Was Great Ellingham baker, Charles Thilthorpe, surprised to find his son John and his daughter in law on his door-step in Great Ellingham on a Saturday late in October, 1803? Perhaps John Thilthorpe told his father that the visit was long over-due and he thought it time he and his wife paid him a visit….
Category: Court Hearings
Sentence of Seven Years Transportation in 1823
Thomas Tompson (or Thompson) appeared at the County Sessions at Wymondham in the January of 1823. Tompson was charged with embezzling the sum of £15 12s 12d belonging to his employer, a higgler, at Great Ellingham. Tompson was convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation. The report of the case appearing in the Bury &…
Mr Isaac Lebbell, a Bankrupt
Auction The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated 14th May 1887, included the announcement of a forthcoming Auction of properties situate in Griston, Scoulton and Great Ellingham belonging to Mr Isaac Lebbell, a Bankrupt. The Auction, by the firm of Edward Banham & Son of Methwold and Watton, would take place at five o’clock in…
Penalty & Costs of Thirty Shillings
Furious Driving James Wilkins of Great Ellingham appeared before the Magistrates at the Petty Sessions held at New Buckenham in early May 1864. An account of the offence of furious driving on the road from Great Ellingham to Stow Bedon was given by Police Constable Bugg. James Wilkins was convicted and adjudged to pay 30s…
‘Bastardy Orders’ for Great Ellingham Men
Maintenance payments for children born out of wedlock is not a modern day provision. Reputed Father: Robert Downs of Great Ellingham When Mary Cable of Bunwell was delivered of a male child in the Parish of Bunwell on the 9th May, 1806, and was unable to (or chose not to) provide for her child, the…
Caught by Footprints on the ground!
On their return from chapel on Sunday, 3rd December 1865, Charles and Harriet Barnard may well have been shocked to find that their home had been broken into, and money stolen from their shop till. Court Appearance for William Clarke William Clarke, described as a youth and living with his parents in Great Ellingham, appeared…
Fowl Dealer down on his Luck
County Court Hearing The Norwich Mercury of August 18th, 1887 reported on a recent matter before the Watton County Court. Robert Bowden of Great Ellingham, a farmer, had previously obtained a judgment against Samuel Harvey, a dealer, of Stow Bedon. Harvey, represented by a Mr Feltham, made an application to the Court for an Administration…
Harriet Leeder, Grocery Dealer
Great Ellingham born Harriet Leeder was a grocery dealer living in Long Street during the 1860s with her parents, William and Frances Leeder. Court Appearance In the August of 1864, Harriet Leeder, described as a flour seller, appeared before the Magistrates at the East Harling Petty Sessions charged with having an incorrect flour scale in…
A Fishy Tale
At the Petty Sessions held at East Harling in the May of 1880, labourer James Halls of Little Ellingham received a prison sentence of 14 days with hard labour for the theft of fish. The Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette of the 15th May, 1880 reported on the case. Halls was found guilty of stealing…
April Fool’s Prank?
The Norwich Mercury of April 12th, 1905 reported on the case of the theft of a hen heard recently at the East Harling Petty Sessions. George Anderson of Great Ellingham was charged with stealing a hen belonging to farmer Josiah Carter at Great Ellingham on the 1st April. Given the date of the alleged offence,…