William Henry Bryant

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Robin Buck on 15th August 2012

Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 about William Henry Bryant Vessel: Henry Tanner Convicted Date: 20 Feb 1834 Voyage Date: 27 Jun 1834 Colony: New South Wales Place of Conviction: Middlesex, England copied from transcription of Williams trial, William Henry Bryant was indicted on the 1st February 1834 for stealing 1 hat valued at 10/- the property of William mason. Edward Cruse:- " I am a teacher of music, I lodge at Mr. William Mason's He is a hatter, and lives in Carbur.... street. on the 1st of February, about eight o'clock in the evening I was in the parlour and heard a noise in the shop, and saw an arm and hand extended into the shop----I got up and pursued the prisoner, who ran into Norton Street --- I called stop thief and he was stopped--- the hat was found 2 yards in front of him. George Thorton (police constable E 01) On the evening in question I heard a cry of " stop thief " and saw the prisoners running in an opposite direction--- I followed, and caught him. ---- he appeared much confused, and said, what is the matter ? Mr. Cruse came up and gave charge of him ---- the prisoner said, upon my word you are mistaken, it was not me ---- I took him to the shop, and the proprietor gave him in charge --- he threw himself on the ground -- cried "murder " and "O lord" -- he struck me in the face , and was so violent, that we were obliged to put him into a cab to get him to the station house --- whilst he was in the shop, he said he lived at Rathbone Place, he afterwoods gave another direction --- they were both false. William Mason. "This is my hat" the prisoner's defence. "the gentleman stuck me in the face, and said, if i did not hold my tongue, he would knock my head through the wainscot -- he said then, he saw a hand go to the hat, and now he says he saw a arm and hand. GUILTY, AGE 14 ....... Transported for Seven Years. William was tried at the Old Bailey in London to the 20th February 1834, found guilty of stealing a hat, and was sentenced to 7 yrs transportation, He came on the ship Henry Tanner. The master of the Henry Tanner was Hy Ferguson and the ship left Liverpool 1st July 1834 The Henry Tanner arrived in Port Jackson, Sydney on the 26th October 1834. William could read and write and was a locksmiths boy in London. In the 1837 muster of convicts it is shown he was assigned to John Smith of Patrick's Plains (now called Singleton). He received his ticket of leave22 February 1841, and a second one issued 14th July 1845(the first one may have worn out as they had to be carried with them all the time) William married Catherine Pinkerton on the 29th march 1853 at St Andrews Scots Church Sydney New South Wales. On marriage certificate William is listed as a bachelor of Sydney and Maaneroo and Catherine is listed as a spinster of the same place. William signed his name but Catherine could neither read or write. William possibly died around 1894 as he was not on the electoral roll after that year. PROFESSIONS: He was a settler at Cowra Creek in the snowy mountains area when Elizabeth was born. When Agnes was born he was a stock holder at Cowra Creek. He was a stock holder at Wangrah on the Bredbo river when William henry Jr was born. And a carrier at Cowra Creek when Catherine and Benjamin also the first Anthony were born. when the 2nd Anthony was born he was a laborer at Cowra Creek, when Thomas Alexander was born he was a shepherd at Currygat, and Margaret was born when he was a laborer at Biggam, he was a shepherd at little Plain when Frederick William arrived, Mary Jane and George Robert he was a laborer coolamatong, Catherine died 6 days after the birth of George Robert at Coolamatong. from the Goulburn Herald, 7th August 1858 Before R Dawson Esq. P M & W Graham Esq William Bryant v John Cosgrove, The plaintiff summoned the defendant for excess of charge in driving horses 18 miles to the pound; 10s per head was the price fixed by the defendant. Their worships agreed that the charge was not in excess , therefore the case was dismissed. 