Gentle Lacemakers, as the list is quiet I thought I'd let you know about an interesting history site - the Proceedings of the Old Bailey http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
The Old Bailey Proceedings contain accounts of over 100,000 criminal trials, as well as the text from the front and back cover and advertisements. from 1670 to 1830s. Ongoing transcription bring the records closer to our time. The glimpses of ordinary lives are fascinating. especially those crimes relating to Lace theft & its value here's a snippet -enjoy Rebecka Basee (or Basen, theft : specified place, 9th April, 1684. ================================================================== The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t16840409-12 Trial Summary: --------------------------------------------------- * Crime(s): theft : specified place, * Verdict: Not Guilty, * Other trials on 09 Apr 1684 * Name search for: Rebecka Basee, * Crime Location: Bull and Mouth in St. Martins Rebecka Basee (or Basen ) Indicted for stealing four Yards of Black-silk Bone-lace, from the Stall of one Daniel Anderson , as he was at his Market at the Bull and Mouth in St. Martins , on the 25th of March last; she being suspected, was followed out into the Street, brought back, and as she came up Stairs they alledge the Lace fell from her. But the Prisoner alledged she went to buy Lace, and when they took hold on her, thought they were come to call her back to buy at her Price; that she knew not how the Lace came upon the Stairs: she was, in Conclusion, brought in Not Guilty . young Foot-Pads, theft with violence : highway robbery, 28th August, 1678. ==================================================================== The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t16780828-2 Trial Summary: -------------------------------------------------- * Crime(s): theft with violence : highway robbery, * Verdict: Part Guilty: convicted of a lesser offence, * Other trials on 28 Aug 1678 * Name search for: young Foot-Pads, * Crime Location: Wickham The next were two young Foot-Pads, Indicted for Robing a Lace-man of 113. Yards of Bone-Lace ; the manner thus. The Lace-man in his way from Wickham to London, was set upon by the Prisoners at the Bar, one laying hold of one of his Legs, and the other of his Horses Bridle and when they had unhorst him, and pluck'd off the Bridle and Saddle for fear of Pursuit, they forc'd from him the said Lace, and so departed; they on their way, and he for London; where he had not been long, but a Woman out of Pater-noster-Row, comes to his Lodging or Ware-house, pretending to buy some of the same sort, (but intending rather to sell that she had,) she demanded the Price of it, which being resolved her; she answered him, she could Sell himself as good, at a much lower Rate; he replyed then, he was sure she must Steal it, which she denyed with an Oath; But in short, when she had shown him her good Penniworth, he knew the Lace to be his own; and so sending for a Constable to Seize her, she promised she would bring him to the Persons she had it of, if he would quit her; and being as good as his word, they were likewise Seiz'd in their Lodging, and at this Sessions found guilty of Felony; the Robery being Immaterial, since their Tryal was out of that County where the Fact was done . Ann Dye, Jane Sinclo, theft with violence : robbery, 29th April, 1685. ====================================================================== The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t16850429-2 Trial Summary: -------------------------------------------------- * Crime(s): theft with violence : robbery, * Punishment Type: death, * (Punishment details may be provided at the end of the trial.) * Verdict: Guilty, * Other trials on 29 Apr 1685 * Name search for: Ann Dye, Jane Sinclo, * Defendant's Home: St. Clements Danes * Crime Location: Butcher-Rowe without Temple-Bar Ann Dye and Jane Sinclo , of the Parish of St. Clements Danes, in the County of Middlesex, were Indicted for taking a parcel of White-bone Lace to the value of 40 s. from the person of Margaret Walker Widow: The Evidence for the King was, That the said Walker meeting the two Prisoners in the Butcher-Rowe without Temple-Bar, about Three of the Clock in the afternoon, the Prisoners took hold of the said Walker, forcing her into a house and then got her up stairs, robbing her of the said Lace. The Prisoners endeavoured to prove them selves innocent of the Fact, but it being fully proved against them both, the Jury brought them in Guilty of Felony and Robbery. [Death. See summary.] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
