QSR1832/4/5/14

Depositions of James Whitehouse, farmer of Wootton. James Russell, shepherd of Wootton. Joseph Robinson, farmer of Houghton Conquest. In the case of James Allen accused of stealing one ewe sheep.

10 October 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

James Whitehouse: On the Saturday night she had a flock of ewes lying at fold on his land in an open field at Wootton, against the meadow. He had not counted them lately but remembered there should have been eight score and ten. Last night about 6pm or 7pm he saw a live ewe sheep which he believed to be his in Mr Joseph Robinson’s field at Thickthorn, in the parish of Houghton Conquest. He couldn’t swear to it. He had not sold any that lot of ewes. James Russell: he was shepherd to Mr James Whitehouse. On Saturday 29 September about dinner time he counted the flock of ewes lying in Wootton open field. There were then eight score and ten. He counted them gain about 7pm on Monday 1 October and there was one missing. He was branded on the near side with the black brand if I.W. and had some black spots near its ear. He saw the same sheep in the care of the constable at Houghton Conquest. It was above and he was sure it was his master’s property. He saw the sheep among 50 sheep at Joseph Robinson’s farm at Thickthorn. He did not know how it got there. He told Mr Robinson and he went with him and they caught the sheep and examined it. He then told his master ad afterwards returned and caught the sheep and delivered it to the constable of Houghton Conquest. The black spots on the ear were natural marks not branding. Joseph Robinson: he saw a live sheep which was not his property in the fold among his other sheep. The prisoner was his shepherd. Before he saw the ewe the prisoner told him he had another sheep. He allowed the prisoner the privilege of keeping 1,2 or 3 sheep of his own among his. When the prisoner said he had another he asked where the prisoner had got it. The prisoner said Thomas somebody and had paid 27 shillings. He looked at sheep and the prisoner asked what he thought of it and that he was to pay in a fortnight. James Russell, Mr Whitehouse’s shepherd and Mr Whitehouse’s son came to his and in consequence of what Russell said he went to the sheep. Russell caught the ewe which the prisoner had bought and claimed it as Mr Whitehouse’s property. He went with Russell to the prisoner, who was at work down the field. The prisoner said he did not know whose the sheep had been but had bought it from Thomas White of Greenfield. The prisoner then said to young Whiteman “Can you swear that’s your father’s if you have the sheep away I shall not have to pay for it”. Statement of the accused: Thomas White brought the sheep to him a week ago as he had told him master.

item

Allen, James,
Whitehouse, James,
Russell, James,
Robinson, Joseph,
White, Thomas

WOOTTON, HOUGHTON CONQUEST, Greenfield, stealing animals, sheep, farmer, shepherd, Houghton Conquest Thickthorne