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First company in the kingdom?

First company in the kingdom?

Posted: 6 May 2015 1:50AM GMT
Classification: Query
Can anyone advise me what this phrase means? It was in a newspaper report for a convict ancestor where it states: 'He has kept the first company in the kingdom until lately .' It was written in July 1818 and the man was aged 29 at the time, convicted in London but born in Lincolnshire in 1789.
Was he a member of the church or the military? Or something else.? There is no other mention of any military of clergy service in any of his many petitions so it is possible that the entry is incorrect. If it doesn't apply to my ancestor, I am still curious as to what it means?
Many thanks.

Re: First company in the kingdom?

Posted: 6 May 2015 2:40AM GMT
Classification: Query
I imagine that the word company in that context refers to the activity of being with other people.

As in, to keep company with an individual or group of people, to associate with them.

First company probably means, respectable people, or people of an elevated social status, pillars of the community.

Until lately, probably means that more recently he started to associate with a less respectable class of people, and presumably the inference was being implied that was the main cause of him getting into trouble.

Re: First company in the kingdom?

Posted: 6 May 2015 5:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
Wow, that was quick! And a big thank you, as what you say makes perfect sense. My convict was reasonably wealthy and had inherited, bought and sold several land parcels. He lost it c1814-1818 when prices fell, and from 'gay living', and went to London to seek work only to become caught up in a shonky deal. His petitions were supported by Sir Joseph Banks, very well known in Australian history, among many other important local people. All to no avail: he died penniless in a Sydney asylum. So, that saves me much fruitless searching. Again thank you.
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