Reference
QSR1823/400
Title
Information regarding theft of ducks from of Edward Peacock of Oakley, husbandman.
Date free text
1823
Production date
From: 1823 To: 1823
Scope and Content
Information of Edward Peacock of Oakley, husbandman. After his shepherd had told him his duck house had been broken into he went to the constable of Bedford, Next morning he was sent for by Mr Warden, the constable and shown 22 ducks, two of which he could definitely identify, 'one a copple crowned one of lightish brown colour' and another by a private mark, which his wife had made in the web part of one of their feet.Information of John Hopkins Warden, constable of Bedford. Being told of Edward Peacock's loss he suspected the 'Rushden Waggon.' 'I sent a man disguised to meet the waggon, and to ask to ride in it to Bedford, and to notice what occurred while he was in the waggon. About midnight he came back and gave me some information, in consequence of which I immediately went to the Sacaren's Head ale house at Bedford, where the Rushden Waggon waits, and I called out the waggoner, and asked him if he had seen any of our Bedford lads about. He said "No, I have not seen a soul about." I then said "Now, you are quite sure of that?" He answered "No. I have not seen anybody except a Bedford man named Pearson, who left the waggon at Bletsoe and came to me again at Milton." We then went into the house, and there I said to him "Now I'll go and see if I cannot find those ducks you have got. Have you any objection to my looking in your waggon?" He said I might look if I had got any authority. I told him "I should not stand about authority, but would look in without that." I then called Samuel Britton to get up into the waggon, and to hand me out the baskets with the ducks ... Britton handed them out ... and Lavender then said he did not know how they came there, but that somebody must have put them in at Bedford, while he was coming over the Stones ... on one of the baskets was this paper direction containing the words 'Mr Jas. Knight Salsman Newgate Markit London.'
Reference
Level of description
item