Lincolnshire Lent Assizes – Trials, Crimes, and Justice in Victorian England – 1875

LINCOLNSHIRE LENT ASSIZES.

The Commission for holding these Assizes will be opened on Thursday, the 11th instant. The following is a calendar of the prisoners awaiting their trial:

• William Kirkby, 18, farm servant, for committing an unnatural offence, at Appleby, on the 23rd July, 1874.
• Elizabeth Phillips, 18, servant, for the wilful murder of her male child, aged 5 days, at Alvingham, on the 8th August, 1874.
• James Sowden, 30, hawker, for silvering a penny and a halfpenny, with intent to defraud, at Alford, on the 10th September, 1874.
• Rebecca Costin, 17, servant, for feloniously setting fire to three stacks of wheat, two oat stacks, two bean stacks, one pea stack, one clover stack, two straw stacks, barn, stables, chaff-house, bullock hovel, waggon hovel, stable yard, and certain implements, the property of Mary Warren, Tydd Saint Mary, on the 29th September, 1874.
• Sarah Graves, 35, charwoman, for the wilful murder of her female child, at Pointon, on the 14th October, 1874.
• Charlotte Ann Sanderson, 16, servant, for setting fire to a stack of wheat straw, the property of Robert Favill, at Usselby, on the 5th Nov. 1874.
• John Westerman, 17, farm servant, for setting fire to a stack of wheat straw, the property of John Clayton, at North Kelsey, on the 6th November, 1874.
• Joseph Sewell, 23, labourer, and Henry Hutson, for having, on the 25th October, 1874, at East Kirkby, together with divers other persons, by night, being then armed with bludgeons, unlawfully entered a certain close of land in the occupation of Wm. F. Ealand, for the purpose of taking and destroying game and rabbits.
• Joseph Chambers, 63, carrier, for feloniously assaulting Emma Wright, at Welbourn, on the 8th Dec. 1874.
• Philip Nelthorpe, 55, captain of a steam tug-boat, upon the coroner’s inquisition held at Wintringham, on the 16th December, 1874, for the manslaughter of Ann Swanwick.
• Richard Barnett, 15, farm servant, for committing an unnatural offence, at Algarkirk, on the 24th December, 1874.
• Robert Welbourne, 55, labourer, for wilful and corrupt perjury, in his evidence as a witness, at the petty sessions, at Spalding, on the 16th Jan., 1875.
• Edwin Foreman, 21, boot finisher, for feloniously assaulting George Thoman, with intent to do some grievous bodily harm, at Horncastle, on the 18th Jan. 1875.
• John Frith, 34, boot finisher, for feloniously aiding and abetting Edwin Foreman, to do grievous bodily harm to George Thoman, at Horncastle, on the 18th Jan. 1875.
• Harriet Thorbly, for unlawfully administering to Samuel Pocklington, Mary Pocklington, Sally Burgess, and Roger Enderby, a certain poison, called arsenic, so as to endanger their lives, at Sutterton, on the 18th Jan. 1875.
• William Chapsham, 34, labourer, for unlawfully obtaining, by false pretences, from Thomas Davey, two promissory notes of the value of £164, the property of John Robert Davey, with intent to cheat and defraud, at Limber, in Nov., 1874.
• Wm. Malkinson, 38, labourer or coal dealer, for feloniously receiving the two above promissory notes, well knowing the same to have been unlawfully obtained at Holton-le-Moor, in November, 1874.
• George Borman, 29, farmer, for wilful and corrupt perjury in his evidence as a witness at the County Court, Great Grimsby, on the 11th Feb., 1875.

Analysis and Context

Historical Legal Context (1875 Laws and Punishments):

During the 19th century, criminal justice in England was stringent, with severe punishments for offences ranging from theft to more serious crimes such as murder and arson.

