SOME OFFENCES IN AND ABOUT BINGHAM
Criminal acts, if found out, were punished in a variety of imaginative ways until comparatively recently. They ranged from whipping to hanging, with transportation, the pillory and penal servitude in between. Crimes committed in and around Bingham found in various records are given below, arranged according to the type of punishment. These are followed by examples of different types of crime and who carried them out.
In the early examples given the original wording, spellings and peculiarities of the phasing are retained.
WHIPPING
1299
Cecily, Lady of Staunton sentenced by the Archbishop of York
in July 1299 to receive a whipping on six days about the church
of Staunton and a like number in the market places of Nottingham
and Bingham, for adultery with Wm de Breadon who made the
messenger eat the summons he brought and was excommunicated.
 Cecily, Lady of Staunton whipped for her morals |
 The hapless messenger made to eat the message |
1725
On 5th April at Nottingham John Kettleborough to be whipped
at Bingham Market Cross. John Boulton gave evidence that he
had been working in Langar Park at the brick kiln there for
the Right Hon the Lord Viscount Howe and had used a spade
belonging that noble Lord but on coming to receive his wages
at the end of his time the spade was missing and Mr John Doubleday,
steward to that noble Lord stopt half a crown with him for
the spade being mist. A warrant having been issued the spade
was found in the possession of John Kettleborough of Great
Cropwell, who told the court that he bought it after Bingham
Fair Day on the 28 October from John Allen who was working
at that time as servitor to a mason for the Lord Viscount
Howe. Kettleborough was found guilty to the value of 10 pence
and was ordered to be whipped at the Market Cross in Bingham
by the gaoler.
1774
On 11th April Anthony Yates was brought before the court from
the House of Correction to which he had been committed by
warrant of Sir Gervase Clifton Bart, and Thomas Charlton Esquire.
The Court ordered him to be committed as a vagrant to the
County Gaol. The House of Correction was full of disorderly
peoples and too small to contain them. Yates escaped from
gaol but was retaken and on 12th July 1775 was sentenced to
6 months in the House of Correction and ordered to be whipped
three times at Bingham, Southwell and Newark on the market
days.
DUCKING
1620
Anne Bingham was ducked as a scold.
The ducking of Ann Bingham,
a scold
PILLORY
1633
Gabriel Eaton of Trowell had to stand in the pillory in Bingham
Market Place, his punishment for perjury. The pillory as a
punishment was abolished in England in 1837 (perhaps as the
power of the popular press to degrade people developed!).
FINES
1795
On 13th April at Nottingham, the conviction of Edward Pheasant
of Bingham, Grocer, for illegally having a gun and a pointer
with intent to kill game was recorded. Pheasant was fined
5 pounds.
1870
A pupil of Edward Clough at East Bridgford was fined £1
for assaulting his teacher and 10s.6d costs.
1870
George Wigg was charged with poaching and trespassing by the
Earl of Chesterfield’s head gamekeeper and was fined
50 shillings and £1.
The poacher about to be
caught
1875
Man found guilty of rape at Flintham – fined £10.
Another rape incurred 12 months hard labour.
1797
On 9 January the conviction of Thomas Dring of Southwell by
the Rev. John Walter was recorded, the said Dring having illegally
carried to Bingham to sell and expose to sale certain Millinery
Goods Wares of Merchandise without licence. The conviction
was upon the information of William Petty and the fine was
accordingly distributable as to one half to Petty the informer
and the other half to the King. The fine was £10 having
been reduced to that amount in 1789. [On 13 January 1796 William
Petty of Bingham had been appointed at the Quarter Session
in Newark to be Examiner of Weights and Measures for that
part of Nottingham Division north of the Trent. He clearly
kept his eye open south of the Trent.]
HARD LABOUR
1840
A man who stole 2 cwt of coal from Mr. Hall JP, of Whatton
Manor was sentenced to one month’s hard labour at Southwell
House of Correction
1848
Two Bingham women received 21 days hard labour for breaking
workhouse windows.
1848
A Bingham man who stole Union clothing and left without permission
was sentenced to 20 days hard labour.
1858
A Bingham spinster was convicted of stealing 10 lbs of bread,
1 oz. Tea, ½ lb of butter, ½ doz. of candles,
½ oz. of tobacco and a 1 lb of sugar. She was sentenced
to 4 months hard labour with one week in solitary confinement
(compare this with 1840 theft of 2 cwt. of coal above).
IMPRISONMENT
1626
17th April Richard Allen of Bingham was sent to prison for
opprobrious words against Lawrence Gunthorpe (gentleman) Chief
Constable.
