Law and Order

John and Ann Bishop

John Bishop was the gravedigger for the Priory, and Ann Bishop 'looked after the Church'.

1891 Census
4 Pendre, Brecon
Name
Position in
household
Marital
status
Age
Occupation
Place of birth
English/Welsh
speaker
John Bishop
Head
M
54
Grave digger
Crick, Northampton
English
Ann Bishop
Wife
M
54
 
Brecon
Both
Thomas Hughes
Border
S
22
Assistant School Master
Cardiganshire, Llanwenog
Both

They appeared before both the Petty and Quarter Sessions. Their depositions from the Petty Sessions were also used in the Quarter Sessions, and were as follows:

John Bishop on his oath saith . . .

"John Bishop on his oath saith
I am a gravedigger in the Priory Churchyard and live at 6 Pendre Brecon.
On the 16th of June at a quarter to 7 in the Evening I was in my house, the prisoner came to my house and accused me of moving some stones. I said I knew nothing about it and had not moved any. He used very bad language towards me and towards my wife and asked me what I did I put Davies' stones on his ground for I said I had not done it. He then said he should go and break them, and went away. The next morning I found that the stones he referred to had been damaged, one a memorial stone to David Davies had been pulled up and broken in two, apparently by another stone being thrown upon it - another memorial stone had been pulled up and thrown down - that is a marble one. I have held my present office for 17 years and have known the Churchyard for about 25 years. No stones have been moved to my knowledge during that time. The prisoners relations have been buried not very far from the spot where the stones were broken but not there. I think he was worse for drink when he was at my house threatening to break the stones."


Ann Bishop's Evidence
Frost v Price page 2