January 9th 1822

Several tradesmen have been imposed on by man a calling himself Mr Cousins of Cockfield, one of the shopkeepers had him taken into custody and it seems that Mr Cousins real name is Crump and he comes from South Halstead.

January 10th 1822

On Monday last, three of sons Admiral Wilson of Redgrave entered a preserve with a boy to shoot when one of the dogs touched the wire of spring gun and shocking to relate all four suffered serious injury, one gentlemen was shot in the head and is in a precarious position, another is wounded in the stomach and the lad was shot through the hand.

January 21st 1822

To promote industry and honesty in the people of Assington, Mr J.Gurdon has distributed a number of awards amongst deserving cottagers and various sums of money to has been given to boys and girls as had made good progress in learning and he promises to continue the system annually.

January 21st 1822

At Bury Quarter Sessions, Thomas Finch for stealing 7 ducks from W.Orbell in Cavendish, one month. George Wordley, John Humm and John Suttle for assaulting John Mansfield, gamekeeper to Earl Howe at Cavendish, to be imprisoned until they gave sureties themselves of 40 pounds and the other two at 20L.
C.Brown, J.Death, R.Serjeant and William Allen were aquitted of stealing timber from Sir William Parker at Melford.

January 30th 1822

We are happy to hear that the sons of Admiral Wilson are considerably better, when we read these dreadful results of the game laws and we know a large proportion of the agricultural poor enter into this practices and we feel astonishment that the landowning proprietors should not see the necessity of putting an end to this absurd system under which birds of the field are not the property of those who feed them. William Trotman for stealing turkeys from B.Smith at Melford. 6 months. John Miller to be privately whipped and Thomas Carter to be imprisoned for 12 months for poaching at Newton and Waldegrave Downs was charged with stealing a quantity of linen from William Petitt at Sudbury. East Essex and the Thurlow Hunt will meet at Borley on the 4th.

February 12th 1822

On Saturday se'nnight at between 1 and 2 in the morning some incendiary set fire to the stacks and barn of Mr Edward Cook of Loshious Farm at Henny near Sudbury, so raging was the furious element they were destroyed in a short time, near at the same time a haulm fence erected as a sheep fold belonging to Mr John Fenn at Henny Farm was set on fire but happily the infamous attempt proved abortive, the fire was in about 40 rods from the farmhouse of Mr Fenn, there is no doubt the intention was to destroy the whole premises.
(It seems that the whole of Suffolk and North Essex were ablaze most nights, there are too many to report so I just report the local ones)(G.H.).

February 20th 1822

At Bulmer the death of Mrs Pung of Blackhouse Farm is reported.

February 20th 1822

On Friday last as three ladies were walking in a village near Bury they were accosted by a stranger who requested them to read a note which he claimed was enclosed in a parcel he had just found containing a ring with a purported bill of £ 1 10s for it, he offered it to the ladies for 4s and they bought it but it proved worthless.

February 20th 1822

Inquest at East Bergholt on Thomas Howe who was found dead on the road leading to Manningtree, deceased was the proprietor of a stage waggon from Colchester to Melford and was on his way to the latter, he was accompanied by his son of 12 years, when they arrived at Stratford deceased took charge of the horses and his son got into the waggon and went to sleep till morning, when he woke up he missed his father who was found dead on the roadside some distance away. He was examined by a surgeon but there was no sign of violence. The jury returned a verdict of a visitation of God.

February 27th 1822

Small Estate at Bulmer for sale--2 enclosures of freehold arable and land containing 17 acres with brick barn, late in occupation of Daniel Tiffin.

March 6th 1822

On Sunday night the premises of Mr L.Majendie of Castle Hedingham were consumed by fire and we are informed it was wilfully occasioned.

March 13th 1822

Valuable Dairy of Cows and the live and dead stock at Gages Farm at Belchamp Otten for Mr Ray by auction sale who is disposing of his farm and also Clare Hill farm for Jacob Firmin--excellent dairy of Suffolk Polled cows, on the premises.

