QSR1844/1/5/5-6

Depositions and examinations - Joseph Pemberton and Mary Ann Pemberton (alias Mary Ann Webb) charged with stealing one small ivory comb from John Fenn at Sundon on 24 October 1843

26 October 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

Mary Fenn, wife of John Fenn of Sundon, victualler – on Tuesday 24th October the 2 prisoners came to their house about 12pm. They had a pint of beer which the man paid for. The man had with him a roll of oil cloth which he laid down in the house. They remained in the house about an hour. About 2pm she missed a small ivory comb which had been lying on the shelf over the fire place in the room where they were. She is certain no one else had been in the house from the time she laid the comb on the shelf until the 2 prisoners came. During the time they were there another man came in but he was not out of her sight and did not go to the shelf. She left the room for a short time when the prisoners were there. The comb produced is the comb she lost. She bought it about a month ago for 5d. It was broken as it is now when she lost it and was nearly as dirty. She has no doubt it is hers. Samuel Hornal, police constable – he went in search of the prisoners on Tuesday having received information that Joseph Pemberton was hawking without a licence, had been abusive to people, and was making false representations that his wife had died in childbirth at the Bell Inn, Toddington the day before. Before he found the prisoners he was informed of the loss of the comb. When he found them he searched them both and found the comb on the woman. He charged them with stealing it. They were in company. The woman said she bought the comb at Biggleswade. Mary Fenn identified it as her property. Joseph Pemberton – he knew nothing at all about it. The statement he made yesterday about being married to this woman is true. They were married at Oxford, or maybe at Abingdon, six weeks ago. He knows her name now – it was Ann Webb. He did not know it yesterday. She has never been in jail since they married. He thinks they were married in a church but he was very tipsy and he does not know. It was not more than 7 weeks ago at most. He believes they were asked in church but he does not know. He can’t say if they were married or not, but he does not think they were. Indeed, he is not married. He wishes he had said so at first but he forgot. Mary Ann Pemberton – she bought the comb at Biggleswade from a tramp. She gave 2d for it. The two teeth were out at the time. “It’s no consequence to mind what Pemberton says, for I shan’t live with him any more. We were married at Abingdon, it is 11 weeks ago. It was at a Church. I don’t know but that he was tipsy. One of the Pot People put up the banns by his orders. My first husband was transported for 3 sacks of barley. He was a boatman. I don’t know the name of the clergyman who married us. Since we were married I have been all round Lancashire and all round Yorkshire and I was in Wakefield House of Correction for a month for selling lace without a license. It was at Halifax. I was committed at Wakefield”.

item

Pemberton, Joseph,
Pemberton, Mary Ann,
Webb, Mary Ann,
Fenn, John,
Fenn, Mary,
Hornal, Samuel

SUNDON, stealing, hawker