January 4th 1866
Sudbury. The letter carriers from this district are petitioning for an increase in wages owing to the great increase in work arising from the many businesses the Post Office now transacts, the pay of a letter carrier is at 15s per week for which he works 8 hours in all hours, the time is not long but it is spread over many parts of the day.
January 4th 1866
Walter Belchamp Church. The usual Christmas decorations in this church have been most tastefully executed by Miss Raymond and the Misses Wright of Easton Hall, we also allude to pictures of the four evangelists which adorn the pulpit which have been painted and presented by Mr George Darlington Brownlow the gentleman who usually resides in this parish.
January 4th 1866
Died on October 28th on his passage home from Rangoon, China, to England, Captain William Herbert (brother to P.C.Herbert of Sudbury Borough Force) and of the ship Eveline, aged 37, late of Ipswich.
January 11th 1866
Kersey. Another fatal accident occurred by the drinking of water from a kettle, an inquest was held at the Bull Inn at Kersey on William Douse aged 3, deceased's mother left the child in care of her sister aged 9 when the mother went to the shops, the child died on Saturday afternoon.
January 11th 1866
John Ruggles, labourer was charged with trespassing on land in occupation of Mr Orbell of Bulmer, George Deans said he was in a field which lay adjoining Golden Hall wood when he heard a noise in the wood, defendant was brushing. Not enough evidence.
January 18th 1866
George Gibbons, dealer of Belchamp St Pauls, was summoned by Ellen Spring of Ballingdon to show cause why he should not be adjudged the father of her illegitimate child. Ann Ginn, mistress of the national school in Belchamp said she had known complainant for some years, she and the defendant had been keeping company for several years, defendant had asked complainant to have the banns published and witness had wrote them out at his request. 2s 6d per week.
February 8th 1866
Castle Hedingham. Mary Ann Sharp a farmer from Ridgewell was charged with causing 12 bullocks to be removed from Essex Farm to a meadow exceeding 300 yards which was nearly ½ a mile, defendant said if she had been aware of the order she would not have done it as she did not take the county papers and had not seen the placards. £5 and costs.
February 15th 1866
Dunedin Lime Works, Melford Road, Sudbury. A report is circulating that I am likely to be deprived of a supply of chalk for the above works, I take this opportunity to inform my friends and the public that it is far from the case as I have an inexhaustive supply of the best and purest chalk in the land.
Samuel Webb proprietor of Dunedin Lime Works.
February 15th 1866
Assington. The public will regret to hear that the Rev Philip Gurdon, vicar of Assington is about to recede from the Church of England and join the Church of Rome, there is much consternation among the parishioners.
February 15th 1866
Walter Turp aged 17 of Pentlow was charged with stealing a watch the property of Samuel Turp of Pentlow who said the prisoner is my eldest child and lives with my sister Sarah Suttle, I missed my watch and I went to my sister and she searched the prisoner's clothes but could not find it, I gave information to the police and P.C.Edwards produced the watch. P.C.Edwards said he went to a field in Foxearth to look for the prisoner and saw him and another boy sitting under a hedge having breakfast, I said "Turp your father has lost his watch have you seen it" he said "no you may take me before Mr Foster if you like", I took him to his father who was in an adjoining field and I said if you tell us all about it he will let you off, the prisoner said "I hid it in my Aunt's garden". 3 months.
February 15th 1866
Walter Deal of Bulmer was summoned by Pheobe White of Bulmer to show cause etc. to pay 2s weekly.
February 15th 1866
Lavenham Fair. The annual fair was held as usual on Shrove Tuesday, the day was favourable but it was much smaller than usual owing the prevalence of the cattle plague.
February 15th 1866
William Prentice a cattle dealer of Cavendish has filed for bankruptcy.
March 1st 1866
A day of humiliation for the cattle plague has been fixed for Wednesday week by the incumbent's of St Gregory's and St Peters and the Rev Badham, vicar and All Saints, there will be services in respective churches.
March 1st 1866
Benjamin Pain and James Fenner, two lads of Melford, were charged with damaging trees in the Kentwell Avenue valued at 1s. Pain 5s and Fenner £1 6s 3d, both to pay costs of 6s 3d.
