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:

Heaver, John. Rather deaf and decrepit Health uncertain. Residing at Forest Row. Labourer. 79. [Born] on the 31 March 1799, baptised at East Grinstead.

As I was 10 years old in March my father took Plaw Hatch Farm the Michaelmas after. I worked for him till 14 and then went to work for William Payne at Leggs Heath for a year, then went to work for Thomas Hills at Pound House Farm, Horsted Keynes for 6 months, then worked for Mr. Allen in Lingfield 6 months.

Then I came back to East Grinstead parish and worked for Thomas Hooker at Shovelstrode from a month after Ladytide till Michaelmas. I then went to live with his father old Master Leonard Hooker at Buckhurst 1 1/2 years. Then I came as team man with ox team to Mr. Godly at Upper Parrock 6 months, then to Mill Place for the winter. Then I went mowing the other side of Streatham. I did odd work till Michaelmas, then went to live with Avery, a butcher in East Grinstead Town 10 months. Then I came to work for Francis Bedford at Brambletye for 4 1/2 years, except that I left him for 6 months and worked about. Then I got married 54 years ago next April (1880). I worked on for Bedford till Michaelmas and then I went litter cutting on the Forest and cut 10 load of litter and sold it to 3 or 4 different people. I then went to Holly Bush for Mrs Pearton, a widow woman. Then I worked where I could get work 3 or 4 years. Work was very bad and one winter I was 12 weeks without work. During that time I worked for my uncle Edward Heaver at Tablehurst. Then I worked for 3 years for Richard Cisley at Court Inholmes Farm at Brambletye. When he left, the property belonged to Mr. Wright, a banker in London. The Bank broke and the assignees worked the farm for two years and I worked off and on at it during that time. Then Charles Marchant from Hartfield took the farm and after I had threshed out the corn for the assignees I went to work for them. In 1851 he left the farm and Mr. Mellish came who is there now. I then went bark flawing and at harrowing time I came to work for Mr. Mellish and have worked for him ever since.

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