QSR1836/4/5/34

Depositions and examination - Catherine Brittain, wife of John Brittain of Kempston, charged with embezzling the money of Samuel Rogers

17 October 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

Catherine Rogers of Kempston, widow – she lives at Kempston with her son Samuel Rogers who holds a farm there. She superintends the sale of his poultry and butter. Catherine Brittain was employed by him to take his poultry and butter to Bedford for sale to different families. She has been employed this way for more than 2 years. It was her duty to receive the money for what she sold and account to her for it on Saturday night. Brittain informed her she had sold articles to several persons who had not paid for them. She entered them in a book regularly from time to time to keep account of them. Brittain informed her bills were due from several persons [listed, totalling £8 10s 2½d]. She called on the persons mentioned and they denied having anything outstanding except Mr Sharman for 2lbs of butter. She asked Mr Maclear’s housekeeper to meet with Catherine Brittain and herselt. They met and she charged Brittain with receiving all the listed sums. Brittain then said there was nothing owing except for the 2lbs of butter, and that she was guilty and knew she was wrong. She has repeatedly made out bills and given them to Brittain to deliver to the persons named. Brittain said she had delivered the bills and that it was not convenient for them to pay. Brittain’s husband John Brittain works for her son but had nothing to do with the sale of the butter and poultry. She has never found Brittain dishonest in the house. Sarah Johnson of St Mary, Bedford, spinster – she is the housekeeper of Mr George Maclear. She has ben in the habit of buying butter from Catherine Brittain for the past 5 or 6 months. She has always paid for it within a fortnight at the longest. She remembers 8s and some odd half pence to be due at one time, but never more. There is nothing due now. Brittain never applied to her to pay without her paying. She never told Brittain it was not convenient for her master to pay. It was always his habit and wish to pay for what he had readily. Catherine Brittain – “I know I had some of the money and I laid some of it out. I did it for want and money and clothes.”

item

Brittain, Catherine,
Brittain, John,
Rogers, Samuel,
Rogers, Catherine,
Johnson, Sarah,
Maclear, George

KEMPSTON, embezzlement, farmer, poultry, butter