The Baker, the Banjo Player, the Drunk, a Runaway Horse and a Purse Theft
Family Court Cases in 19th Century Brighton
This week has very much focused on more ancestral research, especially after I found out further information about the shared link to my distant 5th cousin, the actor Ruper Everett. We are descended from the same ancestral grandparents, Moses Edmonds, and his wife Elizabeth Pulford. Moses was a miller from Playden, Sussex and Elizabeth was the daughter of a boat builder and sea captain from Rye. Moses and Elizabeth lived and died at Wartling. Their son Moses also gave birth to a son named Moses who moved to Brighton. He is the subject of the tale that follows:
In the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, the bustling town of Brighton was home to my ancestors, the Edmonds family who were embroiled in significant legal battles that showed the complexity of their lives. My ancestor uncle, Moses Edmonds, the brother of my third great-grandfather John Edmonds, was a baker and corn chandler, who faced financial and reputational challenges in 1844. His son, Alfred Edmonds (my ancestor cousin), a house painter, was involved in a courtroom dispute over a banjo in 1862, and Alfred's wife, Eliza Edmonds, had her own encounter with the law in 1861. Adding to the family troubled legal stories, Ada Edmonds, another ancestor cousin, found herself in court in 1904. These cases offer a fascinating window into the social and economic fabric of the era.
Moses Edmonds: The 1844 Financial Struggle
In 1844, Moses Edmonds was at the centre of a legal dispute initiated by Russell Gray. The case, involving a debt of £161 7s. 6d., revealed Moses' total debts of £547 7s. 0¾d. against credits of £165 2s. Represented by Mr. Woodruffe, Moses faced opposition from Mr. Bennett of Brighton.
In addition to his baking trade, Moses was also the proprietor of three flys, a type of horse-drawn carriage. The examination revealed that Moses had not maintained proper records of the earnings and expenses related to these flys, raising suspicions about his financial integrity. Mr Bennett conducted a detailed cross-examination to uncover the whereabouts of the proceeds from the sale of the flys, horses, and other assets, suggesting potential misappropriation.
The lack of transparency in Moses' business dealings further complicated the case. The unclear circumstances surrounding the sale of the flys and horses cast a shadow over Moses' financial practices. Additionally, there were questions about the operations of his baking business, suggesting potential irregularities.
A key witness, Mrs. Baker, who had lent money to Moses, did not provide any significant insights. In his defence, Moses attributed his financial troubles to the substantial costs involved in building an oven and other business expenses, which he claimed amounted to nearly £500. He also implied that Mr. Bennett's actions had damaged his credit, exacerbating his financial difficulties.
After a thorough hearing, the Commissioner expressed doubt about the validity of the opposition's case, indicating to Mr. Bennett that there was insufficient evidence to justify continuing the opposition. Consequently, Mr. Russell Gray withdrew the suit, and Moses was cleared of the charges.
Moses and John Edmonds: The 1848 Injury to a Horse and Van
In 1848, Moses Edmonds and his brother John found themselves defendants in a case brought by Dutton and Thorowgood, who sought compensation for injuries done to a horse and van. The case was presented by Mr. Bennett for the plaintiffs, with Mr. C. Cooper defending the Edmonds brothers.
On 31 May , the plaintiffs' horse and fly was parked on East Street when a horse and fly, owned by the defendants, came racing down the street without a driver. The fly's shafts pierced the chest of the plaintiffs' horse and drove the van into a lamp post, causing considerable damage. The fly was destroyed, and the plaintiffs' horse required a month of care from a farrier, costing 16 shillings. The van repair cost 18 shillings and 6 pence, and a replacement horse and cart were hired at 22 shillings. The loss of the horse's services for a month was estimated at £8.
Mr Cooper argued that ownership of the fly had not been proven and that the accident was not due to the improper driving of a servant, as the fly had no driver at the time. The judge initially saw this as a critical flaw but chose to hear the case on its merits. Moses Edmonds testified that he had rented the fly to William Elsey, and the horse belonged to Elsey, not the Edmonds brothers. Despite arguments about licensing responsibilities and liability, the judge nonsuited the plaintiffs, allowing them to challenge the decision at the next court session.
Alfred Edmonds: The 1862 Banjo Dispute
Fourteen years later, Moses' son Alfred Edmonds found himself in the Brighton County Court over a seemingly trivial but telling dispute about a banjo. On 11 April, 1862, Edward Upton, a local artisan, sought to recover an outstanding balance of 11 shillings and two pence from Alfred, who had commissioned a bespoke banjo.
Upton claimed that the banjo, priced initially at £1, required additional materials costing four shillings. Alfred had offered a meerschaum pipe valued at 10 shillings and made a series of small payments totalling two shillings and ten pence. The courtroom, filled with townsfolk, laughed as Upton recounted receiving these payments in halfpence. Alfred disputed the quality of Upton's work, asserting that the banjo was unfinished.
After considering both sides, the judge ruled in favour of Upton, awarding him the full amount claimed. This minor case highlighted the importance of craftsmanship and reputation in Brighton. It also reflected the unique bartering practices of the time, with items like meerschaum pipes serving as currency.
As a house painter and decorator, Alfred played a crucial role in maintaining Brighton's aesthetic appeal. His desire for a banjo indicates his interest in music, which was integral to Victorian social life. The banjo, gaining popularity in the 1860s, represented both leisure and status.
Eliza Edmonds: Drunk and Disorderly in 1861
In 1861, 25-year-old Eliza Edmonds, Alfred's wife, found herself before the Brighton Borough Bench. On Thursday, January 31, she appeared in the dock on a charge of being drunk and disorderly the previous night at 1.30am in Castle Square. She refused to move on when asked to by the police officer. The case was heard by A. Biogk, J. Allfbik, and W. M. Hollis, Esqrs. Eliza, dressed gaily, was fined five shillings after the charge was proven. This incident, though minor, reflects the social challenges and public scrutiny faced by women in that era.
Ada Edmonds: The 1904 Pocket-Picking Incident
In 1904, another member of the Edmonds family, Ada Edmonds, was involved in a court case that drew public attention. On Friday, 29 January, Ada was standing on the Brighton seafront, lost in thought while gazing at the sea. She noticed her purse, containing four shillings and eightpence and two halfpenny stamps, was missing from her pocket. Suspecting theft, Ada's friend accused Ernest Edward Jellicoe, 22, who had been standing nearby, of picking her pocket.
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Jellicoe allegedly offered Ada's friend five shillings, which was refused, and then 10 shillings, which was also rejected. He was subsequently arrested. Charged with the theft of the purse and its contents, valued at five shillings and nine pence, Jellicoe denied the charge. Appearing before Alderman J. E. Stafford and Mr J. Horton-Stephens, Jellicoe was remanded for further inquiries. His request for bail, made by his defence lawyer Mr Cushman was denied by the magistrates.
The legal battles of Moses, Alfred, Eliza, and Ada Edmonds reveal much about the social and economic dynamics of 19th and early 20th century Brighton. I find it fascinating to uncover so many family stories in the local papers of the time. So much time in court through the generations!
Do you have any historical court case stories in your family? If so, do share, if you dare!
Until next week have a wonderful Whitsun Bank Holiday, and keep out of trouble.
Lots of love
Serena xxx