Underweight butter, a load of bull and assault
1844 – Underweight Butter Seized at Dewsall
The Inspector of Weights and Measures, Mr. James, seized a large amount of butter from Mr. Price of Dewsall, having found it to be well under the weight it was advertised as being.
Mr. Price pleaded ignorance to the deficit, and blamed the scales, but the magistrate said that the butter must be forfeited despite this because had it been sold it would have the poorer people who would have suffered most.
The butter, amounting to about 9lbs, was given to the poor of the district.
1854 – Never Trust a Bull
John Handcocks, 55 and unmarried, worked for Daniel Pearce of Monkall in the parish of Much Dewchurch and was in charge of the cattle.
He was ordered to take a bull, which had never been led by the halter before, to the Hill of Eaton near Ross, and another man, Edwin Watkins was to accompany him. Daniel Pearce initially walked with them, but because the bull seemed well behaved he turned round and went home. Mr. Pearce had owned the bull for some time, and it had never shown any aggression.
On went the pair with the bull, and all was fine and dandy until they came to a meadow in Dewsall belonging to the Vicar, when the animal started to play up…….he was restless and threatening, so John Handcocks tried to calm him by scratching his face, but to no avail and eventually in self defence John started to hit the bull around the head to keep him away.
The bull totally lost its temper and charged at its handler, knocking him down before kneeling on him. Not content with this, the bull proceeded to try to gore John with his horns, and the poor man pleaded with Edwin to help him.
Having no stick, Edwin started to pelt the enraged animal with stones (not designed to calm it down one would think) which diverted attention and eventually he was able to safely drive it away from John. However, poor John could not feel his legs at this stage and had to be carried to a nearby house, where he kept saying that it was his fault for scratching the bull’s head.
John was sent by horse and cart to the Infirmary, and the bull was taken back to the Monkhall with no further problems.
Sadly John Handcocks was completely paralysed from the waist down and had difficulty breathing, and shortly after his admittance to the Infirmary he died.
1856 – Assault on Girlfriend’s Mother
James Lewis, a labourer of Dewsall was charged with assaulting Mrs. Susan Trumper of Allensmore.
James had fallen in love with Emma, but her mother, Susan Trumper, was not happy with the relationship and tried to put a stop to it.
James was not happy – he lost his temper and threw Mrs. Trumper to the floor, then threatened to kill her with a knife. Mr. Trumper intervened and took the knife from him, but James was desperate and falling to his knees, implored Emma to marry him.
The magistrates sadly had no romance in their souls and fined him heavily.
1856 – Death of Rev Thomas Phillipps’ Daughter at Dewsall
Emma, aged just nine years, second daughter of the Rev. Thomas Phillips, Vicar of Dewsall, died.
1858 – The Vicar gives Children Tea and Cake then suffers another devastating loss at Dewsall
The Rev. T. Phillips (also reported as “Phillipps) and his wife and daughter entertained the children of Callow and Dewsall with tea and plum cake on the rectory lawn.
In return, the children sang their school songs, and everyone enjoyed themselves.
It is particularly sad in view of this happy scene, that some 7 years later in 1865, Anthony Phillips the son of the Rev. Phillips and his wife, drowned whilst swimming at Tenby on holiday.
He was 16 and had just left school with a promising career ahead of him, but it seems that he went for a swim with his brother and a friend named Sparks. The sea was rough, and Sparks got into some difficulties so Anthony’s brother went to held him, whilst yelling to Anthony to get back to land. Unfortunately, as still happens these days, the current and roughness of the sea were too much, and Anthony was carried out to sea.
1860 – Summoned for Stealing Sticks
Ellen Wood, the wife of a waggoner (sorry for the spelling, but that’s how it was) who earned just 8s a week and had to support a family of five, was summoned for taking sticks belonging to the proprietors of Guy’s Hospital, Dewsall.
She was fined 1d, with 6d damages and costs of 16s and 6d.