March 15th 1866
George Plum, labourer, was charged with stealing a fowl the property of his master T.B.Brand of Pentlow, P.C.Edwards said he was on duty at Pentlow on the 9th inst at about 6 six at night when he saw the prisoner on the highway with a faggot on his shoulder with a stick through it and over his arm he carried an overcoat, I said "Plum what have you got there" he said "nothing", I took the coat and looked in the pocket and found a fowl, he said "I will tell you the truth, I was working in the barn, the fowls were in there, the bullocks came in and one of them run against a fowl and killed it" I said "have you seen your master today" he said yes, I said "why didn't you tell him the bullock killed it" he said "he would have sworn at me" I took him home in handcuffs and searched him, I found an egg in his pocket, he said he took it from his master and he said "pray don't tell him as it is will make my case worse". I took him to Mr Lewis Way that night.
Thomas Brand said I have lost several fowls lately, I told the police, the fowl was my property and it is worth 2s 6d. 2 months hard labour.
March 22nd 1866
Assington. We announced last week that the vicar of Assington has seceeded from the Church of England to the Romish Church, the Rev gentleman has resigned the living which was worth £600 yearly.
The Rev Gurdon belongs to one the oldest respectable families, the Gurdon's are a very ancient family they have connections dating back to the 5th century.
March 22nd 1866
John Plumb and John Deeks, labourers, were charged with being drunk and obstructing the highway whilst in charge of two wagons. P.C.Day said he was on duty at Castle Hedingham near the railway station when two wagons with five horses were stood across the road. Doctor Thorpe said he was driving along the road and had to call on the men to move the horses as they were across the road. P.C.Day said he followed the men up to the police station, both men were drunk, and with the assistance of P.C.Birch he locked them up. P.C.Birch said we got two men to drive the wagons home to Pentlow and Foxearth. 10s each 11s costs each.
April 5th 1866
Glemsford. The last of Mr Morley's of Glemsford Lodge Farm cattle were killed last week making a total of 18 head, only one of them had ever had died the cattle plague. Mr Morley will receive compensation from the county. Mr Oakley of Glemsford has also suffered his last two beasts were killed last Tuesday. The parish is now clear of the disease.
April 5th 1866
John Garwood of Bury St Edmunds was charged with being asleep on a beer dray drawn by two horses in the village of Moulton in Suffolk. £1 and 6s 6d costs.
April 5th 1866
Married on January 31st at Everton, Canada West, Edward the youngest son of the late J.P.Taylor of Earls Colne to Mary Elizabeth daughter of Mr Copeland of Everton.
April 12th 1866
Alpheton. The races will come off tomorrow Friday, there are four events on the calendar, Mr Samuel Clements will provide good food on the ground. One of Mr Coate's well known coaches will run from Sudbury.
April 19th 1866
Dog Lost a reward of 10s. A black and tan King Charles spaniel, whoever brings this dog to me will receive 10s, no other reward will be given.
April 19th 1866
Cavendish. Abraham Savage of Cavendish was charged at Melford Police station with breaking a glass door the property of Jacob Rice, it appears that last Saturday the prisoner was beating his wife when to escape his violence she made her escape to complaint's house who lives opposite, the prisoner followed and in his passion he smashed a glass door with his fist. £5 and 13s 3d costs or three months.
May 3rd 1866
Sale on Monday next at the Windmill, Foxearth. To be sold by auction on
May 7th 1866
by George Coote at Twelve punctually by direction of Mr Benjamin Ashwell, all his neat household furniture. Capital hackney and millers cart-model steam apparatus-2 pairs of 4 ft 6 inch French burr mill stones-trade utensils and effects.
May 3rd 1866
Cattle Plague Notice. Notice is hereby given that the area of the farmyard and premises situated in the parish of Foxearth now in occupation of Elizabeth Margaretta Ewer, widow and lately declared an "infected area" is now free from the disease. By order of Robert Stedman.
May 3rd 1866
Glemsford. The new station on the Cambridge line operated for the first time on Tuesday last, a considerable number of the inhabitants of this parish availed themselves of the opportunity to travel between the neighbouring towns of Cavendish, Clare and Melford.
May 10th 1866
Cavendish. The Cocoa fibre factory at Cavendish is to be rebuilt by Mr Chuchyard but it will be enclosed. A farmer in the neighbouring parish of Pentlow has deducted 6d each from his men for leaving their work to go and give assistance at the fire in Cavendish.
