Henry Pitts on the Move

Transcription

1 Henry Pitts on the Move Background At the beginning of the nineteenth century in the town of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England, which is on the Bristol Channel across from Wales, there were three young Pitts families having children, and having them baptised at the local Church of England Parish of Saint Andrews. Thomas Pitts and Elizabeth Pearce had seven children born between 1802 and 1815; James Pitts and Mary Sartel had ten children born between 1806 and 1827; and William Pitts and Mary Cooksley had twelve children born between 1807 and Some researchers have (reasonably) assumed that these three men were brothers. They were born on different years, sufficiently separated to be siblings , 1781 and 1783 respectively - but there is no historical record that shows they were born of the same parents. Henry Pitts, the subject of this paper, was born to William and Mary, likely in 1813, and baptised May 15 th, He grew up in the middle of a pack of Pitts siblings along with a number of other Pitts children in Burnham, likely cousins. The Early Years Henry s first forty years appear to have been relatively uneventful. There doesn t appear to be any historical record of him between his baptism and his marriage 23 years later. However, major events were occurring around him in the United Kingdom during this period: The Luddite riots against industrialization occurred around the time he was born; Perhaps as a youth he made a trip north to see the first railroad in England, from Manchester to Liverpool, which opened in 1830, using the famous Rocket steam locomotive the beginning of mobile steam-powered machinery; In 1831 Michael Faraday discovered the link between electricity and magnetism the foundation of reliable electricity generation; Slavery was finally abolished in the British Empire in 1833 and child labour (under 9) was banned the same year. Children between 9 and 13 were not to be worked more than 9 hours per day; Charles Babbage designed the first mechanical computer in 1834, but it was too complex to be manufactured now recognized as the first computing device; Charles Dickens Oliver Twist was serialized in the newspaper in 1838, exposing poor housing and deplorable prison conditions. Page 1

2 Along the line Henry obtained training as a miller, possibly in Bristol where son Edward received his miller training some forty years later. There s no way to know if there was much excitement in Somerset when Victoria became Queen of the Realm in June, Six months later Henry married Jane Mellier, a girl from his home town, in their home church St Andrew s in Burnham-on-Sea on Christmas Day, The newlyweds had both been living in Congresbury, Somerset, before they were married, and set up residence there for the next 7 years, during which time Robert, Alfred and Lucy were born. Henry was working as a miller at the time of the British Census on June 6 th, Between 1844 and 1847 they lived in Othery, Somerset, where sons Frank and Walter were born. Incidentally, many years later Frank named his home in Merrigum, Victoria, Australia, Othery. Mellier or Millier? Hand written notes passed down from Henry and Jane s granddaughter showed Jane s maiden name clearly as Mellier. However, various researchers of this family and many other descendants have determined that Millier should be the correct spelling. On March 30 th, 1851, the family was enumerated (with Heanery as the head) in the British Census of 1851, living in Broomfield, Somerset, in a home called Mills. By 1854 the family was living in Uplowman, just over the county line in Devon, near Tiverton. That s where a considerable public record for Henry begins. By the way, there s a map for all these locations in Appendix A. First Issue with the Courts In September, 1854, Henry sold a pony to William Webster, who happened to be the High Bailiff of the Court at Tiverton, Devon. Unfortunately, Henry failed to mention that the pony suffered from ringbone, a condition that didn t reveal itself when the animal was heated, but rendered the poor pony lame when cooled off. According to the newspaper account of the trial, Henry sounded much like a modern usedcar-salesman, praising the animal as sound in his sales pitch and then asking to see the written warranty when the customer complained. Mr. Webster, who obviously would know his way within the court procedures, brought the issue to court where Henry lost the case and was told to reimburse him 7 6s. Henry was threatened with being charged for perjury over his testimony but was ultimately discharged. The very detailed and entertaining account from the local newspaper is in Appendix B. It would appear that Henry was sufficiently desperate for money that he pushed the envelope by accepting the pony as payment for his milling services and then sought to misrepresent the condition of the animal to maximize his return. Perhaps he might have gotten away with it if his mark had not been the High Bailiff of the court. Page 2

