January 8th 1861

There were disastrous floods at Sicklesmere from the melting snow and heavy rain, the lower rooms of many houses were under water. 
At the house of Mr Major it nearly reached the ovens and a batch of bread already to be baked and other goods were destroyed. The Rushbrooke Arms would have been in a similar condition but for a dung heap which fortunately had been placed between the brew-house and the house. 
The highway from the Tollgate to Stanningfield was impassable, many houses near Stanningfield Green also flooded, a number of footbridges were washed away. Several cottages between Welnetham and Bradfield were under water and the road near the Bennet Arms at Rougham, Hawstead Wash at Nowton was flooded deeply.

January 29th 1861

On Wednesday, the standing orders were declared not complied with in the case of the Colne Valley and Haverhill Railway for extension to Cambridge-Clare Colchester line at the estimated cost of £220,000.

January 29th 1861

Susan Wells of Cavendish was summoned for stealing 40 turnips from Benjamin Deaves of Glemsford, the charge was proved by a boy, James Brown, who is in the employ of Mr Deaves, who said he saw defendant take them from a clamp with a spade. Mr Deaves said he had lost upwards of 40 bushels. The prisoner acknowledged her guilt and was sent to prison for 7 days hard labour.

February 5th 1861

The late frosts and snow and from idleness and want, turnip stealing in Bury has reached a climax which has fallen on the growers of turnips in the district like a scourge, dealers in turnips are of both sexes and all ages, they haunt our doors from dawn till dusk, the principal hawkers are small boys and girls of tender age from 6 to 8 years and some much too young to steal, we hope, although old enough to be thrust upon our streets to sell them. 
These poor little creatures rarely carry more than 8-12 turnips in a bag of wrapped in a pinafore. On Thursday, no less than four small children knocked on the door of one house I Bury with a "please do you want any turnips". The only real remedy is rescuing these little arabs is by a ragged school.

February 12th 1961

Married on the 13th inst at Sudbury-Mr Orlando Payne, farmer of Brettenham, to Mary Ann, daughter of Mr T.Brand, farmer of Gt Cornard.

February 12th 1861

A meeting was convened at Sudbury Town Hall to consider the best course of procedure to obtain if possible the re-enfranchisement of this Borough.

February 12th 1861

Bury Newspaper of 130 years ago. (Suffolk Mercury). A "cock match" at Dennington between Tobias Bloys of Suffolk and Carfoot of Essex for 10 guineas a battle and a hundred guineas for the "old battle". On September 11th to be run for on the Bury Course "a saddle and bridle" valued at two guineas, by any horse, mare or gelding.

February 12th 1861

On Monday, Jeremiah Burch of Hargrave was charged with stealing a large quantity of wine from Thomas Nice of Gt Bradley Hall. The prisoner is well known in the neighbourhood and is the owner and occupier of 112 acres at Hargrave and carries on a business as butcher and higgler. 
For Trial, bail was refused.

March 19th 1861

To be sold at Ovington Hall, Clare. The household furniture of the late Thomas Chickall.

March 19th 1861

William Norton, horse keeper, was charged with stealing 3 pecks of oats from his master, Thomas Cooke of Brandon. Three months hard labour.

March 19th 1861

John Ride a millers foreman was charged with embezzling £1 4s 7d from Charles Ray at Ashen. Charles Ray said he kept a mill at Ashen and one of the prisoner's duties was to collect money and enter it in a book. 
1 month's hard labour.

March 26th 1861

Edward Pretty aged 12 years, labourer, pleaded guilty to setting fire to a straw stack, the property of Elijiah Barret of Brampton and David Southgate aged 13, labourer, pleaded guilty setting fire to a wheat stack, property of Ralph Clarke of Old Newton. Both to be imprisoned for 14 days and then sent to the reformatory at Thorndon near Eye for two years.

April 2nd 1861

James Ambrose a farmer of Poslingford was summoned by George Boreham for assault, Complainant said he was employed on the turnpike road between Sudbury, on the 14th of February when defendant who was riding in a gig with another gentleman when he reached over as he was passing me and struck me with a whip across the shoulders, on the previous Thursday he saw defendant riding on the path, he called him to come off the path but he would not, he ran in front of him with his shovel raised in front of his head. 
Fined 10s with 16s 4d costs.

