William Baxter

Level 55

Barbara Lister on 3rd July 2026

Digital Panopticon page (Inc linkage to transportation on the Baring) https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=obpt18140914-69-defend684 William Baxter was under close observation by a parish officer when he used a skeleton key to enter the home of a tradesman's family in Grey's Inn Road, London. He then forced an internal door and a drawer to take money, pocket books and bills (like cheques). He had been boasting in a pub that he was wanted for a burglary in Lambeth and that there was a reward. He continued that he knew that the family of a patten-maker kept money in the house in Grey's Inn Lane and invited those drinking with him to assist in a burglary when the family went to church. One of the two people with him in the pub was too drunk and the other was the parish officer, who was outside during the burglary and took Baxter prisoner when he came out with the money etc. In his pockets. (Baxter's defence suggested that the parish official had actively encouraged completion of the burglary, that though was not accepted.) Baxter was given a death sentence respite to 21 years transportation. He was 26 at the time of his trial. (Proceedings of the Old Bailey trail date 14 September 1814)