3 First Bankruptcy Four months later, in January, 1855, Henry Pitts, or his creditors, caused him to be declared an insolvent debtor in the court at Tiverton, Devon. Henry owed 202 6s 10d and his assets, consisting entirely of accounts receivables, were 119 2s 9d. William Webster, High Bailiff of the Court (the plaintiff in the pony trial) directed that he appear in court February 15 th at eleven o clock in the forenoon precisely to confront his creditors and arrange repayments. Henry did not appear at the appointed time. The newspaper accounts are in Appendix C. There do not appear to be any further newspaper articles regarding this matter. It is not known whether the authorities attempted to track down the missing Henry Pitts. It appears Henry left his creditors in the lurch in Devon and disappeared. Bankruptcy in Britain in the 1800 s Until 1861 only companies or persons involved in buying and selling could declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy allowed the person or company to continue in business while the courts sorted out the financial arrangements to restructure the outstanding debt. Individuals could not declare bankruptcy. Rather, one would declare himself an insolvent debtor and throw himself upon the mercy of his creditors. The creditor had the option of putting his debtor in debtor s gaol where he would languish until his family came to his rescue or other arrangements could be made. After 1861 individuals could declare bankruptcy and allow the courts to resolve the issues, but the creditor still had the option of putting the debtor in gaol. This right of the creditor was not revoked until It is at this time that Henry fled with his family to Bridgend, Wales, where he took up residence, working as a baker and confectioner in his own shop on Union Street. It is not known when or where Henry received any training or experience in operating a bakery or confectionery shop. In order to avoid detection he went by the name James Henry Cocksley. This new surname was a variant of his mother s maiden name. Records show his mother was baptised as Mary Cooksley and married as Mary Cokesly. All three of these names are phonetically similar and the spelling in some cases would depend upon how the writer heard the name pronounced. At age 41 Henry was going through quite a mid-life crisis. Did Henry feel he could not get fair treatment in the Court in light of his earlier run-in with Mr. Webster? Gaol was a definite possibility Henry would want to avoid. Or did he not see any other way out of the financial difficulties he had gotten himself into? Living in Wales The Henry Pitts family, living under the assumed Cocksley surname, resided in Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales, for 15 months or so. During this time a son, registered as Edward Pitts Cocksley, was born in their home / shop on Union Street, on December 23 rd, Edward was baptised March 22 nd, 1856, in Nolton, a chapelry in Coity parish in Bridgend. Not quite eighteen months later, toddler Edward died of smallpox, on June 16 th, Page 3

4 By this time, the family had been living on Bute Street in Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales, for almost a year, where James Henry Cocksley ran another bakery / confectionery shop. On January 19 th, 1858, another son was born to the family and he was given the same name, Edward Pitts Cocksley. This was not unusual for the era, when children s names were reused with a later child if the earlier child died. Six months later, in June, 1858, tragedy struck again when the next older son Walter died of a fever at home in Bute Street, Aberdare at age 11. Walter Pitts was born in Othery, Somerset in October, His death was duly registered with the GRO under the name Walter Cocksley. (See Appendix D) During this time of hiding under an assumed name in Wales, it appears that Henry was not particularly anxious to keep a low profile, but any publicity was under the Cocksley name and not Pitts. He advertised for help in the Bristol Mercury on July 19 th, 1856 Apparently civic minded, on August 1 st, 1857 he was listed among the subscribers to the Aberdare Parish Bells and Clock for contributing 1 1s. J. H. Cocksley confectioner He was enumerated on the voters rolls on two occasions (only men could vote): o Electoral Register of 1859 house and shop Bute Street, Aberdare o Electoral Register of 1860 house and shop Canon Street, Aberdare However, in April 1859, James Henry Cocksley grocer, baker, confectioner and provision dealer was declared an insolvent debtor in court in Cardiff, Wales. (See Appendix D) Once again, there are no further records associated with this petition before the court. Therefore it appears that about this time James Henry Cocksley and family fled back to Somerset and resumed life there as Henry Pitts and family, once again leaving his creditors in the lurch, this time in Wales. Running from his creditors worked successfully once before, so it appears Henry decided to try it again. Resuming Life in England The family was enumerated on the census of April 7 th, 1861, living in Clutton, Somerset, where Henry once again pursued a career as a Miller. The census has the word Master after Miller which would indicate that Henry was training apprentices in his work. In this census the two oldest sons were no longer at home. Robert would have been 22 by then. Family tradition says he ended up in Yorkshire, but so did several other Robert Pittses and the marriage records available for online research do not capture the parents names to isolate the correct Robert Pitts. [There s another research opportunity.] Page 4

