by Peter Moore
Black Country 1, 187
Blight, Isaac 2, 142–4
Bonaparte, Napoleon 28, 31, 50–1, 52, 219
Bow Street: Office 152; Runners 153; Thief–Takers 153
Bowkett, Catherine 186–8, 256
Bridge, John 79, 155
Bromsgrove Fair 7, 9, 93, 98, 102, 109, 115, 137, 144, 148, 173, 214, 222, 223, 239, 247, 275, 278
Bunn, Thomas 219
Burton, Charles: Allen and 123, 195; background 192; discovers Heming skeleton 193–5, 196, 197, 199, 202, 203–4, 207, 208, 209, 212, 217, 218, 219, 225, 231, 246, 258, 268, 277, 281, 304, 307, 310, 311; dismantles barn at Netherwood 193–5, 310; Heming and 123, 192, 208; Heming murder trial and 277, 281, 304, 307, 310, 311; home searched 123; infers Clewes involvement in Heming murder 203–4, 208, 218; inquest into Heming death and 196, 197, 199, 202, 203–4, 207, 208, 209, 212, 217, 218, 219, 225, 231, 246, 258, 268,; Waterson and 192–3, 194, 197, 204
Butt, Reverend John Marten 172, 180, 184
Campbell, John 271–2, 290, 295
Case for the Prosecution, The (Smith) 262
Cato Street Conspiracy, 1820 2, 184
Chance, Mary 166, 167, 168, 177, 300
Chance, William 27, 49, 111–12, 166, 179
Chellingworth, John 5, 121–2, 123, 170, 178, 207, 214
Church Farm, Oddingley: appearance of 33, 36; Banks at 76, 129; Barnett at 157, 161, 178; clover rick 178–9; day of Parker’s murder 5, 8, 94, 109–12, 133, 147, 148, 149, 156, 157, 161, 178, 222, 226, 246, 247, 300; Evans and 19, 28, 33–5, 77, 85, 111, 132, 148, 149, 156, 157, 161, 162, 172; Fowler and 32, 40, 77; Heming at 8, 133, 147, 166, 168, 178, 222, 226, 300; location 37; murder weapon found at 32, 60, 143, 170, 179; survival of 311; William Barnett acquires 172, 182, 247
Church Lane, Oddingley 9, 18, 36, 37, 39, 61, 63, 78, 79, 98, 104, 105, 109, 125, 161
Churchill, Clement 86, 110, 156, 160, 246
Clark, Daniel 2, 256
Clewes, Thomas 3, 50, 53, 76, 128, 133, 197; appearance 37; arrest 226, 227, 284; background 37; bankruptcy 181–2; Banks and 239, 240, 241, 296–306; Barnett and 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 298, 299, 300; Burton and 192–3; calls on Parker 77–8; character 38; charged with Heming murder 251; confessions 229–43, 244–9, 253, 254, 258, 259, 275–7, 281–3, 285–8, 295–306; court cases with Parker 49; damns name of Parker 8, 19, 77, 140, 203, 213; day of Parker’s murder 7–8, 93, 109, 110–11, 148, 222, 225; death 308; Easter meeting and 55, 56; enclosure and 66; Evans and 133, 239, 240–1, 242; heard debating the shooting of Parker 8, 49, 156, 214, 222, 225, 275, 278; Heming and 116, 126, 172–3, 177, 203, 212, 221, 224, 225, 226, 241–2; inquest into Heming death/ Smith investigation and 203, 207, 208, 212, 213–14, 216, 217–19, 220, 221–2, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 248, 249; jail 229–39, 260; landlord of pub 313, 314; Netherwood Farm tenure ends 192–3, 197; offers £50 to have Parker shot 78, 213, 274–5; Pershore Fair 166, 287, 298, 299, 303; Pigeon House meeting 74–5; press depictions of 217–18, 253, 255, 294–5; Pyndar’s investigation into Parker murder and 169, 172–3, 174; released from jail 292; ‘should be glad to find a dead parson in Oddingley when he came back’ 8, 156, 214, 222, 225, 275, 278; social standing 38; spoils tithe milk 53; stands trial for Heming murder 261, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270–91; Taylor and 240, 241, 242; threats against Parker 77–8, 140; tithe and 28; vestry meeting and 43
Clewes, Diana 37, 38
Clewes, John 38, 55
Clifton, Reverend Robert: Clewes confession and 229, 233–5, 236, 237–8, 244, 275–6, 282, 283–6, 287, 305, 306; Heming inquest and 226; Heming murder trial and 283, 283–6, 287