• Murder: The death penalty was commonly applied.
• Arson: Considered a serious offence, especially when property or life was endangered, often leading to transportation or lengthy imprisonment.
• Unnatural Offences: Homosexual acts and related crimes were punishable by imprisonment with hard labour, reflecting the moral attitudes of Victorian society.
• Perjury and Fraud: Could result in fines, imprisonment, or transportation, as courts sought to uphold justice and honesty in public dealings.

Societal and Family Effects:

• Families often faced stigma and social exclusion if a relative was convicted.
• Punishments, such as transportation to penal colonies, meant permanent separation.
• Financial hardship often followed criminal convictions due to the loss of a breadwinner.
• Many crimes related to property, reflecting the economic struggles of the working class during industrialisation.

GenealogiLincolnshire Lent Assizes – Trials, Crimes, and Justice in Victorian England – 1875cal and Historical Research Insights:

This article provides valuable information for genealogists and historians, offering:

• Names, Ages, and Occupations – Useful for tracing family histories and understanding social mobility.
• Crime Locations – Identifying where ancestors lived and their local environment.
• Legal Proceedings – Insight into how justice was administered in Victorian Lincolnshire.
• Social Class Analysis – Revealing the socioeconomic status of the accused.

How This Newspaper Can Be Used for Research:

1. Tracing Ancestry: Finding ancestors who may have been involved in criminal cases.
2. Understanding Local History: Examining patterns of crime and law enforcement.
3. Social Studies: Analysing changes in societal attitudes towards crime and punishment.
4. Legal Evolution: Understanding the development of laws and how they were enforced in the 19th century.

1. Farm Servant (William Kirkby, John Westerman, Richard Barnett)

• Job Description: Farm servants were employed to perform general agricultural work under the supervision of farmers or landowners. They assisted with ploughing, sowing, harvesting, and tending to livestock.
• Typical Duties:
  • Tending to crops and animals such as sheep, cattle, and horses.
  • Maintaining farm equipment and buildings.
  • Assisting with seasonal activities like threshing and haymaking.
• Working Conditions: Long hours in all weather conditions, often for low wages and accommodation provided by the employer.

2. Servant (Elizabeth Phillips, Rebecca Costin, Charlotte Ann Sanderson)

• Job Description: Domestic servants were primarily employed in households to perform household tasks and serve the family.
• Typical Duties:
  • Cleaning, cooking, laundry, and childcare.
  • Assisting with errands such as shopping and deliveries.
  • Serving meals and maintaining the cleanliness of the home.
• Working Conditions: Often lived in their employer’s home, worked long hours, and had limited personal freedom.

3. Hawker (James Sowden)

• Job Description: A hawker was a travelling vendor who sold goods, usually cheap household items, trinkets, or food, by moving from place to place, often on foot or using a cart.
• Typical Duties:
  • Selling wares in villages and towns.
  • Negotiating prices with customers.
  • Carrying merchandise, often covering long distances.
• Working Conditions: Financially precarious, relying on good sales and susceptible to weather and legal restrictions on street selling.

4. Charwoman (Sarah Graves)

• Job Description: Charwomen were women employed to perform domestic cleaning duties on a temporary or part-time basis in homes, businesses, or institutions.
• Typical Duties:
  • Scrubbing floors, washing clothes, and polishing furniture.
  • Performing heavy cleaning tasks often avoided by full-time domestic staff.
  • Working in multiple households or establishments to earn a living.
• Working Conditions: Poor pay, irregular work, and physically demanding labour.

5. Labourer (Joseph Sewell, Henry Hutson, Robert Welbourne, William Chapsham, William Malkinson)

• Job Description: General labourers performed manual tasks, often in construction, agriculture, or industry, involving physically demanding work.
• Typical Duties:
  • Digging, lifting, and carrying heavy loads.
  • Assisting skilled tradespeople such as bricklayers or blacksmiths.
  • Seasonal work such as harvesting or road maintenance.
• Working Conditions: Harsh environments, low wages, and minimal job security.

6. Carrier (Joseph Chambers)

• Job Description: Carriers were individuals responsible for transporting goods, messages, and parcels from one location to another, often using horse-drawn carts.
• Typical Duties:
  • Delivering agricultural produce and supplies.
  • Operating regular routes between towns and villages.
  • Handling customer orders and payments.
• Working Conditions: Long hours on the road, exposure to harsh weather, and risk of highway theft.