May 17th 1866
Sale at Upper farm, Ovington by order of the proprietor-6 heifers-1 cow-2 year old Shorthorn bull-6 two year old grazing steers.
May 17th 1866
David Deaves of Belchamp St Pauls was charged with allowing his donkey to stay on the highway, P.C.Spencer said he had cautioned him several times. 5s with 11s costs.
May 24th 1866
There was a sad accident at Cavendish on Saturday last by where an old woman named Susan Maxim lost her life, she was 81 years old. There is a pathway leading to a crossing on the railway line called Further Street where the line takes a sharp curve, the deceased who lives in Pentlow on Saturday morning had been to Cavendish shopping and on her return the accident happened, she had been repeatedly warned but she was sure the railway would not run over her as she could get out of the way, the poor unfortunate woman was stone deaf, she was knocked over by the buffers and her head struck a post, she died about 8 the same evening. An inquest which was held at Bower Hall returned a verdict of accidental death.
June 14th 1866
Samuel Piper, labourer of Foxearth was charged with leaving his wife and his two children chargeable to the Sudbury Union, Mr Ellis said the prisoner left his wife and two children at Foxearth one the children has since died, they received three loaves a week and 3s. The chairman said he was a bad fellow who wanted to spend all his earnings on himself. 3 months hard labour.
July 4th 1866
The season for old potatoes is over as new potatoes are arriving are on the increase, last week the imports were 2.945 baskets from Dunkirk alone there were also some from other quarters.
July 4th 1866
Cavendish. One day last week a young man named James Cobbin of Cavemdish in the employ of Major Hinchcilff of Pentlow Hall, he was endeavouring to catch a pony which was in a meadow with others when he was kicked in the body by one of the others, he was taken home but he died within a few days.
July 4th 1866
Married at St Michael's Church, New Zealand, Thomas Archer of St Mary's Hall Belchamp Walter to Clara Howlett of Pope's Green Farm, Layham, Suffolk.
July 19th 1866
Died recently in Natal, South Africa, aged 42, Henry Brooke the youngest son of the late Charles Branwhite of Gestingthorpe.
July 26th 1866
George Coote a farmer from Bulmer was charged with allowing 20 sheep to stray on the highway, P.C.Butcher said he was on duty in Bulmer when he saw between 150-200 sheep feeding by the side of the road, several were in the road, there was a lad with them . 2s 6d with 10s costs.
August 2nd 1866
Cavendish. Sale of estate at Rose and Crown, Sudbury. Lot 1 Kemsing farm 130 acres was knocked down to Mr Garret for £4,750 and Lot 2 -2 acres of arable to Mr J.G.Steed for £115,-Lot 5 -enclosure of arable land lying near Colt's Hall, 6 ½ acres to Earl Howe for £200.
August 9th 1866
Death on July 12th at Lambton, N.B. America aged 64, Mr D. Knopp lately of Hartest, Suffolk.
August 16th 1866
Wanted. Journeyman-Blacksmith-Wheelwright, one of each of the above trades can have constant employment at John Downes, Iron Works, Gestingthorpe, wages £1 per week.
August 16th 1866
George Moulton labourer of Cross Street, Sudbury, aged 16, was charged with assaulting Letita Cobb a widow of Mill Lane, Sudbury, complainant said she was sitting in her room when defendant threw a stone at her, he was with other boys, several timed they have thrown stones at her. 5s 9s costs
August 23rd 1866
William Sorrel a beer house keeper of Birdbrook was charged with having in his possession six earthenware pint jugs purporting to be pint measures but were unjust. 1s for each jug and 12s costs.
August 23rd 1866
Willliam Barnes of Wickham St Pauls was charged with allowing his cow to stray on the highway, P.C. Byford said he saw the cow on the highway attended by a little boy who said he was sent there by his uncle. 1s with 9s 6d costs.
August 30th 1866
For sale at the Tye Beerhouse, Glemsford. The Patches Farm situated abuting the village, good residence and four labourers cottages-50 acres.
August 30th 1866
Died at Rangoon, India, from rupture of a blood vessel, aged 24, George Steel the eldest son of the late George Steel of Pakenham, Suffolk.
