January 6th 1777

On Sunday morning last, villains beset the house of Mr Hix at Reydon Hall near Hadleigh in Suffolk but they did not accomplish their design. They returned on Sunday afterwards during Divine Service and began breaking the dairy window upon when Mr Hix who was ill in bed and a maidservant were alarmed and the villains, finding people in the house, decamped.
There were four of them, two were dressed in smocks and two with very large coats, one appeared an ill looking fellow with a long black beard. 
A reward of five guineas is offered for information.

January 6th 1777

On Tuesday last was married Mr Robert Mumford, an eminent farmer of Gt Waldingfield, at Acton in Suffolk to Mrs Lugar of Acton Hall.

January 6th 1777

On Friday morning at about 2 as three young gentlemen were coming from Melford in a one horse chaise, they were stopped near the two mile stone by two footpads, one held the horse, the other a pistol, and demanding money but with resolution they endeavoured to wrench the pistol from his hands and instantly struck the horse and had it running forward with great spirit so preventing the robbery.

January 6th 1777

Deserted from a recruiting party of His Majesty's 60th Foot---John Jessop, labourer of Huntingfield, Suffolk---about 16 years-5ft 8" high-light complextion-fair hair and hazel eyes---also Samuel cooke of Sutton in Suffolk-5ft 4"-24 years-dark complextion-blue eyes-whoever gives information shall receive ½ guinea reward for each person.

January 6th 1777

To be sold to the best bidder at the Swan Inn, Clare.-a small compact farm in Stoke next Clare-25 acres with farmhouse and barn upon Stoke next Clare gren, it is lett to Joseph Harrisom at £25 per annum. Also a cottage near the green with a piece of Bradley meadow and lett to William Spencer at £7 yearly.

January 13th 1777

Yesterday morning at about 6 the Norwich coach was stopped about 1 ½ miles out of Newmarket on the Barton Mills road by a highway man who was shot at by one of the passengers upon which he clasped his spurs to his horse and rode a few yards and fell.
He was taken up and carried to the Red Lion Inn in Newmarket where he expired about one hour later, he had no pistol with him but carried an iron candlestick and proved to be one Walker whose father some time since kept the Star Inn at Newmarket.

January 13th 1777

Thomas Prentice of Thetford was sent to Brandon on an errand and has not been seen since, it is supposed he perished in the snow which has fallen there in great quantities

February 10th 1777

Thomas Prentice who was supposed to be lost in the snow was found on Wednesday last between Thetford and Downham Warren Lodges, he was laid on his back and the crows had picked his eyes out and had started on his hands.

January 13th 1777

On Tuesday last, a most beautiful bird something less than a blackbird was shot near Nacton in Suffolk which answers to the description of a Carolina Chatterer.

January 13th 1777

On further enquiry it appears that Walker who was shot on Wednesday se'nnight in attempting to rob the Norwich coach was placed as an apprentice to a bookseller of Norwich but coming into a considerable amount of money he went to London and took up a dissolute life, he was genteel in person and was about 23 years of age.
He left a wife and children in London.

January 13th 1777

Page, a poor woman of Gazeley was found dead on the Kentford-Gazeley road supposed to have perished with the cold.

January 13th 1777

Wanted immediately a man and wife for manager of Glemsford workhouse, must understand woollen manufactury in regard to spinning of top work and carding.

January 27th 1777

A few days ago there died at Chad-acre Hall in Suffolk, John Plampen Esq.

February 3rd 1777

The next embarkation of troops for America is to be made from the west coast of Scotland, 8000 men including the 42nd Royal Highlanders ( General Frazer's newly raised battalion being to form part of them).

February 3rd 1777

A letter from Boston says-7 American armed cruisers, mounting 12 to 20 guns have been carried into the port.

February 3rd 1777

Last week a whole sheep was roasted on the river at Ipswich on salt water and a great number of people skated on it.

February 3rd 1777

On Tuesday last upwards of £100 was collected in Melford and immediately applied to the relief of the poor there.

February 3rd 1777

All that brick mansion called Hedingham Castle to be lett-6 rooms on one floor, the antique castle or tower stands on a hill whereon stands 32 acres. Apply to Edward Dodson of Castle Hedingham.

February 3rd 1777

On Wednesday night as John Wells, a wheelwright, was coming from Hitcham in Suffolk with a cart, him riding on the shafts, he fell off with the wheels going over him he killed on the spot.

February 17th 1777

On Monday the 5th inst, there died at Long Melford, the Rev Henry Hallom, formerly Dissenting Minister and pastor of Melford and lately of Stamborn, Essex.

February 17th 1777

On Monday, a schoolmaster of Bury was committed for attemptd rape upon a 9 year old school girl at Bury, a scholar of his.

