Family:Thomas Pointon and Eleanor Felps (1)

The following notes which are all from "Diary of a Village" by Eric Lawrence. The information in the diary was apparently written by at least three people, William Stratton, Thomas Bigg and A. Lawrence. The extracts reproduced here mainly relate to the children of Thomas and Eleanor.

1825, June 1- Mr Irons came into the tenement of Mr T. Pointons.

1826, April 8 - Mr.Williamson came into the tenement of Mr.Pointon's.

1829, April 7 - Francis Pointon commenced baking.

1830, October 11- Mr W. Crane let the house opposite the Bull and F. Pointon began to reside there on the 15th.

1830, October 18 - Jas. Morgan began drawing beer in the house opposite Mr T. Pointon's.

1831, April 22 - The Constable of Whitwell (Carter) and an Assistant came to Codicote in pursuit of W. Pointon and his cousin F. Pointon for some alleged Misconduct on April 10th.

1831, June 7 - Mr W. Hazell and his wife received a letter from his daughter Eliza, the wife of T. Pointon who went to London on June 1st, saying that she did not intend to come back and that she was going out of the kingdom immediately. Her husband received one at the same time of the same import.

1831, August 18 - Henry Pointon left his brother and went to Digswell. Returned the following Saturday or Sunday.

1832, March 8 - Thomas Pointon was committed to Hertford Gaol by Order of the Coroner for killing W. Sharp on Sunday by striking him with his fist or foot.

1832, July 19 - Thomas Pointon was tried (Summer Assizes) for killing and slaying W. Sharp and was acquitted. The judge's name was Bailey.

1832, August 20 - A hare ran through Codicote which, after baffling its pursuers, was caught by Pointon's dog and F. Pointon took it from him.

1832, November 20 - The Parish Constable, Mr Crane, took Henry Pointon to Hitchin for assaulting Joseph Winch, who had summoned him but did not appear.

1832, December 4 - (Tuesday) Henry Pointon went to Hitchin, the fortnight being then expired in which he was to have paid the money awarded by the magistrates for expenses etc in the matter of J. Winch. The money was 2 pounds and on his refusal to pay was committed to prison for 2 months. 1833, August 5 - Thomas Pointon taken to Hitchin by one of the constables of Hitchin and by Samuel Lawrence.

1833, November 24 - William Pointon was shot by Daniel White, son of old J. White, at Cops Corner, and he and James White was taken into custody on the 27th and was taken to Hitchin the following day and put into Bridewell.

1834, January 19 - (Sunday morning) Mr A. Sherington came to Codicote to trace those who attempted to break into his shop the preceding night. On Wednesday (January 22nd) W. Pointon was taken to Hitchin by the Constables of Hitchin and Thomas Pointon the following day (January 23).

1834, January 27 - The constable from Luton came in pursuit of H. Pointon and searched his father's house, but could not find him.

1834, January 28 - Thos Pointon and his cousin William came off clear from Hitchin, to which they were taken on suspicion of breaking open the shop of A. Sherington of Knebworth.

1834, February 13 - William Pointon was taken to Hertford Gaol for poaching at Ayot, St Lawrance with J. Harwood.

1834, February 28 - Mr. J. White and son Daniel were found not guilty of shooting at Wm. Pointon.

1834, March 1/2 - Game Cock stolen overnight from premises of F. Pointon, the brother-in-law of Eric Lawrance.

1834, March 8 - Henry Pointon returned from Bedford after his trial at the Assizes. With C. Hill, he had been tried for taking a horse and cart from the premises of L. Ames Esq, but they were acquitted.

1834, April 1 - F. Pointon taken into custody at Hitchin market for stealing a coat at Potters Bar, the property of Walker. He was tried at Hertford Quarter Sessions and was sentenced to three weeks imprisonment and whipped; which time expired on April 28th.

1834, July 9 - Francis Pointon was one of a team of married men who played cricket against a team of single men.

1834, September 1 - Francis Pointon was in a cricket team that played Kimpton.

1834, December 16 - Mr J. Huckle altered the oven of Frances Pointon the baker.