March 20th 1822

On Monday morning several hundred labourers assembled at Laxfield for purpose of breaking threshing machines, they proceeded to Mr Greenwards at Cratfield and destroyed his machine then on to Mr Flatman's at Laxfield who informed them that he did not intend to use his machine anymore, they then went to Mr Garrad's, James Read's, Mr Julian's, Mr Wilkinson's and Mr Spalding's and shivered their machines into 100's of peices.

March 20th 1822

On Wednesday last at the White Horse Inn at Ballingdon near Sudbury, a person named Rippengall, a shoemaker from Wisby Hills, Bulmer, had words with Thomas Noakes a horse breaker from Halstead, after a scuffle he drew a knife and stabbed Noakes in the body making wounds between 7-8 inches long so the poor fellow's bowels protruded, hopes are entertained for his rcovery, Rippengall is in Chelmsford Gaol.

April 10th 1822

At Suffolk Assizes, Edward Seelie for stealing a hen from Mr Joseph Humphrey of Sudbury, 7 years transportation.

April 17th 1822

Committed to Bury Gaol-John Wade and James Philips of Elmsett and Richard Kemball of Kersey for being concerned in a burgarly at Mr John Quinton's residence at Hadleigh Hamlet.

May 1st 1822

Four convicts including Edward Seelie have been removed from Bury Gaol to the hulks at Portsmouth for transportation.
Committed to Bury Gaol, Charles Crowe charged with on Sunday evening having gone into the Methodist Church at Melford during Divine Service and disquieted the congregation therein.

May 1st 1822

William Lungley, Joseph French and Thomas Finch were charged with stealing two geese and a gander from Charles Eley at Cavendish.
Several farmers in the neighbourhood have revived the old custom of allowing labourers beer.

May 1st 1822

There was a shocking accident yesterday se'nnight to a child of William Hale, a baize scourer of Sudbury, the child was about 1 year old and was left in a room where there was a large fire to dry the cloth, the infant got on a chair and forced it onto the bars and was burnt terribly, there is little hope of recovery.

May 29th 1822

To be sold--Mile End Farm at Hartest, 50 acres, barn and outbuildings.

May 29th 1822

On Wednesday the 17th, the farmhouse of Mr Groom of Bower Hall in Essex was broken into and robbed of a quantity of poultry, on the Wednesday following, fowls belonging to Mr Ling of the same parish were stolen.

May 29th 1822

We read with horror that in the county of Mayo in Ireland, fully 70.000 people have no food or the means of obtaining any, the city of Bath has sent 800L.

May 29th 1822

While fishing off the Dogger Bank, a smack from Harwich caught a large cod-fish, in it's stomach was the scalp and cranium of a human being, the remains no doubt of an ill fated mariner.

May 29th 1822

At Mark Lane--Wheat 28-36s-White Pease, 16s, Boiler pease, 24s, Barley 12- 15s, oats 10-14s-potatoes 22-24s?.

January 2nd 1823

Committed to Bury gaol, John Pallant for poaching at Gt Waldingfield.
Extracts from the Committee of Prison Discipline at Bury gaol. The good effects of the stepping mill has resulted in better discipline, this affords high satisfaction, the earning of the stepping mill last year was 202L. The medical report stated that it improved the health generally of the prisoners.

January 22nd 1823

An improved treadmill is to be erected in Halstead Bridewell, the mill to be erected uses revolutions at 120 times an hour, the improved mill enable the Governor to regulate the velocity to his own desired to make labour easy or oppressive.
The number of prisoners in Bury gaol is 170, no less than 50 are there for game law offences.

January 29th 1823

An immense cod has been sent to Bury market from Gt Yarmouth which weighed 51 lbs and measured 71 inches long, it was cut up in pieces and sold.

