William Delaforce

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Maureen Withey on 9th December 2019

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 09 December 2019), July 1834, trial of WILLIAM DELAFORCE JESSE DANIELS (t18340703-28). WILLIAM DELAFORCE, JESSE DANIELS, Theft > simple larceny, 3rd July 1834. 919. WILLIAM DELAFORCE , and JESSE DANIELS , were indicted for stealing, on the 24th of May , 2 pair of trowsers, value 5s.; 1 cap, value 2s.; and 1 waistcoat, value 1s. , the goods of Joseph Thorp . 2nd COUNT. Stating them to be the goods of Charles Thorp . CHARLES THORP. I am thirteen years old. I know the nature of an oath - I live in Chapman's-gardens, Hackney-road - I had a box with some things in it - I went out at six o'clock in the morning on the 24th of May - I returned at eleven o'clock at night - when I went into the room I saw a cap on the floor which had been in my box in the morning - I found the box had been broken open, and the lock laying inside it - I missed two pair of trowsers and one waistcoat which had been safe that morning - this is the cap. JOSEPH THORP. I am father of this witness. I examined this box and missed the articles - I had seen it safe at eight o'clock that morning, and locked as I went to it for a handkerchief, and could not get one - it was in the bed-room, which was not locked - a person could get into the bed-room by going through an empty house adjoining. THOMAS PAMPHILLON . I live in Chapman's-gardens, next door to Mr. Thorp. On the afternoon of the 24th of May, I saw the prisoners come out of Mr. Thorp's back window at five minutes before five o'clock - I asked Daniels how he came there - he said Mr. Thorp gave him the key to go in - there is an empty house adjoining - I am sure the prisoners are the boys - Delaforce had a bundle in his hand, and while they were in the room, I heard Daniels say to him, "Why don't you hold your row?" JOHN GREEN (police-constable N 214). I took Delaforce from the information of the prosecutors. Delaforce's Defence. I was working that day from half-past seven o'clock till a quarter to ten o'clock at night. (Daniels put in a written defence, stating that he was at home till two o'clock in the day, and that he was in the neighbourhood of Stepney and Whitechapel during the rest of the day.) T. PAMPHILLON re-examined. Q. Are you sure of their persons? A. Yes; I had not known them before, but I am sure they are the boys - I did not know where to find them, but the officer inquired, and found one in Simpson's-place. WILLIAM ROUSE . I am an iron-dealer, and live at No. 2, Wheeler-street, Spitalfields. Delaforce was in my service - I sent him on the 24th of May, with John Todd, to No. 29, Half Moon-alley, Bishopsgate-street, at a little after four o'clock - I deal in marine stores - he has been my servant about five months - he had 5s. a week - he slept at home, I believe - he comes in the morning about half-past seven or eight o'clock, and leaves about eight in the evening - I did not know his name except William - I have heard his other name before - I do not know how long I have lived where I now do. JOHN TODD . I went with Delaforce on the 24th of May - we left Mr. Rouse a little after four o'clock, and went to Mr. Smith's, in Half Moon-street, Bishopsgate - I was there till past six o'clock - I saw Mrs. Smith there, and Joseph Stanton weighed off some iron, and then brought it from Mr. Smith to Mr. Rouse's - Mr. Smith buys the iron, and we went to fetch it - we did not take a truck, but a lad brought a truck there to us - Mr. Rouse came there about five o'clock - we weighed the iron in the scales in the shop - it weighed 7 cwt. and a half - we all helped to put it into the truck - Stanton assisted in doing it - the truck was in the street outside the door - Mrs. Smith was in the shop all the time, to the best of my recollection - I work for Mr. Rouse the same as Delaforce - Mr. Rouse collects old iron from the shops - I have worked with him five years altogether - he has lived where he now does for two years and a half or nearly three years - he before that lived nearly opposite - Sam Springton works there - we are employed by Mr. Rouse to sort the iron and rags - we buy of all the marine store shops - we deal with a person named Lyons in Golden-lane - when we received the iron at Mr. Smith's, Delaforce and I went with it to Mr. Rouse - I suppose we got back about half-past six o'clock - Mr. Rouse and my mistress were at home when we got back - I will swear I was with Delaforce from half-past four till past six o'clock, and it was on the 24th of May. MRS. SMITH. I am the wife of Edward Smith : we live in Half-moon-alley. Delaforce was at my house from four o'clock till six that day, taking away the iron - Stanton was there clearing up my shop - Todd came with Delaforce for the iron for Mr. Rouse - they weighed it off - its weight was seven hundred-weight and a half - they took it away in a truck - I cannot say whether they brought the truck with them or not - they put the iron in the scale, and Stanton put the weights in, and I saw the weight - I have known Mr. Rouse for years; he is a marine store dealer - I have not any particular dealings with him. JOSEPH STANTON. I was employed by Mrs. Smith to sort rags and clear the shop - I saw Todd and Delaforce come there, on 24th of May, for the iron - I left sorting the rags, and they weighed the iron, while I checked the weights - I saw them load it into the truck, which had a dog under it - I did not help to load it. COURT to THOMAS PAMPILLON. Q. Look very carefully at the prisoners: are you quite sure they are the boys who came out of the window? A. Yes; I am - when they had been out about five minutes, the clock at the gashouse struck five. ( Robert Higgins , - Palmer , and Susan Manton , gave Daniels a good character.) DELAFORCE - GUILTY . Aged 17. DANIELS - GUILTY . Aged 14. Transported for Seven Years . The late William Delaforce. In the death of William Delaforce, which occurred near Blackmans Point on Thursday week, there passed away one of the oldest identities of the Hastings river. "Bill", as he was more familiarly known to the resi- dents of this district, was born at Shore- ditch, near London, in the year 1817, and came to this colony about the year 1834. After beating about in different parts of the colony for a few years, he came to Port Macquarie, and worked at different places in and around the district. At this time the convict system, which was carried on at Port Macquarie in the early days was at its height, and if any man could tell interesting and thrilling incidents connected with the early history of the place, that man was Bill Delaforce. After working for a number of years for different residents in the town, he became the possessor of some land, and get- ting married, he settled down as a farmer on Little Rawdon Island. For several years from this time he grew produce of various kinds, bringing it to Port Macquarie period- ically for disposal, until of recent years he became too feeble to carry on this pursuit. Bill Delaforce was a straightforward, hard- working, and honest man, and one whom, if he could not do his fellow man a good turn, he would not do him a bad one. He brought up a large and respectable family, most of whom are settled on this and the adjoining rivers, and they have our sympathy in their sad bereavement. Port Macquarie News, 16 June 1900