September 6th 1866
Thomas Mitson of Yeldham was charged with driving a horse and cart furiously. Joseph Woolard, a farmer and miller of Hundon, said he was returning home from Clare market on the 18th of July when near Chilton Maple he saw defendant's horse coming at him at full gallop, he was the worse for drink. 10s with 17s 6d costs.
September 6th 1866
Bulmer Cedars and Brickwall farms for sale on September 29th, all the live and dead stock and effects of the late Mr David Badham.
September 6th 1866
Edward Gardiner, farmer of Foxearth was charged with unlawfully driving three cows along the highway for a distance exceeding 500 yards, P.C.Edwards said he was on duty on August 13th when he saw a boy named David Inch who was in the employ of Mr Gardiner driving the cows, he asked the boy for the paper and he said he had not got one. Dismissed. September 6rh 1866. Charles Bird a farmer of Bulmer was charged with driving two horses and a wagon on the highway without reins, the Rev J. Foster said he was driving through Bulmer where he saw Bird standing on the shafts without reins, he asked him his name, he would not tell him at first then he said his name was Bird. 20s with costs.
September 20th 1866
Murder by a Cavendish man. A few weeks ago an atrocious murder was committed at Seven Dials, London, by a tailor named John Richard Jeffery who killed his own son of about 8 by hanging him in a cellar, the murderer is well known in Glemsford and Sudbury, we are informed he was a native of Cavendish.
On Monday, Jeffery who is also known as "Mad Mick," gave himself up to the police in Halifax.
Committed to the Central Criminal Court.
September 20th 1866
William Hart of Walter Belchamp was summoned for permitting his privy to overflow, James Gunn, Inspector of Nuisances for the district, said that 1864 typhoid fever had broken out there and three people had died, the following spring five people were taken ill. Allowed one month to carry out improvements, he would be liable to a fine of 10s per day over that time.
October 4th 1866
Married at Brisbane, New Zealand, Thomas Castley, grandson of the late Rev T.Castley for many years rector of Cavendish in Suffolk, to Margaret daughter of Burnett Toole of Armagh.
November 1st 1866
Abraham Savage, a dealer of Cavendish was brought from Bury Gaol in custody where he had been committed for two months for breaking the glass door of Jacob Rice and assaulting P.C. Bullet. £3 7s 6d.
November 15th 1866
Belchamp St Pauls. A correspondent sends us the following account of riotous behaviour in this parish on Guy Fawkes day which was on Monday night. At an early hour this quiet little village was alive with a large bonfire on the green, principally at the cost of the nearest fences and wood stacks, the principal sufferer was Mr Goody the fire was kept up till 11 when they found the supply of wood running short, not willing to give up their sport and no police to oppose them that in pure spirit of mischief they set fire to the old cage which was very strongly built of oak posts, studs and weather boards, but one or two of the neighbours living nearby prevented it being burnt down and after a while the green was quiet. On Tuesday the party of roughs attended again on the old cage which was soon in flames which cast lurid light which could be seen for quite a distance and attracted a number of people to the scene, they quietly watched the blazing parish cage. How long will these things will be permitted and are we often to left without a policeman.
November 29th 1866
Milden. On Friday afternoon a haystack was discovered to be on fire at the farm of Mr John Everett of Milden, the Rev C.Wallace and Mr G.R.Hawkins with two or three others and some women partly subdued the flames but it soon became apparent their efforts were unavailing and the stack was burnt out. John Offord a lad of about 16 years from Monk's Eleigh was charged with setting fire to the stack at Milden. Committed for trial.
November 29th 1866
On Wednesday week a valuable horse belonging to Mr Edward Baker of Liston Mill was killed under the following circumstances, the horse was in a cart heavily laden with straw, it was drawn into a barn while the man with it went to find help unload it, when he returned he found the belly band of the horse had broken causing the load to tip up, the short chain trace had pressed the collar onto the windpipe and the animal was strangled.
November 29th 1866
Ezra Sparke of Shimpling aged 59 was charged with being on land at Chadacre Hall in search of game, William Whymark assistant gamekeeper gave evidence. 20s with 8s 6d costs or 1 month.
November 29th 1866
Barnaby Brockwell of Glemsford was charged with assaulting his wife, defendant said he had been working all day and when he got home his supper was not ready which drove him off again, when he returned his child was rending it's clothes, he chastised his child and his wife flew at him. Bound over in sum of £5.
