THE BARRATT FAMILY
of Bedfordshire
   
Robert was a regular attendee at Parish Meetings when the rates for the Church and the Poor were decided and the Accounts of the Churchwardens and the Overseers of the Poor were agreed and signed his name signifying that he was present and agreed.
On 19th October 1735, Robert & Elizabeth's second child was baptised with the name Ann, she was our Great x 4 grandmother.
Robert's widowed mother Mary Barratt died at the age of 68 and was buried at Pavenham on 24th August, 1736. In 1736 Robert made some changes to his property, the tenant of his house at Box Endside changed from Thos Woodward to John Boddington, and the land he rented from Mr Walker was changed to a smaller piece.
In 1738 Robert & Elizabeth had another son baptised as John on 16th October, 1738.
In this year he again changed his property and rented a house & sward (a piece of grassland) for £5 a year. Squire Cater had died and his widow Lady Cater ran the estate as their son
was under age, the land Robert rented from her was a smaller piece of land at Upend, Kempston. On 26th November 1739 the parishioners of Kempston were presented
at the Quarter Sessions for not repairing a common highway called Hanger's Wood Lane which ran through the parish from Stagsden to
Elstow. Kempston had to look after their part of the road, 200 yards long by 8 yards wide. They were ordered to repair it by Michaelmas next (29th September, 1740) or be fined £20.
In 1739 Robert gave up the land he rented from Mr walker, and the following year increased his holdings from Mrs Gurney and Mr Denis.

 On 29th October, 1742, the Court of the Manor of Kempston Daubeny & St Johns was held and Robert Barratt was one of the members of the Homage. The Manorial Court enforced the customs of the Manor and ratified property transactions, the Homage or Jury had to consist of two or three freehold tenants.
By now Robert's children from his first marriage were grown up and his eldest son Thomas was married at Kempston on 3rd April 1743 to Ruth Labat. Their first child and Robert's first grand-
child was born on 9th August. Elizabeth's son Thomas by her first husband Thomas watts died
in 1744 at the age of 13 and was buried at Kempston on 15th April. This meant that the property left by Thomas Watts now
became Elizabeth's and for her heirs after her death. Although at that time a woman's property became her husbands when she married when it had been left in a Will "to her and her heirs"
it meant that it had to pass eventually after her death to her children only and not to any other children of her husband.

Another son was born to Robert & Elizabeth in 1744 and baptised Robert after his father on 7th May. 2 months later on 14th July they took him to the church to be buried.
In 1745 Robert provided a load of sand for use in repairs to the church, for this the Churchwardens paid him 3s.6d.