Transcription by Veanne Treasure of documents held at the Somerset Heritage Centre - March 2011

Q/SR 509 - 119

The Voluntary Examination of Henry HODGES of Shepton Mallet in the County of Somerset Labourer taken before me John WICKHAM Esquire one of Her Majesty?s Justices of the Peace acting in and for the said County this eighteenth day of April 1840.

Who voluntarily ????? and saith as follows:

On Tuesday Night JENNETT and I was at the York House. We saw EMERY and TREASURE there. They asked us if we would go to Batcombe and do something. We agreed to meet them at EMERY?s house at ten o?clock. We went out there about ten o?clock and EMERY made up a fire. We sat by the fire till about twelve o?clock. EMERY and TREASURE asked us where we would go to do something. We said we did not care if we did not go any where to night. EMERY and TREASURE said they would go somewhere to get some money- EMERY then got a black bag and TREASURE got a light bag. EMERY gave me the black bag to carry and I carried it. We went out to Cross Ways and down Nelver Street down as far as CHAMBERLAIN?s. EMERY and TREASURE tried the Pr??? of the shutters there but could not get them out. We then went on until we came down as far as Mr JONES?s. All four of us went up to Mr JONES?s window. JENNETT forced the corner of the square with a G??blet and took it out. He and TREASURE then took out several things. Bacon and cheese, and TREASURE brought it across the road to EMERY and we and TREASURE helped JENNETT with the window. JENNETT put out some bread with two pounds of butter and some tobacco and some sugar there was a cheese whirle could not be got out of the window without being cut and TREASURE cut it with his knife. We took it and put it in a bag and carried it up to the top of the hill opposite the Ivy House and there we left the bread the butter the sugar and the tobacco. TREASURE took the bag and I took one piece of the cheese and carried it up to Martins Hill. All four of us went to Martins Hill together and we put the things that were in the bag into the dug hill. We left it there till next evening till about seven o?clock when JENNETT and I went up there. We took out some bacon some ??? and put it into my pocket. While we were taking out some more PROVIS and SPRATT came along. We told them what had occurred and SPRATT said let us take it over to the corner of the other field. SPRATT took the bag and carried it over and I had a paper bag in my pocket and JENNETT emptied the two canisters of tea into the paper bag and then put it into my pocket. PROVIS then took the other bag across shoulder and said he would carry it down to his stable. He said he had no money there but he could ?? it at coal pit and bring back the money the next night. JENNETT and SPRATT went after some litter for the donkeys and PROVIS and I went on with the things to PROVIS?s stable. PROVIS carried in the bag and put it down and I went in I pulled off my coat in there and I had not been in there many minutes before I heard Mr JONES say to JENNETT ? ?Jennett I do hear that you do know where my things are?. I heard JENNETT say he did not and he would go anywhere with Mr JONES. I then opened the door and ran out and as I was going up New Street I met a lad of the name of CONWAY and I asked him to go back into PROVIS?s stable after my coat. He said he would and he went away to go then I went away home and saw no more of him afterwards and I went to bed directly I got home.


Taken before me this )
Eighteenth day of April )
1840 and I do hereby )
certify that the above )
Examination was carefully ) signed Henry HODGES
read over to the )
abovenamed Henry )
HODGES before he signed )
the same )