Pre 1800

From transcribed Cambridge Collection notes

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 23 March 1776

Last Friday morning, about 4 o’ clock, a fire was discovered in the bakehouse at Harston Mill, in this county, which destroyed the bakehouse, and several out-houses, and burnt some pigs, but was providentially got under without reaching the mill or dwelling house.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 12 December 1778                        A BURGLARY

Whereas the house of James Edwards of Harston in Cambridgeshire was last night or early this morning, broke into and robbed of the following articles, viz, 1 large silver spoon, marked JK, 1 large tea kettle, 1 large saucepan, 1 red cardinal, 8 children’s linen frocks, 10 children’s shirts, 6 of them open and 4 round, 3 check aprons, 1 mans shirt, 1 large flannel petticoat, 6 children’s petticoats, 2 flannel, 2 linen and 2 white ones, 6 pairs of stockings, 3 pairs of mens, 1 pair of womens and 2 pairs of childrens, 6 yards of dowlas cloth, 1 loaf of sugar and 21s in silver.
Whoever will discover the person or persons who committed the said burglary so that he, she or they may be brought to justice, shall on conviction, receive two guineas reward, besides the forty pounds allowed by act of Parliament. By me, JAMES EDWARDS

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 22 October 1785

Friday last, about noon, a fire broke out at the farm of Mr Hayes of Harston, in this county, which consumed the barns and out-houses, and destroyed his whole stock of grain, etc. It is thought to have been maliciously set on fire.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 30 July 1796

On Saturday, the 23rd inst, an inquisition was taken at Harston, before Mr Ingle, one of the coroners for this county, on view of the body of Robert Tuck junior, who bathing in the river unfortunately got out of his depth and was drowned.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 30 July 1796                            CAMBRIDGESHIRE HARSTON PARISH

By the desire of several of the principle proprietors of estates in the parish of Harston in this county, I do hereby give NOTICE, that on Friday the 5th day of August next, they intend to meet at the RED LION in Cambridge, by eleven o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of applying to Parliament the ensuing session, for an Act to divide and allot (and, if it should appear beneficial, to enclose) the landed property within the said parish; when all persons interested are particularly requested to attend.
C PEMBERTON

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 13 August 1796

At the meeting at Red Lion, Cambridge on 5/8 it was resolved that an adjourned meeting be held on 18/10.  Mr Pemberton of Cambridge to give ‘the usual notice of the intended application’ as required by standing orders of House of Commons. (Notice repeated on 11/8).

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 22 October 1796

At Red Lion, the adjourned meeting of the Proprietors of Estates in parish of Harston…..expediency of an appl. To Parliament to divide & allot the several open fields, commons and waste grounds of Harston……Resolved by persons owning a very considerable majority of the landed property in the parish who were present or represented here…That it is expedient to apply to Parliament, this present session, for an Act for the above purpose and that a draft Bill to that effect be prepared by Mr Pemberton, the solicitor, to be laid before the Proprietors at their next meeting, for their approbation. Resolved: for next meeting to be on Mon 28/11, 11 am. Signed Charles Wale, chairman.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 4 February 1797

Auction by Edward Yorke on 9/2 at 10 am, part of the household Furniture and other effects of the late Mr Whitby at his house in Harston. Catalogues offered.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 24 June 1797

Auction, arable land at house of James Wallman (= The Swan) on Fri 7/7, 2-5 pm.   30 acres 1 rood in the common fields, holden of the manor of Tiptofts. Particulars, apply Thomas Samuel, John Bones or the owner.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 16 September 1797

(This was a very long extract, amounting to 4 handwritten pages, so only summarised here). (It is an) ‘Authentic account’ of ‘the late Riot’ at Harston.  The owners of at least five sixths of the property in this parish, having applied to Parliament in the ensuing session for an Act to allot and divide the parish, sent a person named Brand from Cambridge on Sun 5/9/1797 to Harston to fix on the church door a Notice of Intent, pursuant to the orders of the House of Commons.  Before reaching the church, he saw many persons in the church yard, and one ‘Norden’ intercepted him, saying ‘If you attempt to put up that notice, you will suffer for it’. He then kicked Brand’s horse ‘violently’, tried to pull Brand down, tore his coat, and with violent language they pelted him out of the Parish.    A complaint was made before Rev Andrew Pern, county magistrate. As it was thought that the Harston constables ‘would not be very active in their endeavours to apprehend (Norden), the warrant was given to the constable of another parish’ who went there on 2 separate days to execute it  –   but was not possible for him, as Norden was guarded by others, armed with scythes, so as to resist Norden’s apprehension.  Mr Pern then sought assistance from the county Yeomenry Cavalry (9 members were available), to gather there on Saturday at 4 pm. Mr Pemberton, the Lieutenant of the Troop commanded them, and Mr Pern joined them ‘upon the road’. Norden was apprehended in the harvest field; he ‘refused to submit quietly’ and was ‘taken by force’. Other villagers came with pitchforks and similar ’weapons’ to resist his arrest. Norden then broke away and attacked Pemberton with a long stout club (that needed both hands to wield it). Pemberton then used his sword to parry the blows and to attack a Mr Cornwall, ‘slightly wounding him in the hand’. 2 more of the Cavalry then arrived and as the rioters were increasing in number, the Cavalry loaded their pistols with ball. The constable then managed to detain Norden and he was taken to Cambridge,(with the rioters, armed with pitchforks, following).  However the ‘rioters’ did not attempt to rescue Norden ‘for that would have been fatal to many of them’. The rioters then assembled in great numbers the next day (Sunday) and behaved ‘in a very riotous manner’ (‘instead of being sorry for their improper conduct’). ………..’This (lengthy) account was thought necessary’ ‘to prevent any misrepresentation’.  Norden was committed to the Castle to be tried for assault at the next county general quarter sessions.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 23 September 1797

