Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Samuel Kett

 

Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Samuel Kett

Samuel Kett is a direct descendant by 19 generations of Thomas Kett, father of Robert Kett.  Like his infamous ancestor, Samuel was also a farmer and eventually found himself owning a mill farm and employing a couple of men.  By 1863, the milling business began to lose money and Samuel was hard-pressed to get out of the poor business he had gotten into.  His only thought was to find a way to burn down the mill and claim the insurance money.  Here is his story.

Samuel was born on December 10, 1810 in Theberton, Suffolk, England, the son of Zachariah Kett 1774-1846 and Mary Block.  He was baptised in the parish church of Theberton on January 27, 181.  He was the middle child of seven born to Zachariah and Mary Kett.  Their children were:

1.      John Kett 1801–1843

2.      Kezia Kett 1804–1853

3.      Mary Kett 1807–

4.      Samuel Kett 1810–1886

5.      Elizabeth Kett 1813–

6.      David Kett 1816–

7.      Sarah Kett 1818–1820

Samuel Kett married Sarah Kett on October 16, 1834In 1841, Samuel was an agricultural labourer living with his wife, Sarah at his father’s house on East bridge in Theberton.  By 1851, Samuel was a Farmer of 50 acres and employing 1 man and a boy.  His business grew and by 1861 he was responsible for farming 84 acres, employing 2 men and 1 boy.

By 1863, Samuel had purchased the mill farm and was not prospering in the business.  The following stories record his appearance before the court in 1863 on charges of arson and his trial which occurred in 1864.

The Bury and Norwich Post, and Suffolk Herald

Tuesday 08 December 1863

WRENTHAM.

THE CHARGE OF ARSON AGAINST A MILLER.—At a

Special Petty Sessions, held at Halesworth, on Thursday, Samuel Kett, miller, was brought up on remand before the Rev. H. Owen (Chairman), H. A. S. Bence, Esq., and T. Rant, Esq., charged with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to a malting, granary, steam-mill, and other buildings, in his possession, at Wrentham, on the 8th of November, with intent to defraud the Royal Exchange Insurance Fire-office.—Mr. Read, of Halesworth, again appeared for the prisoner; Mr. Rickards, solicitor to the Royal Exchange Insurance-office, was present to watch the case for the prosecution.—The depositions previously taken, and reported in last week’s paper, having been read over, p.-c. Smith deposed that on the morning after the fire he saw the prisoner returning home, and he was dressed in a dark hairy coat, but witness did not notice if it were clean or dirty.  Had spoken to prisoner several times about the fire, but he never was the man to say he hoped it would be found out, or anything of that sort.  Thought the prisoner sat on a light coat when he came home in his cart.—Mr. Read observed that two witnesses (Kett and Rose) had swore that the prisoner started from Wenhaston on the Monday morning in a dog-cart with a white coat on.—Smith, recalled and questioned by Mr. Bence, positively swore the prisoner wore a black coat when he arrived at Wrentham on the Monday morning.—Robert Lemon, of Uggeshall, deposed that on the night of the fire, at about a quarter-past eleven, he heard a horse galloping towards Wrentham, By Blyford cross-ways was not the nearest way to Wrentham, but it was the quietest, as it would not be necessary to go through Wangford-street.—John Borrett, in the prisoner’s employ, was examined at great length, but could no recollect what dress his master had on when he left home—thought he wore his black hairy coat.  On the Monday morning when he returned he had a light coat.  Witness was the last person on the premises on the night before the fire, but his master never made any enquiries of him as to how it occurred.  This witness also gave evidence as to the small quantity of corn in the granaries; as to the sufficiency of the buildings not destroyed for the purposes of the business; as to the prisoner’s telling him times went hard and he should like to see his money again; as to there being no water in the tubs when he (witness) arrived at the fire, the taps being turned the wrong way; and as to finding bundles of sticks, about three feet long, tied with tarred string round the posts holding up the tubs, which were in the coal-house.  Other evidence was also given, and the Bench fully committed the prisoner for trial at the next Bury Assizes, bail being refused.  Mr. Rickards was bound over to prosecute on behalf of the Royal Exchange Insurance Company.








 

 

 

 

 


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