Some Selected Reports from the Marlborough Journal
Saturday May 11, 1771
Marlborough, May 11.
Edmund Wilkins, Esq. of Malmesbury, is appointed Receiver General of the Land-tax for North Wiltshire.
Last Tuesday died at Malmesbury, Mr Edward Lyne, an eminent tanner of that place.
Wednesday morning last, about eight o'clock, a fire broke out at Ogbourne St.Andrew, near this town, which entirely consumed three tenements occupied by William Hawkes, the Widow May, and Harry Lapper, together with their household furniture and wearing apparel, except two beds on which an infirm old man and woman were carried out of the flames, the latter of whom, it is reported, is since dead of the fright. The fire is supposed to have been occasioned by carrying some straw ashes out of one house into an adjoining hovel.
Wednesday was committed to our bridewell by Walter Hardyman, Esq., John Wilkinson, of Wotton-Basset, for stealing a quantity of hay, the property of William Sadler, of the same place.
Yesterday se'nnight Jane Mattock, late servant to Mr.Read of Trowbridge, was committed to Fisherton gaol, on suspicion of being concerned in murdering her bastard child.