BoAr:FNQ:Curiosities
http://
boar.org.uk /ariwxo3FNQ172.htm Latest edit 2 Sep 2007.
Interactive
version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY
The Bourne Archive
FNQ
Fenland Notes and Queries. This was originally in the
quarterly Part 8, January 1891. Edited by W.H. Bernard
Saunders, F.R. Hist. Soc.
Articles 1 to 237 (April 1889 to October 1891) were
re-published as Volume 1, in 1891, by Geo. C. Caster,
This quarterly periodical which, from the second volume
(part 12) became associated with the name of W.D. Sweeting, took the form of a
forum in which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of
the Fens and the region’s
environs and others replied with some sort of answer. Some ‘answers’ seem to
have been spontaneous, so qualifying as ‘notes’. Editorial notes in the form
[note] are those of FNQ; those in the form [note] are
those of RJP.
My thanks to the trustees of the
Willoughby Memorial Library for the loan of the copy from which the following
was transcribed.
Curiosities
172
– The Wise Woman of Market Deeping. – A newspaper cutting, dated Nov. 29th,
1822, says: “Lucy Barber, the ‘wise woman’ of Market Deeping, was taken before
the Magistrates at Bourne on a charge of extorting money, under the pretence of
foretelling future events, from Mrs, Odell, wife of Mr. Odell, hatter, of
Deeping. After a suitable admonition from the Magistrates, she was discharged,
on paying expenses, and promising not to offend again.”
[This hearing will have taken place in the court-room of the new Town Hall, opened in 1821. Perhaps they had the new
building and were looking for a case to try in it!]