Wilson Johnson Appleyard

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Maureen Withey on 16th July 2019

Thursday.— Wilson Appleyard, an assigned government servant to Richard Brooks, Esq. was brought before the Police Magistrate on a charge of obtaining, under false pretences, sundry property in various parts of the town, upon divers occasions, and appropriating the same to his own use. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was employed by Mr. Brooks as clerk, in whom the utmost confidence had been placed; upon which account his situation was rendered as comfortable as possible, and in fact made respectable; but it unfortunately turned out that he violated the trust reposed in him in the most shameful and ungrateful manner. The prisoner had drawn orders, in the usual way of business, in the absence of his master, upon the most respectable houses in town, for chests of tea, bags of sugar, slops, tobacco, flour, &c. to a considerable amount, which articles, as soon as obtained, were converted into cash by the prisoner, being sold upon his own account to enable him to maintain the dissipated course of life into which he had embarked. Such was the confidence placed in him by his master, and all his household, that the servants became the instruments of assisting in his too well organized plans of plunder and fraud. Various parties appeared, who clearly proved the guilt of the prisoner, which he did not attempt to deny. The amount of his frauds is somewhat considerable; but, had not a discovery fortunately taken place, it cannot be conceived to what extent the prisoner might have gone. Against such infamous breaches of faith and confidence, the Magistrate observed there was unhappily scarcely a possibility of guarding; the Public were ever in danger from such systematic villany; and it behoved the inhabitants to be more circumspect in future in complying with orders from persons so circumstanced, and to know to whom they were giving their property at the least. The prisoner was sentenced corporal punishment, and to be sent to Newcastle for the remainder of his term of transportation. Sydney Gazette, Sat 23 Sept 1820

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Maureen Withey on 16th July 2019

Calendar of Prisoners – Now under confinement in his Majesty’s prison in Calcutta for diverse offences : ... Wilson Johnson Appleyard, alias J. Spratt, alias Wilson, charged on the oath of James Reynolds, with having on the 12th of April instant, uttered a draft on Alexander and Co. knowing the same to have been forged. Wilson Johnson Appleyard, charged on the oath of James Reynolds, Thomas Brakin, and others, with having on or about the 11th day of April last, forged and uttered, knowing it to be forged, one draft on Messrs J. Alexander and Company of Calcutta, signed Samuel Rogers, for the sum of sicca rupees three hundred and fifty three, with intent to defraud the said James Reynolds, against the form of the statute in such case made and provided. The Bengal Hurkaru , Wednesday 16 June 1819 Certificate of Freedom obtained during the last week: Sea Flower- Wilson Johnson Apleyard The Australian (Sydney), 26 July 1826

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Maureen Withey on 16th July 2019

APPLEYARD, Wilson Johnson. Per "Sea Flower", 1820 1820 May 2 Convict arrived from India per "Sea Flower"; listed as William (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.14) 1820 Oct 6 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.312) 1822 Feb On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle; listed as per "St Michael" (Reel 6023; 4/1718 p.143) 1823 Sep 15 On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to Port Macquarie per "Mermaid" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.418-9)