Law Breaking
1910 theft of a chicken belonging to Charles Garrard. The farmer had initially thought the thief, a rag and bone collector, had been after eggs but the stolen fowl gave the game away. The defendant a William Taylor was fined £1 with 14s costs.
Presumably the farm is Town Farm in Saxham Street.
In 1895 – on Tuesday, Frank Dent, carpenter, Stowupland. was charged with riotous conduct. He had too much beer on Monday, and became very quarrelsome at home. In his violence he smashed some of the things in the house, and Police-constable J. Salter had to convey him to Stowmarket Police-station. He was fined 10s., and 6s. 6d. costs; allowed a week for payment.
At the time Frank Dent was living at Myrtle Cottages, read about Myrtle Cottage and some Incidents associated with its occupiers.
1880 theft of turnips from Sheepcote Hall farm.
1880 Mary Pegg age 52 (b 1828) was found guilty of stealing several items of clothing from Mary Ann Blomfield. This was not her first offence and she was sentenced to a years imprisonment with hard labour with the threat of penal servitude if she offended again. {Bury and Norwich Post 17 February 1880}.
In 1851 John (b. 1818) and Robert (b. 1832) Pegg were involved with others in the felonious cutting down of trees on the Green (see below) – but it is unknown if they were related to Mary.
Higglers – For more about crimes committed by Francis Webb see Myrtle Cottages.
On Thursday morning, the 3lst farmer, of Stowupland on going into his yard rather earlier than usual, he noticed that the barn doors were open. Thinking the man who had charge of the barn must have got up too early by mistake, he was proceeding towards it, when he stumbled over something which proved to be a sack. This circumstance naturally excited his suspicions, a George Wilden a dealer crouched down on another sack of beans on a horse-bin. Wilden at once took to his heels, but Mr. Steadman pursued and captured him, and handed him over to the police, by whom he was conveyed to Stowmarket.
Suffolk Mercury 23 April 1870:
PETTY SESSIONS.—Monday. Before R. J. Pettiward (Chairman), C. Tyrell, and E: A. Oakes, Esqs. Edmund Robinson, labourer, of Stowupland, was charged with having, on the 31st of March, stolen two bushels of oats, value 4s. 6d., the property of his master, Mr. Robert Boby, of Stowupland, farmer.—The prisoner was defended by Mr, Walpole—lt appeared the prisoner took the oats for his master’s horses, and he had borne a good character for several years.—Case dismissed.{ Read more about Edmund Robinson, his family and life in Stowupland or the Boby family}
EADT 20th November 1877, three boys were fined for discharging fireworks on the highway. Henniker was a son of Jane Burch. Another report in a different paper says Arthur not Walter Burch. Henniker was probably the son of Jane Burch, who lived near The Crown, but we have no details of the other 2 boys.
1851- George Wilden (22), Abraham Colthorpe (41), John Pegg (33), Robert Pegg (17), John Diaper (40), Charles Last (23), Abraham Furrow (33) were charged with feloniously cutting down trees at Stowupland. {Bury and Norwich Post, 19 February 1851}
The incident seems to have been triggered by Isaac Taylor cutting down 3 willow trees. As witnesses for the prosecution did not appear the prisoners were discharged
In 1833 this notice was published in local newspapers, it proclaimed that any person found trespassing on land owned or occupied by the named gentlemen would be prosecuted. We know where most of their lands were and by searching for their names more information can be found. There are a couple who at present won’t be found.
1830 transportation of Robert Cracknell for stealing beans from Mr C.R. Freeman . {Ipswich Journal, 24 July 1830}. Robert was not from Stowupland but Cracknall‘s story is of interest.
1827. In the 1841 census a Thomas Race is living near the Drift Way off Saxham Street with his wife Mary. They are both 40 years old and have 7 children. The eldest being 15 year old Mary and the youngest Alfred just 1.
Mr Charles Freeman is the farmer just down the road at Stowupland Hall.
Robert Harvey’s earlier conviction of theft from Earl Soham {Ipswich Journal, 17 July 1824}
August 1830 Robert Cracknell aka Harvey, was removed from the County Gaol to the Leviathan Hulk in Portsmouth, from where he would be transported for life.
1820, George and David Southgate were accused of stealing 5 hens from James Haddock.
18th Ceentury
1791 –
Reported on July 2nd 1791 (Ipswich Journal) Charles Turner fined 5s for riding in a tumbril on the Kings Highway in the parish of Stowupland, not having any person to guide the same.
1792
Eliz Akin of Stowupland was committed to our New Goal, by Samuel Uvedale Esq on suspicion of stealing a wagon tilt, belonging to Mr John Hearn of Stowmarket ‘ common carrier.(Ipswich Journal, 1st December 1792.)
1787 theft of horse and sheep from Samuel Smith.
1804 Benj. Walter Gunn and William Arnold were found guilty of stealing a cow from Samuel Smith of Stowupland. They were sentenced to death but were reprieved.
1790 Charles Wells was sentenced to be publicly whipped and then imprisoned for 14 days in the House of Correction for stealing a scythe from John Syrett
1792 – 2 sheep and 4 lambs owned by Fuller Felgate lost from the Green. Fuller Felgate was a miller on the green, near Pooles Cottages.
1789 – a Stowmarket man, Ellis Miller was committed to Ipswich goal for 1 month for raffling off 10 lb sausages by dice at the Stowupland house of Martin Lord. The judge, Rev Henry Hill had issued a fine of £200, ‘as a caution to prevent the continuance of a practise whci has long prevailed in this country , of disposing of goods by lottery (or raffles as they are commonly called) whereby the fair trader is much injured, and the public greatly imposed upon. Miller, whose occupation was given as a worsted weaver, was unable to raise the effects to pay the fine was sent to prison.
Police Officers
We don’t have much detail about local law enforcement, but see Law and Order