January 29th 1823

On Friday last as Thomas Firmin from Ixworth was returning from London in one of Mrs Nelson's vans and by making free with the liquor on the road by the time he had arrived at Hedingham he was completely drunk, between there and Sudbury he laid down and was thought to be asleep but some time after the guard attempted to wake him found him dead, he was taken to the Swan Inn at Sudbury and the coroner broguht in.
Died from inebriation.

February 5th 1823

As Mr Jewers, steward to Mr Coe of Shimpling was returning from Bury market with some stock he had bought he was stopped near Brockley by three fellows who with dreadful imprecations, demanded money which fortunately he did not have with him only three shillings.

February 5th 1823

On Friday morning se'nnight as Mr Ray a carpenter from Bury was returning from Melford when he met near Sicklesmere a man who came up and seized the reins of his horse with the intention of stopping him, Mr Ray whipped the horse up and freed it from his grasp whereupon the villian drew a cudgel and ran after the cart, Mr Ray gave him a severe slashing with his whip to the face and the man gave up the chase.

February 12th 1823

John Rush Frost of Whitton stands charged with swindling at an auction at Friston Hall when buying two chestnut geldings he paid with bank check which he has fraudulently obtained, he is about 5ft 7" and about 35 years with a long shepherds white flop at times and a loutish farmer's look.

February 19th 1823

Lavenham Fair has never known to be so full of horses but not much business was done. Pickpockets were alert and one fellow violently siezed a gentleman and struck him and stealing his pocket book, Mr Barker the horse dealer shouted," stop that thief", the villian found himself overtaken then threw himself into the gutter and edeavoured to force the pocket book into the mud but he was secured and taken before the Justices.

February 19th 1823

The following case at Halstead Bench Magistrates.
William Hurrell a farmer of Middleton agreed with Mr Ruffle (a tenant of Mr Barnardiston) of Lt Henny to take in some wether sheep to fold his turnips off but Mr Ruffle sent in 190 of his own sheep and they finished the turnips off, Mr Hurrell gave a tenth of the agreed price to the Rev Oliver Raymond for the tithes. The magistrates decided Mr Hurrell offer was fair. Dismissed.

February 21st 1823

John Humm and Isaac Goody were charged with stealing six bushels of wheat in the chaff from the barn of Sidney Eldred at Glemsford.

March 5th 1823

The King v Sudbury Corporation. This case was heard in the Court of the Kings Bench on Thursday last, it was a special case from the Essex Sessions and the question was whether defendants were liable to be rated to the poor rate for a large tract of pasture lying in Ballingdon upon which the freemen of Sudbury depastured. It appears that in the year 1250, Richard De Clare, Earl of Gloucester, granted the lands in question to his Burgesses and the whole commonality of Sudbury and the lands have been used by freemen ever since. The Corporation appoints a ranger to keep the keys of the common and to clean the ditches, keep up the fences, impound cattle, trespassers etc. The Corporation annually give notice as to the turning on for the year when the question is made, they declare that every Burgess who had the right to turn on should put on two head of cattle. The Sessions confirmed the rate properly made.
On Friday se'nnight, silver to the amount of 12L was carried up to the church in Cavendish by the Clerk of the parish for payment to the poor of the Parish, during his absence to procure a further supply the silver was stolen by some hardened villian, the silver cup used for the sacramental was also carried away.

March 12th 1823

Died suddenly in his 76th year, John Polly, for many years faithful steward to Mr Thomas Fenn at Middleton Hall.
A shooting match took place at Boxford between 14 gentlemen, 7 on each side, when after some hard shooting they bagged 2 dozen and four pigeons out of two dozen and a half, the other two unluckily broke the string tied to their legs and escaped.

March 19th 1823

Committed to Bury gaol-Daniel Underwood of Stoke by Clare for cutting down two elm trees belonging to J.Elwes.