April 16th 1861

A large number of persons residing in Fordham and the surrounding district assembled in the Chequers Inn to hear from Mr B. Shepherdson who emigrated to Africa 25 years ago and is now on a visit to friends at Mildenhall. He said the country provided a very good quality of wheat, barley and other fruits, some farms are of 6000 acres and above and a large number of hands are required to cultivate them as the natives being too indolent to do the work etc etc.

April 16th 1861

The enumerators have not yet sent in their returns for the census at Sudbury but we believe we shall not be far wrong when we state that the population of Sudbury is 7000, up 1000 from the 1851 census.

April 16th 1861

The work on the extension of the railway line between Halstead and Hedingham is well advanced and it is expected that the line will be extended to the latter early this summer.

April 22nd 1861

Died on the 17th inst at Melford, aged 8 months, Joseph Ernest the only child of Joseph Byford of Bridge Farm, Melford.

April 22nd 1861

Inquest at Glemsford Lion Inn on James Hartley aged 73 who committed suicide the previous Saturday.

April 23rd 1861

Phospho Ammoniacal Manure composed of animalized character-night soil and salts of ammonia noted for promoting yields of quality of all grains also for top dressing grass lands and clover.
Price £ 5 10s a ton also excellent xxx and xx manure for mangolds, turnips, Cole seed and all nursery grounds in bags at £ 3 10s a ton and £ 2 10s a ton delivered at Isleham Sluice, Bury, Brandon etc by water also strong sewage sludge at 20s a ton delivered free to any town or village on the rivers Ouse or Lark.

May 7th 1861

To be sold at the White Lion Inn at Hadleigh. A capital tower windmill, four pairs of stones with all the machinery therein and in connexion therewith a 6 h p steam engine (by Wyse and Mill) driving 1 pair of stones, a dressing mill and other machinery-store room of 33ft by 22ft-good mill cottage and 1 acre of land. The mill stands on an elevated position with 5 working floors and is capable of manufacturing 100 sacks of flour per week whilst it's contiguousity to the town ensures first rate trade. It has been erected within a few years and is in perfect repair.

May 7th 1861

A Parliamentary return states there are 1183 magistrates in Holy Orders in England and 174 in Wales, Suffolk contains the greatest number of any county.

May 7th 1861

On Saturday last, pedestrian Andrews started from Sudbury at 5 in the morning and reached Bury at 7 minutes past 7, at 7-20 he left for Sudbury, reaching there at 10-30, with 15 minutes rest he returned to Bury arriving there at 2-20 pm at 2-40 he started to Sudbury, reaching there at 6, he rested for 15 minutes then commenced his last journey reaching the Castle Inn at Bury at 20 to 11 amidst cheers from a large number of people who had assembled on the Market Hill.

May 7th 1861

Inquest at Hartest on George Albon aged 51 who committed suicide. Spencer Albon, son, said he found him hanging in the shed on Fiday last.

May 7th 1861

Harriet Salmon who was recently committed on a charge of murdering her two children at Edwardstone, has been removed from Bury Gaol to St George's in the Fields, the Government Lunatic Asylum in the county of Surrey.

May 7th 1861

Married at Foxearth by the Rev Foster assisted by the Rev Irvine, Henry the only son of Henry Baker of Otten Belchamp Hall to Charlotte Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the late Thomas Chickall of Claret Hall in Ashen.

May 14th 1861

Died on the 6th inst aged 80 years, Susanna Flippen Stammers, widow of the late Joseph Stammers of Pentlow Mill, Essex.

May 14th 1861

James Gowers aged 11 years of Shimpling was summoned for assaulting Susan Cook at Hartest. Complainant said as she was going with a donkey and tumbril with Mr Griggs children to school at Hartest, defendant who was in the road, threw stones at her and jumped on the hind part of the tumbril, she told him to get off or she would hit him with her stick, he then started to kick the donkey and took hold of her stick and cut it, he also cut her arms, defendant said he was sorry he cut her arm but he did it while cutting her stick. 
Adjourned.

May 14th 1861

William Wittle and George Smith of Melford were fined 1s for being on land at Stanstead in search of game. William Bigg the under keeper at Kentwell Hall said I saw the defendants come out of a grove called " Raising Pits" at Stanstead, I searched Wittle and found a live hen pheasant on him, Smith at that time was holding a stick over my head and threatening me.

