THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
Archive of Reports and Anecdotes
Hiron, George 1845-
British Genealogy.com
Janet Rguise
23-05-2008,
My Hiron was George who was born in Castlemorton on the 20th April, 1845. He married Harriet Matilda Guise, daughter of John and Sarah Guise of Castlemorton, on the 12th October 1868.Their son, Herbert Edwin Hiron married Annie Matilda Farmer of Himbleton. They migrated to Queensland, Australia after their marriage.
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Holland, William
In 1607 he was living at Castlemorton and petitioned the Magistrates as he had served in the Queen’s wars in Ireland where he hath gotten many incurable distempers yet he is not able to earn his living before this he hath done. He hath lately been visited with more sickness to the utter undoing of himself his wife and their small children.
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Hooper, J
At the Police Court, on Wednesday, before the Rev. G. H. Clifton, Wm. Drinkwater, Francis Drinkwater, J. Hooper, and E. Tyler, all of Castlemorton, were charged with being, on the 30th day of December 1878, at the Stank Covers, the property of G. E. Martin, Esq., at about half-past nine o'clock at night, possession of offensive weapons, to wit, sticks and stones, and that they did enter the said covers for the purpose of taking rabbits. Mr. Powell appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Selfe, barrister (instructed by Mr. G. W. Bentley), for the prisoners. Mr. Powell, having shortly explained the facts of the case, called Wm. Pound, who said: l am head gamekeeper to G. E. Martin, Esq., of Ham Court. On the night of the 30th December last I was accompanied by Carter, the underkeeper, who was leading my dog. When near the Round Cover I heard a shrill whistle. We went through the gate and listened, and the end of the hedge we saw the heads of two men, who bustled out and ran away in the direction of the Long Cover. We followed them. They were about 50 yards in advance. Carter loosed my dog at the men, and I followed as fast as I could. I saw a dog pass within two yards of me, and mine was chasing it. It was a lurcher dog with a black patch on his neck. I noticed the dog very particularly. When I got on the top of the bank I saw four men advancing towards me. They were about 20 yards off. They wore dark jackets and billycock hats. Neither spoke. I went to meet them, and when about eight yards off they took stones out of their pockets and threw them at me. One man came and struck me across the head. I then struck him with my stick, and he ran away. That man was the prisoner William Drinkwater. During this time the others stoned me; one stone struck me on the elbow, and made me drop the stick which I had taken from William Drinkwater. I then rushed at Hooper, who had a stone in his hand, which he threw and hit me on the temple. I have known Hooper for 10 or 12 years. Hooper then ran away, and I followed him. I recognise W. Drinkwater, F. Drinkwater, and J. Hooper, but I can't swear to Tyler, he is not tall enough; I will swear to the other three. Carter and I went to the place where we had the fight, and found the stick which I had taken from-Drinkwater. Carter then took me home, and I have been laid up for a month. The dog produced is the same saw at the Stank. I gave information to the police. Cross-examined by Mr. Selfe: I gave a full account of them to Supt. Turner, on the 1st of January, but did not know the names of either of the prisoners. It was moonlight night; there was snow. I have only one eye. I was able to take the stick from Drinkwater. I have not the stick I had here. Wm. Carter, underkeeper, corroborated Pound's evidence as regarded the stone throwing, and said he was struck on the wrist and body. He was also struck on the head with a stick by F. Drinkwater. He added: I struck out with stick and struck a man who is not here. I don't think Tyler was there. I will not swear to him. I can swear to the other three prisoners. On going home, when near the cover side, I kicked against a bag of rabbits and a long net. I took Pound home and sent for the doctor to him, and gave information the police the same night. The same, night, returning along the cover, I saw another long net partly set. On the following morning I found a bag containing five rabbits, and we picked up some stones off the meadow. Francis Drinkwater struck me on the head with the stick produced, which was broken by the blow. On the 21st inst. I went in company of P.C. Hundley to Castlemorton, Wm. Drinkwater's cottage, and there saw the same dog I saw at the Stank on the 30th December. I know it by the general appearance; I will swear to it. Cross-examined by Mr. Selfe: I knew the man who struck was a Drinkwater, but did not know which one be was. I do not know the fourth man. I did not see either the bag or net until I walked into them and tumbled on them. I hit the man who not here. They were all dressed in billycock hats and dark clothes. Being asked why he did not apprehend Drinkwater for striking him, witness said: I left it to my master. I have never said that I was not sure who the men were. P.C. Hundley, stationed at Ripple, said: On Saturday, the 4th, from information I received, I went to the Stank, and there saw a net, which I recognise as having been seen me in Drinkwater's house about the