That’s no way to crack Christmas NUTS. Samuel Patmans unfortunate Christmas surprise.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday 19 May 1853

Parramatta.

John and Mary Clark, husband and wife, of Pennant Hills, were indicted for wounding,   with intent to do some grievous bodily harm, to one Samuel Pateman, a sawyer in the same district.

The second count charged the prisoners with a common assault.

From the evidence adduced, it seems that the prosecutor, who was a sober man, went to prisoners' house the day after Christmas day last (Sunday), to pay a friendly visit, and whilst there, some words took place between the man and wife, when Mrs. Clark ran at her husband, took down a gun which was loaded ; prosecutor, who was on the best of terms with the prisoners, fearing Clarke intended to do some mischief, caught hold of the muzzle of the gun to wrest it away, and the woman, with the same intent, pulled the trigger, and the contents lodged in the groin of Pateman, who said to prisoners " you have ruined me."

They immediately threw down the gun and went, it appears that they were both drunk.

Dr, Bassett attended the prosecutor, and spoke of the very narrow escape from death, the whole charge having lodged in the thigh after doing other mischief.

The Jury acquitted the prisoners of the first count, but found them guilty of a common assault; and the Court sentenced them each to pay a fine of £5 to the Queen, which was immediately done. Counsel   for the prisoners, Mr. Purtfoy; attorney, Mr. Lyons.

 See that like button down there, yes that one just give it a push, there you go feel better now?

"Pateman"A Narrow Escape.

1896 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW: 1888 - 1950)Saturday 28 November 1896

Pennant Hills.

A Narrow Escape. —

On Saturday night, a Mrs. G. Pateman and Miss Grace Aiken were getting ready to attend the Band of Hope meeting, Mrs. Pateman was reaching across the bed for her hat, when the candle caught the curtains, which flared up very quickly.

Mrs. Pateman set to work with much presence of mind to prevent the flames spreading and soon extinguished them. However, before she had succeeded, she was severely burned about the arm. The excitement of the incident completely prostrated her afterwards, and she was unable to venture out us she had intended.

"OLD BREAD". NSW Lancaster family.

Here is just a short but interesting news item.

1926 The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954) Friday 27 August

FORTY YEARS' OLD BREAD

Mr. R. L. Paterson, of Wyee, writes: — 

Having read in the 'Gosford Times' a reprint from the "Cessnock Eagle' about bread being found in the ground at Cessnock supposed to be forty years old, I would like to state that there is living at Wyee an old gentleman, Mr. T. H. Lancaster, who says that his father, the late Mr. Joseph Lancaster, was a timber contractor living in Cessnock between 40 and 50 years ago. 

He had a lot of men engaged timber getting around where the town of Cessnock' now stands, and Mr. Lancaster states, as near as he can remember' those men had camps somewhere in the vicinity where the bread was found. The bread may be some thrown away from the old camps of those days