Description:This letter written by Thomas Heath in October 1797 reports an incident which occured at the Trentham Wakes. A man named William Hughes who was employed at the Hanley Colliery Office had borrowed sixteen shillings and threepence from a lady named Sarah Mills, telling her that he needed the money to replace an amount belonging to the Colliery Office which he had lost.
However, despite promising to repay Sarah Mills on his return from the Trentham Wakes, Hughes had failed to pay the money back. Sarah eventually came to see Hughes at the Hanley Colliery Office and demanded payment. Another employee, William Beardmoore had heard that Hughes had gone to the alehouse with Sarah's money and had 'got drunk and lost the money there'.
Heath's letter refers to other incidents when Hughes had failed to pay money which he owed. There had also been money missing from the Colliery Office. Although Hughes could not be 'directly charged' with the theft, Heath remarks that he had 'forfeited all confidence by a repetition of suspicious actions'.
Despite being allowed a regular sum to pay his board wages, Heath had failed to pay his board, and also admitted to spending money he claimed to have lost 'to buy cloathes'.
Thomas Heath had offered to provide Hughes with 'a few Necessarys in Cloathing', for which Hughes was given ten shillings. Heath remarks that he had 'never had the Misfortune to have such an unfortunate young man as this', adding that he was 'astonished' by Hughes's conduct.
Thomas Heath concludes his letter requesting that Lord Stafford 'dismiss' Hughes for the reasons outlined in the letter, adding 'I am well informed that he is not altogether a sober man'.