February 17th 1777

During the late snow a large swan was shot off Foulness Island, about it's neck was fastened a gold medal with the inscription Le-Roi-Dane, it certainly came from Denmark.

February 24th 1777

On Saturday last Died-- John Affleck of Dalham, Suffolk.

February 24th 1777

On Saturday last there was an inquest Denston, Suffolk on Henry Barnard who was killed by the wheels of a cart going over him.

March 2nd 1777

Last Saturday, a servant of Mr John Marven of Copdock, Suffolk, left a loaded gun in the stable which was discovered by three boys and supposed playing with it.
One said "I will shoot you", the gun went off where the charge loaded lodged in the boy's arm that it was obliged to be cut off.

March 9th 1777

Last Monday at Swilland, Suffolk, farmer was involved in the accidental discharge of a gun which was in the hands of his nephew as they were shooting.

March 9th 1777

A seizure of about 12 cwt of Hyson's tea was made at Kelvedon, Essex, by officers of the excise in this town, also at the same place a seizure of 550 lbs of fine rhubarb was made, the goods were in a tilted cart belonging to a person in Framlingham, Suffolk.

March 9th 1777

Last Tuesday express arrival from Brussels was accorded of the death of William Mannock aged 17 years, the only son of Sir William Mannock of Giffords Hall in Suffolk.

March 9th 1777

On Sunday s'ennight at about 11 at night, the house of Roger Hayward of Gt Henny, Essex was broken open and a quantity of shirts were stolen.

March 9th 1777

At Chelmsford Assizes-- 
Norfolk's trial for the murder of his wife at Toppesfield, Essex took place. 
It appears that William Kempe, the servant lad heard his mistress shriek out by the pond side (for the Lord's sake don't) and saw his master washing his hands, the circumstances of which he related to the maid servant
She desired him not to speak of it but the lad gave the same account to two other persons, Smith and Martin, who endeavoured to provide a discovery being made that it could not have been his master, however they could not avoid confirming his assertions proving deceased being taken out of the pond and upon searching the body it appears there were several marks of cruel usage and much blood issued from her mouth and nose which the surgeons said could not have been occasioned by falling into the pond.
Norfolk made a confession at a different time to other prisoners in the gaol from which it appeared that a design was formed to convey away the servant lad and three men were sent for the purpose but by being prevented by a clergyman and the magistrate who committed Norfolk, he received the sentence of death and to be executed tomorrow and afterwards dissected.
 Since the conviction he has confessed the fact.

March 16th 1777

Last Saturday, Samuel Norfolk, late of Toppesfield in Essex was executed for the murder of his wife
He appeared sincerely affected with thoughts of his situation, he confessed that on the Sunday that he committed the horrid deed that his father and mother and the maidservant had gone to a meeting
At about 1 o' clock he sent the boy, the only person at home to see some cattle, he pretended he would not go to the meeting and asked his wife for his handkerchief and on her coming to the door as usual to bid him farewell he pretended to see something extraordinary in the pond and desired his wife to come and look and upon her passing the board where they dipped for water
She said she could not see, he desired her to stoop low and pushed her into the pond, he caught her leg and kept her under the water till she died
He went into the house for a pitcher and upon his return found she had recovered as to have hold of a stake and fixing her eyes on him she stretched enough to say ( For God's sake don't do it) in such a manner that almost disarmed his resolution but thinking it was too late to retreat he forced her from the stake and broke it in two and with the other part he kept her under the water till she was dead. 
He put the pitcher down and left her, he declared that having a connection with the maidservant was the occasion of her murder but acquitted her of having any knowledge of his design upon his wife, he acknowledged the good disposition of his wife which was apparent from her having caught him in bed with the maidservant and declared he would never repeat the past.

March 21st 1777

Boston, America----several soldiers of Col Hutchinson's Reg. stationed at Dorchester were lately convicted of mutiny, three were shot, seven were whipped and the others confined to gaol

March 21st 1777

Colchester-Two other vessels have arrived from Holland to Maldon laden with oats which makes the quantity 2400 quarters arriving in nine days.

March 21st 1777

Subscriptions for erecting the brick'd bridge at Glevering are required to a meeting at the White Hart at Wickham Market on March 27th to deliver plans and proposals to subscribers inspection.

March 29th 1777

Fire broke out on the farm of Mr Robinson at Eriswell near Mildenhall, Suffolk, a barn filled with corn-all the outhouses were consumed as well as two cottages adjoining, the dwelling house was saved by the wind direction, it was occasioned by a servant throwing away hot ashes.

