QSR1873/3/5/2

Depositions and examination - Ruth Bates, wife of Henry Bates of Toddingon, labourer, charged with obtaining 8s and 4 loaves of bread value 2s from by false pretences on 7 May 1873 at Toddington from Henry Matthews, relieving officer of Woburn Poor Law Union.

30 May 1873

From: 1873 To: 1873

Henry Matthews of Woburn, relieving officer of the Woburn Poor Law Union – for 2 or 3 weeks before 29 April 1873 he had given relief to Henry Bates, a labourer of Toddington who was too ill to work. On 29 April he saw Henry Bates and continued the relief. Bates was then better and hoped to get to work before he went again. On 8 May he was at Toddington and Ruth Bates came to him for the relief as before. He said “what, is your husband not gone to work?” Ruth Bates said “no”. In reply to his enquire she said “it is not likely for him to go to work his eyes are no better”. He gave her 8s in money to buy 4 loaves of bread value 2s. He said he would go to see Henry Bates. He went to the house about half an hour later – no one was in. He called up the stairs but had no answer. He waited a few minutes and Ruth Bates came. He asked where her husband was – she said he could not wait any longer and had gone for a walk on the Conger. He told her to fetch him home and he would call again. He was hindered in what he had to do and did not call again. On the following Wednesday 14 May in consequence of what he had heard he sent for Ruth Bates. She said her husband had not gone to work until Saturday. Relief is always given in anticipation. William Dover of Toddington, farmer – Henry Bates came to work for him on 30 April last. Bates had worked for him on and off for some years. Bates worked for him up to the time he became ill. His last payment to Bates was on 18 April. On 2 May he paid him 7s for 3 days work and on 9 May he paid him 15s. Bates was cowman. Ruth Bates - “my children got no food that very day”

item

Bates, Ruth,
Bates, Henry,
Matthews, Henry,
Dover, William

TODDINGTON, WOBURN, false pretences, relieving officer, bread, Woburn Poor Law Union, farmer, cowman