QSR1790/46

Examinations and depositions: Matt Munn, Potton - detailed account of gleaning

1790

From: 1790 To: 1790

'Information of Matthew Munn of Potton in the County of Bedford, wheelwright, exhibited upon oath before me Sir Philip Monoux Bart. one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County the fourth day of August 1790. Who saith that he had this season about 5 acres and half of rye growing in a close of his in a field or inclosed ground near the parish of Everton in this county situate in Potton aforesaid; that the said rye hath been reaped and severed from the ground and was standing on Saturday last the 31st July 1790 in Shocks in the said fields; that he this informant went about 3 o'clock in the afternoon ... 31st day of July to see his rye on the said field, and having some apprehension that there might be people there who under pretence of gleaning in the said field, were unlawfully committing depradations therein, it being Market day and they more likely to take that opportunity, he went secretly along the ditch without side that field of his, and squatted behind the hedge, and from thence took a view into his own Close, and there he distinctly saw two women gleaning therein to wit Frances Finding, wife of Thomas Finding of Potton and Jane Jinn, wife of Joseph Jinn of Potton, and that the said two women did not confine themselves to gleaning or picking up loose ears which lay scattered about distinct from the Shocks, but every now and then would steal a handful or so out of the shocks of rye so standing as aforesaid, that they might take thereout between them at least two or three gleans of rye in this fraudulent and felonious manner, that the above named Frances Finding seemed to be the most active and audacious in this business and actually stole the most rye out of his shocks, but that the other woman, viz Jane Jinn seemed equally concerned and guilty, thought mostly employed in keeping out all of the watch to make discovery if anybody should be coming. 'That the rye so feloniously taken, his property, might be worth but little money, to wit perhaps six pence, not more, yet from their endeavouring to escape punishmnet and avoid detection, and seemingly being intent to persevere in the felonious act if he had not broke in upon them, and their openly denying the fact when he put it to them instead of begging pardon, and submitting themselves to him for mercy, he could not be prevailed upon to overlook this offence and was determined to go through with it and prosecute them for the sake of public justice and for an example to others to take warning thereby.'

item

Munn, Matthew,
Finding, Frances,
Jinn, Jane

theft, POTTON, rye, gleaning