1704 Law suit over the ownership of Upcott and Thorne, this lasted twelve years.
1807 Mr M.G. Woodward wrote in his “Eccentric Excursions” — “It is a well known fact that the people of Holsworthy are never so happy as when they are going to law or drinking brandy. The latter they do in a manner peculiar to themselves. The addition of the simple element of water they abhor, and consider the liqour spoilt if diluted. They have another curious liqour called ‘tear brain’, composed entirely of rum and brandy. The women take their brandy to the amount of two or three.
1809 The Ducking Stool was used in England for the last time.
1861 Ann Earl was the last person in England to be put in the stocks. Magistrate John Vowler said he was at a loss to know how to prevent her from standing on her head for a glass of gin and doing cartwheels for a glass of beer.
1871 For stealing a piece of cloth from a trap, a woman from Holsworthy was sentenced to seven years penal servitude.
1879 Ground Game Act introduced. Thomas Petherick and Stephen Sloggett were imprisoned in Exeter for killing a hare on land their fathers rented. (All game belonged to the landowner). There was such a hue and cry about the incident that questions were asked in Parliament and the law was changed to allow tenants to kill ground game. When the pair were released they were met by crowds of people and carried shoulder high through the city whilst the band played. This law made a great difference to tenants as they could then kill ground game for their own consumption or to sell. Many a tenant paid his rent with money made by killing such game.
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