William Beckett

9

Sharmaine Kruijver on 9th April 2026

According to Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853, William Beckett was a 22 year old Stone Mason from Heddington, Oxfordshire. He married Mary Vale [Lawrence], with permission to marry at Sydney given 4 Aug 1823 (found in the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856).

135

C H on 11th March 2024

Old Bailey Online WILLIAM BECKETT. WILLIAM THOMPSON. Theft; theft from a specified place. 28th October 1820 Text type Trial account Defendants WILLIAM BECKETT, WILLIAM THOMPSON Offences Theft > Theft from place Session Date 28th October 1820 Reference Number t18201028-122 Verdicts Guilty, Guilty Punishments Transportation NINTH DAY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1349. WILLIAM BECKETT and WILLIAM THOMPSON were indicted for stealing, on the 10th of October , 30 lbs. of lead, value 5 s., the goods of Charles Southall , and fixed to a certain dwelling-house of his . SECOND COUNT, stating it to be fixed to a building. CHARLES SOUTHALL . I live in Redcross-street. The house No. 28, Banner-street , is mine. RICHARD WARD . I had the care of this house on the 9th of October, about one o'clock in the day, everything was quite safe - this lead was fixed to the cistern and sink. About eleven o'clock at night Cox alarmed me, I went and found it cut from its place, and lying in the kitchen in four pieces - the back door was forced open. About a week before that the prisoner, Thompson, had called and looked the house over. THOMAS GRENVILLE . I am a watchman. One end of my beat comes into Banner-street. Cox called me over to him, I went to the door of No. 28, and saw a light in the kitchen. Cox called Ward up, and I saw the two prisoners come out of the back door of the house into the court. I took Thompson, Beckett ran back into the house - I saw him in the custody of Daniels; I am sure he is the man. We went into the house, and found four pieces of pipe cut from the sink. Some matches were found on both the prisoners. Cross-examined by MR. BRODERICK. Q. Where was you when they came out - A. In the middle of the passage - I saw them come out of the back door. Cross-examined by MR. LAW. Q. Have you given evidence here before - A. Yes, on the trial of one Grant, he was acquitted. JOHN COX . I am a watchman. I observed a light at No. 28, Banner-street, which was an empty house. I called Grenville, and knocked at the door three or four times - no answer was given. I went towards the next door, and the moment I knocked the prisoners came from the back door; we seized Thompson, and Beckett retreated into the house. Before I could spring my rattle he came out of the front door; Daniel seized him, he fell down in the kennel; I immediately secured and took him to the watch-house. I returned to the house, and found the lead on a table, and a crowbar on the copper. One match, partly burnt, was found on Thompson, and nine or ten on Beckett. At one o'clock I found a skeleton key in the court, and at two I found a dark lanthorn, with a wax candle in it, two or three yards from the back door. The lead was fresh cut, and weighed 30 lbs. Cross-examined by MR. BRODERICK. Q. You could not see the back door - A. Yes. They said they went up the court for a necessary purpose, but I had seen them lurking about the house before ten o'clock. CHARLES DANIEL . I am a cabinet-maker, and live a few doors from the prosecutor's. As I passed I saw the watchmen knocking at the door. I stood at the front door while they went down the court, and in about three minutes Beckett opened the back door and ran out; I laid hold of him till the watchman secured him. I went into the house and saw the lead torn from the cistern. ELIJAH PICKNEY . I was constable of the night. I searched the prisoners, and found half a match on Thompson and ten on Beckett. THOMPSON's Defence. I went up the court for a necessary purpose, BECKETT'S Defence. I had been at work in a cellar, which made me have matches. THOMPSON - GUILTY . Aged 25. BECKETT - GUILTY . Aged 22. Transported for Seven Years .