Page 5. Robert Toft and Mary Bush lived in the village of Eagle, two miles from Doddington and five miles from Lincoln. Robert Toft was a 73-year-old farmer, living with his 68-year-old wife Jane. Richard Sharpe was their manservant and Ann Pacey their female servant. Mary Bush was a 58-year-old cottager living with a widowed sister Sarah, 48 and children Sarah, 23; John, a schoolmaster and Joseph, a miller, both 18 and Alice, 13 (1841 Census).

"The Struggler" Hotel at Eagle

The Eagle parish church where there are Bush family graves

How Matthias was caught, I don’t know. It must have been difficult to catch 13 chickens, literally single-handed, with all those people in the house. But caught he was and taken off to the dreaded Lincoln castle.

On a limestone hill overlooking Lincoln and viewed for miles around stands Lincoln Cathedral. Behind it is the Lincoln castle, originally a Roman fort but constructed with stone walls by the Normans in 1068. Inside can be found the Lincoln Assizes, a building still used today for court hearings. The two original courtrooms can still be seen, in one of which Matthias would have been tried and sentenced on 9 March 1839, along with 20 other felons. Large angels displayed their wings high on the dark oak walls while Lord Denman, only slightly lower than the angels, peered down from his Judge’s bench and spoke those terrible words - "Sentenced to ten years transportation".

I have a copy of the Crown Sentences for the Lincolnshire Lent Assizes:

• "Holden at the Castle of Lincoln, in and for the county of Lincoln, on Saturday March 9th, 1839, before Lord Denman, and the Hon. Sir John Bernard Bosanquet, Knight, G. F. Heneage, Esq, Sheriff."

This notice was publicly displayed for the deterrence of others. Matthias is number 19:

• "Matthias Graham, aged 48, of Lincoln, laborer, charged with breaking into an out-house at Eagle and stealing 2 fowls, the property of R. Teft (sic). Also with entering an out-house and stealing 11 fowls, the property of Mary Bush on the 20th Feb. last. 10 years transportation."

The Entrance to Lincoln Castle

Others convicted at the same Assizes were John Baker, aged 23, transported for life for entering a draper’s shop with an intent to steal goods; John Brocksom, 51, ten years transportation for stealing seven sheep, and 16-year-old James Parker transported for ten years for stealing four half crowns and 20 shillings.