Kentish Gazette 19 November 1819.

On Saturday last, a man named Cook, who had taken lodgings at the "Chequers," at Biddenden, took the opportunity while the persons belonging to the house were at dinner, and stole several articles belong to the servant, but the robbery being discovered before he left the house, and the articles found on the person, he was fully committed to Maidstone gaol.

Kentish Gazette, 28 July 1820.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By AYERST and REEVE,

ON THURSDAY, the 24th of August, 1820, at the "Woolpack Inn," Tenterden, Kent, sundry Valuable and Desirable FREEHOLD ESTATES:

Consisting of a Brewery, Public house, and other Houses and Lands, situate in Tenterden, Biddenden, and Halden, all in the County of Kent, and in the parish of Bodiam, in the County of Sussex, (by order of the executors of the will of the late Mr. Isaac Cloak, deceased,)

IN 12 LOT'S AS FOLLOWS:

Lot 1.— Three pieces of LAND, Arable, Meadow, and Pasture, in Halden, containing 11A. 1R. 34P., more or less, in the occupation of Mr. Henry Oliver.

Lot 2.— A MESSUAGE, with the yard, garden, orchard, and appurtenances, in Halden, in the occupation of James Milton, butcher; and three pieces if LAND, Arable, and Meadow, containing 5A. 3R. 27r , more or less, in hand.

Lot 3.— Six pieces of LAND, Arable, and Meadow, in Halden, containing together, 12A. 2R. 26P., more or less, in hand.

Lot 4.— A COTTAGE and GARDEN, in Halden, in the occupation of the widow White; and 8 pieces of LAND, Arable, Meadow, Pasture, and Wood, and a new Barn, in Halden, containing together 17A. 2R. 3P. more or less, in hand.

Lot 5.— A piece of Meadow LAND, situate at Bores’- Isle, in the parish of Tenterden, containing 1A. 2R., more or less, in hand.

Lot 6.— A picce of Pasture LAND, called Pointfield, situate in the parish of and about a mile from the town of Tenterdon, by the side of the road leading to Cranbrook, containing 7A. 2R. 30P. more or less, in hand.

Lot 7.— A MESSUAGE, with stable, and other buildings, yard and garden, thereto belonging, situate in the town of Tenterden, late the residence of Mr. Isaac Cloake.

Lot 8.— A TABLE BEER and ALE BREWERY, in full trade, with stable thereto adjoining, situate in Tenterden; also a large substantial well-built brick and tile Stable, with warehouses over the same, erected in 1806, in the occupation of
------- Goodwin. And also a COTTAGE, with a garden thereto belonging, in the occupation of John Boweuer. The site of the buildings and the ground thereto belonging, contain together about one quarter of an acre. The purchaser will be required to take at a fair valuation all the Stock-in-Trade, Brewing Utensils, and other effects, appertaining to the Brewery, by appraisement.

Lot 9.— A piece of Pasture LAND, called Butfield, otherwise the Cherry Orchard, situate at Boresisle, and adjoining the high road leading from Boresisle to Boresisle turnpike-gate, containing 2A. 1R. more or less, in hand.

Lot 10.— An old established and well accustomed PUBLIC-HOUSE, called the "Chequers," with good stabling and other outbuildings, yard, garden, and appurtenances, thereto belonging, situate in Biddenden, in the occupation of Mr. ------ Harris, a yearly tenant, who has had notice to quit at Michaelmas next.

Lot 11.— A MESSUAGE, with the appurtenances, situate near the Church Yard, in Tenterden, in the occupation of John Taylor.

Lot 12.— A MESSUAGE, FARM, and LANDS, situate at Bodiam, in the County of Sussex, containing altogether, by admeasmrement, 18A. 1R., more or less, of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, in the occupation of Richard Allen.

Particulars of the several Estates, and contents of each parcel of Land, with the conditions of Sale, may be had at the "Woolpack," Tenterden; "Chequers," Haldon; "Chequers," Biddenden; "Sararcens Head," Ashford, "Bull," Rolverden; "George," Cranbrook; "Red Lion," Bodiam; Mr. John Wood, Kent Road, and Mr. George Curteis, (the executors); Messrs. Dawes, Lardner, and Fisher, Solicitors, Rye; and of the Auctioneers, at Ashford, Kent.

From the Maidstone Gazette and Kentish Courier, 5 April, 1842.

IN KENT. THE SUTTON BREWERY PROPERTY,

The "Chequers Inn," at Biddenden,

At the "Star Hotel," Maidstone, on Thursday, April 21st, 1842 at Four for Fire o’clock precisely, by order of the Trustees of the late Mr. Crisp, who have directed a positive sale of this remaining portion of his estate, in 4 lots.

The "CHEQUERS INN," at Biddenden, with stables, chaise-houses, outbuildings, and gardens.

Kentish Gazette, 10 February 1852.

Wholesale Case of Uttering Counterfeit Coin.

On Saturday week, two men of respectable appearance, named Robert Lambert, innkeeper, of Biddenden, and James Austin, shoemaker, also of Biddenden, were brought up in custody, before the Rev. N. Toke, charged with having feloniously uttered a number of counterfeit crowns and half crown pieces, at Smarden, Pluckley, Egerton and other places in the neighbourhood of Ashford.

Both prisoners reside at Biddenden, and have carried on business there, in their respective vocations, for some considerable length of time, bearing (we believe) a good character amongst their neighbours in the locality. At least, they were persons so situated as to be little open to suspicion of uttering base coin, a dangerous and criminal trade pursued generally by the very worst characters, who also usually move about rapidly from place to place in order to avoid detection.

