William Abbott

46

Heather Stevens on 5th September 2021

From "The Second Fleet : Britain's Grim Convict Armada of 1790", by Michael Flynn: "On 4 June 1788, he was sent on board the Lion hulk at Portsmouth, age given as 38. He laboured on public works there until 29 November 1789 when he was embarked on the Scarborough transport. No record of his presence in the colony has so far been traced."

341

Maureen Withey on 27th April 2020

Sunday last was committed our County Gaol, by the Rev. M. O'Clare, William Abbott, (Clerk of the parish of Sulgrave) charged, on his own Confession, with having been concerned with John Smith, senior, John Smith, junior, William Smith, (committed to same Gaol last Week, for robbing John Richardson, &c.) John Tuck and William Bowers, in divers Felonies, Burglaries, Highway Robberies, in the Counties of Northampton, Oxford, Warwick and Gloucester. Northampton Mercury, 21 April 1787. --------------------------------------------------- Northampton. On Thursday last ended the Assizes for this County, when ten Prisoners were capitally convicted, and received Sentence of Death, viz. David Coe and John Hulbert, for breaking into the House of John Loake of Desborough, Victualler, in the Night, and stealing thereout a Flitch of Bacon and a Quantity of Pork; William Crowson, for killing a Lamb, and stealing the Skin thereof; Thomas Ward and Cornelius Burrows, for stealing a Sheep, the Property of Messrs. Shortland and Hartford, of Rowell; William Pettifer alias Peckover, for robbing -- Warren, on the Highway; William Bowers, for breaking into the Dwelling-House of Wm. Mayo, of Sewell, in the Parish of Blakesley, in the Night, and stealing thereout 15s. in Money, a Gold Ring, a Silver Stock Buckle, and sundry Articles of Wearing-Apparel, &c. &c. John Smith the Elder, for robbing -- Lemm, of Foxley, in the Parish of Blakesley, on the Highway, in the Parish, of Green's Norton, of a Silver Watch and 15s. in Money; ; Richard Law, for robbing Edw. Jackson on the Highway, near Towcester, of a Silver Watch; and William Abbott, for robbing Mr. Owen on the Highway, near Deddington, in Oxfordshire, of nine Guineas and a Half, and a Silver Watch. Northampton Mercury, 21 July 1787. --------------------------------------------------- At Northampton assizes, David Coe and John Hulbert for burglary; William Pettifer, alias Peckover, John Smith the elder, and Richard Law, for highway robberies; and William Bowers, for burglary, were capitally convicted. and left for execution on Friday the 3d of August next. Crowson, Ward, and Cornelius Burrows, all sheep-stealing and William Abbott, for a highway robbery were likewise capitally convicted, but reprieved before the Judge left the town.— Stamford Mercury, 27 July 1787. -------------------------------------------------- Extract from Sulgrave Manor and the Washingtons. By H. Clifford Smith. “Sulgrave, we learn, in earlier days, had an unenviable reputation as the resort of a band of highwaymen and poachers. Known as the Culworth gang, from the adjacent village where many of them lived, for twenty years they terrorises the neighbourhood. In the ancient iron-bound chest which stand in Sulgrave church, one of the most daring members of the gang, no less a person than the parish clerk, one William Abbott, shoemaker by trade, was accustomed to secrete his share of the spoil; and tradition relates that he “never performed his part in the church services without loaded pistols in his pocket.” The end came in 1787 and four of the gang were executed at Northampton. Abbott, however, escaped with a sentence of “Transportation” - a light punishment in times when many a man was hanged for stealing a sheep or even a lamb. The story is confirmed by the following entries in the church books: Aprill the 22nd, 1787. John Wilcox Labourer first officiated as a parish clerk of Sulgrave on the dismissal of William Abbott, by appointment of the Reverend Richard Wykham, Vicar of Sulgrave. July 1787. William Abbott parish clerk was condemned at Northampton Assize to lose his life for Highway Robbery, but was afterwards reprieved to Transportation for Life. For the Good and future safety of this parish Minuted down. By Rd. Wykham Vicar of Selgrave, June the fifteenth 1788.” From Sulgrave Manor and the Washingtons. By H. Clifford Smith.

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Maureen Withey on 27th April 2020

National Archives. HO 47/6/88 1787 Aug 8 Certificate/memorial of William Henry Ashhurst on prisoners capitally convicted on the Midland Circuit, but 'some favourable Circumstances' appeared on/after their trial and recommended to mercy on the condition set against their names: Northamptonshire Summer Assizes at Northampton William Abbott, for stealing a silver watch in Oxfordshire. Transportation for life.

1

Timothy Cooper on 17th July 2012

william abbott was a member of the culworth gang from northamptonshire england,he was part of a gang of highway men that numberd as much as 15 to 20 members that roamed around northamptonshire for many years,william abbott when caught shopped the other members of the gang,for this he was sentenced to life and sent to australia,some of the gang got away the rest were hung on northampton town racecource.