Henry Dyott BOULTON

  General Notes:

Whilst owning the Putnoe Estate, the Duke of Bedford leased it to various tenant farmers. The arrangements were generally administered by the Dukes estate manager based at Woburn. The Farmer was of high social status and would certainly have been considered locally as Gentry.

The 1841 census records that William Best occupied Putnoe Farm as the farmer, sharing the it with the Richardson family, who he employed as agricultural labourers. In 1843 lease of the farm was taken by Henry Dyott Boulton and his family. At this time the state of the land drainage was found to be in such a poor condition that a reduced rent was agreed. It was also evident that Putnoe Farm, then known as Putnoe (or Puttenhoe) House, was in need of significant remedial work. In the early years of his occupation it seems that Henry Boulton organised the straightening and improvement of the drainage stream along the northern edge of Putnoe Wood (See C18th Century Map for the original meandering stream line). He also rebuilt part of the main Farm building constructing a decent road to it. Boulton seems to have prospered on the land, employing 17 men and 5 boys on the land as well as housemaids, and a cook. A lodge was built (Putnoe Lodge) at the entrance to the Farm driveway, and was occupied by Boultons Farm bailiff and agricultural labourers.

Henry married Mary WHITWORTH on 28 Mar 1831 in Turvey, Bedford, England. (Mary WHITWORTH died between Jan and Mar 1839 in Bedford, England ¹.)

Henry next married Anne Susan BROWNE, daughter of Joseph BROWNE and Unknown, on 23 Mar 1843 in Saint Mary, Bedford, Bedford, England.¹

  Marriage Notes:

Widower, Farmer