Tue 25 Aug 1807
John Scandreff Harford claimed shares nos.23,95,200,27,28,29,90, will of Edward Harford.
Thomas Watkins to be prosecuted for bathing in the canal unless he makes suitable confessions to the committee.
Several owners being suspected of putting coals into wagons in which they have been carried off previously to the tonnage having been paid, notice is to be given to all persons coming into the Navigation that if any man shall be found guilty of such practise, the vessel shall be detained until he shall have paid the Company 40s per ton on all coals taken.
Conduct of William Hogg, employed to sell coals at Wallbridge Wharf and as keeper of the Company’s warehouse, and also the general neglect of his duty and the dishonesty and incapacity that have long marked his conduct, the Committee are to give him notice that he shall no longer be employed to sell coal from 10 October.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee room at Walbridge on Tuesday the 25^th Aug 1807
Present: Sir Sam^l Wathern, Benj^n Grazebrooke, Rev^d Jno^h Colborne, Jn^o Allaway, Sam^l Wathen, Jos^h Grazebrooke, Jn^o Tyers, Nath^l Wathen, Rowles Scudamore, Nath^l Jones, Will^m Stanton.
Read the Minutes of the Last Meeting.
Continued the Orders of the last Meeting.
Mess^r Jones & Co attended on behalf of Jn^o Scandreff Harford of the City of Bristol and made out his Claim to seven Shares in the Stroud Navigation N 23,95,200, 27,28, 29, 90 late the property of his father Ew^d Harford of the said City of Bristol Esq^r deceased by producing the Probate of the Will of the said Ew^d Harford bearing date the 24^th Nov^r 1801. and duly and duly proved in the Perogation Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury the 23^rd May 1806 whereby it appears that the said Jn^o Scandferr Harford is the sole Executor and only Son of the said Ew^d Harford and his claim is here by admitted.
Our Clerk having reported Tho^s Watkins has been detected bathing in the Canal in the day time notwithstanding Notice has has been given agreeable to the Orders of 19^th Aug^t last. Ordered that a prosecution be commenced against him at the next Quarter Sessions except he shall make such confessions as the Committee or any three of them shall think right to accept.
It having been reported that several owners have within a few months been suspected of putting out Coals into Waggons in which they have been carried off previously to the Tonnage having been paid, our Clerk Will^m Pavey is hereby ordered to give Notice to all persons coming into the Navigation that if any man be found guilty of such a practice the Vessell shall be detained untill he has paid the Company 40s per Ton on all Coals taken out of his Trow in the manner above mentioned.
The very irregular conduct of W^m Hogg employed to sell Coals at Walbridge Wharf and as keeper of the Companys Warehouse theron, and also the general neglect of his duty in not fastening up the Gates of the Wharf according to positive instructions, and the drunkeness and in capacity that have long mark^d his Conduct, have induced the Committee to resolve to give him instant notice the he shall no longer be employ^d to sell Coal than until the 10^th of October next ensuing on which day he must deliver up his Accounts and pay the whole amount that may be due to our Clerk Ew^d Hains who is hereby directed to give him a Coppy of this Resolution.
Adjourned this meeting to Monday the 14^th of September next at the Committee room at Walbridge at 5 o'Clock in the Afternoon
