QSR1837/1/5/19

Depositions and examination - Ann Page

3 December 1836

From: 1836 To: 1837

Henry Shaw of Woburn, shopman to Mr Bartholomew Best, draper – yesterday about 4pm Ann Page came into his master’s shop. He served her with one pair of stockings, some laces threads and 4 yards of linen. Suspecting her from her former conduct he watched her and saw her take something off the counter and put it under her cloak. She then left the shop and sent her boy back for her umbrella. He went after her and told her to fetch the umbrella. She came back into the shop. Mr Best opened her cloak and found about 24 yards of linen. He fetched the constable by Mr Best’s order. Bartholomew Best of Woburn, draper – Shaw told him privately that he suspected Ann Page had taken some goods which were under her cloak. He asked Shaw to watch her. When she came back to his shop, he opened her cloak and found about 24 yards of Dowlas linen under it. He sent Shaw for the constable. Ann Page begged him to forgive her on account of her large family. Ann Page – she did not know she had got more than she paid for. She had bought 4 yards of linen. She is the wife of George Page of Husborne Crawley, labourer. Bartholomew Best [2nd deposition] – yesterday afternoon when he took some goods from Ann Page which she had taken from his shop he found a bundle in her hand containing four new waistcoats, a new white hat and a boy’s cap. The goods were not his. He sent his shopman John Fowler to Mr Mellor the draper to see if they were his, but they were not. He then sent Fowler to the shop of Messrs Robert Heighington and John Slinn, drapers. They owned all the goods except the cap. John Fowler of Woburn, shopman to Bartholomew Best – confirms Best’s evidence. John Slinn of Woburn, draper – Fowler brought the waistcoats, hat and cap to him. The waistcoats and hat belong to himself and his partner Robert Heighington. Ann Page – she picked up the waistcoats and hat in the street John Slinn [further examination] – Ann Page came to his shop yesterday afternoon and bought 2yards of calico but nothing else. Another woman was with her and he was engaged during the time Ann Page was in his shop. Character reference --------------------------- Character reference for Ann Page with 11 signatures including Revd Samuel Wright (very recently Curate), R S Orlebar of Husborne Crawley, John Ardley (churchwarden), William Randall (overseer). Testifies that she has “brought up a numerous family of 8 children in habits of industry, and enforcing upon them the observance of Sabbath duties”. They hope that “on account of her large and partially helpless family which unfortunately at this time she has the prospect of increasing, and which will be deprived of a mother’s superintendence at a moment when it is most required, the utmost levity that the Law leaves to your discretion, will be extended”.

item

Page, Ann,
Shaw, Henry,
Best, Bartholomew,
Page, George,
Fowler, John,
Heighington, Robert,
Slinn, John,
Wright, Samuel,
Orlebar, R S,
Ardley, John,
Randall, William,
Mellor

WOBURN, HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, stealing, linen, cloth, stockings, waistcoat, hats, draper, parochial clergy