Cole, Pennell 134–5, 137, 139, 280–1, 307
Colley, Joseph 116, 122, 156, 160, 221–2, 278
Colley, William 27, 49, 120
Collins, John 133, 220, 224, 225, 230, 231, 287
Colwell, Thomas 113, 114, 115, 122, 123, 139, 168, 223, 279
Commeline, Reverend Samuel 21–2, 23–4, 28, 45
constables 42, 236, 269; Barnett as 42, 136, 137, 140, 247; election of 42; Heming inquest and 223, 226, 229; Heming skeleton and 196, 197; in London 152; powers of arrest 101; Pyndar’s investigation and 122, 123, 136, 137, 139, 140, 146, 164, 173; search Church Farm 179; search Heming’s home 139; in Worcester 108
Cooper, Reverend Sterry 314, 315, 316
Corder, William 252, 317
Crockett, Richard 214, 225–6
Crowle 5, 8, 9, 30, 60, 66, 78, 110, 154, 155, 167, 168, 206, 310
Crown Inn, Worcester, meeting of magistrates at 157–8, 160–3, 166, 262
Cumin, Dr 215–16
Curwood, John 271, 272, 274–5, 276, 278, 281, 282, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 290–1, 295, 304
Davis of Dunhampstead, Mr 74, 75, 87, 94
Davis, Marta 231
Day, George 105, 107–8, 115, 123, 137, 207, 213
death penalty 183–4
Dickens, Charles 2, 85, 87, 91, 100, 119, 146, 189, 276
Dream of Eugene Aram, The (Hood) 256
Droitwich Spa: appearance and nature of 126, 127–8; Clewes and 38, 221, 225, 226, 280; country fairs at 7; Evans and 34, 37, 128–33, 171, 185–7, 188, 190, 312, 313; Heming, search for in 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 125, 139, 147, 151, 155, 159, 164, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177; industry 126–7, 128; location 15; taverns 19
Droitwich Road 56, 77, 107
Earl of Surrey, later, Duke of Norfolk 19–22, 24, 25, 28
Easter Meeting, Tibberton, 1806 55–61, 87
ecclesiastical courts 48–9
Eldon, Lord 267
Elstree murder, 1823 254
Emsley, Clive 130
enclosure acts 66–7
Evans, Captain Samuel 3, 37, 111, 134; appearance 33; arrives at Church Farm 85; background 33, 80–5, 129; Banks and 41, 172, 186–8, 189–90, 297, 304, 305; Barnett and 148, 149, 157, 161, 162–3, 226; challenges Elizabeth Fowler to drink toast against Parker 77, 89–91; character 33–4, 85; Clewes confessions and 239–42, 244–5, 246, 287, 288, 289, 299, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306; coins ‘Bonaparte of Oddingley’ nickname for Parker 50, 52; confronts Parker 60, 78–9; court cases with Parker 49; damns Parker 49, 54, 55, 56, 57–8, 59–60, 74, 77, 86–8, 226, 227, 299; day of Parker’s murder 8, 105, 109–10, 111, 147–9, 160–4; death 186–90, 227, 254–8, 293, 308; drinks left-handed toast to Parker at Plough 55–6, 57, 58, 59–60; Droitwich and 128–31; Easter meeting and 55, 56, 57–8, 59–60; Evans and 148, 149, 161, 162–3, 226; grave 312–13; Heming and 61, 118, 147–9, 157, 162, 164–5, 207, 210, 212, 225, 239–42, 244–5, 246, 287, 288, 289, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 312–14; inquest into Parker’s murder and 138, 140, 141; intimidates people into silence 168; leads opposition to Parker 19; life after Parker murder investigation 185–90; magistrates, summoned before 160, 161, 162–3, 176; murder weapon and 60–1; New House, moves to 171; offers £50 to shoot Parker 246; Perkins and 54, 57–60; Pigeon House meeting and 74; press depictions of 251, 253, 254–8, 306–7; Pyndar’s investigation into Parker murder and 147–9, 155–60, 161, 162–3, 164–5, 168, 169; retires as a farmer 171–2; secures deeds of Church Farm 36; Smith’s investigation Heming murder and 205; social standing 38, 85–6; Taylor and 301, 303; ‘there was no more harm in shooting the parson than in shooting a dog’ 49, 54, 155–6; throws weight behind search for Heming 160; tithe and 28, 43, 45, 53, 54, 85; vestry meeting 41, 42, 78