May 21st 1861

It is with deep regret we announce the death of the Rector of Hitcham and Professor of Botany at the university of Cambridge the Rev J.S.Henslow.

May 21st 1861

James Cook the younger was charged with stealing a quantity of guano valued at 3d, the property of his master, Mr John Sergeant, farmer of Brockley who said defendant has a garden and a little allotment as well, he employed defendant to sow guano for beet on Saturday last, he saw his coat lying under the hedge, he looked in his pocket and found about 3 lbs of guano, I told defendant who said he had no idea how it got there. Mr Sergeant said defendant had worked for him for 2 ½ years and had no complaint about him before. 14 days hard labour.

May 21st 1861

Mary Orriss an interesting looking young woman whose husband is absent from home in the militia was charged with neglecting her work. Defendant was in the employ of Mr Stone of Sudbury and took out a " cane" which she left and went to live at Ipswich. Her mother is Harriet Downs a common prostitute. Mr Bentote, manager of Mr Stone's Sudbury factory said they had to make an example, prisoner cried a great deal and said she was sorry. The magistrate said that this practice must stop. 
To Bury gaol for 6 weeks.

May 25th 1861

It was decided at a meeting of Sudbury Town shopkeepers to close on Saturday evenings at 9 instead of 10 and at 4 on Wednesday afternoons the remaining evenings at 7.

June 4th 1861

James Emmerson, a boy of about 12 years was driving a horse and cart at Fordham when the horse ran away, the lad was flung out and pitched on his head, he was taken to Bury hospital with severe injuries but is considered out of danger.

June 4th 1861

Letters to the Editor

Sir, This morning I was walking under an avenue of trees leading to Hardwick Heath, Bury, when I saw a gentleman raise his gun to shoot a swallow, he followed his bird and fired along the path, I being 60 yards distant, one shot struck me on the cheek, I am aware it was an accident but shooting on paths should be put a stop to. 
Yours 

John Denovan.

June 4th 1861

A special meeting of the Sudbury to Clare railway line will be held at the office of the company at Clare in accordance with standing orders of the House of Lords to present the Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway to make new lines of railway.

June 11th 1861

Mr R. Bailey an ex pugilist visited Sudbury on Friday last and gave an exceedingly interesting talk in the Corn Exchange which was thronged by people of the lower classes. Mr Bailey recommended teetotalism particularly to those addicted to hard drinking, he said he was a prize fighter and a confirmed drunkard.

June 11th 1861

Thomas Pawsey of Hundon, a ticket of leave convict was charged with stealing a shovel, the property of Charles Savage of Hundon. Committed for trial.

June 11th 1861

The few remaining veterans of Waterloo remaining in Bury dined together in the Three Tuns Inn on Tuesday last to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the famous battle of the 18th of June 1815.

July 2nd 1861

Died on the 6th of May at Lucknow in his 30th year of his life---Henry John Heigham, Brever Major of 23rd R. W. Fusiliers, eldest son of the late George Heigham esq of Houghton Hall in this county. (Perhaps Houghton Hall, Cavendish).

July 2nd 1861

To be sold, 1400 acres of fine land, pursuant to an order of the High Court of Chancery in a cause of Windham v Guibilei. Chilton Hall farm-Brundon Hall farm-Middleton Hall farm, in occupation of Henry Meekings-Edward Daniels-executors of Mr Viall and the advowson of the presentation to the Rectory of Chilton, subject to the life of the Rev W. Andrews now in his 56th year.

July 9th 1861

Died on the 28th ult in his 17th year, Rowland Henry, son of James St George Burke of the Middle Temple and of the Aubries, Essex.

July 9th 1861

Three and a half miles of railway from Halstead to Castle Hedingham were opened for traffic on the 1st inst.

July 9th 1861

The parishes of Stoke by Clare-Ashen-Ovington-Belchamp St Pauls having been placed in the Clare district must now be addressed to Clare.

