James Baby the pilfering postman

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Evercreech historian Violette Valentine is taking a look at the postal service of Evercreech and its characters. Here is the second installment, looking at James Baby, the pilfering postman...


WE know James William Baby joined the staff at Evercreech before 1855. The Scotsman was living in Batcombe and on January 14, 1854 had married Sarah Mullins, a silk winder. Perhaps the new responsibility of being a married man drew on his purse more than he cared. He was soon going to find that being light-fingered and a letter carrier were not a good mix.

Some irregularities had occurred in the local postal delivery, enough to arouse suspicion that someone was tampering with the post and a plot to discover who was hatched. James Baby, at that time, was delivering letters between Evercreech and North Brewham, and this included delivery to Mr Lush's residence at Brewham House.

On March 3 1855 a shilling was marked and Mr Lush travelled to Glastonbury to post a letter addressed to Ann Denslow, one of his servants. When the post was delivered the letter was not present. At that time delivery would have been within the same day, so with no sign of the envelope Mr Lush questioned James Baby as to the whereabouts of the letter. James denied he had it, but when searched the marked shilling was found.

The prosecution, Mr Phinn acting for the Postmaster General, brought the case to court at the Spring Assizes, at Taunton Castle. Witnesses were called who proved that the letter, posted in Glastonbury, had been safely passed through the Post Office and into the hands of James Baby.

Queen's Counsel, Mr Phinn, proved his case acting for the prosecution and Baby was found guilty with a recommendation for mercy. The Judge was, however, determined to make the point regarding the security of the postal communications service and James Baby was sentenced to six years penal servitude.