Reference
HSA1676/W/27
Title
Deposition: John Woodin, Darlford, (Kent).
Lost dapple grey gelding out of a close near his house. Had the horse 'publikly cried' at Dunstable Fair; later found it in possession of John Smith, whom he had arrested. Believes J.S. also stole sorrel gelding of Phineas Reynolds, and bay gelding of Sam. Phillips. Richard (sic) Reynolds. Lost sorrel horse now in posession of J.S. Samuell Phillipps, servant of John Twistleton. Believes his master's bay gelding is now in posession of Mr. Deare. The information of John Woodin of Dartford in the county of Kent taken before me George Abbott Esqr one of his Matyes Justices of the peace ine the county of Bedford the third day of August in the seven & twentyeth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the second & c annoque Domi 1675 This informant being duly sworne upon the holy Evangelist & examined upon his oath saith that on Thursday last he was possest of a dapple grey gelding then feeding in a close neer this informants house which he see there in the said close betwixt the houres of eight and nyne of the same night that this informants servants going to fetch up the said horse between the houres of fower and five the next morning missed the said horse and thereupon informed this informant thereof who supposed him strayed till after severall enquiryes among the neighbourhood and others without any satisfaction this informant was induced to come down to Dunstable faire in the county of Bedford soon after happening where having the said horse publickly cryed he found him & the horses hereafter named then standing in the stable of William Short a farrier living at the signe of the Black Raven in the said towne and upon further enquiry was informed that a stranger whose name was afterwards understood on his own acknowledgmt to be John Smith did there own the said horse but denyed to have any knowledge of the said sorrell hereafter mentioned and was about selling the said horse to one William Eemes of the said town Upon the matter aforesaid the said informant caused the said stranger going by the name of John Smith to be apprehended upon suspition of stealing the said horse And farther saying that one Phineas Reynolds of Dartford aforesaid being neighbour to this informant did as the said Phineas Reynolds informed this informant loose one sorrell gelding out of his grounds & in the same night and desired this informant to make enquiry for the same who found a sorrell gelding standing by the said grey gelding in the stable aforesaid at the same time And this informant doth in his conscience beleeve him to be the same horse of the said Phineas Reynolds having seen him in his possession severall times And further saith that from the same town and on the same night one Samuell Phillipps servant to Mr John Twistleton did inform this informant on Friday last that he likewise had lost a dark bay gelding about 15 hands high or neer thereupon out of his masters grounds in Dartford aforesaid which said bay gelding this informant was informed was sold twice in the same faire at Dunstable aforesaid And further this informant saith not But upon the matter aforesaid this informant doth beleeve that the said stranger named John Smith as aforesaid did steale the said three severall horses out of the respective grounds as aforesaid Richard [sic] Reynolds being likewise examined upon oath the sixth of August & c saith The sorrell horse was in his grounds neer his house in Dartford on Thursday the 29th of July about 2 or 3 a clock in the afternoone on Friday morning this informant missed them and made enquiry after them but could not hear of them till by Woodin informed & is certaine that this is the same horse which is now in Thomas Perkins possession Samuell Phillipps being at the same time examined upon oath sayes he lost a bay gelding out of the grounds of Mr John Twistleton on Thursday night the 29th of July He missed him on Friday following He heard that one Mr Deane of Great Gaddesden in Harfordshire bought him of one Deane & Deane would not let him see him but ownes he bought such a horse of one Abbott and beleeves it to be Mr Twistletons horse Geo: Abbott
Date free text
1676
Production date
From: 1676 To: 1676
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Level of description
item