Notice is hereby given that an application is intended to be made to Parliament in the next session for an Act to divide and inclose the open an common fields, common meadows, lammas grounds and other open and commonable lands and waste grounds in Harston etc (see above). Signed C Pemberton, solicitor.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 23 September 1797

Harston, Hauxton, Llittle Shelford, Newton…….Notice is given…….of an application to Parliament to enclose land…..(etc)….. over which the commoners of the parish or other persons exercise a mixed right of commons……..usually called by the name of ‘intercommonable lands’, the greater part, if not the whole, thereof lie within certain fields and commons called Harston Ham, Hauxton Moor, Little Shelford Moor, Ham Field, Dancer Field, High Field, Cross Field and Great Brook Field.   Signed C Pemberton, solicitor.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 14  October 1797

Quarter Sessions on 6/10/1797, trial of Jonathan Norden for assaulting Chapple Gilbert Brand and preventing him from attaching a notice…….to the (Harston) church door. Pleaded guilty, 3 mo. prison, fined 5 shillings and required sureties of good behaviour. John Norfield also indicted for ‘obstinately refusing to aid and assist in carrying Jonathan Norden to gaol’, pleaded guilty, 14d prison, fined £25.   Wm Cornwell, John Barton, Joseph Barton, Meshack Andrews, Henry Wrenham, Richard Northrop, Thos Silk, Ann Adams all indicted for riot – to be tried by a Grand Jury at next Q. Sessions.  Court also ordered 5 guineas to be given to Wm Harradine of Trumpington, the constable who executed the warrant against Norden, as a just reward. (Opinion ): “If the accused had not pleaded guilty ‘their sentences would have been much severer’ “.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 14  October 1797

Q. Sessions (6/10/1797) report cont.: ‘at Shire Hall, before Rev James Nasmith DD, Chair, Sir Charles Cotton Bart, Benjamin Keene, Richard Greaves Townley, Hale Wortham, Christopher Jeaffreson, Lancelot Brown, George Milner Esqs.; Andrew Pern, Wm Butts, Richard Haighton, Wm Lort Mansel, James Hicks, Edmund Trant, Thos Waddington, Joseph Hall, Thos Sheepshanks,, Wm Williams, clerks………..Resolved…….that thanks to be given to Rev Andrew Pern, magistrate, ‘for his spirited conduct in (executing) a warrant against Jonathan Norden’ ‘resisted by an armed mob’. And ….resolved…….that thanks be conveyed to Lieutenant Pemberton of the Yeomen Cavalry and his troop, for their assistance. (Ordered, that these Resolutions be entered in the proceedings of this Court and inserted in the next Cambridge Chronicle, by order of the Court, signed Pemberton, Clerk of the Peace.)

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 23 December 1797

Harston & Hauxton Inclosure.. ‘A petition has been presented to the House of Commons to allot…. (etc)  ….. the nature and extent of which does not appear to be clearly understood……therefore a meeting is to held at the Red Lion on 28/12/1797 at 11am  to consider its extent and expediency.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 20 January 1798

County sessions last Friday, Wm Cornwell, Thos Silk, Jo Barton, John Barton, Henry Wrenham, Mike Andrews, Richard Northrop, all indicted for riot. Cornwell & Silk pleaded guilty; all were convicted. However Mr Pemberton (recommended leniency) ‘because ‘he well knew that those indicted were acting as tools of others, unidentified, by whom the riot was occasioned’, so that Cornwell and Silk were sentenced to (only) 3 weeks, and the rest to (only) 3 months, ‘at the house of correction’, since their behaviour had been ‘good’ subsequently.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 7 April 1798

2nd Commons reading of the Harston inclosure bill took place on Wednesday last.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 14 July 1798