It would appear, however, that the prisoners drove over in a light cart to the neighbourhood of Ashford on Wednesday evening, the 28th ult., and that at Smarden they pulled up at the house of Mr. West, the "Chequers Inn," where they called for and were served with a quartern of gin. They tendered half a crown in payment, and received 2s. change, soon after which they left the house. Subsequent to this time it would seem they drove through the maltman's hill gate, on the Smarden road, where they tendered a 5s. piece in payment of the toll of 4 1/2d., receiving the change and driving away. From this place they doubtless proceeded on their errand to several other places not yet discovered, because some two or three hours afterwards they returned through the same toll gate and on the pretext that they had lost the ticket given them, they paid toll again, tendering a half-crown piece and receiving the change.

In passing through Smarden a second time they visited the "White Horse Inn," and succeeded in passing two more half crown pieces, in payment for two quarterns of gin, each prisoner paying away one of the coins, and receiving 2s. in change.

At another period of the evening the prisoners called at the "Black Horse Inn," Pluckley, where they also had a quartern of gin, tendered half a crown and received 2s. change, with which they drove off. It is needless to state that in each of the cases mentioned, the coins uttered by the prisoners turned out to be bad.

From what we saw of them they are excellent counterfeits, being electro-plated with silver, and having an excellent ring when sounded, as also an accurately milled edge. They are much lighter, however, than the genuine coin, being in weight not heavier than two ordinary shillings. The toll keeper was the first to discover the trick that had been played off upon him, and the circumstances obtaining currency, several other parties who had been duped also found out their mistake, and made the matter know to the parochial constables, by whom the particulars were communicated to superintendent Gifford, at Ashford, late on Thursday night.

On the following morning that officer proceeded to make searching inquiries into the case, and the result was so far satisfactory, that he at length obtained what he thought a good clue to the offenders, and he at once drove , over to Biddenden, a distance of fifteen miles from Ashford, accompanied by constables Bennett and Allen. Arrived at Biddenden he apprehended Lambert and Austin, informing them of his charge against them; they, of course, stoutly denied all knowledge of the matter, although admitting they had been out together the previous evening in the neighbourhood of Ashford.

The persons and premises of both parties were searched, but nothing of a suspicious character was found in the possession of Lambert. In the workshop of the other prisoner, a very conclusive discovery was made, namely, a packet containing four counterfeit crown pieces, and an equal number of bad half crowns.

The prisoners were then conveyed into Ashford, and on Saturday they were brought for examination as before stated, when Mr. Dangerfield, solicitor, appeared to watch the case on their behalf. They were both committed for trial.

Kentish Gazette, 16 March 1852.

UTTERING COUNTERFEIT COIN.

James Austin, 42, shoemaker, and Robert Lambert, 23, landlord of the "Chequers" public house at Biddendcn, were indicted for misdemeanour, in having unlawfully uttered counterfeit coin.

Mr. Deedes and Mr. Dawson conducted the prosecution; Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Repton defended Lambert; and Mr. Charnock was counsel for the other defendant.

The prisoners lived at Biddenden. On the evening in question they took a trip round the country together in a horse and cart. At Egerton, Lambert went into the house of John Luck, grocer, and asked for half an ounce of tobacco, and paid for it with a counterfeit half crown. At Smarden they called at the "Chequers," where they asked for "a drop of gin," and Austen paid for it with a counterfeit half crown, they thence proceeded through Pluckley gate, where one of them paid the gate-keeper a counterfeit five-shilling piece, which was not discovered till next day. They then went to the "Black Horse," Pluckley, where they had a drop of gin and peppermint, for which Lambert paid. At Egerton they had a glass of brandy and water, and paid for it with a sixpence. At Smarden they went to the "White Horse," where they each called for a quartern of gin and peppermint, and each paid for it with a counterfeit half-crown.

Bonny Allen, constable, found over the window, on a shelf, in Austen's shop, four counterfeit crowns and four counterfeit half-crowns.

Several witnesses were called to their character.

The Jury found the defendants Guilty, but recommended Lambert to mercy upon the ground that they believed he had been partly led into the commission of the offence by the other prisoner.

Mr. Justice Coleridge sentenced Austen to be kept to hard labour for twelve, and Lambert for nine months.

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 16 March 1852.

Uttering Counterfeit Coin.

James Austin, 42, shoemaker, and Robert Lambert, 23, landlord of the "Chequers" public house at Biddenden, where indicted for a misdemeanor, in having unlawfully uttered counterfeit coin.

Mr. Deeds and Mr. Dawson conducted the prosecution; Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Repton defended Lambert; and Mr. Charnock was counsel for the other defendant.

The prisoners lived at Biddenden. On the evening in question they took a trip around the country together in a horse and cart. At Egerton, Lambert went into the house of John Luck, grocer and asked for half an ounce of tobacco, and paid for it with a counterfeit half crown. At Smarden they called at the "Chequers," where they asked for "a drop of gin," and Austin paid for it with a counterfeit half crown. They then proceeded through Pluckley gate, where one of them paid the Gate-keeper a counterfeit five shilling piece, which was not discovered till next day. They then went to the "Black Horse," Pluckley, where they had a drop of gin and peppermint, for which Lambert paid. At Egerton they had a glass of brandy and water, and paid it for it with a sixpence. At Smarden they went to the "White Horse," where they each called for a quarter of gin and peppermint, and each paid for it with a counterfeit half crown.

Bonnie Allen, constable, found over the window, on a shelf, in Austen's shop, four counterfeit crowns and four counterfeit half crowns.

Several witnesses were called to their character.

The Jury found the defendant Guilty, but recommended Lambert to mercy upon the ground that they believed he had been partly lead into the commission of the offence by the other prisoner.

Mr. Justice Coleridge sentenced Austin to be kept to hard labour for 12 months, and Lambert for 9 months.