A steamer is lost;  triplets;  child assault, and more

1844 – Accidental Death at Aymestrey

Samuel Hammond was a 14 year old lad who worked for Philip Turner of Aymestrey.

He was described as well behaved, and had been entrusted by Philip to roll a field of newly sown barley, using a horse to pull the roller.

Samuel was found on the road by William Stephens of Wigmore, and unfortunately he was beneath the roller and quite dead.   The horse was standing quietly.

1858 – Triplet surprise for Aymestrey Woman

The wife of Thomas Partington, Gamekeeper,  of Gatley Cottage, Aymestrey, gave birth to triplets – two boys and one girl.  They were all strong and healthy and expected to thrive.

The Partington family now includes six children all under four and a half years old.

The vicar, the Rev.  J. Rogers, and some ladies of the area kindly set about raising money for the family who found themselves with two more children than they bargained for.

1891 – Infant dies at birth at Aymestrey through lack of assistance

Lizzie Humphreys was in service at Western Lye Farm.  Her master, John Davies had heard her groaning just after midnight, and knowing that she was pregnant he dressed and went to fetch her grandmother.

The grandmother, Caroline Humphreys, went up to see Lizzie, then shortly afterwards came downstairs to say that the baby was dead.

Mr. Davies stated at the inquest that he was not aware of any preparation being made for the birth, and indeed, the grandmother was not even aware that Lizzie was pregnant.

Caroline stated that when she went upstairs and asked her granddaughter where the baby was, Lizzie said that it was under the bedclothes;  Caroline turned back the sheet and found the dead baby, then left it for the doctor’s inspection later.

Dr. Robert Williams of Kingsland said that he couldn’t say with any certainty that the child had been born alive, and that the mother had said that it didn’t cry or move after birth.  He felt that the child had died from want of proper attention at the birth and the jury returned a verdict of Death from want of assistance at birth.

1898 – The Loss of the Screw Steamer Aymestry

Yes, I know this is a tenuous link!

Messrs. Sivewright, Bacon and Co., West Hartlepool, owners of the screw steamer Aymestry which was wrecked on Farquhar Island, received a letter from Captain Crisp, dated Mauritius 14th May, saying that he and the crew of the above steamer would leave Mauritius on 19th by the Castle Liner Lismore Castle, for London.

Reports said that Aymestry was hard and fast on the rocks and “pretty well gutted”. Natives said that the crew had tried to get her off the rocks for some 15 days.

1904 – Child Assaulted at Aymestrey

John Jordan, a 46 year old thatcher, was accused of indecently assaulting Elsie Minnie Bullock, an eight year old girl, at Aymestrey.  The assault was witnessed by Arthur William Weaver, a little boy who also said that he saw Jordan give Elsie 2d.

John claimed that he was drunk at the time and was not guilty;  he then said that he didn’t remember what had happened and he was sorry.

A character witness for John said that he was a hard working man, but had one fault – having too much to drink on occasion.  He was married but separated.

Although the jury found Jordan guilty of indecent assault, they asked for mercy on account of his good character and the Judge said that the influence of drink was no excuse.  However, considering the prisoner’s good character he decided to pass a light sentence, saying that children must be protected from men like him.

He was given two months with hard labour.