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:

Stevenson, William. 61. Knabbs Farm, Fletching. Born in Fletching Street. My Father James Stevenson was a bargeman on the River Ouse and I worked with him. When I was about 21 years old my Father took the Knabbs Farm, 13 acres, (Lord Sheffield) and the Vicar's Glebe, 15 acres, and I continued the barge work but being at home once or twice every week and helping him in slack times. About 25 to 30 years ago he took in addition the Green Farm (Lord Sheffield), 46 acres. He died February 7 1874, and I took the farms on after him and hold them now.

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