Kentish Gazette 10 July 1770.

To be Sold by Auction by E. Baker, At the sign of the "King's Head," at Hadlow in Kent, on Monday the 16th July, exactly at ten o'clock in the forenoon.

That Valuable Team of Nine exceeding good Cart Horses (without Harness) belonging to Mr. John Larking of the same place; who intending to keep a Team no longer, disposes of them in this manner: And for the convenience of the Purchasers, each horse will be sold separate from the others.

Also to be sold at the same time, Two good Saddle Horses.

The sale will begin punctually at Ten o.clock.

Kentish Gazette 23 October 1770.

Joseph Drywood, from Cranbrooke, Worsted and Yarn Maker, in Mill-Lane, Maidstone. Advertising his products, also continues that he delivers the Kentish Gazette every Tuesday & Saturday, setting out from his house or the "Bull."

While delivering the papers he calls at the following named Public-Houses, to collect parcels & orders.

The "Kings Head" at Hadlow, ......

From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 27 July 1858.

Odd Fellows.

The anniversary of the Loyal Men of Kent Lodge of Odd Fellows was held on Wednesday last, in a meadow near the street. An excellent dinner was provided by Mr. Bennett, of the "Kings Head Inn." The members, about 80 in number, after attending divine service, paraded the village, headed by Holland's band. The Rev. G. S. Woodgate presided, and, in the course of many excellent remarks, spoke with some feeling on the absence of so many of the employers from the annual festival, which was greatly to be regretted, as he considered these and similar institutions were an honour and credit to the working classes; and that all inhabitants of a parish, and more especially the larger ratepayers, were directly or indirectly benefited by well-conducted benefit society. The afternoon was spent in a most agreeable manner.

From the Kentish Gazette, 8 December 1857.

James Steele, sen., 45, James Steele, jun., 23, railway labourers, Edward Reeve, 23, and Henry Reeve, 27, blacksmiths, were charged with assaulting Stephen Barton, and stealing from his person, with violence, a silver watch a key, and a gallon of gin, at Hadlow, on the 31st August.

Mr. Russell was for the prosecution; Mr. Platt appeared for the Steeles, and Mr. Scobell for the two Reeves.

Stephen Barton stated that he was in the employ of Mr. Larking, of Hadlow-place Farm, and on the 31st of August he was sent by his master to Hadlow, about eight o’clock in the evening, to purchase some gin and wine. Having completed his purchases he returned on his way home, he was not quite sober, having had a glass of gin and water and a pint of beer at Hadlow. When he got about three-quarters of a mile from Hadlow, at a place called the Burnside-gate, he saw the four prisoners (whom he knew) standing by the side of the road. It was a moonlight night. Henry Reeves, and James Steele, jun., had straw hats on; the others wore caps. He knew that the prisoners were working at Mr. Wells's, of Gammon’s Land, where he had seen them for six or seven days previously to this occurrence. They had also been on his master’s farm a few days before, and he had spoken to them. He did not say anything to them as be passed by them at Bournside-gate, nor did they to him. He had gone a little distance further on, when the Reeves came up to him and pushed him into the ditch, witness’s head finding a resting place among the bushes with which the side of the bank was covered. He dropped the bottle of gin which he had. Whilst he was in the ditch the prisoners felt at his pockets, and when he got up they asked him what time it was. Prosecutor replied that he had not got a watch, but they said he had, and Edward Reeves catched hold of his watch chain, which broke. He then tore out the pocket and took the watch. He asked them what they meant, but the only reply that he could get was "all right mate." The younger Steele was also present when this happened, about five or six yards off. In addition to the watch, prosecutor lost a bottle of ginger wine, which he had purchased at Hadlow, a seal, a watch key, and fourpence. The men then went away, and prosecutor followed the two Reeves for some distance, when he suddenly lost sight of them.

Mr. Bennett, landlord of the "King’s Head Inn," Hadlow, stated that he saw prosecutor leave his house at about a quarter to nine, when he appeared rather the worse for liquor.

Evidence having been taken that the prisoners were at the "Greyhound Inn" on the evening of the robbery, and left about ten o’clock, wearing hats and caps as described.

Dinah Homewood stated that on the morning of the 1st of September she saw Henry Reeve and the elder Steele standing near the hogpound of a man named Ring, at whoso house the prisoners lodged. She then saw the younger Reeve come out of a shaw with a stone bottle in his hand. She did not see whether he joined the other two men, as she went away. It was the same bottle which was afterwards shown her by Ring.

John Ring stated that as he was getting up in the morning he saw the prisoners come out of the shaw. He heard of the robbery, and he went to the shaw, where he saw footsteps, and found a stone bottle partly covered over with grass. He tasted its contents, and found it to be gin. He laid up from half-past six till eight o'clock, when he again went to the place where the bottle was. Just at this moment the younger Reeves came up, and witness concealed himself behind a tree. Witness was too precipitate in his desire to see who it was, and peeped round the tree, when Reeves walked off. Witness, with others, afterwards searched for the watch of the prosecutor, and found it in a haystack on Mr. Wells’s farm, thrust in about two feet. Two straw hats were found at the prisoner’s lodgings.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Platt submitted that there was no case whatever against the elder Steele.

His Lordship was of the same opinion, and the prisoner was dismissed.

The learned counsel then addressed the jury on behalf of the younger Steele, and contended that there was nothing to show that he was a participator in the commission of the offence.

Mr. Scobell, on the part of Reeves, urged that the prosecutor was in such a state that no reliance could be placed upon his evidence, and it was very probable that the robbery had been committed by some of the rough characters who infested the county during the hop-picking season.

He then called Wm. Power and John Town, who positively stated that they were in company with the prisoners upon the night in question at the "Greyhound," Hadlow, and they did not leave till a quarter before eleven; Fowler particularly noticed the time.

Two witnesses were also called, who gave the prisoner Reeves a good character.

The Judge then briefly summed up. The jury, not being able at once to agree, were locked up.

At the conclusion of the business, the jury returned into Court, when the foreman said they had Acquitted the two Steeles, but they could not come to a decision in the case of the two Reeves.

His Lordship said he would come and receive their verdict if they agreed by ten o’clock, but otherwise he should be compelled to lock them up for the night.