The last Saturday in March 1856 cost four Wrexham People dearly.
Joseph Nicholson and Thomas Roberts were two militiamen. They decided to go and have a few beers before heading back to their barracks. However, for reasons that they could not subsequently explain in court, they found themselves spending the night in a haystack on Holt Road, Wrexham, with two females, Ann Jones and Rebecca Harris.
Unfortunately for them, they were found, and they were charged with, “having been found in pairs”. Although this may appear a comical scene, the courts found no humour in the act. Both of the males received seven days imprisonment for the offence, and possibly unfairly, the females were treated more harshly, with Ann Jones receiving 10 days imprisonment, and Rebecca Harris 14 days imprisonment.
Source: Written and researched by Wayne Cronin-Wojdat, B.A (Hons.), MSc – Historical Gems.