First meeting for putting the Act (presumably now ‘passed’, for Harston & Hauxton parishes?) ‘into execution’. Commissioners (specifying Mount Field, Red Dean Field, Pessil’s Field and part of Little Shelford Moor, within Harston & Hauxton, and in Newton & Little Shelford)  –  give notice that ‘the first meeting for putting the said Act into execution will be held at the Sign of the Hoop in Cambridge on Monday 27/8 at 11 am…. where….every person claiming to have any estate or property or any right of sheepwalk or common or other right or interest whatsoever (except material rights) in, to, over or upon the lands and grounds by the said Act directed to be divided, allotted, exchanged and exonerated from tithes or any part thereof  –  is hereby desired to deliver in writing to the commissioners, a true and just account of the messuages, cottages, buildings, lands, tenements and hereditaments belonging to them, describing the number and quality and quantity of freehold, copyhold & leasehold parts and manors thereof (etc etc). Signed (28/6/1798), Geo Maxwell, Ed Hare, A Watford & C Pemberton.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 15 September 1798

Meeting to be held to set out the boundaries Inclosures (claims), 2nd meeting at The Hoop Inn on 5/11/1798 at 11 am. ‘This is the last meeting for receiving claims’. 10/9, signed C Pemberton.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 15 September 1798

The commissioners (for inclosures at Harston, Hauxton, Newton, Little Shelford) will meet at Hauxton Mills on Tuesday 6/11/1798 at 11 am, to ascertain the parochial situations of lands called Mountfield, Red Dean field, Pessil’s Field and Little Shelford Moor. Signed, 28/8 by G Maxwell etc.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 26 January 1799

The commissioners (as above), ‘having staked out the several turnpike roads, breadth 60 ft, hereby set out, ascertain, order and appoint the following Public Highways of breadth 60 ft:       No. 1, the turnpike from Cambridge to Barkway, at Hauxton Church Field, into Little Shelford parish and across Hauxton Moor;       No. 2, from the said turnpike at the NW corner of Mount Field between Mount Field and Hauxton Moor and Pessill’s Field into Little Shelford parish, along the ancient course thereof;      and         No. 3, from the Cambridge-Royston turnpike, at or near the Pound in Harston across the south end of Harston Green, thence between Harston Green Field and Baggot Field and between Cross Field on one side and Backside Field and an old inclosure in Newton, into the turnpike road leading from Cambridge to Barkway, which it enters at the Queen’s Head, Newton.     Any objections, omissions etc to be delivered in writing before or at the next meeting, on 1/3/1799 at The Hoop Inn. Signed, as above.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 9 February 1799

The commissioners (as above) have ’fixed’ the boundaries of the said parishes (this is a long 3-page account, here approximately summarised):  Triplow Bank  ……   eastward to Newton Brook….. then northward along the brook in its ancient irregular course to Whittlesford Bank, then to and along Triplow Road, northwards ca. 8 poles, then to Whittlesford Several Moor, then by NW side of the moor, to cross the intercommonable Moor between Little Shelford & Whittlesford, then straight to the Turnpike road continuing to & across the river at The Plash, across Cow Holme meadow, crossing the river again & across Paper-Mill meadows in parish of Sawston, leaving & again to the river where Stapleford River joins, then westward, then along Shelford Mill Ditch (between Little & Great Shelfords), then to  Old Mills, across the river again, to Holts meadows belonging to Wm Finch Esq & John Hemmington, Gent, then across the river again, to part of Hollick Meadows called The Boot, intercommonable beteween Greatt Shelford & Hauxton, then to part of Papworth Meadow, again across river where the river from Barrington joins, then to Burnt Mills, taking in 2 pieces of Lammas ground, one called Roundabouts belonging to Thos Halsted Esq  & the other, Well Pits,  belonging to Harston Church, then again crossing river to Harston Mill, across the river to meadows of Haslingfield parish, then to where Hoffer Brook enters river (Foxton parish), crossing at the Osier Holt in Newton (belonging to Christopher Pemberton jr. Esq) then by Row Ditch between Foxton parish & Newton, called Colin Field, up to the Cambridge-Barkway turnpike, across the road eastwards to a brook from Triplow to Newton taking in Lease Meadow & part of Triplow Field, east of the road, up to the west end of Triplow Bank. Signed, 18/1/1799 as previously.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 13 April 1799

Death, aged 83: Mr Henry Driver, occupation ‘higler’, ‘in which he acquired large property’.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 2 November 1799

Death of Mr Flack, miller & baker of Harston.

Cambridge Chronicle & Journal 14 December 1799

The enclosures commissioners will meet at The Hoop Inn in Cambridge on 17/12/1799, 10 am, to receive any applications from the proprietors of commonable cottages, if they choose to have a distinct allotment of land in lieu of their right to commons in respect of such cottages.

 

This page was added on 22/03/2016.

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