April 2nd 1823

At Suffolk Assizes--John Ireland for stealing a pocket book containing 1 pound from Thomas Osborne of Sible Hedingham at Lavenham Fair. Transported for life, scarcely had the Judge left the bar when it was announced that the prosecutor had died.
John Frost alias Rush who was charged with defrauding Robert Cana out of two horses by a false cheque. 3 years hard labour.

April 9th 1823

Inqis--at Clare on the body of a newly born child of which a young woman named Lydia Glazen was delivered, the Jury said there was no evidence whether the child was born dead or alive but that the whole family were guilty of concealing the birth.

April 19th 1823

Valuable Estate at Glemsford for sale. New Street farm, 124 acres-The Clock farm, 120 acres-1 small estate adjoing Clock farm, 35 acres-Aldhams estate, 25 acres-Watsons estate, 16 acres.

April 16th 1823

On Saturday morning, Mr Hurrell of Smitten Hall, Bulmer, Essex, was found dead in a wood near his house, it is supposed that he was shooting pigeons and his gun got entangled in a bush and went off and the contents lodged in his head.

April 16th 1823

Some interesting extracts from a pamphlet on abolishment of slavery will be found on this page, notice has been given in the House of Commons of a motion on gradual abolition of this disgrace to human nature.

April 30th 1823

Died at Colt's Hall in Cavendish, Mrs Giblin mother of Mr John Allen. On the morning of the funeral Mr Allen met with a serious accident with a horse falling on him, breaking his arm. crop and barley being most productive.

August 20th 1823

Kentwell Hall, Melford, to be sold. The estate is situated in Melford, Stanstead, Shimpling, Cockfield and Lavenham.
There is a spacious mansion with surrounding parks, extensive manors and the covers abound with game, several valuable farms contiguous comprising 3, 250 acres also the great tithe over 620 acres. The mansion is on an eminence overlooking rich and beautiful extensive vale on the highway from Norwich to London, London is 50 miles distant, it is surrounded by finely timbered parks. Farms are known as Bridge Street, Kiln, Cranmer Green, Stanstead Hall, Roughedge, Earls Hall, Cockfield Hall, Lavenham Park, Lavenham Lodge. Particulars from the Black Lion Inn.

August 20th 1823

New wheat at Woodbridge Market at 15s-17s per coomb, last year's wheat at 24s 6d per coomb.

August 20th 1823

On Wednesday as a woman named Eliza Harper was going to from Pentlow to Cavendish she was passing through a field of the Rev Castley's at Cavendish she was violently attacked by a cow feeding there and her right arm was broken but otherwise not seriously injured. It is hoped this unfortunate occurrence will prevent the safety of other passengers being endangered in future by animals of mischevious disposition being suffered to graze near public footpaths.

September 3rd 1823

Kentwell Hall Mansion and Estate at Melford was put up for sale at Garraway's Coffee House in London by Messrs Squibb. The property was instantly knocked down at 44, 000 pounds, a term which probably means it was bought in and the like fate appears to have waited other valuable properties.

September 3rd 1823

There was an melancholy accident at Ashen near Clare on Monday se'nnight, Mr Snell a farmer was riding on the shafts of a waggon when the horse took fright and threw him down and the wheels went over him, he was a young man and only married a few months.

September 17th 1823

Inquis-- at Pakenham on Phoebe Bonney who was found hanging in Pakenhan Wood, her husband had been transported and she had attached herslf to his brother of whom she became jealous and pestered herself.

September 17th 1823

For Sale at Kitchen Farm, Bulmer, household furniture and live and dead stock, property of the late John Firmin.
Tilbury Lodge, live and dead stock of Mr Shepherd who is quitting the farm.

October 22nd 1823

To be imprisoned for 3 months for being a rogue and a vagabond at Sudbury, John Smith.

October 28th 1823

To be sold--Chadacre Hall the property of the Rev John Plamplin, deceased.

December 10th 1823

Inquis--at Cavendish on John Chapman a young man of about 17 years who while playing in the churchyard on the previous Sunday evening, fell on a gravestone and received internal injuries of which he died. Accidental.