Feckenham Forest 30, 35, 36, 127
Fir Tree Inn, Dunhampstead 313, 314
Foley, Lord Thomas 7, 17, 18, 22, 24, 28, 33, 36, 39, 182, 184, 190, 193
Footman 218
footpads 29, 40, 60, 152
Fowler, Elizabeth: day of Parker’s murder 8; discovers murder weapon 32, 40, 41, 60, 143, 179, 246, 279; Evans asks to drink a toast against Parker 77, 89, 90, 91; Heming inquest and 246; Heming murder trial and 279; Parker inquest and 132, 133, 140, 141; search for Heming and 166–7
Fox, Charles 20, 58, 71, 72, 73
France: Revolution 28–9, 49–50, 59; wars with, Napoleonic 1, 17, 28�
�31, 50–3, 67–8, 181
Galton, John Howard 184, 193
Georgian era/society: architecture 63, 264; deathbed and 189; end of 182–3, 257; literary representations of 2–3; lost nature of 2; personal honour in 89; politics 28–31, 49–53; underworld 30, 119
Giles, Thomas: day of Parker’s murder 9–13, 95–6, 98, 102, 103, 108, 113, 114, 122; Parker inquest and 134, 138–9, 204–5, 213
Gillray, James 51, 58, 71, 72, 73
God Speed the Plough, Tibberton 55–6, 88, 132, 169, 226, 241, 280
Godson, Richard 286
Godson, Stephen 261
Great Expectations (Dickens) 2, 91, 119, 146
Green, Thomas 109, 110, 148, 149, 161, 163, 226
Grenville, Lord 71
Grose, Francis 43
Guildhall, Worcester 264–5, 268, 269, 290, 291, 295 314
Hadzor 9, 25, 99, 102, 172, 177
Halberd, Henry 222, 300
Hardcourt, Edward 28, 39, 54, 58, 91, 93, 109, 138, 140, 184, 214–15, 222, 278, 311
Hardy, Thomas 2, 7, 90, 317
Heming (née Burton; later, Newbury), Elizabeth: background 118; belief that farmers were hiding something about disappearance of husband 177–9; Burton and 118, 192; Heming murder trial and 277–8; house searched 122, 123; Pyndar interviews 164, 165; Richard Heming and 118; Smith’s investigation/ Heming inquest and 204, 209–10, 211, 213, 227
Heming, Richard 3; appearance 60, 113; background 60, 116–18, 144; Barnett and see Barnett, John; character 116–20; claims shotgun 60–1; Clewes and 116, 126, 172–3, 177, 203, 212, 219, 221, 224, 225, 226, 239–43, 244–5; day of Parker’s murder 8, 114–15, 122, 139, 144–5, 210; Evans and see Evans, Captain Samuel; inquest into killing of 206–28, 236–7, 246–50; motive for Parker murder 144–5; murder of 239–319; murder trial 274–91; Pyndar’s investigation into Parker’s murder and 132–3, 145, 147, 148, 164–5, 174, 176; reward for 158, 169, 172; search for 113–24, 125–6, 132–3, 137, 146–7, 149–54, 157, 158, 160, 164–70, 172–3, 176–80, 280; skeleton analysis and identification 202–3, 209–12, 268, 278, 281; skeleton discovered 193–205, 217, 281, 311, 312; as suspect in Parker murder 113–24, 140, 145
Hemmus, Mr 102, 103, 157, 215
Herefordshire Journal, The 217
Hill, Thomas 115, 280
Home Office 146, 201, 202, 235, 305
home secretary 152, 158, 159, 184, 199, 200, 202, 220, 221, 233, 235, 237, 286 see also under individual home secretary name
Hooper, James 242, 281, 282–3, 286
Household Words 126–7
hue and cry 100–2, 137, 158
Hue and Cry and Police Gazette, The 152, 159
inflation 1, 43, 44, 67, 70, 181
inquests: Heming 206–28, 236–43, 246–50; Parker 134–41
Ipswich Journal 2, 255
Jackson’s Oxford Journal 151, 306
Johnson, Dr Samuel 86–7, 121, 141
Jones, George Gilbert 75–6, 246
Jones, Samuel 39, 91, 94, 97, 138, 140, 184, 239, 312
justice of the peace 25, 104, 137
Kendall, Joseph 79, 154–6
Knight, William 94
Langford, Thomas 8, 98, 133, 226
Lavender, Mr 230, 238, 281–2, 293
Lee, Valentine 278, 279
Leicester Chronicle 251–2
Lench, John: day of Parker’s murder 9–11, 12, 95–6, 97, 98, 102, 103, 108, 113, 122; Heming inquest and 213, 223; Heming murder trial and 279; Parker inquest and 134, 138–9, 148, 160, 161, 204–5
