This is part of a paragraph from Averil Kear's article in the New Regard:

Early records of convictions in the Forest of Dean show that men quite often stole quantities of wood to keep their homes and forges supplied. Richard Jones, a nailor, of Littledean was convicted in 1783 of 'cutting and rooting up 1 acres of hazel wood in the Forest of Dean' and in 1787 John Brain, a nailor, also of Littledean was convicted of 'cutting and rooting up a quantity of underwood". When John Gwilliam, a nailer of the same place was caught in 1808 cutting down a young beech tree, he was fined 40/- (40 shillings) and 6/- (6 shillings) expenses, a great deal of money for a man trying to provide for his family.

Mike