1834, December - William Pointon, William Franklin and (?) Broughton, who drove the Peterborough Wagon, were transported for seven years. 1835, January 20 - Henry Pointon was committed to St Albans Gaol for 3 months for Bastardy.

1835, (March?) - T. Pointon was taken to Welwyn by the constable M. Smith and others, by a warrant for poaching. After being kept hold all night, made his escape the next day.

1835, June 9 - Mr Chas. Parsons agreed with Mr T. Pointon for (to rent) his house and premises and field at the rent of 25 pound per annum, to commence at Midsummer.

1835, June 23 - Mr Parsons, who had hired the house of Mr T. Pointon, sent part of his furniture this day, being the day before Midsummer, which F. Pointon broke and behaved very disorderly. Swore Parsons should not come there. Knocked his father down. The constable was charged, whom he knocked down. Took his staff away. His brother Henry assisted him. Prepared the horse and cart for him and away they rode to Welwyn to have his hand dressed, which was cut in the affray. Here he was taken by the constables of Welwyn and Codicote, viz G. Brand of Welwyn and N. Smith of Codicote, and put into the cage, and from thence to St Albans Gaol till the ensuing Saturday to await his trial at the Sessions.

1835, July 6 - F. Pointon, at the St Albans Sessions held this day, was sentenced to seven months imprisonment.

1835, July 23 - F. Pointon, the baker, bartered his pony with Mr C. Parsons and received a horse in lieu.

1835, August 5 - Thomas Pointon was taken at London for the same crime he was taken for at Welwyn March 30th. William Whish was taken and put in the Codicote cage and afterwards taken to Hitchin and there sentenced to a month's confinement for stealing Grey's coat on 11 August 1835.

1835, September 1 - A child born to C. Parsons, who lived in the house of T. Pointon.

1836, June 29 - Francis Pointon (the baker) began mowing Torrells Field, the grass of which he had bought from C. Parsons the week before.

1836, August 29 - At midnight or morning of the 30th, Frederick Pointon was taken by Batten and Spencer, and conveyed to Hitchin and examined before the magistrates, concerning the Cart which was discovered in Poolemore Lane a short time ago, strongly suspected to be laiden with pigeons, intercepted on its way to Codicote by King and 3 keepers. He was remanded for further examination and on 13 September committed to Bedford Gaol, the supposed crime being committed in that County.

1836, September 19 - Agreement between Mr T. Pointon and D. Wilson concerning the house of the said T. Pointon whereby Wilson took the house etc for 14 pound per annum.

1836, September 29 - Henry Pointon, F. Evered and J. Phillips went through Codicote to Hertford Gaol and on Sunday, October 16th Frederick Pointon and Charles Hill were removed from Bedford Gaol to the above place for trial the following day. On October 18th Frederick Pointon and Frederick Evered were sentenced to transportation for life, and Henry Pointon and C. Hill for seven years, on the evidence of Phillips, for stealing pigeons in the Parish of Lilley in the County of Hertfordshire. The Marquis of Salisbury and Lord Dacre presided.

1836, October 20 - Robert Bigg was sentenced to be transported for 7 years for attempting to rob the Fulling Mill and ill-using George Hughes, the manager.

1836, November 1 - Thomas Pointon was conveyed from Maidstone in Kent, where he had been taken, and passed through Codicote to Hitchin for examination by the magistrates, but was conveyed to St Albans for that purpose on 5th November.

1837, January 4 - An agreement between Thomas Pointon senior and Thomas Cato by which the latter hired the house etc which Wilston hired on September 19. Entry at Old Christmas [that is what we now call the twelfth night, i.e. 6th January].

1837, January 5 - Thos. Pointon was tried at the same sessions for the depredation committed on the morning of 20th Sep at the Fulling Mill in company with Robert Bigg who was transported. He effectual proved an alibi and was acquitted. Robert Bigg proved an alibi but was not acquitted. Both of them on the oath of Geo.Hughes. (Pointon then tried for stealing a sheep, for which Robert Crane had been tried but acquitted of killing - apparently Pointon was also acquitted.)

1837, October 19 - Thomas Pointon sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour at St Albans Sessions, for uttering counterfeit silver.

1838, August 21 - Francis Pointon bought a new horse at Hitchin market.

1. ↑ Codicote Local History Society.