THE BARRATT FAMILY
of Bedfordshire
   
On 1st July 1748 and again on 9th September 1749, Robert was a member of the Homage when the Court of the Manor of Kempston
Daubeny & St Johns met. Robert & Elizabeth's last child was baptised on 12th December
1748 and named Robert after his father. Two months later the child died and was buried on 17th February 1748/9. Only two of Robert & Elizabeth's children survived infancy,
Ann and John. However three of Robert's children from his first marriage lived to marry and have children, Thomas, Mary & Elizabeth. Of these three children, Thomas & Mary were already married. Elizabeth married a fellow villager John Brooks on 29th September, 1751 and one of the descendants of this marriage
is Kathleen Simcoe. Thomas's first wife Ruth died and he married again on 14th June 1753, Elizabeth Wilkinson. Thomas does not seem to have been very successful as he appears many
times in the Overseers of the Poor Accounts receiving money when in want. When his first wife Ruth died,. the parish paid for 10 quarts of Ale 2/6d, Bread & Cheese l/Pd at her burial.
They also paid 3d for jersey (woolen cloth) for her shroud in accordance with the law that everyone must be buried in a woolen shroud. Thomas's son Robert does not appear to be very strong as there are many references to him being ill and once they paid for him to go to hospital.

 4th Feb 1752 Robert- took out a Bond in which he borrowed £40 from Thomas Saunders, carpenter of Kempston. £20 plus Interest was to be repaid on 13th February 1753, the other £20 he kept for 4i years paying interest each year. As Collateral he used
his cottage in Box Endside, Kempston which was occupied by John Boddington. This cottage he held as a Customary or Copyhold Tenant of the Lord of the Manor of Kempston Daubeny. Because of this the transaction was written down in the Court Roll of the Manor and a copy of this given to each party as proof of the
transaction. In the Court Roll the cottage is described as:- "a Messuage, cottage or tenement formerly occupied by John woodward the Younger and now by John Boddington with all houses outhouses buildings barns stables & other edifices gardens & orchards and a close or pigtie of pasture ground adjoining containing 2 acres in Box End Kempston Also all trees timber trees hedges bushes mounds ditches freeboards commons and common of pasture profits and appurtenances."
The Overseers of the Poor Account Books start in 1752. Robert would have been paying poor rates on his property prior to this.
He is also shown in the Accounts as a regular supplier of milk & butter to the Workhouse, so he has a herd of cows on his farm. His wife, Elizabeth would make the butter as part of her duties.