Martin H. Watson Family Tree

A visitor describing the Croft and some of the inhabitants.“Flights of stone steps here and there lead down to narrow, dark passages under these houses into the next main street, or South-gate, behind; and in these deep and dark repulsive places-Story's Passage and others-there are tenements darker and drearier still, harbouring crowds of low and shameless women.We do not disguise this fact; on philanthropic grounds. At Hartlepool these unhappy creatures are to be seen flitting about at every turn, disappearing in their narrow alleys, and re-appearing, as in constant quest of the unfortunate seamen on whom they prey. Innumerable cases are brought before the mayor and magistrates,— the local press dishing up the reports to suit the tastes of this large community. In a single number of the Hartlepool Free Press which appears at the period of our visit, seven distinct cases have the following titles: " A Stocktonian among Hartlepool Sharks," "Robbery in a Brothel,""Steam-boat Molls," " Robbing a Pitman," " A Dissolute Mother," "All through Love," " A Barnard-castle Beauty." These pests, when no longer young, become irreclaimable drunkards and slatterns, live in fever-dispensing dens, and may be seen, with bare legs and feet, standing at their bleary doors, in tatters, unwashed and un-combed, smoking pipes, and setting an example to the young in their crowded neighbourhoods which no instruction or precept can counteract. These rank weeds should be rooted out; nor suffered to poison the moral atmosphere, and render unclean the condition of our towns.”