QSR1842/1/5/11/b

Depositions and examination - William Roberts

4 November 1841

From: 1841 To: 1842

John Cherry Robinson - he is foreman of Mr Swaffield's farm at Millbrook. William Roberts is the shepherd. The previous day he spoke to Roberts about the sheep. Roberts said that on Monday he sent 1/2 dozen of the Leicester ewes to London and that on Saturday one old ewe had died. He asked Roberts why he had not told him at the time - Roberts said he had forgotten. He was not satisfied so that morning asked Roberts to show him the skin. Roberts said he had sold it to Burgoine of Lidlington. He said his dogs and his father's dogs had eaten the carcass and the bones were all gone. Roberts then admitted sending 7 to London instead of 6. He informed Mr Swaffield and Roberts admitted sending one of the sheep to London in his own name, marked differently to the others with a dot on its neck.There were originally 17 of the fat Leicester ewes - 6 were sent away 3 weeks ago, Roberts reported sending another 6 and that one died - there are now four sheep left. Thomas Roberts - he lives at Ampthill and is employed by Mr Bright at the King's Head. The previous Monday Roberts brought 7 sheep into the yard to go with Mr Jones the drover to Smithfield. Roberts said 6 were Mr Swaffield's and the other was his own and was marked different. All 7 sheep were otherwise the same. They were Leicester ewes. Roberts told him to be sure to tell the drover 6 were Mr Swaffield's and one was his own. He put the sheep into a field as usual for the drover. George Fossey - he works for Mr Bright at the Kings Head Inn, Ampthill. He saw William Roberts with 7 sheep in the yard on Monday evening. He said 6 were his master's and one was his own marked different. They were all Leicester ewes. William Roberts - he did send the sheep away, 6 for Mr Swaffield and one for himself, which he took from the farm along with the others. He marked it with a dot on the neck and directed for it to be sold as his own sheep. He has not received the money for it. He told Robinson the sheep was dead, which was false. He did not sell any skin to Burgoine nor give any carcass to the dogs. It was the first time he sent away any sheep that was not his own. He had kept sheep himself and sent them by the drover, sometimes with his master's. The drover was innocent and knew nothing about it. All seven of the sheep sent on Monday were marked across the shoulder with ruddle, and the one he sent for himself had a dot besides.

item

Roberts, William,
Swaffield, Samuel,
Robinson, John Cherry,
Roberts, Thomas,
Fossey, George,
Burgoine,
Bright,
Jones

MILLBROOK, LIDLINGTON, AMPTHILL, London Smithfield, stealing animals, sheep, shepherd, drover, Ampthill Kings Head