Littledale, Justice Joseph: background and appearance 266–7, 270; enters Worcester 262; Heming murder trial and 262, 265–7, 269, 270, 270, 271, 272, 273–4, 275, 279, 283, 284, 286–7, 288, 289, 290, 291, 294, 295, 313
Lloyd, George 75, 122, 139
Lloyd, Sarah 74, 75, 78, 87, 91, 94, 95, 122, 140, 141, 155, 278–9
Lloyd, Thomas 48, 214
London Medical Gazette 211, 215
Ludlow, Ebenezer 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281–2, 283, 284, 286, 288–9, 295
magistrates: Clewes confession and 233, 234, 238, 242, 248, 249, 276, 282, 283, 298; Crown Inn meeting of 157–8, 160–4, 176; Evans as 34, 59, 86, 130, 131, 132, 138, 148, 171, 185, 188, 190; Heming murder trial and 276, 282, 283, 285, 286; Parker murder investigation and 2, 3, 103–4, 105, 122, 135, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142–3, 145, 149, 157–8, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 165, 167, 174, 175, 176, 179; Smith’s inquest 202, 220, 226; system of policing and 103–4, 145–6
Marshall, John 39, 91, 109, 138, 140, 184
Marshall, Sarah 98
Marten, Maria 252–3
Maul and the Pear Tree, The (James/Critchley) 136
Mayor of Casterbridge, The (Hardy) 7, 90, 91–2
Miles, Richard 46–7
Miller, Hugh 127, 128
Morning Chronicle 2, 17, 62, 191, 227–8, 247–8, 251, 254, 258, 260, 263, 269, 279
Morris, Mrs 172–3
murder, Georgian society and 141–4
Nash, William 214, 239
Nelson, Admiral Lord 29, 57, 308
Netherwood Farm, Oddingley 5; Clewes and 7, 19, 28, 37, 38, 49, 74–5, 133, 182, 192, 203, 214, 218, 219, 220, 222, 241–2, 253, 261, 287, 301, 302; day of the Parker’s murder 110–11, 123, 133, 218, 222, 241–2, 254, 267, 301; Heming’s skeleton discovered at 191–9, 203–4, 205, 206, 208, 212, 214, 218, 219, 220, 222, 224, 253, 277, 277, 278; location and appearance of 37–8, 192, 277; Parker avoids 78; plan of 207; present day 310–12, 319; Waterson and 192–3, 194–5, 196, 197, 212–13
newspaper sensation, Oddingley murders as a 1, 2; Clewes and 217–18, 244, 245, 251–4, 262, 279, 294–5; discovery of Heming skeleton and 203–4, 211, 215–16, 217–18, 227–8; Evans and 188–9, 251, 253, 254–8, 306–7; Heming inquest and 215–16, 217–18, 227–8, 235, 244, 245, 249–54; Heming search and 151, 158, 164, 169–70; Heming murder trial and 262, 287, 292–6; report Parker’s murder 141–4
Noake, John 180–1
oaths 89–92
Oddingley, Worcestershire: alcohol and 56; areas of 36–7; changing nature of early 19th century 65–8; farming calendar 16–17; history of 35–6; leading men of 17; location and appearance 15, 16; migration from 1, 66; name 35; reputation 3
Oddingley Lane 36, 95, 125
Oddingley Lane Farm 8, 39, 93, 94, 102
Oddingley Rectory 62–4, 68, 98, 118, 134, 141, 172
Oliver Twist (Dickens) 100
Page, Richard 114–15, 279, 280
Pardoe, John 25, 94, 123, 137, 156, 226
Park Farm, Oddingley 37, 182, 311, 315
Parker, Reverend George 3; accounts of 25–7; appearance of 17–18, 18; arrival in Oddingley 18–19, 21–4; as Devil 92; background 19–22; ‘Bonaparte of Oddingley’ nickname 50–2, 92, 116, 221; character 20, 21, 24–8; Clewes confession and 239, 242, 245; conciliatory offer from farmers and 31, 53–4; conflict with farmers see under individual farmer name; coroner’s inquest 134–49, 151, 262; court cases with Barnett 19, 48, 49, 53; day of murder 9–13, 95, 96, 97, 98, 101, 103, 105; Dorking curacy 21; education 20, 21; election agent 20; Evans and see Evans, Captain Samuel; finances/financial ambition 27, 43–9; funeral 154; haughtiness 27–8; Heming and see Heming, Richard; Heming inquest and 213–15, 218, 221, 222, 223, 224–5, 226, 246, 247; Heming