December 20th 1866
Died while on a voyage from Calcutta to Bombay, aged 25, Robert the only son of Mr Robert Newman of Westgate Road, Bury, Suffolk.
January 3rd 1867
Gt Cornard. On new year's day Mr Edward Baker of Cornard Water Mill gave a dinner to all the men employed at the mill, a special spread was provided by Mr Wakelin of the Kings Head.
January 3rd 1867
Liston Bridge. Essex Quarter Sessions brought up the following report on the bridge which was adopted. The committee have considered the memorial from the owner of Liston Hall. Before them was an agreement made in 1760 when the bridge was built by private individuals and dedicated to and has ever since been used by the public, the committee are of the opinion that the county are legally liable to repair the bridge as half the bridge is situated in Essex. William Campbell (brother of the Duke of Argyll) was the former owner of Liston Hall and Sir Roger Martin was the owner of Dexters in Long Melford.
January 10th 1867
Advert. Mr I. Goody of Belchmap St Pauls, artist, begs to introduce himself to the world as a portrait painter, I hope earnestly that the gentry and the aristocracy will favour him with a visit to his studio. Oil paintings cleaned and copied.
January 10th 1867
Walter Belchamp. This pretty little village was the scene of some high festivity, the occasion being the marriage of Miss Raymond of Belchamp Hall to the Rev Charles Wallace the second son of the Rev A.Wallace, rector of Monk's Eleigh.
January 24th 1867
William Nice, innkeeper of Bulmer was charged with keeping his house open before the hour of half past twelve on Christmas day, P.C.Barnes said he was on duty at Bulmer and he visited the Plough Inn and found 20-30 people drinking. £5 with costs.
February 28th 1867
To be sold upon the premises at the Five Bells, Cavendish on March 22nd. Capital 6 coomb brewing plant-5 eight gallon hogsheads-beer casks-a quantity of old beer-new malt crusher-other effects.
February 28th 1867
Died at Cosford House near Adelaide, South Australia, Rosa wife of Alfred Ward, late of Drinkstone Hall near Woolpit, Suffolk.
March 14th 1867
Advert. Wanted. An unlimited number of eggs at 20 a shilling, in large quantities or small.
W.Nunn, pastry cook and confectioner, Market Hill, Sudbury.
March 14th 1867
Denston. An accident occurred on Wednesday last to a lad named George Cooke who is employed at the One Bell Inn at Denston, it appears that Mrs Murells, the cook, sent the boy to a loft over the stables for some wormwood, he did not return when she called and ultimately she went to the stable to find him and was horrified to see him suspended from the roof, the upper part of his body was caught between the trap door and the floor on the loft, the lad was taken down quite insensible state being quite black in the face, brandy was administered and animation was restored. As he was about to leave the loft the ladder slipped from under him and at the same time the heavy oaken trap door fell upon him.
March 21st 1867
Glemsford. The following robberies have been committed in the neighbourhood. Two guns and two coombs of beans were stolen from Mr Smith of Braggins, a large quantity of poultry from Mr Smith of Hill Farm, the shop of Mr Clarke of Finsted Street, grocery and drapery, nearly all the poultry from Mr Eagle, all the poultry from Mr Maxim of Lodge Farm , two ducks from Mr Hale of Finsted End, all the poultry from Mrs Harvey of Park Farm . The farmers in the neighbourhood keep their guns or revolvers ready as a visit from these nocturnal organised thieves may be expected. I believe that at Glemsford and Cavendish we have more thieves and receivers than to be found in any other part of the county.
March 28th 1867
On Saturday last, Frederick Cooper, hawker of Glemsford was apprehended at the Crown Inn at Glemsford for deserting from the West Suffolk Militia in May 1865, he was conveyed to the depot at Bury.
March 28th 1867
Died at Payneham, South Australia, aged 15, Rose Alice, the eldest daughter of Alfred Ward, a fortnight after the death of her mother, aged 46, late of Drinkstone, Suffolk.
April 4th 1867
Birth at Pentlow Hall, Essex, to the wife of Major C.H.Hinchcliff of a son.
April 18th 1867
Bankrupt. William Dorlin of Bulmer Mill, late of Sudbury and formerly of Foxearth, Essex.