month of April 1876. I noticed the two iron pins that are attached to the net. Drinkwater was present at the time. I was then searching for fowls. On the 21st I went with Carter to W. Drinkwater's house, and there saw a dog which is produced, which Cater at once recognised. Cross-examined by Mr. Selfe: I knew on the 4th that the net was Drinkwater's, but I did not go to apprehend him until the 24th. Supt. Turner deposed: On the 1st of January I received information of a poaching affray at the Stank. A description of the men was given me, and the 22nd of January I received a warrant for the apprehension of the prisoners. I went to Castlemorton and there saw the dog which I now produce, was from home, but I found him a cider house close by. I told him I was come apprehend him on a charge of night poaching. He said, I can prove myself innocent. I go to bed every night very early. I was not there at the time you mention. The last time was at the Stank was when the hounds met there. He told me he never lent his bitch to anyone. On the 24th I went in search F. Drinkwater. E Tyler and I found Tyler at the Berrow, and read the warrant to him. He said, I can prove myself innocent. On the 25th I went Castlemorton in search of Hooper and found Hooper at work at the Fair Oak Farm. I called him from his work and told him I had a warrant apprehend him. He said, What for? I told him. He said, I can prove myself innocent. I then took him into custody. Francis Drinkwater surrendered himself on Monday. I at saw F. Drinkwater house, in a back kitchen, a quantity of wires and nets used for taking game. When I read the charge to Frank Dinkwater he said, I was never on the ground. I received the sticks, stones, nets, and bags from Carter, which are now produced. Cross-examined Mr. Selfe: We never thought J. Allsop had anything to with it. P.C. Gwillam said: I was taking Drinkwater on to Berrow, when said, have you got any more? I said No, you are the first. He asked, How many more you want? I said. "I must not tell you that. He then said, do you think would make any difference if we all plead guilty? I then told him to be careful, as what he said I should use against him at Upton. Mr. Selfe addressed the Bench on behalf the prisoners, contending there was not sufficient evidence against them to send the case for trial. The Magistrate discharged Tyler, and committed the other three for trial at the Assizes. Prisoners, through their pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence.
Published: Saturday 01 February 1879
Newspaper: Worcestershire Chronicle
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Hooper, Thomas
Upton Petty Sessions. Thursday, April 25. Thomas Hooper, horse dealer and beer-house keeper, of Castlemorton, was charged by Superintendent Petford with having cruelly ill-treated a horse, driven by himself, on Tuesday, the 16th instant, contrary to the statute in that case made and provided. Mr. Holland appeared for the defendant. Mr. John Harris, of Welland, stated that on the 16th inst. he saw the defendant and another man, named Phillips, coming up the road from Castlemorton toward Upton with a horse and cart each; they were going very fast, he should think at the rate thirteen miles hour, sometimes trotting and sometimes cantering, passing and repassing each other; was then standing the door of his house, which about forty yards from the turnpike road they were on. The defendant (Hooper) was then beating his horse with a whip rather furiously. He understood they were racing for £2, from Castlemorton to Upton. On their return from Upton they had quantity of coal in each cart; they were then coming very fast, but not fast as when going to Upton, As they passed Mrs. Green's cart, which was by the side of the road being loaded with manure, the horse took fright at the rattling noise made by them, and after going a short distance ran the cart against gate-post, and the shaft of the cart was near entering the body of a man named Wheeler, the carter, who was trying stop the horse. Several witnesses having given their evidence, the Bench dismissed the first charge, that of cruelty to the horse, the evidence not being so conclusive with regard to the instrument used, and the pain inflicted upon the poor animal, as they deemed necessary substantiate it. With regard the second charge, that of furiously driving, they considered it was clearly proved, and therefore fined the defendant £3, and 15s 6d costs. A pig-dealer, named William Phillips, of Castlemorton, who run the race with Hooper, was fined in the same penalty and costs. With regard to this case, a contemporary states that these fellows, after their day's work, raced their poor animals from Welland to Castlemorton; then, without any rest, having harnessed the horses, they raced all the way to Upton, took in half ton of coal each, and then galloped back, doing the double distance of eleven miles between Castlemorton and Upton, besides loading the carts, in an hour and twenty-six minutes. Neither of the poor animals has four legs to stand on; and nothing but the most unfeeling brutality could have got them along at such pace. It will be seen that the life of a human being was very nearly sacrificed to the reckless cruelty of the fellows
Published: Thursday 02 May 1844
Newspaper: Worcester Journal
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Reports Page 16