murder trial and 262, 265, 266, 267, 268, 271–3, 289–90; Howard family and 20–2; life at Oddingley Rectory 62–3; man out of time 70; name damned 8, 19, 49, 53, 53–61, 74–5, 76, 77, 86–92, 140, 203, 213, 226, 227, 246, 299; newspaper depictions of 251; night-time disturbances at home 62–4, 71, 227; parish records and 23, 24–5; politics and feud with farmers 28–31; reaction to curses and provocation 88–9; refusal to approve annual accounts 42–3; stone 312; tithe and 28, 43, 44–9, 52–4, 68, 73; toasts drunk damning 55–61, 74–5, 88, 278; vanity 27; vestry meeting 42–3, 78
Parker, Mary (daughter of George Parker) 9, 25, 62–3, 99
Parker, Mary (wife of George Parker) 79; background 64–5; Barnett refuses
to visit 160–1; death 307; Heming inquest and 227; husband’s murder and 113, 136, 140, 164; inquest into husband’s killing and 136, 140; meets and marries George Parker 25; night-time disturbances at rectory and 62–3; Perkins and 94
Patch, Richard 2, 142–4
Peel, Robert: appointed home secretary 184; Clewes confession and 202, 209, 212, 216, 220–1, 233–5, 236, 237, 238, 305, 306; Clifton writes to 233–5, 236, 237, 238, 305, 306; early life 200; Heming inquest and 202, 209, 212, 216, 220–1, 233–5, 236, 237, 238, 305, 306; ignores request for royal pardon 202, 209, 212, 216, 220–1, 233–5, 236, 237, 238, 305, 306; last prime minister not to be photographed 316; police force and 201; reforms law 184; Smith writes to 199–202, 220–1
Perkins, Betty 94, 102, 157, 226
Perkins, John 159, 166, 167, 312; background 39, 43; Banks and 169; day of Parker’s murder 8, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 106, 109, 113, 116, 123, 126,; deputised constable 137, 173; Easter meeting and 57–8, 59–60, 137, 226; Evans and 57–8, 59–60, 85, 87, 155–6; forced back into labouring ranks 181; friendship with Parker 28, 43, 54, 57–8, 59–60, 76, 87, 91, 94; Heming murder trial and 280, 312; Parker inquest and 140; Parker’s funeral and 154; Pigeon House meeting and 87; search for Heming and 147; Smith investigation 204; vestry meeting and 54, 57–8, 59–60
Petty, Lord Henry 71–2
Pickwick Papers (Dickens) 189
Pierpoint, Matthew 196, 197, 198, 199, 202–3, 208–9, 210, 211, 216, 247–8, 258, 277, 300, 303
Pigeon House, Oddingley 74–5, 76, 87, 88, 94, 140, 278, 312
Pigeon House Field, Oddingley 97, 98
Pineapple Farm, Oddingley 39, 98, 125, 311
Pitt the Younger, William 1, 50, 57, 69, 71, 89
Political Register 71
Pound Farm, Oddingley: Barnett and 8, 19, 28, 38–9, 48, 49, 64, 76, 79, 137, 138, 149, 161, 246; day of Parker murder 9, 10, 11, 95, 76, 78, 79, 95, 96, 97, 99, 102, 103, 105, 122, 137, 138, 161; Heming and 115, 120; 1930s 315, 316; Park Farm and 182; Parker and 48, 49, 53, 78, 246; present day 311; Surman and 8
press gangs 81, 82–3
Priestley, Joseph 86
Pritchard (farmhand) 5, 123
Pyndar, Mary 318–19
Pyndar, Reverend Reginald: appoints deputised constables 137; day of Parker’s murder 99–100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109, 114; death 307; Heming and 114, 122, 123, 125–6, 132–3, 151, 153–4, 159, 165–9; magistrates meetings and 157–8, 160–5; omitted from Parker inquest 140; Parker and 25, 154; Parker murder investigation 99–100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109, 114, 122, 125, 132, 137, 140, 145–8, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156–7, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164–5, 167, 169, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 178, 179, 200, 204, 215, 220, 234, 237, 262, 279, 299, 300, 318; Parker’s funeral and 154; Read and 152–3; Smith investigation and 279