What did Mr. Boydell request his Wife to do?”
“He wished her to return to Ilchester with him.”
“What Answer did she make to that Application?”
“She would not; she refused to return.”
“Did Mr. Boydell leave your House to go to his Brother, as was mentioned?”
“He did.”
(By a Lord.)”Was a Letter produced by Mr. Boydell?”
“I think there was; the Conversation turned upon this Letter, which his Brother had found, of Henry Crocker.”
“Was it stated in the Conversation that it was a Letter from Mr. Crocker?”
“Yes; it had raised his Suspicions.”
“In consequence of which he requested she would return with him to Ilchester?”
“Yes.”
“She refused to do this?”
“Yes.”
(By Counsel.) “After Mr. Boydell had left your House and gone to his Brother, what did Mrs. Boydell do?
“Mr. Boydell, on finding she would not return to Ilchester with him, applied to me and Mrs. Lambe to allow her to remain. Having heard of this Letter of hers, I was unwilling; but he pressed me very much, and we did allow her to stop till something was settled; that she should stay under Mrs. Lambe’s Protection.”
“Having consented to allow her to stay under your Roof, after Mr. Boydell was gone, what did she do?”
“Almost as soon as he left the House, she got one of the Servants to call a Coach, unknown to myself or Mrs. Lambe; and on the Coach coming to the Door, she went out, and desired one of the Servants to fetch down her Boxes. I went to her, and told her, Mr. Boydell, I know, would not permit her to go; but without using Force I could not restrain her. I told her, if she behaved in that Way I should not detain her, but she should not take them with her, but I would have the Boxes sent to her Husband; and she went away without the Boxes.”
“Yes; and I sent the Boxes to Mr. Boydell’s Brother.”
“Did she afterwards take Lodgings in Richard Street, Islington?”
“Not to my Knowledge.”
“Did you ever see her there?”
“No.”
(By a Lord.) “You did not accompany her when she went away?”
“No.”
“When did you first hear where she went to?”
“Some Days after.”
“Did you then go visit her at the Place where she was residing?”
“No; I have never seen her since.”
“How soon was it after that that she was discovered in the Manner the last Witness had described?”
“In a few Days, I believe.”
(By Counsel.) “The Question refers to the Discovery in the Hornsey Road.”
“That was a long while after.”
(By a Lord.) “You say you did not visit her at the Place to which she first removed?”
“No; I never saw her afterwards.”
(By Counsel.) “Was the Conduct of Mr. Boydell attentive towards his Wife?”
“He was remarkably attentive.”
“You had visited them frequently after their Marriage, probably?”
“Yes; I have visited them at Islington; in Chapman Street, I think it was.”
“After that they went to reside at Ilchester?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see them afterwards?”
“In 1827, on a Visit to my House in Bethnal Green.”
“Did he treat her with Kindness and Affection while they lived together?”
“Very much so.”
The Witness was directed to withdraw.
At a later point in the trial, the marriage certificate of Samuel and Jane Boydell is read into the record, showing us that Alfred played a role even at that time:
The Certificate of Marriage was delivered in, and read as follows; vizt.
“(Page 261)
“Marriage solemnized in the Parish of St. Mary, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, in the year 1823.
“Samuel Boydell, Bachelor, of this Parish, and Jane Boydell Philpot, Spinster, of the same Parish, were married in this Church by Banns, this Twenty-second Day of September in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty-three,
“By me, James Smith M.A. Officiating Minister.”
“This Marriage was solemnized between us
"Samuel Boydell
"Jane Boydell Philpot.
“In the presence of
"Alfred Lambe
"Josh Boydell.
“No. 781.”
Another witness, Ann Lambe, then testified and gave some background as to her close relationship with her niece:
Then Ann Lambe was called in; and having been sworn, was examined as follows:
(By Counsel.) “Are you the Aunt of Mrs. Boydell, the Wife of Mr. Samuel Boydell?”
“Yes.”
“Was she educated in your House, by you, in part?”
“Yes.”
(By Counsel,) “Did she visit at your House on Occasions after her Marriage?”
“Yes.”
“As far as you had an Opportunity of judging, was the Conduct of Mr. Boydell that of an attentive and affectionate Husband?”
"Yes."
“Do you recollect Mrs. Boydell leaving your Husband’s House in April 1829?”
"Yes."
“After that Time, did you at any Period call upon her in Richard Street, Islington, at Mrs. Hunter’s?”
“Yes.”
“Was she residing in Lodgings at that Time?”
“Yes.”
“In what Month was that?”
“It was about a Month after she left us.”
“She left you in April?”
“It was in May.”
“What was your Proposal to her on the Part of her Husband?”
“That if she would live any where I could see after her, he was willing to see towards her Support, if she would leave the Person she was living with.”
“What did she say to that?”
“She said she would not.”
(By a Lord.) “Was any Person then present that she was living with?”
“No.”
The Witness was directed to withdraw.
This extensive excerpt is only part of the testimony that day. Consult the full transcript of that day in the Lords to read the juicy details.
Footnotes
1"Boydell's Divorce Bill" in Journal of the House of Lords, vol. 62, London: June 9, 1830, pp.687-690.