July 16th 1861

Sudbury Town Council had resolved to abolish the Croft Fair on the 10th of July which was always largely attended, an attempt was made to hold it on Wednesday in spite of the authorities.
The Mayor received information that stalls and booths were being erected and he visited the spot and ordered the removal of caravans, by force if necessary.
16 special constables were sworn in, making the force up to 26 men, they went to the Croft and proceeded to remove the vans, taking them to the pavement commissioners yard, 150 yard distance, it was with some difficulty they were removed, much to the annoyance of the stall holders and by a mob of several hundred persons. 
Two men have appeared for resisting the police, one named Clify was fined £2 the other named Tiler was ordered to find £20 in sureties, a man by the name of Bell was convicted of assaulting the police was fined 30s, Samuel Outing, a cripple was fined 5s, Gardiner Griggs was fined £2 15s, Walter Sillitoe, master mason 40s with 10s costs.

July 16th 1861

Charles Murken labourer of Hundon and Robert Webb a farmer of Hundon were charged with stealing a bushel of barley from Mr T.Dennisa farmer of Clare. Murken 4 months, Webb dismissed.

July 30th 1861

To be let at Michaelmas-Balston Farm Estate-235 acres on the Melford Hall estate-part Acton part Melford.

July 23rd 1861

On Tuesday night a fat lamb was taken from others depastured on the premises of Messrs Ruse and Traylen of Lt Thurlow and slaughtered on the spot, it's shoulders only being carried away, there is some suspicion as to the guilty party.

July 23rd 1861

We understand that while three men with their scythes in their hands were passing along Plough Lane in Horringer during the thunderstorm last Friday afternoon, a flash of lightning attracted by the scythes, suddenly prostrated all three but luckily they recovered from the shock.

July 30th 1861

Edward Harris, coachman to Sir Robert Piggot of Cowlinge Park was charged with beating and assaulting Charles Bailey, assistant groom at the same establishment. Fined 9s.

August 6th 1861

The harvest has become general in this locality and two finer days than Monday and today have rarely smiled upon the labourers, cutting which is chiefly by the scythe is carried on with great activity between Bury and Newmarket and to the west and east of Bury, some thrifty farmers have already been carting from the field to the threshing machine.

August 20th 1861

Died on the 23rd of May on Mount Korong Goldfield, Wedderburne, Victoria, Australia, aged 42, Alfred Windred, formerly of the Queens Arms Inn at Hawkedon, Suffolk.

August 20th 1861

John Ford, labourer of Glemsford was charged by Mr Sadler, farm bailiff to J.E.Hale for taking a wild rabbit on land at Glemsford. Defendant admitted the charge and said he was cutting oats with others when they finished a rabbit ran up the field and he caught it. Discharged on payment of 4s 6d costs.

August 20th 1861

Maurice Whittle aged 16 was charged with stealing a silk handkerchief from Nelson Trafalgar Howard at Melford. 6 weeks gaol.

August 20th 1861

At Sudbury County Court. John Suttle the plaintiff v William Maxim both of Glemsford. Action was for 10L damages the value of a dog alleged to have been poisoned by the defendant. 
Plaintiff said he lived in Glemsford and saw defendant give his dog a slice of bread when he returned the dog was dead, there had been 11 or 12 dogs poisoned in the neighbourhood. Henry Brown, a ratcatcher, said he saw the dog lying in a paralysed state and he bled it, when it died he opened her up and believed it was strychnine as he poisoned rats and knew the symptons. Mr J.Hutton, veterinary surgeon, agreed. 
Damages of 1L.

August 20th 1861

James Lawrence aged 11 and James Oyst aged 14 were charged with stealing turnips from Mr Henry Deeks a farmer of Melford.
Both to Bury Gaol for 21 days.

August 27th 1861

On the annual licensing day at Sudbury a licence was granted to the Prince of Wales, a new inn erected in New Road leading from North Street to The Croft.

August 27th 1861

Sale at Wales End, Cavendish of the live and dead stock of Timothy Raymond whose tenancy has expired.

August 27th 1861

To be let at Cavendish near Clare in Suffolk-Wales End farm-260 acres of which 60 is pasture land.