March 9th 1777

On Saturday evening at 11, Edmund Eastoe the smuggler was executed at Rushmere, Suffolk.
He was conveyed thence in a post chaise attended by the Sheriff's officers and a party of dragoons, before and after the trial he denied he was the person that shot the soldier, he said he knew who did but he would not divulge and with that resolution he died. 
His body was given to surgeons for dissection.

April 5th 1777

On Sunday morning at about 1 a seizure of tea was made loaded on a horse near Creeting Black Horse by Thomas Matten the excise officer at Mendlesham, Suffolk.

April 5th 1777

On Tuesday in Bocking and Braintree a procession of weavers was performed on foot to commemerate the planting of the weaving manufactury in this Kingdom, they were accompanied by flags and a band of music and exhibited different branches of the trade.

April 12th 1777

On Saturday, Mr Freston's hounds unkennelled a fox at Broowood near Bungay at 5 in the moring and ran him for 7 hours and killed him in Thorp wood, it is computed that the chace was of 70 miles.

April 12th 1777

Last Thursday a servant lad coming from Newmarket lost a £20 bank bill which on being cried was soon restored to him by a poor man who picked it up upon the road near Bury.

April 19th 1777

A Boarding School For Young Ladies at Wickham St Pauls
----The situation is very dry and healthy-upon the green where are taught reading-writing 
----English language and needlework etc
----strictest attention will be taken of their morals by Margaret Bradford. Enquire at Mr John Bradford of Twinstead Hall.

April 26th 1777

On Thurdsday the 17th, Messrs Bretell and Potter, excise officers of Bungay, Suffolk had information on smuggled goods being lodged on the premises of Jonas Benstead at Metfield
They collected together all the force they could and went to the place where they found a large body of men busy loading goods who immediately seeing the officers met them with pitch forks, clubs etc and forced from them their pistols and obliged them to go into the house of the son of John Benstead where they were confined till the smugglers got off with three wagons and five carts filled with ½ ankers and bags of tea etc. 

May 3rd 1777

On Wednesday afternoon, a press gang armed with cutlasses came privately into Ipswich and endeavoured to impress sailors who had entered upon the Brilliant, a letter of marque ship, the sailors armed themselves with cudgels and attacked the press gang, broke some of their cutlasses and made them cry out for quarter which was granted.

May 10th 1777

Inquest on George Farrant at Wratting Parva, Suffolk, who on the 28th of April had fought Benjamin Beuvert and died ½ an hour later. 
Verdict -his death was caused by a rupture of the blood vessels from his own exertions.

May 10th 1777

On Monday last, two men, Green and Gilbert having had some words at the shoemaker's shop at Hundon, Suffolk, Green took up one of the shop's knives and gave Gilbert a wound in the body to the depth of three inches of which he lies with little hope of recovery, 
Green is committed to Bury gaol.

May 19th 1777

All persons indebted to John Revell of Cavendish are desired to pay their debts to his son or to Ann Revell, wife. 
The stock in the shop to be sold at prime cost or under.

May 17th 1777

Widow Dalton at the Bull Inn at Long Melford, Suffolk, begs to acquaint friends and the publick that Melford Fair will be held at usual time on May 20th and 21st and the horse fair on Thursday the 22nd. 
An ordinary on the table each day at 2 o' clock----A neat post chaise with able driver to all parts of the Kingdom.

May 24th 1777

Last Sunday morning after some of the congregation had received the sacrament in the church near Saffron Walden, the communion plate was accidentally left on the table, a sharper having hid himself in the church, carried it off undiscovered.

May 31st 1777

To be sold at Chelmsford-a farm called Redgewell Hill consisting of a capital messuage-five cottages-dovehouse-barns-stable etc with 191 acres with nine acres of wood-lett to Henry Baker till next Michaelmas, situated in the parish of Redgewell and Tilbury, Lt Yeldham.

May 31st 1777

Wheat at Mark Lane to 45s-rye to 24s-white pease to 36s-grey pease to 24s-horse beans to 28s 6d-oats to 17s-malt to 27s 6d.

May 31st 1777

A young fellow named Dawkins who was some time since tried at Chelmsford Assizes and transported for stealing cheese etc, has we have just heard sent a letter to his mother information that the American Congress has presented him with a Captains's commission.
He says several others Essex patriots like him were turned from their dearest connections and banished for their firm attachment to the cause of liberty, now rank high in the American army.

June 7th 1777

Mr Jeffery Pearl of Hoxne, Suffolk, has a ewe that yeaned four lambs which are still alive, the weakest was reared on the bottle by him.

June 14th 1777

Whereas an advertisement has appeared in this paper, anonymous objections to any sale or shew of horses or peddling goods on midsummer's day at Glemsford, Suffolk, though a fair from time immemorial 
The greatest number of inhabitants of the parish begs leave to represent that ordinaries will be provided at all victual houses in the parish and that a proper person will attend to lett ground for peddling and that the horse fair will be held at the usual place.

