So a complaint by Johanna Lawler, widow, against John English (farmer) on 9 Apr 1872, informs us that on the 26 and 28 of March he let five pigs trespass on her new fences. They uprooted the quicks planted in said fences.
On 5 Sep 1870 John English (farmer) filed a complaint against Margaret English (married) stating that on the 20th of August in Gullane she assaulted him by stricking him several blows on the face with her fist. Thomas and Honorie English also both of Gullane spoke in her defense and the charges were dismissed on the merits and without costs.John then accused Thomas English Sr. (farmer) of Gullane of assaulting his wife Margaret on the same day by taking from her by force and violence a tin can and cut her in the leg. John asked that Thomas be bound to peace towards himself and his family. Thomas English spoke for John. These charges were also dismissed without merit.
The drama had just begun, John next accused Thomas English Jr. (laborer) of causing him a personal injury. He accused Honoria and May English of aiding and assisting Margaret English of assaulting his wife (Margaret English) and asked that they be bound to peace toward him and his family. All the charges were dismissed on merit and without cost.
Thomas English then accused Margaret English (married) of wilful trespass for entering his land and taking water from his well, he went on to accuse John of trespass and using force and violence to assist his wife in taking water from his well. These charges were also dismissed on merit and without cost.
Relations between these brothers and their families did not necessarily improve. On 15 Apr 1872 Margaret (married) most likely the wife of Thomas complained that John had called her scandalous names without any cause. Stating that she is afraid that he will do so again, she asks that he be bound for future good behavior towards her. John in turn complained that she had assaulted and beaten him and also accused her son Thomas Jr. of calling him a perjurer and of encouraging his mother to assault and beat him. He asked for Thomas Jr. to be bound in peace towards him. All three complaints show there was no appearance in court.
On 8 Oct 1877 Thomas English accused John of allowing his pigs to trespass on his land cropped with potatoes. You can find these as well as many other "family" petty court sessions by clicking on the link below.
Adding to the confusion of the records is the fact that both brothers had married Margarets. John married Margaret Carroll and Thomas married Margaret Costello. And both Thomas and John had sons Thomas and John. Thomas remained in East Gullane where he passed away in 1884, but at this point it is unknown whether John remained. His name remains in the Valuation books, but no death has been found for him. There is a census record in 1880 in Minneapolis that could be him. Perhaps the digitization of the remaining death records for Gullane will give further clues.
Gullane Petty Sessions Court Records (English, Lawler, Carmody connections)
Irish Petty Sessions Court Records - Irish Genealogy Toolkit (more about the records)
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