John
Adcock
-
Costessey's
"
Notorious
Poacher ".
Quotations from "Peasants & Poachers " by Michael J. Carter, The Boydell Press 1980 ISBN 0-5115-129-9*
From reports in the "Norfolk Chronicle and Gazette" Carter gives an account of John Adcock's poaching career from 1821 -1827 (ibid pp 107-109)
Summary of reports :
" Mon 22 Oct. 1821 John Adcock of Cossey, a notorious character who was acquitted at the last session for poaching in the Parish of Taverham, was committed
by E.D. Payne Esq. to the Castle for having in his possession three pheasants. In this instance John Adcock and Henry Harvey, the younger, were severely indicted by Sir George Jerningham Bart. ..............for poaching in plantations at Costessey, but evidence not being sufficient......they were acquited "
" Tues 7 May 1822 John Adcock of Costessey (an old offender) was convicted before Edwd.Payne Esq. for having on Sunday the 21st April at one o'clock in the morning, violently assaulted John Cook, special constable of the said Parish, whilst in the discharge of his duties in visiting public houses, and taking up disorderly persons prowling about and at unreasonable hours, and was committed to Prison accordingly" _ for how long is not stated.
[ T.G.B.'s Note - Adcock's conduct record held in Tasmanian archives (ref CON 31/1 ) reports " Five times in custody for poaching - once for 6 months for assault"]
" Sun 21 Nov 1824 Between three and four o'clock in tne morning Lord Stafford's gamekeeper Robert Thirtell and John Woods, one of the regular watch, attempted to apprehend two poachers in Costessey Park near the Bridge. They were armed with cudgels but severley beaten by the poachers one of whom is said to have broken his gun on Thirtll's head. After a lengthy struggle the offending parties decamped; leaving the gamekeeper and the watchman lying on the ground in a deplorable state."
James Edmunds and John Adcock were "charged on oath with having been found in the Park of the Rt.Hon.Lord Stafford at Cossey armed with guns, with the intent illegally to take and kill game and with pheasants in their possession " they were committed to Norwich Castle.
On January 22nd 1825 Edmunds And Adcock who had been " severely indicted for poaching on the night or early morning 0f the 21st November, upon premises at Costessey belonging to Lord Stafford " were acquitted having succeded in proving an alibi.
[T.G.B's Note - It seems strange that Edmunds and Adcock were not charged with assaulting and wounding the game-keeper and watchman and they were acquited on the lesser pocaching charge after being charged on oath with being found in the Park, at the tim, with guns and pheasants. The Answer may found in "The Long Affray" p 120 (see footnote) *
" It it was only with the Quarter Sessions that shopkeepers and small farmers - notoriously unreliable in poaching cases - appeared in the jury box ( It must
have been of them that the Paget's steward has written to his master, thirty years earlier ; " there is no answering for a common jury as they have a Strong 'Byass' upon their minds in favour of poachers, being professed enemies of all penal laws relating to game" ]
"13th January 1827 " John Adcock, Thomas Paul and James Harvey were indicted for poaching in a plantation of Lord Stafford's at Costessey on the night of the 24th or early in the morning of the 25th November " his time Adcock pleaded guilty and Paul and Harvey were convicted. THEY WERE SEVERLEY SENTENCED TO TRANSPORTATION FOR SEVEN YEARS.' a worse fate may have awaited Thomas Paul and James Harvey, who were also involved a poaching affray at Heydon hall on December 12 1826 .
And so John Adcock disapears from the scene of Norfolk poaching leaving only his name locality and offences for a record for neither his age or occupation are given. Yet the story of John Adcock for its full significance, has to be seen as part of the story of the Costessey community, which, being close to Norwich, appears to have been well suited to foster a thriving poaching business.
[ T.G.B.'s Note - On April 1827 John Adcock and five of the 'Cossey Gang', Edward Baker, George Goffin, Richard Harvey, William Howes & William Olley were
transported on the Asia V 1st voyage to Van Diemans Land Thomas Paul and James Harvey were subsequently also transported in 1828 & 1836 respectively. More about them and poaching in Costessey will be published by me
"The Cossey Gang & Transportation to Australia."
* THe Long Affray. The Poaching Wars in Britain 1760 - 1914 . Harry Hopkins, Papermac, London 1986.