5 Alfred (20) was living with Henry s younger sister, Hannah Woodman and her two daughters in Taunton, Somerset, where he was an apprentice to her husband, Robert Woodman who was a hairdresser and fancy dealer. Alfred subsequently became a successful hairdresser in Islington, a district of London, married and had seven children, who went by the surname Pitt. [That s another possible research subject. Was there a reason for dropping the s? Did it have anything to do with his father Henry s behaviour?] By 1865 Henry was living in Bitton, Gloucestershire, working as a miller at Swinford. This area was heavily industrialised with coal mines nearby and rolling mills producing copper and lead sheets. The waters of the Bristol Avon River powered many mills and were navigable all the way from the Bristol Channel. It appears Henry was running a grist mill on the river. In September, 1865, Henry and Jane s only daughter, Lucy (age 22), married Jonathan Chapple in St Mary s church in Bitton. They remained in the Bitton area for several years, where Jonathan was a baker. Lucy and Jonathan emigrated to Canada in 1880 with their children. Early 1866 found Henry being declared bankrupt once again. By this time the laws in Britain had been changed allowing individuals to declare bankruptcy. Henry remained in Bitton during this time and appears to have supported the orderly execution of this bankruptcy through the County Court of Gloucestershire at Bristol. (See Appendix E): Adjudicated bankrupt, February 24 th Meeting of creditors March 9 th Last Examination, April 16 th Order of Discharge, April 16 th Individual Bankruptcy In 1861 bankruptcy laws were changed in Britain to permit individuals to declare bankruptcy. There were four steps involved in the new process: 1. Petition for Adjudication of Bankruptcy could occur by the bankrupt and creditors or creditors alone. Commissioners would take statements from the bankrupt and his creditors. The creditors would then elect trustees to value his assets and identify how to distribute them as dividends. A date is established two weeks later for the bankrupt to surrender himself to the registrars to meet with his creditors. 2. The registrars conduct a first meeting of the bankrupt and creditors to receive proofs of debt and determine the distribution of assets and set a date for the bankrupt s Last Examination. 3. The Last Examination is a public meeting to identify possible other creditors and examine their claims. If there are no further complications, an Application for Discharge may be made. 4. An Order of Discharge is granted. More Turmoil in Bitton These steps are duly reported in the appropriate Gazette news publications Son Frank, now 21, left for Australia in July Steam power was just beginning to be applied to ships, so sailing was still the order of the day, with the voyage typically taking three months or more. He arrived Cutty Sark (not the whiskey) in Australia, by himself, October 17 th, 1866, and never returned to Britain. His father s situation must have had something to do with his momentous decision to emigrate, but other factors were likely involved as well. This famous sailing clipper was launched in 1869 and held the speed record for Sydney to London of 73 days. Page 5

