QSR1792/51

Examinations and depositions: Jn. Cooper, son & agent of Mrs Anne Cooper, Sandy Warren - dispute about boundary of Sandy & Potton

1792

From: 1792 To: 1792

'... on Monday night last about nine o clock [he] set out with one William Goss of Sandy, labourer to the said Mrs Cooper ... to take a survey about the confines and borders of the said warren along the possessioning way in a place called Deep Dale which parts the parish of Sandy and Potton .... with a view to look for snares or engines which might be set by poaching evil minded persons, or people who came to trespass on the said warren. They were followed by some persons, inhabitants of Potton who had been secreted there for the purpose of waylaying the said John Cooper and his men, unlawfully armed with great sticks, pickaxes, etc. to set upon and beat them if opposed and molested or interrupted in their own evil purposes to wit. John Daniel, William Gilbert, John Christy, labourers in husbandry and Joseph Westrop, cordwainer, all of the parish of Potton, presently came up to them and the said John Christy with an oath accosted this informant and said 'Damn you, what business have you here, who tolerated you upon this bit of ground?' to wit, a bit of ground adjoining to or near the said parish of Potton and beyond the limits of Sandy Warren, called Brownie Piece. That he, said Cooper, made answer 'Why we are not doing you any harm'. That John Christy, who was then armed with a turnep picker and standing in a resolute posture as if determined for mischief, brandishing his said weapon, replies 'Damn you if I get or have the first blow, then that I hit shall not have a second' and John Daniel said immediately 'We'll lay them fast asleep, one upon another, in the ditch.' They said they had waited there some time for this informant and his party to catch him off his bounds and Christy doubled his fist and run it against the face of this informant and also against the face of William Goss and then asked if they called that striking but that he did not strike either of them than as above recited. That William Gilbert said directly 'If we don't do for you at home, you will be had from far or near, they'd come on purpose, so we may as well do you as they, you will be done before winter is out.' That John Daniel made answer directly 'Here is half our gang, the other are got so drunk they could not come; that they had then got one gone for nine pints of beer'. That said Joseph Westrop seemed more mild and not so desperate or mencaing as the other three and said little or nothing; or at least nothing of a threatening nature and seemed only to act as directed by them or they dictated. The said informant on his oath saith that he is so alarmed and terrified at these menaces and threats and hath been since that evening so in fear of his life or some bodily hurt from their hands, that he durst not as heretofore go round the said premises on his mother's business, or stir out as usual when it becomes evening or towards night, and therefore prayeth Security of the Peace from the said John Christy, John Daniel and William Gilbert not out of motives of malice or ill will but merely for his personal safety only.'

item

Christy, John,
Daniel, John,
Gilbert, William,
Cooper, John,
Westrop, Joseph,
Goss, William

POTTON, SANDY, assault