15th September 1858 Court of requests............. William Bryant of Bredbo v William Glass of Cowra....... There were four claims made by the plaintiff, two of which, involved an amount of 25 pounds, were dismissed by the bench. Goulburn Herald 29th October1862 Capture of noted cattle stealers............... William Bryant alias Terrible Billy is under remand from Cooma Police Court on a charge of cattle stealing, Andrew Tyrie, well known as the leader of the Jingera mob, has been apprehended by Constable Cleary of the Cooma Police, and is remanded to Queenbeyan to answer a similar charge. The warrant against him was issued eighteen months ago. The Constable deserves considerable credit for the capture, which he effected with great nerve, and in addition to this prevented a determined attempt to escape. The Monaro Mercury says of Tyrie little can be said. It is barely possible to recognize in the small, weak macerated individual in custody the man who gets credit for such a notorious character. He has already, we believe, expressed an inclination to "to come it on" on some of he others. Goulburn Herald 19th November 1862. The Charge of Cattle stealing Against Terrible Billy, at the Cooma police court on Saturday, William Bryant alias terrible billy, was brought up on remand charged with cattle stealing, and in consequence of a letter from Mr. Markham, superintendent of police, stating that the prisoner was quite innocent, was discharged. On Tuesday he was brought up on another charge of cattle stealing, but the magistrate held that sufficient evidence to justify his committal had not been brought forward, and he was discharged. Goulburn Herald 11th July 1863. ASSAULTING THE POLICE. William Bryant, alias Terrible Billy was indicted for assaulting Sub-inspector Gordon, and reducing a prisoner from him, the prisoner was undefended. The Jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment in Cooma Gaol. Terrible Billy..........At the late Cooma quarter sessions, during the trial of William Bryant, for assaulting Mr. Sub-inspector Gordon, his Honor Judge Callaghan inquired why the Alias terrible billy had been applied to the prisoner. He said he saw nothing very terrible looking in Bryant's appearance and hoped the soubriquet had not been given to him for anything dangerous he had ever done. It might be the man was just the opposite of terrible, for he (the Judge) had known these nicknames to be applied in the most absurd manner. It was within his knowledge that some of the most brutal boxers were called "chicken" "pets" "lambs" and so on. Senior Sergeant Smith informed his Honor that he had heard the reason for styling Bryant " terrible" was, that in the neighborhood in which he resided...... The Jingera- he was looked upon as an accomplished amateur puglist, able to stand up and take his part with the best men in that famous locality..... Bryant denied the soft impeachment, and appealed to one gentlemen on the jury to state whether he had not won the title on account of some fearless feats of horsemanship in former days. The juryman acknowledge that he believed such to be the fact ....and so was solved the question of why William Bryant has so long been known as Terrible Billy................Monaro Mercury. Braidwood News 17th December 1864 HIGHWAY ROBBERY At Jingera.....it appears that some of the well known fraternity of the Jingera have combined Other "branch of industry" with that of horse stealing. On Monday a travelling hawker and jeweller, with his tilted cart, was coming down from the mountain district onto Braidwood district,and when near Jingera he was accosted by two men well mounted and armed to the teeth, who demanded his money, and took from him 25 pounds in cash, as well as upwards of 30 pounds worth of jewellery from the cart. It is a well known fact that some of the Jingera mob have been recently purchasing revolver, and that one of them was heard to say he intended to shoot two or three people who had watched hes movements and then join Gilbert and Ben Hall. From the NSW Police Gazette 11th January 1865 page 17 A.O. reel 31301/3200 Two men named W. Bryant and John Glass, have been arrested by the Michellago Police, on suspicion of having on 4th ultimo, at Jingera, robbed (under arms) Joseph Maultby, a hawker, of a quantity of wearing apparel, brooches, pipes, and other property. (not described) also twenty 1 pound notes and some silver. discharged. from NSW police gazette 18th January 1865 From further enquiries made by police, there are reasons believing that the report made by Joseph Maultby, of his having been robbed under arms, and for which W Bryant and John Glass were arrested, is a fabrication.

willliam henry bryant married catherine pinkerton, they had 11 children, lived in the snowy mountains area of new south wales, known as the monaro present day. no records of death but was on electoral role about 1896.Was involved in cattle stealing and was known as terrible billy, along with Andrew Tyrie leader of the Jinera mob.