1848
A light sentence (over 6 month’s imprisonment) was imposed
on 3 men who brutally attacked a gamekeeper at Shelford.
1870
An Irish tramp was sentenced to 7 days in prison after begging
at Tithby.
An Irish tramp caught begging
in Tithby
1877
A schoolboy was imprisoned for 7 days for breaking windows.
He was not able to cope with schoolwork and the possibility
of an industrial school place was discussed (a school where
neglected and delinquent children are taught mechanical arts).
PENAL SERVITUDE
1889
Bingham judge His Honour Judge Samuel B. Bristowe was shot
and injured by Edward Arnemann, a disappointed litigant. He
was convicted at Nottingham Assizes and sentenced to 20 years
penal servitude. Arnemann hanged himself in his cell.
TRANSPORTATION
1769
On 9th January 1769 at Nottingham William Hill of Bingham,
Labourer, was sentenced to be transported for seven years
to his Majesty’s Colonies or plantations in America
for stealing a quantity of “oakwood workt up into coopery
wares and value 10 pence the property of Mary Lee widow”.
1820
John Marsden, aged 17, tried for stealing a money drawer containing
30s (£1.50) in silver and 10s in copper from a baker’s
shop in Bingham. Sentence was 7 years transportation. His
father had been transported to Van Diemen’s Land for
life in 1812. John Marsden Jnr sailed on the Shipley in May
1820 for a 113-day passage. His eldest sister had already
travelled to Van Diemen’s Land to join her father. She
wrote to the Colonial Secretary for John to go to Hobart where
their father was farming. Younger brother Thomas joined them
later. Their father was killed by Aboriginals in 1827, aged
66.
DEATH PENALTY
1784
In March at Nottingham Assizes Thomas Henfrey and William
Ryder were sentenced to death by Mr Baron Eyre for highway
robbery. Thomas Henfrey came from Stathern, and Wm Ryder from
Stonesley near Waltham. On the 23rd of the previous January,
about six in the morning, they had met Mr Richard Caunt, of
Plungar, as he was coming to Nottingham Fair, on Peascroft
Hill between Bingham and Ratcliffe, and with horrid imprecations
demanded his money. He gave them five guineas in gold, three
shillings and sixpence in silver and three pence in copper.
They were apprehended the following evening at a public house
in Stathern, and being identified by Mr Caunt, while in custody
at Leicester, were removed to Nottingham.
They were placed in a cart drawn up to the prison door at
eleven o’clock, and as they emerged from the gloom of
their cell into the broad light of the sun that had risen
upon them for the last time, a feeling of awe, we are told,
shot through the minds of the spectators. The men were attired
in their shrouds and stalked up to the cart with undismayed
step. On their friends accosting them, they took several by
the hand, and just before the vehicle drew on, Henfrey said
with an audible voice, “Never mind lads.” On the
road they frequently conversed with each other, and appeared
more concerned for the friends they were leaving behind than
themselves. When at the gallows and at the point of being
turned off, they kicked off their shoes, doubtless under the
idea that they would not verify the old proverb, “rogues
generally die with their shoes on.” Henfrey with a smile
asked Ryder if he would make a spring, and on being in the
affirmative, he immediately jumped out of the cart, saying,
“then come along”, and expired almost instantly,
but Ryder had not courage to follow his example, and waited
till the cart was drawn from under him, he lingered some minutes
in great agony. When Henfrey’s fall was suddenly stopped
by the rope his neck gave a very loud crack, the noise of
which was heard by many of the spectators; and the great weight
of his body stretched the rope in such a surprising manner
that his feet nearly touched the ground.
1818
In March Sir William Garrow Knt. presided at the Crown Assize
Court and an unusual number of prisoners were condemned to
death. [including] William Cooper aged 18 years and James
Forrest aged 19 years, for “burglariously” entering
the dwelling house of William Stubbs, at Bingham. [These two
were subsequently reprieved.]
1853
Mary Ann Parr, aged 25, of Bingham was sentenced to be hanged
for the murder of her 10-day old illegitimate baby born in
Bingham Union Workhouse, where she had lived for seven years.
She was of limited intellect and almost blind. Her sentence
was reduced to transportation for life because of her mental
condition. In the County Gaol she became “exceedingly
violent in her condition and language.” She was placed
in a straightjacket for her own protection and later sent
to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum.
PARDONS
1381
On 20th May. Robert FitzMay had been outlawed for taking away
from Bingham eight ells of cloth, the property of Robert de
Retford. Having rendered good service under the Duke of Lancaster
in France he was duly pardoned.
