William Allen

221

D Wong on 24th March 2020

Note from Moderator: Sorry Hannah, but William was sentenced to life, many thanks for his dates of birth and death, which I have added. Salisbury and Winchester Journal Wiltshire, England 14 Mar 1842: THE SOUTH WRAXALL BURGLARY This important and interesting case came on, on Monday morning, before Mr Justice Coleridge. The Court was crowded by persons of the first distinction, who were admitted by tickets issued by the High Sheriff. John Stokes, Nathaniel Burge, George Stokes, John Milsom, John Gough, and William Allen were indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Awdry, Esq., and stealing therefrom a quantity of plate, jewels, and other articles, the property of the said John Awdry, at South Wraxall. ....the trial was long so will only enter the important parts... 'In the house of Gough, property was afterwards discovered belonging to Mr. Awdry ; but he had left the neighbourhood, and was afterwards apprehended at Southampton, with a portion of the stolen property in his possession. Some of the property was found at the lodgings of George Stokes, at Twerton, near Bath, and he was subsequently apprehended at the house of a relative, near Wellington, in Somersetshire ; and in the room which he had but a moment before left was found a rag containing some rings which had been stolen........ Allen was apprehended in London, having with him a bundle in which was Mr. Awdry's watch. The bundle, which he acknowledged to be his, was addressed to Mr. Swift, No. 2, Thornhill-street, Pentonville ; but no such person was known there. In conclusion, he had only to request the jury to pay their best attention to the evidence, and give such a verdict as they thought that evidence required'. The Jury, after a short consultation, acquitted Milsom, and found all the other prisoners guilty. The prisoners were then sentenced to be transported for life. John Gough, Nathaniel Burge and John Stokes were also on board. George Stokes arrived VDL per 'Moffatt' 1842. William Allen was listed as 40 years old on arrival. Place of Birth: Westwood, Wiltshire. William was illiterate, 5'5½" tall, dark complexion, dark brown hair, black bushy whiskers, hazel eyes, brown mark on chin, mark of inoculation on left arm above elbow, 2 scars on left wrist, married with 7 children. Wife: Ann at Tiverton near Bath. William made application to bring out his family. Brothers: John, Job, Joseph Sisters: Elizabeth, Ann Jane -- at native place. 12/3/1850: TOL 7/6/1853: CP Ann Allen and her children - John, Eliza (with her son William), Thomas, Arthur and Eli arrived in Tasmania on the Ann Thompson in 1851. William became a publican in Port Cygnet and owned the Harvest Home Inn. 1876: William died and was buried at the cemetery at St. Marks, Cygnet. Ann Allen died in 1871 and was buried with William.