Reference
HSA1681/W/45
Title
Deposition:William Dormer, servant to W.How, Brorton (Bucks), innholder. Lost 4 sheep from master's flock. Saw Jn.Gurney with mutton at Redborne; J.G. said it came from sheep sold him by Ralph Shaw's man. The Information of William Dormer servant to Wm How of Brorton in the County of Bucks Innholder, taken before me Wm Duncombe one of his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County aforesd upon oath att Battlesden the 20th day of January 1680/81 This Informnt saith, on Saturday night last (for he had them on Saturday att noone) he lost from the stock he keeps for his Master Wm How 4 sheep. Two were riddled crosse the loines, & two had for marke an S, upon the near buttock That upon enquiry he heard, that John Gurney commonly called Duff Gurney, had been att Redbourne with some mutton to sell about the size of those sheep which this informnt had lost. This Informnt upon this nonce went to Redbourne on the Wednesday following, But missd of the said Gurney there but found him att the Exchequer (an ale house) in Markett Street the same day & in his possession a side of Mutton, which he did guesse to be of suche kind of meate as that of the sheep he had lost. He charged the sd Gurney with having stoln the Mutton, but he denyd it & said he would give a very good account how he came by it, for that he had bought it of Ralph Shaws man of Battlesden, of whom he had bought two sheep & that that side was part of them & that he had cold the rest, That as he came through Hockliff He went into Duff Gurneys house being told by the said Gurney that if he would he might see the 2 skins of the sheep he had bought of Ralph Shaws man, to which that side of Mutton did belong. But this Informnt saw but one skin, that could suit to such mutton, and that but hardly neither, as the aforesd side was of. The other was a very poore small skin, & neither had the markes of his sheep upon them That there hung up in the house 3 quarters of a sheep which was very good mutton, which the said Gurnays wife said was of one of the, two sheep bought of Ralph Shaws man, & that that other was yet alive. And farther sayth not. The mark of Wm Dormer Wm Duncombe
Date free text
1681
Production date
From: 1681 To: 1681
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Level of description
item