1410
On 22nd April William Tasker of Bingham, who had been indicted
for the murder of John Hawedon, a shepherd of Bingham and
under the alias of William Cooke for murdering, with others,
by night, John Shepherd of Bingham, was pardoned.
CRIMES AND COMPLAINTS REPORTED, BUT NO CONVICTION RECORDED
1326
“Commission was appointed to hear and determine the
plaint of Ralph Basset of Drayton that, whereas he being in
Gasconey on King’s business and under his protection,
some persons broke into his parks, entered his free warrens
and chases, hunted therein, fished his slews and carried away
fish, deer, hares, rabbits, pheasants etc and assaulted his
servants, in various counties including Nottinghamshire at
Bridgford, Colston Basset, Byngham and Hickling.” (Patent
Rolls 1326 291-2)
1346
At Nottingham Roger de Ashover of Byngham refused demand of
Wm de Byngham for surrender of 8a land and 3a meadow at Byngham,
alleging that said Wm was a bastard. Case being ecclesiastical,
was referred to Bishop of Lincoln who found by inquisition
that William was not illegitimate, but legitimate and verdict
was given accordingly against Roger. (Patent Rolls 1345 554).
1347
On 20th December William Deyncourt complained that Ralph de
Sprotburgh, John Abbot , William Yonge, Robert de Whatton,
all of Bingham, John Taillour of Cropwell, “warner”
R(ichar)d Moryn of Car Colston and many others, named, drove
away seven horses of his from Bingham worth £60, carried
away his goods and assaulted his servants so that he lost
their services for a great time.
1625
On 22nd October, Robert Harrison of Bingham admitted at the
Court of the Archdeacon, “that he was in ye towne streete
at Sermon tyme after the setting up of the Cock but gave no
consent thereto, there being present divers who this partie
cannot name;” Robert Somner, of the same parish, admitted
that he was there but gave no consent to the setting up of
the Cock. [Is this a reference to cock fighting?]
1619
State Council Order Justices of Assize for Notts to examine
and proceed in the cause of Denis Mannings of Bingham accused
of seditious words against the King and State. (State Papers
1619-1623).
1697
At the April Quarter Sessions, Samuel White, of Bingham, was
charged with selling goods in the market by false weight.
Unknown date
An item published in the Weekly Guardian of 24th September
1910 concerned an undated cutting found pasted in an old book.
It read:
“A short time ago, a person with a bag of salt on an
ass, under the plea of his animal being tired, and it being
late at night, begged permission to leave the salt at a grocer
and baker’s at Bingham. This being perceived by a splenetic
neighbour, he gave information to the Excise officer, who,
as the salt was not accompanied with a permit, seized it.
The case came on a few days ago, before the Magistrate, at
the instance of the Board of Excise and the tradesman, who
very foolishly suffered judgement to go by default, was fined
one hundred guineas! As it was a very general opinion amongst
the inhabitants of Bingham that the baker had not any intention
of defrauding anyone, many hundreds of them, of both sexes,
assembled on Saturday evening last, and placed an effigy of
the informer, together with a bag of salt, on an ass, paraded
him throughout the town and after a severe flagellation, was
hanged and burnt in the Market Place, amidst the most uproarious
eclat.”
REWARD FOR SECURING A CONVICTION
1700On 8th April at Nottingham, John Musson of Bingham, ironmonger, produced a certificate whereby he was excused from serving any parish office in Bingham, having apprehended and secured the conviction of Anthony Gill of Maney in ye Isle of Eeley in ye Court of Canterbury for having stolen John Musson’s black mare.
NOTABLE CRIMES BY BINGHAM’S PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE
1710
Dr. Thomas Patefield, surgeon, set the town of Bingham on
fire in three places doing little damage in 1710. Deemed to
be mentally deranged, the unfortunate man was ordered to be
confined at Bingham where a strong building of two rooms was
specially erected for him in the Market Place to house him
until he died in 1739. The building was then pulled down.
Adelaide Wortley (History of Bingham) records “He was
tried at Nottingham Assizes for the offence, and on being
asked in the usual manner “Guilty or not guilty”,
he looked round the Court and in an audible voice repeated
the 1st verse of the 58th psalm: “are your minds set
up righteousness, o ye congregation, and do ye judge the thing
that is right, o ye sons of men?” The judge after a
few witnesses had been questioned about his state of mind,
remanded him back to prison until a proper place of security
could be provided for him at home.”
1715
The lunacy of Reverend Henry Stanhope (a younger son of the
Lord of the Manor, later the Earls of Chesterfield.