April 18th 1867
William Robinson and William Murrells were summoned under a breech of a local act for unlawfully removing night soil from Plough Lane, Sudbury, after the hours of 5 in the morning and before 11 at night. £5.
April 25th 1867
Walter Theobald, drayman in the employ of Philips Brothers of Bury, was charged with being drunk and incapable. P.C.Skipper said at 7 at night defendant was in Glemsford street with a dray and two horses which ran into a fence and breaking it. 2s 6d with 7s 6d costs.
April 25th 1867
Died at Albany, New York, America, suddenly, Ellen the wife of William Stubbing, late of Blagden farm, Hempstead.
April 25th 1867
Married at Foxearth by the Rev J.Foster, Barnard, the 4th son of Edward Byford of the Three Tuns, Glemsford, to Matilda, the 2nd daughter of Mr J.Honeywood of Huntsman's Farm, Foxearth.
May 2nd 1867
Walter Belchamp. The remains of Mr Thomas Hutton of Clarke's farm were interred in Gt Yeldham churchyard on Friday last, deceased practiced for nearly 60 years as a veterinary surgeon in the surrounding district.
May 2nd 1867
Died of February 18th at the Four Posts Hotel, Victoria, Melbourne, suddenly, Ann the wife of William Hardy of Toppesfield.
May 9th 1867
A fine specimen of the Tern or Sea Swallow was shot at the Paper Mills, Melford, by the proprietor, it is being stuffed.
May 16th 1867
Opening of Cavendish Bowling Club. The opening game was played on Saturday last in meadow adjoining Blacklands Hall, the 22 players were chosen by Mr E. Fisher and Mr C.Wynch, some good play was made with Mr Fishers side coming off victorious, the bowling of Roberts and Merryweather was very good, between the innings the company partook of luncheon provided by Mr Henry Mortimer of the George Hotel.
May 16th 1867
Died on October 1st at Benares, India, after a few days illness, Sgt. William Rored Curtis of the 7th Dragoon Guards, the 3rd son of Joseph Curtis of Sible Hedingham.
May 23rd 1867
Hundon. There was an inquest at the Red Lion Inn on Arthur Pitt aged 2, the son of James Pitt, it appears that the deceased child asked his mother for a drink, while she was in the pantry to get it she heard a scream, the child had drunk from a boiling kettle, it died the next day.
June 27th 1867
Cavendish. To let near the railway station. A genteel family residence containing four bedrooms, two sitting rooms, kitchen, cellar, walled garden, low rent. Apply to Rolfe and Wheeler, Estate Agents, Sudbury.
June 27th 1867
Daniel Dixie a labourer of Lt Maplestead was charged with being drunk and incapable while in the employ of Mr Robert Hearn who said defendant is in my employ and has been for four years, it appears Mr Hearn went to a field where defendant ought to have been at work and found him drunk and incapable and he sent him home. 5s with 8s 6d costs.
June 27th 1867
Inquest at Belchamp St Pauls on Samuel Taylor aged 51 who was employed by the Rev Dr Pulling, it appears that on Monday evening at about half past six, Samuel Benham who also works for Mr Pulling saw deceased in a pond in the meadow raking out the weeds, he was quite naked, he told him to come out as he was exposing himself and he took the rake from him, he struck out across the pond and was turning to come out when he began splashing and making a curious noise, Benham went in after him but he could not swim and he had to come out, half an hour later his body was recovered and he was dead, he had told Benham he could swim. It is supposed he was taken with cramp. Accidental.
June 27th 1867
William Barrel, labourer of Otten Belchamp, was charged with allowing his donkey to stray on the highway at Otten Belchamp, Mr Baker said he saw the donkey on the highway near his father's house it was standing across the road which was narrow, he got out of his chaise and drove it off, when he got to his father's Barrell came out and claimed the ass. 2s 6d and 10s costs. Mr Baker offered to pay the fine as defendant said he not got enough money to pay.
July 4th 1867
At Sudbury Petty Sessions a weaver named Piper appealed to the court for advice, he said he had a quantity of silk on his loom which he had finished but the person who employed him to do it is named Pizzey and he had left the town and had not been heard of since, as he could not get any money he wished to know what to do about it. The bench could not advise him only to see a solicitor.
