We had left William in 1851 as a 27 year old agricultural worker in Barby Northamptonshire. He obviously had plans to improve himself. 

On the 23^rd January 1854 (MC) he married Harriet Langdon in the Trinity Church  in Marylebone. He was recorded then as a Police Officer.  

So in less than 3 years he had met Harriet who came from Somerset, became a Policeman, and had married in the centre of London. This is of course the beginning of the London connection which continued for 100 years. 

We know a little of Harriet. She was born Harriet Langdon in 1828 in Old Cleeve in Somerset. Her father James Langdon was a farmer. In the 1851 Census Harriet was aged 22 and working as a servant for the Ashman family in Yeovil Somerset. How and where she met William is unclear. 

In 1855 Charles Joseph was born. Interestingly he was born at her hometown of Old Cleeve in Somerset. Quite probably she went back to her mother to have the first baby. 

In 1859 Henrietta was born in Marylebone 

In 1860 Harriet was also born in Marylebone 

On 11^th December 1860 (BC) George was born at 14 Harewood Square Marylebone. As George was our direct line (he was the father of Henrietta and Laura) I have his birth certificate. 

In the 1861 Census William (37) and Harriet (32) were living at 12 Blandford Square in Marylebone with Charles (6), Henrietta (2), Harriet (1) and George (3 months).  

In 1863 Joseph was born in Kilburn 

In 1866 James Langdon was born also in Kilburn 

In April 1866 William was pensioned off as a policeman following an injury to his spine received when he was kicked during a disturbance in Marylebone, an injury from which he died in 1869. 

On 7^th May 1869  (DC)  William died at 27 Alpha Terrace in Hendon (aged 46) from injuries received three years earlier. See his Death Certificate. 

He is recorded under the Metropolitan Police Book of Remembrance and he is also on the Police Roll of Honour Trust.  

His record can be found on the following site: www.met.police.uk/history/remembrance2.htm 

This site us worth looking at in that there are some very strange incidents of how police officers died including a bite from an organ grinders monkey, stoned by a mob, struck with his own truncheon, fallen through a hole in Hungerford Bridge, amputation of thumb, effects of sunstroke etc. Lots of deaths falling into river which suggests not many had learned to swim in the 19^th century.  

I have been in touch with by email with Anthony Rae the Founder and Chairman of the Police Roll of Honour Trust. Following information I have given him on William and Harriet and the addresses at which the family lived in 1861 and 1871 he has now been able to confirm the death of William on 7^th May 1869 at 27 Alpha Terrace and has sent his death certificate.  

He had been looking for confirmation that this was the death of William Batchelor a member of the Metropolitan police and providing the census information on the address enabled him to prove that it was him. This meant that William Batchelor can be added to the Police Roll of Honour 135 years after he died.

This web site is : http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Police_Memorial_Trust/NPM.htm 

and he will be added on

http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Police_Memorial_Trust/NPM-Roll.htm 

In addition Mr. Rae provided me with some other documents about his service 

Police Orders 11^th April 1866 - reporting the pension payable to William 

Police Orders 12^th April 1866 - reporting his resignation 

Police Orders 12^th July 1869 - reporting the widows benefit to Harriet and the children named. 

These give an insight into the documented daily procedures in Marylebone 140 years ago.

The Office Information Form shows the information to be provided to the Police Memorial Trust . 

In the last quarter of 1869 Mary Jane was born in Marylebone and so was conceived before William died. 

In the 1871 Census Harriet and the 8 children were living in 27 Alpha Terrace Willesden. Harriet was working as a laundress. Charles was the oldest child at 16. 

In the 1881 Census Harriet now aged 51 was working in a laundry. The 8 children were still with her at 142 Cambridge Road Willesden. 

Charles Joseph (26) was a house painter, Henrietta (22) a cook, Harriet (21) a laundry maid, George (20) an ostler/groom, Joseph (19) Citizens and Gild gilder, James (16) an artisan driller, William (14) an artisan trimmer and Mary (11) still at school.  

So at least money was coming into the household. 

I have not yet traced when Harriet died.