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There's lots more information on the
Introduction
Harriet WINDEATT was only 16 in 1852 when she brought a court case against her employer, The Reverend Hugh KELLY, for indecent assault. Further details about Harriet and her family are available:
I have inserted some paragraphs into this transcription from The Morning Chronicle to aid legibility (the original is in one long paragraph) and I have rendered surnames in capital letters to aid family historians. There are also some footnotes with background information. Many thanks to Terry Leaman for permission to include his paragraph of church history.
You can also read another transcription where the editor was obviously not bothered about offending delicacy: Exeter Flying Post transcription
Transcription
TORQUAY - CHARGE OF ASSAULT. -
Mr. CARTER appeared for the complainant, and Mr. FRANCIS for the defendant.
The complainant, who had gone into the defendant's service in the month of August last, as maid of all work, gave an account of the defendant's treatment of her at various times, commencing about a fortnight before Christmas, the details of which we cannot, without offending against delicacy, publish. Her step-mother and father corroborated her statement as to her having made representation to them of the defendant's conduct; and it appeared that she had also complained to Mrs. KELLY, and had ultimately left the service.
Mr. FRANCIS made a very powerful appeal on behalf of the defendant, and called a number of witnesses, with the view of discrediting the girl's testimony and of showing that she had given them a different account of what had passed from that which she had given to the magistrates.
The bench, after consultation, were of the opinion that the assault was proved, and inflicted a fine of £2. 10s. with 11s. 6d. costs.
We have no wish to make any lengthened comment upon this case. It is a painful and disgusting subject, and the less we have to say about it the better we shall be pleased. At the same time it is impossible to forget that this is the gentleman who has been played off against the "Tractarian Clergy" of this diocese, for the last two or three years - who has been set up to instruct them in Christian doctrine and in Christian practice - and who is the recognized exponent of the principles upon which Sir Culling EARDLEY [1], and his friends would wish the Church of England to be reformed. We may, therefore, venture to suggest to that honourable baronet, that although we look with more favour than he does upon the practice of "confessing" girls of twelve years old, it is possible that a minister of religion, in his intercourse with young females, may do more objectionable things than induce them to "acknowledge their bad thoughts;" and that before he calls upon the Bishop of Exeter to "exercise discipline" upon his clergy, he would do well to vindicate the claims of decency and of propriety nearer home.
We wonder whether the Western Times, which has so keen a scent for "clerical delinquencies" will consider this a case which is deserving of its notice. We know what it would do - what it would have done, indeed, before this - if Mr. KELLY had been a minister of the "English," instead of the "American" Episcopal church. - Western Luminary.
- The Morning Chronicle (London, England), Friday, June 11, 1852; Issue 26665
Notes
- Sir Culling EARDLEY: Link to a Wikipedia article. He was probably living in Torquay at this time.
- Here is a short paragraph by
Terry Leaman with some
background information about the church:
In 1850 a large number of people decided that they did not approve of the High Church ways of the Parish Church and decided to set up a Free Church. At Whitsun 1850 the St Marychurch Free Church opened in a temporary building (whereabouts unknown) , the Rev Hugh Kelly of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of Michigan was appointed as minister. Land was bought in 1850 and a church building started - This building still stands and is known as Furrough Cross Church. Prior to the completion of the Church Rev John Eddows Gladstone MA came to take charge. He was a cousin of the Gladstone who was Prime Minister. the new church opened on 29th July 1852, the Rev Bathurst officiated in the morning, the Rev Hugh Kelly in the afternoon and Rev Gladstone in the evening. No other mention is made of Rev Kelly.
- Link to Terry's page - scroll down to the bottom for a photograph and brief description of the Church.
- And here is a transcription of the 1861 census data: Hugh KELLY living
with his wife and a servant in New Road, St Mary Church. I wonder if Susan
BRIMMICOMBE experienced a similar harassment?
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace Hugh KELLY Head M 58 M American Clergyman Sunderland-DUR Letitia KELLY Wife M 48 F - Sheffield-YKS Susan BRIMMICOMBE Serv U 17 F House Servant Brent-Dev