6 With Frank gone, son Edward, age 8, was the only child of Henry and Jane still living at home. But the turmoil was not over. In the autumn of 1866 creditors of Henry caused him to be put in debtor s gaol. He was already incarcerated when yet another bankruptcy proceeding was started on November 16 th, with the Court meeting at the gaol. The bankruptcy process moved forward appropriately with only one glitch when Henry was late with filing his accounts. But it appears Henry remained in the Debtor s Gaol the whole time. (See Appendix F): Adjudicated bankrupt, November 16 th Last Examination, January 29 th Examination postponed to February Order of Discharge, February 25 th, 1867 Debtor s Gaol Until 1869, creditors could demand that debtors be put in gaol until their debts were paid. Some gaols were workhouses where the debtor could earn money towards the repayment of his debt. However, the prisoner also had to pay for his upkeep and administration while in gaol, so could be trapped in a vicious cycle for an extended time. Some gaols allowed the whole family to be with the debtor since his wife and children would be destitute on their own. Often the debtor s family worked to repay the debt and get the prisoner released. Debtor s gaols were outlawed in It is not known when he was released from gaol, but it should have been coincident with his Order of Discharge. An auction was scheduled in early May in which four lots occupied by Henry Pitts were to be auctioned off. This was advertised in several newspapers over the course of several weeks prior to the auction. In the Parish of Bitton: Lot 4 A dwelling house, water grist mill, bake house, garden, stable, shed, two mill ponds, withy bed and the small piece of arable land lying between the Upper Mill Pond and the land of Mr. George Davis, all in the occupation of Mr. Henry Pitts Lot 5 A piece of arable land, called Pond Ground adjoining the Upper Mill Pond aforesaid, containing 5a 1r 24p and occupied by Mr. Henry Pitts In the Parish of North Stoke: Lot 6 A close of arable land called Mill Hills containing 2a 2r 11p adjoining and on the north side of the Turnpike Road between Swineford and Kelston, near Golden Valley Coal Wharf, and in the occupation of Mr. Henry Pitts Lot 7 A close of arable land called Little Acre or Avonside containing 2r 8p, adjoining and on the south side of the said Turnpike Road, bounded on other sides by the River Avon and the Coal Wharf, and occupied by the said Henry Pitts. Bristol Times and Mirror, April 13, 20 & 27, 1867 Area Measures in Britain in the 1850 s a = acre = 4,840 sq yds (like today) = 4 roods r = rood = ¼ acre = 40 Poles (or Perches) p = pole (or perch) = 1 sq rod = 30¼ sq yards rod = 5.5 yards (linear measure) It is likely that the sale of these lots was a condition for Henry s Order of Discharge in February. How heavily the properties were mortgaged and how much of the proceeds were left over for Henry after the auction is unknown. Page 6

7 Baking in Bristol After the auction Henry, Jane and Edward moved to Moorfields, a neighbourhood a mile or so to the east side of downtown Bristol, in the town of Russell Town, St George s Parish, where Henry became a baker once again. Bristol was a city of 154,093 persons, and St George s had 10,276 persons in the census of 1861, so both were bustling communities compared to the smaller towns the family had lived in. Henry s community spirit was evidenced by his becoming a parish constable in St George s. This role was as an unpaid policeman within the parish, organized by the local parish. A parish constable could exist where there was no organized police force, or, as in St George s, to complement an understaffed (underfunded) established police force. A parish constable could be involved in regular patrol duties or be called upon in emergency situations. Henry was also a member of the North Somerset Yeomanry during his time in Bristol, possibly continuing a membership established when he was in Bitton. This regiment was based in Bath, about 12 miles from Moorfields, (or 5 miles from Bitton). These two hobbies collided in a humorous event that occurred Saturday, September 26 th, 1868, when a drunken Henry returned home on horseback from Yeomanry drill. He ended up being charged with assaulting Richard Ewins and was brought to court the following Friday (quick justice back in those days!), as detailed in the Bristol Mercury of October 3, Page 7

