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Parishioners of Mitcham 1837/38:
The Revd Herbert Randolph's Notebook
Local History Notes 20: ed. Stephen Turner with an introduction by E N Montague and others
The notebook of the Revd Herbert Randolph, curate to the Revd James Mapleton, vicar of Mitcham, is an excellent example of those minor gems, the discovery of which is so encouraging to the local researcher. Like the flickering of a match which momentarily illuminates the details of a darkened room, it provides both a glimpse of the living conditions of the poorer parishioners of Mitcham in the years 1837/8 and also an interesting account of the work and responsibilities of the curate himself.
The book is now in the possession of Merton Library & Heritage Service. The entries fall into two sections. The first, embracing some 80 pages, comprises lists of parishioners, principally of Lower Mitcham, and is dated 3rd January 1838. The second, extending over 60 pages, is a diary of the activities and visits of the Revd Randolph from 26th December 1837 to 20th August 1838.
Extracts from the 1846 Tithe Apportionment map have been included in this publication and plot numbers have been added to Randolph's lists of parishioners wherever the name of the occupier matches that recorded by him, even though the spelling of the name may not be identical.
Randolph was keeping this notebook for his own use, and had no expectation that others would be reading it some 160 years later. His handwriting is typical of personal jottings, and his spelling of personal names is phonetic and is not always consistent. An alphabetical index of surnames appearing in the notebook has been provided, and researchers should look at the alternative spellings.
Extract from the Introduction