July 4th 1867
White Colne. The gipsy party too which is held annually came off in the beautiful grounds of Colne Park by the kind permission of Mr R.Hills gent, about 200 persons were present from the Colne.s and Halstead area, dancing was kept up for several hours to the strains of Halstead Amateur Band .
July 25th 1867
On Monday afternoon at about 2 o'clock a fire broke out on the premises of Ovington Hall which is attached to Ovington church, the farm is one of the largest in the area, the Hall is in occupation of Mr William Ewer. It appears the men were threshing when sparks from the engine set fire to the straw and before any means could be taken it spread rapidly and the buildings were soon a mass of flames, the scene was an awful spectacle the entire buildings, barns, range of stables, cow house, sheds, the fire ran along the roofs licking everything in it's fiery embrace, it at length caught the corner of the fine Hall, Clare fire engines were soon on the spot and with a good supply of water the men with great exertions were able to save the Hall. The loss will be great as the entire farm buildings were destroyed along with 200 coombs of wheat. The premises were insured.
August 1st 1867
On Saturday evening the 6-20 passenger train from Sudbury had a narrow escape, it appears the gates at Borley crossing not far from Melford station had been left open by the men and a horse belonging to Mr Vining strayed onto the line, the train struck the horse and cut it to pieces, the remains were carried some yards up the line, the engine was a heavy locomotive or it would probably have mounted the rails and caused a serious accident.
August 8th 1867
The 29th anniversary of the opening of Walter Belchamp Chapel was held on July 30th when the Rev Slater of Castle Hedingham and the Rev Hollier of Sudbury preached the afternoon service, after the service about 200 persons sat down to tea.
August 8th 1867
At Castle Hedingham Petty Sessions an application was made to the bench by several members of a benefit club held at the Fox beerhouse at Belchamp St Pauls, it appears that on Friday last a fire was discovered in a spare bedroom at the Fox where the landlord's wife had put the box etc the bed was burnt and a portion of the club box with the money in it, only the silver and copper were found, the gold amounting to £21 10s is missing. The case was considered in private by the magistrates and on the information of Edward Hickford, the clerk to the Club, a warrant was issued against the landlord Nathaniel Mann.
August 15th 1867
Nathaniel Mann, beerhouse keeper of Belchamp St Pauls was charged with stealing £12 12s entrusted to him by the benefit club. Mr Cardinall said money was deposited with the prisoner and as such he was a bailee and was responsible for the money, the outside of the cash box was scarcely burnt. Zekiel Lapwood, labourer of Tilbury said he was a member of the benefit club at the prisoner's house for 11 months and paid 1s 6d a month, out of it they had a quart of beer, on the 6th of July he was one of the stewards. William Wilkins said he was another steward and Edward Heckford who was the secretary and the other steward, there was £12 10s in gold in the box, 34s in silver, 9 shillings belonged to the prisoner which he had advanced to a sick man, there was three locks on the box all different and we required three keys to unlock the box. Joseph Argent said he was at the Fox on the night of the fire, he heard the cry of fire and took a pail and went into the garden for water. The chairman said there was not enough evidence to convict and the prisoner was discharged.
August 15th 1867
William Cook of Melford aged 61 was summoned by Henry Theobald also an old man for striking him several times. 2s 6d with 8s 6s costs.
August 15th 1867
Gt. Maplestead. We understand the Rev Corrie, vicar of Gt Maplestead, will be the chaplain of the House of Mercy now in the course of erection in this parish.
August 22nd 1867
A third of the men and women in Suffolk who were married in 1865 could not sign their names but made a mark, the neighbouring counties of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire showed nearly as bad an educational standard.
August 22nd 1867
Cavendish. On Monday last a man named Robert Series, an old pensioner of Cavendish employed by Mr C.Franklin of Cavendish met with an accident by riding on the shafts of a tumbrel, it appears he had been to Sudbury for a load of lime when on his way home in Further street when he fell and the wheel passed over the lower part of his body. He is going on well.
September 12th 1867
Thomas Burbridge, a boy in ragged garments was charged with stealing apples in a garden belonging to Mr Thomas Smith of Newton Road, Mr Smith said I have a garden with apple trees in it, I have found that the apples are being stolen. P.C.Scott said he was set to watch the prosecutors garden, this morning at about 20 minutes to six I saw the boy come into the garden and pick the apples, I took him in to custody. The Mayor said the prisoner would be sent to prison for one month with hard labour, he must be taught different conduct, the boy was removed crying bitterly.
