Michael Pattern (1831-1914)

Research Notes

The 1861 Census also lists widow Mary Pattern (née Milburn) and her son Edward living nearby — these two branches of the Pattern family had a common ancestor in Thomas Pattern (c1716-1776).

Articles

Terrington Petty Sessions.

STEALING WOOL.

On the 11th inst., Wm. Curzon and Michael Patten, of Walpole St. Peter’s, under went an examination before the Rev. A. Moore, upon a charge of having stolen a quantity of wool, the property of Mrs. Sarah Melton, of the same parish, and were remanded till Thursday, the 16th, when they were fully committed to Swaffham, for trial at the next sessions. It appears that Curzon has been living with Mrs. Melton, as farm servant, for some time past, and from circumstances that have lately taken place, the plaintiff, after discovering her loss, suspected that he was concerned in the robbery, and forthwith took proceedings which led to the discovery of the offenders.

Mrs. Melton stated, that in June last she employed John Whiteman to clip 119 Lincoln sheep, which he did, and afterwards wound the fleeces and put them in a granary, in Walpole St. Peters. Curzon was living with her at the time. On the 27th July, she sold them to Mr. C. Boon, for £1. 1s. per tod. The wool was delivered on the 4th August, when it was found that 9 fleeces were missing, and that several of the others had been opened. She also missed 8 sacks of wool, which she had seen safe a short time previously. Had examined the sacks and wool now produced, and believed them to be her property.

Mr. Chas. Boon said, in July last, he purchased of Mrs. Melton some Lincoln wool at £1. 1s. per tod. It was delivered on the 4th August, and when he examined it, there were several pounds’ weight missing.

John Whiteman deposed that he clipped the sheep in June last, and wound the fleeces. On the 6th Aug. he went to Mr. Boon’s to examine some wool, and believed the fleeces to be the same that he had wound. Many of them had been opeted, and half of the wool taken away. Believed the 5 fleeces produced by Banham to be part of the same.

Jonathan Banham, P.C., apprehended Curzon and Patten at Walpole St. Peter’s. He searched a field of beans, about 14 yards from the house of Thos. Cheney, and found a sack which he produced, and which he had had in his possession ever since.

Mary Trower stated, she knew Michael Patten and Thos. Cheney. On Saturday night, she went to Cheney’s shop, and while there, Patten came in, when Cheney said, “Have you gave that wool tip?” Patten answered, “No.” Cheney then said, “Look out as long as you can.” Patten replied, “Sure.”

P.C. Partridge stated Patten and Curzon were brought to the police-station, at Terrington, and while there, Patten said, quite voluntarily, “We stole the wool at Walpole and sold it to Cheney for 2s. and some halfpence, and some other wool for £2.”

Other witnesses gave evidence, the nature of which fully proved the charge.

Monday, Aug. 20th.

Thos. Cheney, shopkeeper, of Walpole St. Peter’s, was charged with having purchased 8 tods of wool, the property of Mrs. Melton, knowing them to have been stolen. This was the party who purchased the wool of Patten and Curzon. Mr. Watson, solicitor, of Wisbech, appeared for the defendant. The evidence was the same as adduced in the above case, the character of which the magistrates considered fully justified them in binding the defendant over to appear at the next quarter sessions, at Swaffham, to answer the charge. He was accordingly bound over — himself in £100 bond, and two sureties in £100 bond each.

Lynn Advertiser (25 August 1849)

Swaffham Sessions.

William Curzon, aged 20, and Michael Patten, aged 18, charged with having on the 20th of July, at Walpole St. Peter’s, stolen eight tods of wool, value £8, the property of Sarah Melton; each one day’s imprisonment.

Norfolk News (3 November 1849)

Swaffham Sessions.

Michael Pattern (23), was charged with having stolen a purse and a sovereign from the person of Thomas Shales, of Walpole St. Peter. The prosecutor on the night of the 29th March was going home tipsy, and fell into a ditch. He was helped out, and assisted home by the prisoner, and next morning he missed his purse and money. William Smith, a labourer, saw the prisoner on the following day, who said he had asked his brother to lend him a shilling on the previous day, and on getting up that morning he found he had got a sovereign. He asked witness to go and buy some articles for him, and get it changed, as he did not like himself. The prisoner when first taken into custody said he had not had a sovereign for some time time past, but afterwards admitted having it from the prosecutor, who he said gave it to him for taking him home. He was found guilty, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Norfolk Chronicle (16 April 1853)

Swaffham Quarter Sessions.

Michael Pattern, (23) was indicted for having, on the 29th of March last, at Walpole St. Peter, stolen a purse containing one sovereign, the property of Thomas Shales. The prosecutor, an old man, stated that on the 29th of March last he unfortunately fell into a ditch, between nine and ten in the evening, when returning from a public house. Saw the prisoner on the road, who came up to him after he had got out, and assisted him home. He (prosecutor) was the worse for drink. Prisoner saw him to bed and in the morning the prosecutor missed his purse and money. A witness, named Staines, corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor as to his falling into the ditch. When both parties came to the door of prosecutor’s house, they could not find the key, and prisoner was told to try and find it, and he put his hand into prosecutor’s pockets, but failed in finding the key. Did not see prisoner take anything out, The prisoner got in by the back entrance, and let prosecutor in.

Edward Smith saw the prisoner near the Black Horse public house, Walpole, on the 30th March. They had some beer together, and the prisoner then told him he had, on the previous day, borrowed a shilling of his brother, but the next day he found, to his surprise, that it was a sovereign instead of a shilling. He asked witness to purchase him some articles at a shop, which he did, and took the sovereign of prisoner in payment. He gave prisoner the change. Prisoner then gave him 5s., saying he would borrow a shilling of him (witness) when in the house, and then the people would not know he (prisoner) had any money. Witness allowed this arrangement to be made, and afterwards gave the remainder of the money back again.

Police Constable Fickling deposed to apprehending the prisoner, who stated the sovereign in question was given him by the prosecutor; but at first stated he had not had a sovereign for months. He also made another statement implicating the witness Smith, whom he declared knew where he stole the sovereign, and that he was as bad as himself. The prisoner, in his defence stated the prosecutor gave him the sovereign for assisting him home and taking off his wet clothes. The jury, after a short consultation, found a verdict of guilty. A second conviction was proved, and the court sentenced the prisoner to six calendar months hard labour, the last three days to be solitary.

Norwich Mercury (16 April 1853)

DISTRICT POLICE.

TERRINGTON.

On Monday, the Rev. C. Currie in the chair.

John Staines, Walpole St. Andrew, Michael Pattern, Walpole St. Peter, James Pitcher, Walpole St. Andrew, and Fred. Mason, Terrington, severally charged with drunken and disorderly conduct, were each fined 5s. and the costs 11s.

Norwich Mercury (6 September 1873)

PETTY SESSIONS.

TERRINGTON.

Michael Pattern, coal dealer, Walpole St. Peter, was summoned on the information of P.C. Davis for neglecting to carry a weighing machine on his cart, as required by the County Council bye-laws, on 2nd March. Defendant admitted the charge, and said he left home in a hurry and forgot the machine. Fined 1/ and 7/6 costs.

Lynn Advertiser (1 April 1893)