8 Based on the newspaper article above, this family photograph of Henry, Jane and Edward Pitts requires a fresh review. Until now, nothing was known about the context of this picture. Is it possible that Henry is wearing his North Somerset Yeomanry uniform in this picture? Is the tall helmet under Henry s right hand part of his uniform? (Here is a Trumpeter & Bandsman helmet for the North Somerset Yeomanry ) Is the sword in Henry s left hand the one that he brandished before Richard Ewins? Dating this picture has a couple of options: o If Edward is about 6, then the picture was taken about But why isn t Frank in the picture? o If the picture was taken after Frank left for Australia, then Edward would be over 8 years-of-age. Each year seemed to bring a fresh court appearance for Henry, in addition to the incident above. (See Appendix G): May 1868 Assaulted on duty as Parish Constable; assailants found guilty June 1869 Assaulted on duty as Parish Constable; assailant sentenced to 28 days hard labour; March 1870 A curious dispute over possession of parts of a cart; case dismissed; November 1870 Carpenters hired by Henry (identified as a master carpenter ) demanded to be paid and were assaulted by Henry when they became belligerent in their demands; case dismissed; December 1871 Dispute over a house rental; Henry found guilty of assault and fined 10s. Court events related to being a Parish Constable cease after 1869 implying that Henry may have retired from the role about then. However, Henry seemed to have a belligerent streak that kept getting him in trouble before the courts. Henry, Jane and Edward were enumerated on April 2 nd, 1871 in the British Census, still in Moorfields, living at 31 Morton Street in the town of Russell Town, civil parish of St George s, to the east of Bristol, with Henry working as a baker. It appears Henry and family moved sometime in 1872, to Rodney Stoke, Somerset, where he resumed working as a miller. Page 8

9 Renewal in Somerset Levels Somerset Levels lies to the south of what is now known as the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Numerous delightful towns still dot this fertile valley and Henry lived in several of them over the next 25 years. Henry moved initially to Rodney Stoke on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Three miles to the northwest is Cheddar, adjacent to famous Cheddar Gorge and ancestral home of its namesake cheese. Six miles to the southeast is Wells with its beautiful Cathedral. Even here Henry found himself in court in the autumn of 1875, for picking a fight with his neighbour when he cut off the water supply for Henry s mill. Young Edward at age 17 got involved in the tussle as well. Both parties accused the other of assault but both cases were dismissed. (See Appendix H) Four miles south is the village of Henton. It s uncertain when Henry and Jane moved there, but Edward found his bride there; a local girl named Hannah York, and married her in Christ Church, Henton, on January 28 th, The two of them emigrated to Canada, sailing from Liverpool on April 15 th, 1880 and arriving at Quebec City on May 9 th after a harrowing voyage on the SS Polynesian. Edward s older sister and family Lucy & Jonathan Chapple were on the same vessel. The census of 1881 found empty-nesters Henry and Jane living in Henton, with Henry s occupation still listed as miller. Two years later, Henry and Jane were living just two miles east at Wookey, when longsuffering Jane died at Burcott Mill, April 24 th 1883, at age 66. Burcott Mill still stands today, operating as a delightful guest house. Less than four months later Henry married spinster Mary Hockey (age 42) at St James Parish Church in Bristol on August 16 th Perhaps Henry knew Mary from the years that they lived at Moorfields earlier. Incidentally Henry s age on the marriage document is shown as 60 when he actually was approaching 70 years of age. Even at this time, the court dramas were not quite over. Henry and Mary were both involved in two housing disputes that played out over the first six months of (See Appendices I & J.) In May 1887 Henry purchased a mill and property in Bleadney (2.5 miles west of Wookey). He borrowed money from Edwin Welsh who wrote an unusual mortgage which changed the mortgage to a lease if payments were missed. [Did Mr. Welsh know Henry s reputation?] Page 9 Mr. Welsh died of typhoid in September and his estate apparently passed to his father. By January 1890 Henry was behind in his mortgage payments and the new Mr. Welsh wanted to sell the property so sought to obtain possession by evicting his tenants Henry and Mary. Despite Henry fighting this, Mr. Welsh was allowed to take possession. On February 28 th while Henry was away the bailiff entered the premises and the locks were removed. Upon his return,