August 27th 1861

The Paper Mills near Sudbury to be sold by private contract. An act has been passed at the last Sessions to make a railroad which will pass close to the mill, there is also a station a mile off. (Probably the Chemical Works ( Bush Boake Allen at Liston)

September 3rd 1861

Mrs Bullock of Cavendish was summoned by Hannah Jasmin of Glemsford for assault whish arose from a dispute during gleaning in a field at Glemsford in occupation of Mr J.S.Garret of Cavendish. The Cavendish woman said that the Glemsford women had no right to glean there. Fined 1s with 2s 6d costs.

September 10th 1861

On Sunday afternoon, a lad in the employ of Mr J.M. Balls of Castle Hedingham, instead of watching his master's flock of 89 sheep, fell asleep, on waking he found them all gone.
He gave information of their loss to his father who traced them to Belchamp St Pauls where they had been driven by Charles Harrington who was employed by Walter Chinery as a drover. He had been sent to drive about 100 sheep from Mr Sturgeon's at Sible Hedingham and on the road he added Mr Balls flock to the other, when accused of having done so he swore he had not and gave a wrong address. Mr Balls having had his sheep returned obtained a warrant for his apprehension, he was arrested at Glemsford and remanded.

September 17th 1861

On Friday last as a boy aged 12 years, named George Meekings of Lawshall, was assisting his father who was working with a threshing machine at Pipers Farm in Hawstead, when his right foot became entangled with the beaters and so much crushed that on his arrival at Bury Hospital it was found necessary to remove the limb below the knee the same evening, he is going on favourably.

September 17th 1861

Susan Wells of Cavendish, for leaving her three children chargeable to the parish. 3 months prison.

September 17th 1861

Joseph Theobald, rat catcher of Melford, and his son Thomas, a sawyer, were summoned for trespassing on land in search of conies. Defendant admitted being on the land but for the purpose of catching rats in the hedge which they were beating with ferrets and dogs.

September 17th 1861

Messrs Blunden and Squire will sell by auction at Wales End Farm, Cavendish, by order of Mr Timothy Raymond who is quitting the farm. 12 horses-20 ewes-4 cows-20 swine.

September 17th 1861

Lord and Lady Paget have arrived at Melford Hall, their country seat, for the season.

September 17th 1861

Susan Wells of Cavendish was summoned for leaving her three children chargeable to the parish of Cavendish. She stated that the children were illegitimate and she cannot maintain them as she already had a 14 month old baby at home. 1 month hard labour.

September 21st 1861

The cottagers of Boxted held their fete on Tuesday.
The display of potatoes was most extensive, no less than 200 dozen competing for 15 prizes offered for the best 12 potatoes of any sort also for the best Regent and for the best Kidney. 36 bushels of the same roots competed for a wheel barrow offered by the Misses Halifax and 15s by Mrs Kelso also for three skips offered by Miss Poley. As an encouragement to the cottagers to grow the best variety a ton of the best Scottish Regent seed potatoes were distributed last spring to 60 cottagers by the directions of the Misses Halifax. Mr Poley also sold about the same quantity at half price and the goodness of his stock may be judged by the fact that his 5 bushels were adjudged best in tent.
Judges were Mr Fish,(Hardwicke) Mr Harris,(Bury) Mr Jolly,(Clare).

October 1st 1861

Live and dead stock for sale at Slough farm at Acton, property of Mrs Branwhite who is leaving her farm.

October 1st 1861

William Spalding and James Anderton who are in the employ of Mr Paine at Risby were charged with furious driving at Risby. Sarah Bridge said she kept the tollgate at Risby and she saw the two men coming through the gate driving very fast, they drove through the gate without stopping. Mr Paine said both men came home rather tipsy on that day, both driving without reins. 10s with 4s 6d costs.

October 1st 1861

James Balls was charged with furiously driving his omnibus on the highway at Fordham All Saints. Inspector Roberts said two omnibuses were racing, William Morley of Mildenhall was also charged with the same offence at the same time and pleaded the first defendant would not let him past although he asked several times. Balls £1 with 4s 6d costs, Morley was dismissed.

October 1st 1861

Sale at Belchamp St Pauls, the effects of Joseph Chinery who is retiring from business. 2 horses-22 pigs-household furniture.

October 22nd 1861

On Wedneday evening at about 8 fire broke out on the farm premises known as Taylors farm at Kedington belonging and occupied by Walter Price. A large barn containing 22 acres of barley-granary containing 3 ½ acres of peas-quantity of beans-stables-cowhouse-2 cows-2 tumbrils-chaff engine-implements were destroyed. From foot marks across a field it is feared it is the work of an incendiary.