June 14th 1777

Glemsford, Suffolk----
Whereas there has been for several years past a pretended fair at the aforesaid parish upon the 24th and 25th of June and of late a few horses. 
We the Rector-church wardens-overseers-and chief inhabitants taking into consideration the bad consequences attending such unlawful meetings are hereby determined to prevent if possible and to procure all those who shall found offending therein, contrary to the law.

July 5th 1777

On Saturday committed to Bury gaol-James Bulbrook, wool comber of Chevington in Suffolk, aged near 60, charged a violent attempting the crime of sodomy on John Kemp, labourer and further charged with wounding and maiming John Kemp in the face with a knife on account of him resisting the un-natural practice.

July 12th 1777

On Tuesday last, David Graham, a native of Scotland who has long been known in Sudbury as a dealer in hair was found in the Anchor Inn hayloft, he was weak and emancipated and could not walk, 
The best account that could be gathered from him was that he had been four days without any sustenance. The town officers being acquainted with facts ordered him to the town hospital, he was reluctant but was prevailed upon to consent, by proper care he is much better.

July 19th 1777

We are informed that the rebels in Connecticut having murdered several people who are guilty of no other fact of not abandoning their houses on arriving of the Kings Troops, one old man in particular had a melancholy view of his two sons being murdered in cold blood before him.

July 19th 1777

On Sunday afternoon as William Church and Thomas Stowers, two young men, were bathing in the river Stour at East Bergholt, one of them was pursuing an eel when he fell in a deep hole, the other tried to help him fell in and both drowned.

July 19th 1777

Inquest on Lott Palgrave aged 14 who going into a deep pond in St Margaret Ilketshall was drowned.

July 19th 1777

Last Monday Jonathan Heard, gardener at Witham in Essex, sold his wife and child for a sow and 11 piglets and 6 guineas to a man of the same place, he demanded them back and received them with open arms.

July 26th 1777

At Chelmsford Assizes-Miss Dore of Wormingford, the plaintiff and James W---- an attorney at law at Colchester was defendant. It appears defendant made promises of marriage to the young lady who was awarded £300.

August 23rd 1777

This week a match of cricket was played between Glemsford gentlemen and Hartest gentlemen, the former were beaten by 75 notches.

August 23rd 1777

Inquest at Kettlebarston on the body of Richard Rampling who was found dead in a field.

September 13th 1777

Last Saturday, a recruit, John Dale, belonging to the 50th Reg of Foot at Bury, chopp'd off his left hand forefinger with a bill hook.

September 13th 1777

Boston, America-----The Legistature of Virginia has passed an act that no Scotchman on oath shall be be credited in any case, whoever and all are strictly enjoined not to suffer an oath of administering to any Scotchmen whatever.

September 13th 1777

Deserted from the 7th Queen's Regiment of Dragoons----Joseph Newton, late of Halsted, Essex,- 20 years-5ft 9"-fair complextion-short fair hair-grey eyes-well made. Whoever apprehends same shall receive 20s allowed by Parliament.

October 18th 1777

Played on Redgrave Common, the long talked about cricket match between the gentlemen of Redgrave and the veterans of Botesdale when after a long contest victory was in favour of the latter.

November 8th 1777

On Thursday s'ennight a battle was fought at Charsfield , Suffolk, between two young men of the neighbourhood which lasted 20 minutes for a trifling sum of 5s. 
One of the combatants was hurt so much he died within a few hours. 
The conduct of the bystanders in suffering the fight to continue after deceased was scarce able to stand is much condemned by every man of humanity.

November 22nd 1777

Innoculations at Freston Tower, near Ipswich, will continue all winter by Mr Bucke of Holbrook on the usual terms, servants at two guineas.

November 22nd 1777

Stolen out of the pasture of Joseph Bigg at Glemsford----Black cart mare-short thick set-the near eye out-broken winded-14 hands-information to Joseph Biggs will be handsomely rewarded.

November 29th 1777

Cocking at the Waggon and Horses, Colchester, in a Welch main of 16 cocks for a dark brown filly, 3 years old and a very good watch and three guineas-each cock to pay one guinea entrance and have his door free-
the best cock to have the horse-the 2nd the watch and the two cocks that win two battles to have 11s 6d between them-
no cocks to exceed 4lbs and to fight fair in silver spurs. 
A good spangled pudding for dinner.

December 27th 1777

All principal merchants and traders in Norfolk we hear are determined to follow the example of the loyal inhabitants of Manchester by raising a regiment for America service and to be called the Loyal Norfolk Regiment.