10 Henry took a chopper to the bailiff and once again ended up being charged with assault. It may have been a murder charge if Mary hadn t intervened. In court the next week Henry claimed: o He thought that hard [the eviction] since he had not sixpence in his pocket and o He did not know where he would go for the night. o He had made use of language that he afterwards regretted; and o That was the first time for nearly 80 years that he had been before the magistrates. [Emphasis added. At least his age -76- was nearly correct.] The assault case was dismissed and a new date for possession was given to Mr. Welsh for March 18 th. Henry still refused to move and in court in early April was given 21 days to vacate. It appears that he did finally quit the property in Bleadney and moved to another property owned by Mr. Welsh [!] in Westbury-sub-Mendip, four miles north. In June 1890, Jane Tucker sued Henry and Mary for an action for ejectment for not vacating the property she had recently purchased from Mr. Welsh in Westbury-sub-Mendip. After describing the scene that ensued as more like an Irish eviction the court ordered Henry and Mary to vacate within a fortnight. (See Appendix K.) Eventually that matter was settled and the census of 1891 found Henry and Mary living in The Cottage at The Hollow in Westbury-sub-Mendip, as a retired miller. Henry died on August 25 th 1898 at age 83 in Westbury-sub-Mendip and was buried in the cemetery at the Church of St Lawrence there. (The burial record shows his name as Henry Pimm.) His death certificate states he died of Senile Decay and Cerebral Softening, likely a euphemism for Alzheimer s disease or other dementia. Mary died in November 1905 at Westbury-sub-Mendip. Conclusions I started this research in an attempt to find whether Henry Pitts could have fled to Wales to escape financial problems in Somerset around the time Edward Pitts was born in What I found was the story of a man who could have made a thoroughly modern politician. He said, even in court under oath, whatever he felt would help his story. That he was a poor financial manager has been established without doubt. He also suffered from a quick temper and a tendency to run off at the mouth when crossed. He showed some redeeming virtues in his social conscience but the overall impression is of a man with considerable problems that contributed to his estrangement from his children. Bruce Pitts bruce.pitts65@gmail.com May 2016 Page 10

11 Appendix A: Map of Henry Pitts Known Residences 1. Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset 2. Congresbury, Somerset 3. Othery, Somerset 4. Broomfield, Somerset 5. Uplowman, Devon 6. Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales 7. Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales 8. Cluton, Somerset 9. Bitton, Gloucester 10. Moorfields, Gloucester 11. Rodney Stoke, Somerset 12. Henton, Somerset Yellow Pin: Wookey, Somerset Green Pin: Bleadney, Somerset Blue Pin: Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset Page 11

12 Appendix B: Selling a Lame Pony to the High Bailiff of the Court Jury Case Hard Swearing October Western Times - Exeter, Devon, England Page 12

13 Appendix C: First Bankruptcy in Uplowman, Devon January 27, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette January 13, 1855 Western Times Exeter February 24, 1855 Western Times Page 13

14 Appendix D: Living in Wales and Another Bankruptcy July 3, Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecon Gazette April 2, Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon Gazette Walter Cocksley s death certificate Page 14