7. Captain of a Steam Tug-Boat (Philip Nelthorpe)

• Job Description: A steam tug-boat captain operated and managed steam-powered vessels designed to tow or guide ships through rivers, canals, or harbours.
• Typical Duties:
  • Navigating and steering the tugboat.
  • Supervising crew members and ensuring cargo safety.
  • Maintaining mechanical operations and liaising with dock authorities.
• Working Conditions: Risky due to harsh weather and mechanical failures, long hours on the water.

8. Boot Finisher (Edwin Foreman, John Frith)

• Job Description: Boot finishers were skilled workers in the shoemaking industry responsible for the final stages of boot production, ensuring a polished and marketable product.
• Typical Duties:
  • Polishing and shaping leather boots.
  • Adding decorative touches such as stitching and embossing.
  • Inspecting for defects before sale.
• Working Conditions: Worked in workshops or factories, long hours, exposure to adhesives and dyes.

9. Farmer (George Borman)

• Job Description: Farmers managed agricultural lands, growing crops and raising livestock for local markets and consumption.
• Typical Duties:
  • Overseeing planting, harvesting, and animal husbandry.
  • Managing farm labourers and budgeting expenses.
  • Selling produce in markets or directly to merchants.
• Working Conditions: Highly dependent on weather and economic conditions, required long hours of manual labour.

10. Coal Dealer (William Malkinson)

• Job Description: A coal dealer purchased, transported, and sold coal for domestic and industrial use.
• Typical Duties:
  • Sourcing coal from mines and distributing to customers.
  • Managing storage facilities and maintaining accurate records.
  • Delivering coal via horse-drawn carts to homes and businesses.
• Working Conditions: Dusty, physically demanding, and hazardous due to coal dust inhalation.

Conclusion:

These occupations highlight the diverse working-class roles in Victorian society, reflecting an economy heavily reliant on agriculture, domestic service, and manual labour. The rigid class structure meant limited social mobility, and many workers faced harsh conditions with little legal protection.

This article provides valuable insights for genealogical and historical research by shedding light on:

• The types of employment available in rural Lincolnshire.
• The economic struggles and crime patterns of the era.
• The social hierarchy and treatment of workers in Victorian England.

The Market Rasen Mail

The Market Rasen Mail has been a cornerstone of local journalism in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, since its inception in 1856. Founded by Richard Hackett, a Walesby farmer who also operated as a printer, engraver, bookseller, and paper-hanger in Waterloo Street, the newspaper was initially known as the Market Rasen Weekly Mail and Lincolnshire Advertiser. The first edition was published on 20 September 1856.

In 1870, Hackett sold the publication to Thomas Hulme Whittingham, an outspoken editor who modernised the paper by installing new printing equipment at his Queen Street premises. Following Whittingham’s death, his widow and sons managed the newspaper until 1905, when Thomas Benson Baty was appointed as editor. In 1915, the ownership transitioned to Whittingham & Baty Ltd, marking a new chapter in the paper’s history.

The newspaper underwent a rebranding in 1886, becoming the Market Rasen Mail, a title it retained until 2004. Throughout its history, the publication has maintained a focus on local news, agricultural developments, and community events, reflecting the interests and concerns of its readership.

In 1947, the Mail was acquired by editor Charles Edward “Teddy” Sharpe, who modernised the business by replacing outdated printing presses and expanding operations through the acquisition of the Horncastle News and the printing company Mortons of Horncastle. In 2001, the newspaper was purchased by Johnston Press, and it is currently published by National World Publishing Ltd.

The Market Rasen Mail has played a significant role in documenting the history and development of Market Rasen and its surrounding areas, providing valuable insights into local events, societal changes, and the agricultural industry over the years.

Lincolnshire Lent Assizes 1875: Trials, Crimes, and Justice in Victorian England
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