QSR1837/4/5/7-8

Depositions and examinations - Ann Williams and Emma Bishop, charged with stealing a bundle of wheat in the straw, the property of Charles Higgins

14 August 1837

From: 1837 To: 1837

Samuel Fensom of St Cuthbert Bedford, servant – he is servant to Mr Eastwick in St Cuthbert. Last Saturday evening (12th) between 6 and 8 he was walking up Clapham Hill and saw the two prisoners in Mr Charles Higgins’ stubble wheat field. They each had some wheat in their hands and were picking up more. They were on the land near the shocks. They did not take the wheat from the shocks, but that which was laying on the ground. They had about a handful each. He did not speak to them. About ½ hour later he met one of Mr Higgins men and told him there were people gleaning in the field. Henry Franklin of Goldington, labourer – last Saturday evening he went into his master’s field on Clapham Hill and saw the two prisoners with a bundle of wheat each in their hands. He asked where they got it from and they asked why he wanted to know. He said he meant to know. They said they did not get it from his field, but from mr Brown’s. He told them to go and put it back from where they took it. They walked up the path towards a gap leading into Mr Brown’s field. He followed. When they got near the gap he went up to them and took it away. The wheat was worth about 1d. Ann Williams of St Paul Bedford – “we picked a few ears up on the first land and a few ears on Mr Brown’s just through the gate. After we got to the bottom of the Hill the keeper [Franklin] came and asked us where we got it from.” Emma Bishop of St Paul, Bedford - “when we got over the stile we saw ever so many more when we saw Mr Franklin we told him and he said oh never mind them”.

item

Williams, Ann,
Bishop, Emma,
Higgins, Charles,
Fensom, Samuel,
Franklin, Henry,
Eastwick

GOLDINGTON, BEDFORD, Bedford St.Cuthbert, Bedford St.Paul, CLAPHAM, stealing, wheat, servant, gleaning