15 Appendix E: Bankrupt in Bitton London Gazette (Page ) London Gazette (Page 1827) London Gazette (Page 2633) February 27, 1866 March 13, 1866 April 24, 1866 Henry Pitts, of Swinford Mill, in the parish of Bilton, [sic] in the county of Gloucester, Miller, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Bristol, on the 24 th day of February, 1866, is hereby required to surrender himself to Edward Harley and James Gibbs, Esqrs., the Registrars of the said Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrars, on the 9th day of March next, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, at the Guildhall, Bristol. Edward Harley and James Gibbs, Esqrs., are the Official Assignees, and Mr. J. H. Clifton is the Solicitor acting in the bankruptcy. Henry Pitts, of Swinford Mill, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Gloucester, Miller, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Bristol, on the 24 th day of February, 1866, a public sitting, for the said bankrupt to pass his Last Examination,and make application for his Discharge, will be held at the said Court, at Bristol, on the 16 th day of April next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon precisely, the day last aforesaid being the day limited for the said bankrupt to surrender. Edward Harley and James Gibbs, Esqrs., are the Official Assignees, and Mr. J. H. Clifton is the Solicitor acting in the bankruptcy. Henry Pitts, of Swinford-mill, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Gloucester, Miller, adjudicated bankrupt on the 24th day of February, An Order of Discharge was granted by the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Bristol, on the 16th day of April, Page 15

16 Appendix F: Bankrupt Again in Bitton and in Debtor s Gaol London Gazette (Page 6740) London Gazette (Page 7167) Western Daily Press November 30, 1866 December 25, 1866 January 30, 1867 Henry Pitts, late a Prisoner for Debt in the Gaol at Gloucester, and previously residing at Swinford, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Gloucester, Miller, having been adjudged bankrupt by a Registrar of the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Gloucester, attending, at the Gaol at Gloucester, on the 16 th day of November, 1866, and the adjudication being directed to be prosecuted in the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Bristol, is hereby required to surrender himself to Edward Barley and James Gibbs, Esqrs., the Registrars of the said lastmentioned Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrars, on the 21 st day of December next, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, at the Guildhall, Bristol. Edward Harley and James Gibbs, Esqrs., are the Official Assignees. Henry Pitts, of Swinford, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Gloucester, Miller, late a Prisoner for Debt in the Gaol at Gloucester, having been adjudged bankrupt by a Registrar of the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Gloucester, attending at the Gaol at Gloucester, ou the 16 th day of November, 1866, and the adjudication directed to be prosecuted in the County Court of Gloucester, holden at Bristol, a public sitting, for the said bankrupt to pass his Last Examination, and make application for his Discharge, will be held at the last-mentioned Court, at Bristol, on the 29th day of January next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon precisely, the day last aforesaid being the day limited for the said bankrupt to surrender. Edward Harley and James Gibbs, Esqs., are the Official Assignees. London Gazette (Page 1587) March 5, 1867 Henry Pitts, of Swinford, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Gloucester, Miller, and late a Prisoner for Debt in the Gaol at Gloucester, adjudicated bankrupt on the 16 th day of November, An Order of Discharge was granted by the County Court of Gloucestershire, holden at Bristol, on the 25th day of February, Page 16

17 Appendix G: Keeping the Court busy in Moorfields Parish Constable Assaulted Assaulted on Duty A Curious State of Things Western Daily Press 08 May 1868 Bristol Mercury 19 June 1869 Bristol Times and Mirror 18 March 1870 Carpenter s Dispute (1) Carpenter s Dispute (2) Dispute over House Rental Bristol Times and Mirror 04 November 1870 Bristol Mercury 05 November 1870 Bristol Mercury 23 December 1871 Page 17

18 Appendix H: Water Problems in Rodney Stoke Fisticuffs Etc. Edward Involved Western Gazette 15 October, 1875 Western Daily Press 15 October, 1875 Page 18

19 Appendix I: Refusing to Vacate the Bleadney Mill (Part 1) Action for Possession Charge of Assaulting a Bailiff Wells Journal 20 February, 1890 Wells Journal 13 March 1890 Page 19

20 Appendix J: Refusing to Vacate the Bleadney Mill (Part 2) Third Attempt at Eviction Western Gazette 04 April 1890 Page 20

21 Appendix K: Eviction at Westbury-sub-Mendip Wells Journal June 12, 1890 Page 21