At Mansfield Woodhouse on 23rd January 1715 Mr Samuel Bradshaw, Clerk, Curate to Henry Stanhope, Clerk, Rector of Bingham, produced a certificate of incapacity of Mr Stanhope to take oaths as follows;
“22 January 1715 these may certify
to whom it may concern that Mr. Henry Stanhope Rector of Bingham
is incapacitated for takeing the oaths to the government to
be taken on or before the twenty third of this instant January
by being a lunatick and that he has been so for six months
last past witness our hands,
WM Shepperson John White
John Ragsdale Bryan Bass
John Hutchinson George Parley”
1723
On 30th November at Nottingham the case of Henry Stanhope
again came before the court on account of his continued mental
incapacity as follows;
“Memdum. That it appears to this court upon the oaths
of John Needham. William Brookes, and Edward Baines all parishioners
of Bingham and persons of good credit and repute that the
Rev. Mr Henry Stanhope Rector of Bingham aforesaid is incapacitated
to take oaths to the government appointed be taken by a late
Act of Parliament for he the said Mr. Stanhope is non compos
mentis and has so been for some years past.”
1771
On 14 January Stephen Foster of Bingham, Yeoman, was indicted
for withholding from the inhabitants of Bingham the “Balance
of the Militia money and refusing to pay the same”.
It appears that Foster was the Parish Constable and had been
entrusted with the collection of 2d levy for Militia purposes.
The amount raised by such a levy was £17 12s. 8d, whereas
the sum required was only £14 19s. 8d and Foster failed
to pay over the balance of £2 13s. 0d. The Grand Jury
found a true bill against Foster who was bound over to appear
at the next Sessions, but he died in the meantime. The case
was dismissed.
1874
From January to March 1874 Mr S. Woodward was master of Bingham
Church School. Subsequently he was found to be Mr F.W. S.
Cowlishaw, who had been dismissed from a school in Burton
-on-Trent for ill-conduct in1872. Mr S. Woodward was the master
at that school, but had died in 1871. Mr Cowlishaw had attempted
a similar course of deceit under the assumed name of Radford
at a school in Newcastle. His trial on a charge of obtaining
money under false pretences at the Assizes at Nottingham concluded
on 18th July. Proof of his deception was presented at the
court. The jury, after consideration, said, “We find
he has done wrong, but we recommend him to mercy.” This
verdict was received in the court with some laughter. When
asked by the judge if he was guilty or not guilty they replied
“Not guilty, but we recommend him to mercy.” After
the judge explained that a recommendation to mercy was an
unnecessary appendage to an acquittal, the jury retired again
and found Mr Cowlishaw not guilty. The newspapers reported
this as a case of “Not guilty, but don’t do it
again”.
INVOLVEMENT IN LAW BY THE CHURCH
1624
General obligation was placed upon the parish to inform against
Popish recusants (persons who refused to attend the Church
of England when it was legally compulsory). Steven Dore, a
Bingham blacksmith (1624), was one such and so was William
Cooke.
1655
William Cooke and his wife and Marie Parr were fined for being
absent from church for one month.
1666
A mercer of Bingham was indicted for disfiguring the Book
of Common Prayer
1776
Four villains broke into Bingham church on the night of 1st
December.
EMPLOYMENT OFFENCES
1638
7th January Richard Ward of Bingham sued Bryan Wheatley of
Bingham for not paying his wages. Wheatley said Ward absented
himself at the time of the plague.
1639
July 8th a husbandman of Bingham was indicted for permitting
Joan Thoresby, his apprentice of the age of 12 years, to escape
from him and “he doth not know where she is”.
He was committed to the Assizes.
1655
May 2nd a difference between William Cooke of Bingham (mercer)
and his apprentice David Wix was referred by consent to Newark.
The following July, David Wix was set at liberty from his
apprenticeship from William Cooke on complaint that Cooke
“had much beaten him and refuseth to teach him his trade
but setteth him to mind sheep and other such like employment
and refuseth to find him clothes”. On 8th January 1654,
William Cooke had been charged with striking his apprentice
with a fauchion (a short broad sword bent like a sickle).
1677
July 9th “It was ordered that John Ragsdale doe take
to be his apprentice Thomas Machin for seven years and that
ye town of Bingham doe provide him with too suits of apparel
and that if ye boy become blind he be discharged of his apprenticeship”.
October 3rd John Ragsdale was acquitted of keeping his apprentice by reason of a rume in his eye and other infirmities.
