During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Marchant, John. 77. At Sheffield Arms. Born 28 April 1802 at Fletching and baptised there. I worked about Fletching as a boy till I was 16 and then I went to service with Mr. Beacon at Ketches Farm (Lord Sheffield) as odd man 3' /2 years. He then had litter and turf regularly from Ashdown Forest. During that time I went with Mr. Hobbs of Atheralls Farm his team for turf for his laborers or any cottagers in the street. Hobbs had the ashes afterwards for the trouble. I also went for Elphick at Pound Farm (Lord Sheffield's) with his team to the Forest for litter and turf. Also for his successor Eagles. I have lived near the Pound Farm. He was succeeded by John Kimber and I have worked for him at various times and have fetched litter for him. Paris and then Godly and then Newnham came afterwards. I know they had both litter and turf. I did not work for them but have been close by the farm for many years Newnham left the farm this Michaelmas.

When I was about 18 I went to service with Mr. Beacon at Ketches Farm (Lord Sheffield's) 3 1/2 years as odd man. He had litter and turf off the Forest every year. Sometimes I went for them when I was in his service. After I left his service I went to Mr. John Wheeler 1/2 year at Heaven Farm (now Mr. Hardys), [both] had litter and turf from Ashdown Forest. I then went to Mr. Beacon 1/2 year and then married and continued working for Mr. Beacon for several years, till 42 years ago, and during that time he continued to have litter and turf. I then worked on the roads in the western part of the parish for 40 years and retired 2 years ago.

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