William Boulter

341

Maureen Withey on 31st May 2023

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/72/129. Date: Aug 1827. Prisoner name: Stephen Bumstead. Court and date of trial: General Sessions of Peace, Ipswich [Suffolk], July 1827. Crime: [Not stated]. Initial sentence: Death, commuted to transportation for life. Annotated (Outcome): Pardon prepared, 20 August 1827. [Sentence commuted to 14 years transportation]. Petitioner(s): Bailiffs and justice of Ipswich. C Gross, town clerk of Ipswich. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Information given concerning various burglaries in Ipswich. Additional Information: Prisoner held in Ipswich gaol. Sentences of death on Joseph Bass and William Boulter also commuted. Stephen Bumstead, Joseph Bass, and William Boulter, charged with feloniously and burglariously entering the dwelling-house Mr. Jas. Noble, St. Nicholas, and stealing therefrom blue great coat, two pair of women’s shoes, a tea caddy filled with tea, an umbrella, and other goods, and also 1£. 15s. in silver, and 3s. worth of copper. James Noble—l live in St Nicholas; generally lock all the doors and fasten all the windows myself; I did so on the 5th of May last; was the last person in the house; I went to bed at half-past ten ; was awakened the next morning by somebody knocking at at the door; I went down and found the front door not shut; then examined the premises, and found the scullery window had been broken off and set the side wall, the door likewise leading to the hall was wrenched off, and left standing against the wall; and a door leading from the scullery to the warehouse was forced open. In the warehouse I found a desk broken open, and 1£. 15s. taken out, and the writings scattered upon the floor. From the keeping-room were taken hat, a great coat, an umbrella, tea caddy, two pair shoes, two cloaks, a suit of child’s clothes, and other articles ; a breast and a hand of lamb were taken from the pantry. Cross-examined by Mr, Lawrance. I opened the window and saw Adams at the door; I did not know him before; it was just twilight; the thieves must have been in the house half or three-quarters of hour; I could just distinguish the features of person's face. James Adams, clerk Messrs. Rodwell and Cobbold—On the evening of the sth of May I had been spending the evening with some friends, and about three o’clock the next morning was returning home ; in my way I passed Noble’s house in Boat-lane; just before I came to the meeting-house gale I saw three men cross the street from Noble’s house; one was behind the others, with bundle under his left arm; the two before (one of whom whom was Bumstead) had fustian frocks on, and endeavoured to conceal the man behind. There is opening in the of house into which they went, and the man with the bundle ran towards Thursby’s Lane, the others stood behind the wall, and mv going towards them, I heard them run away”; I then went to Noble’s gate-way and tried the gate; whilst there, I saw Bass come off the step of Noble’s door, with a bundle under his jacket; he passed on the pavement, and went into the middle of the road; the door was standing half open; Bass quickened his pace, and ran down Falcon-street and Dog’s Head-lane ; I ran to Noble's door and rapped three times, and alarmed him. Bumstead acknowledged before the Magistrates, that he passed in Boat-lane, that morning. In his cross-examination, he said it was light enough to see a man’s features, and the men about yards from him when he first saw them. John Sore, watchman —Saw Bass about 3 o'clock of the morning the 6th of May, in Dog's Head lane, and saw him through Tacket-street, with with large parcel under his jacket; said good night as he passed. Dog’s Head lane is the direct road from Noble’s to Mrs. Harper’s, in St. Helen’s where these men all lodge. Joseph Beard—I searched the prisoner’s house the 6th of May; found only a dark lantern; went to Mrs. Moyse’s the 7th, respecting a hat which Boulter had left there; it had the appearance of having had meat in it. Hannah Newson lives near Mrs. Moyse, in St. Helen’s; saw Boulter carrying a hat in his hand, the 5th of May; he wore a hat at the same time. Caroline Moyse —Boulter is my brother-in-law; he brought he brought the hat to me, which Beard took, and asked me to take care it, he was going into the country for work ; my daughter took it from him and brought it to me, I was ill in bed; spoke to me from the bottom of the stairs. Mary Moyse—Recollect Boulter bringing a hat to my mother’s ; I took it and carried it to her; Beard afterwards called for it and I gave it it to him. Manning Harvey—Was an extra waiter at the Tuns Inn, at May Fair; on the 5th, the …. Suffolk Chronicle 28 July 1827. Thursday week, the following convicts were removed from the Borough Gaol in this town, and put on board the Leviathan Hulk, Portsmouth, viz.. Joseph Bass and Wm. Boulter, for life; Stephen Bumpstead, for 14 years; Lazarus Hewlett, William Rose, and Thos. Collins, 7 years each. Suffolk Chronicle, 15 Sept 1827.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 7th March 2022

1829 - Burials in the Parish of Hobart Town in the County of Buckingham No; 685 Name; William Boulton ** Spelling as per Register Abode; Hobart Town from Hospital When buried; 1829, 29 December Age; 27 years Ship’s Name; Woodford 2nd. Died in a state of Intoxication. Quality or profession. Convict. 1830 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. Year; 1830 No; 1097 Name; William Bolton ** Spelling as per Register Ship arrived by; Woodford 2nd To whom assigned/Occupation; DECEASED

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 7th March 2022

1828 - Conduct Record. Indent No; 1097. Transported for Burglary. Mother & 3 brothers at N.P. [Native Place] Ipswich. Brickmakers. Status; Single Age; 26 years Height; 5 ft 4 1/2 in Trade; Brickmaker 1829 - 2 March. Drunk in P.B. on Saturday night last. Thread Mill 10 days 1829 - 27 July. Intoxication in P.B. Thread Mill - 7 days