1718
21st April at Nottingham Elizabeth Ludlow a Baker and John
Robinson a labourer both of Bingham were exercising “the
art mystery or occupation of butchers” without having
served an apprenticeship of seven years, but were discharged
by proclamation. The following letter is with the records:
“To Mr Clay Clerk of the Peace,
This is to desire you to be kind to widow Ludlow whome an
editement wass found against last sessions for she doth promis
to do so no more and for ye kindness you show to her I shall
take it as done to myself.
From your servant to command
Jno Beakley”
1758
A Flintham wheelwright, William Haughton was tried for discharging
his hired servant Ann Barker out his service before the end
of her term and refusing to pay her wages due to the time
of her discharge.
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY
1637
On 2nd October four men of Bingham were indicted for unlawfully
assembling themselves for football!
1769
On 2nd October at Nottingham John Smith of Bingham, Yeoman,
and John Walters of the same place, clerk, with others unknown
were indicted for riotous assembly at Bingham and for severally
assaulting James Wickham at a brick kiln there. (see also
George Baxter) On 8 January
1770 the case was removed by certiorari into the Court of
the Kings Bench.
INVOLVEMENT OF RECTOR IN LAW
1709
25th October The tale of the Rector of Elton:
John Trinbury, in justification of his assault upon the Rector
of Elton complained that at the funeral of Ellen Ragsdale
3 or 4 years earlier, the said Rector was so drunk that he
could not say the usual prayers for the dead but fell asleep
at the reading desk and had to be disturbed by the Parish
Clerk “and then he went to the grave with the corpse
and bid them put her in saying God help thee poor Nell”
without any other prayers or ceremony and afterwards was let
home by the Clerk. On the following day the Rector answered
in a similar sworn statement that he was abused by the said
John Trinbury in a very scandalous manner being called a knave,
a rascal and a “paultry scrub” and having his
clothes pulled off his back by the said John and his wife
and daughter.”
The Rector had already been presented in Dec. 1708 on a charge
of blasphemy for having given utterance to the following cogent
question: “was God almighty a drone? If not what was
he doing before he made the earth?”
1784
On the 12th January John Walter, Rector of Bingham complained
to Henry Sedley and three other Justices of the behaviour
towards him of Elizabeth Bird of Bingham, single woman, stating
that she followed him in the street, grinned in his face and
otherwise much abused him and he was afraid she would burn
his house or do him corporal hurt by killing or beating him
and he prayed sureties of the peace against her. The woman
was committed to the House of Correction until she found sufficient
sureties for the peace. She was brought up by the Master of
the House of Correction at the following Easter sessions when
she was recommitted pending finding such sureties. At the
sessions held on the 12th July 1784 she was discharged from
custody, she and her father Richard Bird of Fiskerton, farmer,
“having entered into recognizances in 100 pounds each
for her good behaviour for one year from the 1st May the last
and not to go into the parish of Bingham without the consent
in writing of the Revd. John Walter.”
1794
In 1794 the Revd. John Walter Justice of the Peace of Bingham
presented George Baxter Shopkeeper, John Adcock Servantman,
George Granger Framework-knitter and John Horsepool Butcher,
all of Bingham, “for in the King’s Highway commonly
called the Market Place Bingham they unlawfully did play and
throw certain iron coits whereby the Highway was obstructed.”
The presentment was quashed.
1795
On 12th January at Nottingham, Thomas Hart, Bingham, Parish
Clerk was convicted before Rev. John Walter, Justice of the
Peace, of swearing six profane oaths. The conviction was returned
into court and ordered to be filed, but the fine is not stated.
(See also George Baxter)
Note – The fine traditionally was one shilling a word!
Perhaps the origin of the “swear box”.
ORDERS ON BINGHAM PARISH
1636
1st August Bingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe were ordered to
pay 5 marks for Radford now suffering from plague. 5 x £2/3
= £3.3s.3d.
1635 – 36
An acquittance of £11 was collected in the wapentakes
of Bingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe towards the repair of
St. Paul’s cathedral.
1678
An indictment was made against the parish for not repairing
the roads – The Kingsway, called Fosse from Newark to
Nottingham; part of a road from Grandby to Bingham, called
Whiplings.
1696
Similarly, from Whatton in Saxondale Lane End and Thurrow
Bridge Lane.
1770
On 14th January Thomas Chettle, Surveyor of Highways for Bingham
was indicted for failing to pass his accounts and for misapplying
Highway money collected by him. On 7th October next he was
ordered to meet the Justices at the Fox and Crown at Bingham
but the case was not settled then and in January following
it was referred to Henry Sherbrooke Esquire and the Rev.R.Kirby
to settle. The following April these two Justices reported
they had not settled it and the Court fined Chettle 6d and
dismissed him.