QSR1841/1/5/41

Depositions and examination - Sarah Wood, singlewoman, charged with stealing billet wood

4 January 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

William Preston of Cotton End in parish of Cardington, victualler - due to information from his son Benjamin, on Saturday morning 2 Jamuary he went to the house of John Wood, father of the prisoner, at Cotton End, where he saw 6 or 7 pieces of billet wood he believed to be his. They were in a room adjoining that in which the family usually sit. He picked out the wood, carried it home and matched it with wood from his wood house. He is sure they are parts of the same piece. There was a large heap in his hovel and he cannot say he missed any. It was a mixture of oak lop and fir roots. Sarah Wood came to him at home and voluntarily said "Oh Mr Preston, I did come down here last night and had a few pieces of your wood - I hope you will forgive me - I'll never do so any more". He replied that he could not say that for it was not the first time. Benjamin Preston of Cotton End, son of William Preston - on Saturday morning he went to John Woods' house and saw several pieces of billet and fire wood lying in his kitchen which he thought were his father's. He went home and informed his father. He helped to rent the wood on Friday afternoon against his father's wood hovel. The wood was then put in the hovel in the yard adjoining his father's house, which was an open hovel and not locked. He saw his father match the peices of wood and has no doubt they were part of the same piece. Sarah Wood, singlewoman of Cotton End - she told Mr Preston she had the few bits that lay in the kitchen and she hoped he would forgive her. She thought he would and she begged his pardon.

item

Wood, Sarah,
Preston, William,
Preston, Benjamin,
Wood, John

CARDINGTON, Cotton End, stealing, wood, victualler