Our member Clive Barnes recently gave a presentation on the wool stealers gang. From Milton Abbas James Drake, James Cox, Philip Arnold, James Vatcher and Thomas Cox were charged in 1838 with stealing and receiving wool, wool sacks and sheepskins. John Hanham, and George Joice (or Joyce) of Winterborne Houghton, and Samuel Elford and John Waters of Winterbourne Stickland were charged with stealing wool. Robert Joice (or Joyce) of Winterborne Houghton gave evidence against the others. The men were charged with stealing from three local farmers: James Burt of Clenstone Farm, Winterborne Clenstone; William Bryant of Higher Farm, Winterbourne Houghton; and William Sebley of Whatcombe farm, Winterborne Whitechurch. All the men were found guilty at their trial.

Clive Barnes’ full research is available on the Members Section of this website