21

Natalie on 9th December 2019

The life of William is told in the book 'The life and experiences of an ex-convict in Port Macquarie. by Woomera. William 'Bill' Delaforce was known as the oldest living ex-convict on the Hastings River near Port Macquarie. His obituary read: 'At this time the convict system, which was carried on at Port Macquarie in the early days was at its height,and if any man could tell interesting and thrilling incidents connected with the early history of the place, that man was Bill Delaforce'.

221

D Wong on 1st October 2015

William Delaforce, was the elder son of William and Mary, lived in Shoreditch, stood trial in London on 3rd July 1834 for house-breaking William was 17 - could read and write - was a single man, Protestant, and was a carter’s boy from London. he had no previous convictions. He was 5’3” tall - ruddy and freckled complexion, with brown hair and blue eyes, anchor tattoos under both arms. William was assigned to Samuel Terry at Mt. Pleasant near Windsor. He then contracted sandy blight and after 10 months in Windsor Hospital, he was transferred to Parramatta. Sydney barracks. Then to the Phoenix hulk - prison ship. Then sent to Port Macquarie by the steamer ‘Little Billie’. 25/1/1843: COF 10/10/1851: Married Frances Jane Shane (Sheharn) – He was listed as ‘Deleforce’ – they married at St. Andrews, Port Macquarie. They had 6 children. William was a dairy farmer at Rawdon Island near Port Macquarie. 7/6/1900: Willaim died aged 83, of cirrhosis of the kidneys or dropsy at Fembank Creek and was buried at the Port Macquarie Church of England Cemetery.