1831 Militia List for Wavendon

The 1831 Militia List for Wavendon

An amendment was made to the Militia Act in 1762, so that all men between 18 & 45 years of age (with a few exceptions) were liable to be conscripted into the Militia by ballot.  This is a transcription of the surviving Militia Ballot List for Wavendon, compiled in February 1831.

45 Geo. III [1831] Buckinghamshire Militia Return to be made by the Constable to the Clerk of the Sub-division Meeting.Parish of Wavendon, list of Persons between 18 and 45

“TAKE NOTICE That [blank] Fifth day of February at the hour of Eleven in the forenoon is appointed for hearing Appeals, within this sub-division, at the Saracens Head in Newport Pagnell by persons claiming to be Exempt from serving in the Militia, and that no further Appeals will be heard. And also that the Party who on that day neglects to Appeal, is under a penalty of Twenty Shillings, or one Weeks Imprisonment.”
“John Plowman, Constable of the Parish of Wavendon.”
5th February 1831 Verified on the Oath of John Plowman Before us: J B Band(?) & V A Talbot.

 

Thomas Plowman’s Mercy Petition, 1833

In July 1833, Thomas Plowman of Wavendon was arrested for stealing goods from a Leighton tailor. He had stolen ten pair of breeches, six yards of cloth, three waistcoats, 23 yards of fustian [heavy cotton cloth for menswear], and other goods, the property of Mr. Thomas Dumpleton, tailor, of Leighton Buzzard, Beds. Within a month of the crime, he found himself being tried for Larceny at the Bedfordshire Summer Assizes, at Bedford, and his story covered in local newspapers.

Plowman had worked for Dumpleton for seven months. He then left his employ and said he was starting his own business at Fenny Stratford.  On 29th June, Dumpleton left his shop safe, but on his return on 1st July, he found his goods missing.

Dumpleton searched Fenny Stratford for Plowman, then went to see Plowman’s wife at The George, Little Brickhill, then went on to Yardley, with no sign of him. The next week, Plowman appeared back at Dumpletons shop, and stated that, on the night of the robbery, he had been with his brother at Weston Underwood.  He then left the shop, but Dumpleton gave chase, calling “Stop thief!”  Plowman turned and pulled a knife, saying he would stab anyone who tried to hold him if they didn’t have a warrant. He escaped across a brook, but a constable caught up with him, and arrested him.

Dumpleton later found his goods for sale in a pawnbroker’s shop in Coventry.

Richard Clark, woodman, gave evidence to the Court that Plowman had been offering waistcoats and breeches for sale at the Black Horse Inn, Stratford. He had bought some, and afterwards they had journeyed together towards Daventry.

William Coningworth, pawnbroker, Coventry, gave evidence that Plowman had been to his shop and sold him the goods, in return for £3 5s, using the name “John Newman”.

Plowman declined to make any defence at the trial, but he had received a good character reference for honesty from several witnesses in Leighton Buzzard and Wavendon. He was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.

Thomas Ploughman’s letter, begging for mercy from the Court, is lodged at The National Archives [ref. HO 17/55/31] It notes his previous good character, his utmost contrition, and is strongly recommended by the prosecutor for mercy. It states he has a ‘suffering wife & three infant children’ and the Gaoler reported, ‘Character good”. The letter is not signed by Plowman himself, but is signed by the prosecutor and 55 inhabitants of Leighton Buzzard and Wavendon. It is also annotated: “Removed to the Penitentiary.”

The following are the names of the Wavendon tradesmen who signed his mercy petition:

John Fisher, C. Ch. Wavendon [vicar]
Edward Bennett
William Shouler, grazier
James Roberts, shoemaker
Richard Harris, leather worker[?]
James Harris, shoemaker
James Hutton, grazier
George Hillyer, grazier
Thomas Hight, blacksmith
Joseph Watts, tailor
John Nicholls, grocer
Richard John Monthorpe[?], schoolmaster
George Warwick, baker
William Higgs, tailor
Thomas Hillyar, parish clerk
William Rogers, grazier
William Tite, Plumer
George Bosworth, sadlar
George Tite, carpenter
William King, maltser