QSR1840/4/5/2/a

Depositions of John Smith, Lydia wife of Daniel Rootham, Mary Ann Sharp, and William Green - Mary Campion of Hinwick

21 July 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

John Smith of Hinwick in Puddington, farmer - Mary Campion has been living in his service for over 1 1/2 years. The previous Saturday his daughter Mrs Rootham told him certain articles and goods of his had been stolen. He did not miss them and cannot swear to the things produced. Lydia, wife of Daniel Rootham of Hinwick, farmer - the previous Friday evening she went to her father's house and had occasion to reprimand Mary Campion. When she got home her own servant Mary Ann Sharpe told her she had seen a bundle of things in mary Campion's box which she thought were intended to be taken away. The bundle contained 2 pillows, 3 pillowcases, 2 towels, a pair of her mother's calico sleeves and a cotton apron of her mother's. On Saturday morning she asked her father not to let anything go off his premises. In the evening she went to her father's and asked Mary Campion for the bundle - Campion denied having it. When asked for the items separately Campion produced only one pillow and the apron and said she had burnt the towels and that the pillowcases were her own. She found the calico sleeves in a drawer in another room where her mother used to keep her things. Her mother died a year ago, and her clothing was to be divided between her and her sister. Mary Campion brought the clothing to them for dividing and said she had brought it all. She did not miss the calico sleeves at the time, and had never examined those drawers. She gave the sleeves and apron to William Green the police constable. Mary Ann Sharpe of Hinwick, singlewoman - she was servant to Mrs Rootham, to whom she went the previous Thursday. She had previously been living in Mr Smith's house for about a month. Mr Smith's son had complained to her that he could not find two table spoons - he later told her he could find nothing in Mary Campion's box except a bundle. She went upstairs and found a bundle in a pillow-tick sewn up with brown thread in Campion's box. She undid it and found a pillow, 2 towels, 3 pillow cases, a pair of calico sleeves and a piece of [??]. She had formerly lived over 3 years in Mr Smith's service and knew the pillow case and pillow to be his, the towels to have been made from the lining to some old bed furniture, and the calico sleeves to have been Mrs Smith's. She put them back in the tick and sewed it up again, and told Mrs Rootham. She gave the pillow to Mr Green the police constable. William Green, constable of Bedfordshire Rural police no.26 - the previous morning he was directed by Mr Orlebar of Hinwick to enquire into the case. Mrs Rootham gave him the sleeves and the apron, and Mary Ann Sharpe the other things. Mary Campion voluntarily told him she had taken the things and had burnt the towels.

item

Campion, Mary,
Smith, John,
Rootham, Lydia,
Rootham, Daniel,
Sharpe, Mary Ann,
Green, William

Hinwick, PODINGTON, stealing, clothing, household goods, servant, farmer, police constable