September 19th 1867
William Hardy aged 8 was convicted at Castle Hedingham for stealing 7d, he was sent to prison for 1 month in the County Gaol and three years at Harlow Refomatory, he has had part of his sentence revoked by the authorities owing to his tender age also that he had fits, his mother was dead and his father is well known at the gaol.
October 3rd 1867
George Chatteris the younger, aged 19 of Glemsford was charged on information of P.C.Hughes who is stationed at Brockley of committing an unnatural offence at the farm of Mr Alfred Eagle at Boxted, the charge was proved by Louisa Ost who is a domestic servant at Mr Eagle's. For trial.
October 10th 1867
Marriage of Edward Lee Baker the only son of Edward Baker of Cornard Mill to Susanna, daughter of Mr Thomas Smith, Gent. On Tuesday last at St Gregory's church, the wedding party was very numerous and a large assemblage of persons congregated with flags displayed. The men employed by Mr Baker and their wives numbering about 26 sat down to an excellent dinner at the King's Head at Cornard.
October 31st 1867
Edward Gardiner, farmer of Foxearth was charged with moving cows on the highway without a licence. 5s with 8s costs.
October 31st 1867
Samuel Croxon and Alfred Taylor of Glemsford were charged with stealing pears the property of Mrs Ewer at Foxearth, Samuel Ward said he was in the employ of Mrs Ewer, he saw defendant's with five others on the highway, he followed them and saw them in the orchard. 21 days.
The chairman of the bench said in this district of Glemsford and Liston hardly a person was safe and people on Sundays were kept from going to church to prevent depredations.
November 7th 1867
Washed overboard with the Captain and one of the crew of the ship Juanpore on a voyage to Shanghai during a heavy gale off the Cape Of Good Hope in his 19th year, William Jeremiah Simmons the second beloved son of Quarter Master Simmons of the West Suffolk Militia.
November 28th 1867
Died on November 3rd aged 18 years, William Henry Ruse the 4th son of Stephen Ruse of Hargrave Mill.
November 28th 1867
Lamarsh. Death of a woman who was at Waterloo. On Tuesday morning a woman named Elizabeth Cole aged 80 was found dead in her bed at Lamarsh. Deceased was the widow of a Waterloo veteran and had passed through the whole of the Peninsula campaign with him, she was a remarkable woman, she had stated the day before that she could do more work in a day the half the young women of Lamarsh. The inquest was at the Lion Inn. Natural death.
November 28th 1867
John Wellam, labourer of Foxeaerth was charged with stealing two live fowls the property of Walter Chickall of Foxearth, George Mansfield said he is the bailiff for Mr Chickall, he could not say whether the two fowls produced were the property of Mr Chickall, the prisoner said there is no question the fowls belonged to Mr Brand of Pentlow Street, the prisoner was then charged with stealing one hen the property of Thomas Brand who said he lost a hen about three weeks ago from the lodge where the drills stand. The bench sentenced him to 1 month in prison. The chairman said I am sorry to see an old soldier in this position as he was not in good health, the Supt said the prisoner had been 16 years in the army and was not quite right in the head as he had sunstroke.
December 5th 1867
Frank and Joseph Suttle and William Pettit, three boys employed at the mat factory in Glemsford were charged with stealing turnips the property of Mr C.Motley of Glemsford who said there are about 100 boys employed at the mat factory, they caused me much annoyance. The bench said thy would try a little flogging to see if that would do any good, they ordered the parish policeman to give them not less than 10 strokes of the birch rod each.
December 5th 1867
Died at Hong Kong, Richard Syer in his 25th year, the 2nd son of the Rev Syer of Kedington Rectory.
December 12th 1867
Died on September 19th while crossing the Okaki river on horseback 50 miles from Wellington, New Zealand, aged 21 , John Parker the son of John Parker esq of Drikstone.
December 19th 1867
James Spurgeon of Halstead was charged with stealing 9 turnips valued at 1 ½ d. 14 days.
December 26th 1867
On Sunday evening some persons stole from the safe of the White Hart Inn at Melford, a goose and about 20lb of pork.