October 22nd 1861

On Friday night fire broke out at Hundon on the premises occupied by William Golding of Cock Green by which a dwelling house-two barns-stables-cowhouse-piggeries-wheat stack and a bean stack were destroyed, it is supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

October 22nd 1861

On Saturday evening the 3rd fire broke out at the corner of a large barn at Wratting Wash near a footpath in occupation of Mrs Frost, all the contents were destroyed.

October 22nd 1861

On Wednesday afternoon as a young woman named Mary Malyon, housekeeper to Mr Byford of Lt Yeldham was going down Nethergate Street in Clare when the horse which she was driving became unmanageable and on passing the bridge near the Priory it ran against a donkey and cart which caused her to be thrown out, before she could be removed she expired. Accidental.

October 22nd 1861

An inquest was held at Cavendish Five Bells public house on Hannah Wells aged 36 years, the wife of James Wells.
Susan Chatters deposed saying that the deceased is my sister and had not lived with her husband for 10 or 12 years. As I was coming out of the factory someone told me she was abed, I ran in and found her in bed dying, she breathed her last just as I got there. 
Dr Thomas Waring, surgeon, said "I attended her three or four days before when she had diarrhoea, she has had several bastard children since her husband left her. There were no symptons of having taken poison to procure an abortion, she was the most dissolute subject I have ever seen, she was intemperate and had hardly a healthy organ in her body, reports that she had poisoned herself were untrue. 
Natural Death.

October 29th 1861

George Ellingham a weaver of Glemsford was charged with stealing 12 turnips valued at 3d the property of Benjamin Deaves of Glemsford. Prisoner said he was hungry and he pulled two turnips not 12.
Fined 6s 9d with 7 days imprisonment in default.

October 29th 1861

For one night only. Mr Charles Dickens will read at the Athenaeum Hall at Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock, David Copperfield, in six chapters. The reading will be within two hours. Stalls 4s-Area 2s, Back Stalls 1s.

November 26th 1861

Died at New Orleans of typhoid fever in his 20th year, Edwin, the 4th son of Mr Thomas Meekings esq. of Bulmer near Sudbury.

November 26th 1861

On the 17th inst a living specimen of the Little Auk was caught in a state of exhaustion by Mr Hills the postmaster of Sudbury on the public road between Sudbury and Newton.

December 3rd 1861

On Friday last a fine deer was turned down for the hounds at Waldingfield, it took the direction of Sudbury, ran over the field near Gallows Hill and down to the "Wents", across the Melford road to the Croft where it took to the water with the hounds in full cry, the poor deer plunged into the river near the bridge and swam down stream to the water mill, the grating before the mill being off it squeezed through there and took refuge under the mill. The wheel fortunately being stopped or she would never have come out alive, the workmen snared and tied her legs and she was carried to a stable till the deer van arrived to convey her to head quarters.

December 10th 1861

At the auction Mart in Bury this day. Christmas Meat---120 oxen-400 sheep and 20 pigs which are consigned to W.T.Simpson.

December 10th 1861

On Sunday night,the 1st inst, as a youth named Woolard, residing at the Clopton House was returning from Melford when opposite Redfield Wood at Denston a man ran therefrom and seized the reins of the horse and exclaimed "your money or your life", Woolard struck at the man with his whip handle but hit the horse instead which sprang forward and knocked the villain down who called out lustily for "Dick" to come forward but without waiting the youth rode off.

December 17th 1861

Died at 10 past 11 on Saturday night, The Prince Consort at Windsor Castle.

December 24th 1861

The rectory of Otten Belchamp has become vacant on the death of the Rev Edward Dawson M.A.. The benefice is worth 450L and is in the gift of the representatives of the late rector.

December 31st 1861

Lewis Dearsley, beerhouse keeper of the Railway Bell, Sudbury, was charged with selling beer after 11 o'clock at night on the 24th of December. P.C.Bell said he visited defendant's house and in the front parlour there were 10 men and two women, one a prostitute, the party was merry as he could hear them before he got to the house and the front door was wide open. Fined 1s with 12s 6d costs.