William Fletcher

15

Larry Loxley on 10th January 2020

Ticket of Leave 20 Dec 1828 William Fletcher per the ship Mangles (1), master Coghill, 1820 Native place Coventry, a tailor. Tried Middlesex Gaol Delivery 15 Sep 1819 Life sentence Born 1800, 5 feet 7 inches tall, fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes Allowed to remain in the district of Brisbane Water

15

Larry Loxley on 10th January 2020

Born 1800 Coventry Warwickshire England Married convict Mary Jane Field 30.8.1829 Sydney. Died 8.91861 Gosford Marriage Cert 4637/1829 V18294637 3B Marriage Cert 799/1829 V1829799 13 William Fletcher, one of 190 convicts transported on the ship Mangles, 29 March 1820. Sentence details: Convicted at Middlesex Gaol Delivery for a term of life on 15 September 1819. Vessel: Mangles. Date of Departure: 29 March 1820. Place of Arrival: New South Wales. WILLIAM FLETCHER, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 15th September 1819. Reference Number: t18190915-5 Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Death 1087. WILLIAM FLETCHER was indicted for feloniously assaulting Robert Suggate Pretyman, in a certain open field near the King's highway, on the 27th of July, at St. John, Hampstead, putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, one hat, value 20 s., and one handkerchief, value 5 s. , his property. ROBERT SUGGATE PRETYMAN. I am a linen-draper, and live in Oxford-road. On Tuesday, the 27th of July, I went to West-end fair, with Mr. Helder. Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, as we were returning, we had occasion to pass between two booths - there was a passage between them; it was considerably narrower than the booths at the fair; they were in a field near Hampstead . We attempted to pass through the passage, but a large body of about sixty or seventy men and boys stopped us. I heard a noise, and then the word trap was given by some of them, both before and behind us. Upon this signal being given, I was struck behind on my head by some instrument or stick; my hat fell off, and I fell down. I rose, and instantly as I got up, I was attacked by six or seven of the gang, who grasped my pockets. I was knocked down again by some person striking me behind with a fist; I got up again, and they tore my pantaloons. I made all the resistance in my power, and knocked one or two of them down. I was all over blood, which flew on me from their mouths or noses - I did not bleed myself; when I knocked them down, I got separated from them a little. There was an immediate cry of "D - n the little fellow, he has escaped, give it to him again!" I suppose about twenty of them came in a body, and knocked me completely through the canvass into a booth - three or four followed me in. Two or three fiddlers, who were in the booth, protected me; the men retreated through the hole, and joined the gang. I was separated from my friend immediately as they attacked us, and he received several blows. Q. How were the gang armed - A. Several of them had sticks. It was quite daylight, but it was so sudden, that I could not notice them; they all acted in concert; there were full from sixty to seventy of them. I was obliged to remain in the booth until three o'clock in the morning; I dared not come out as they knew I had money about me; they had cut holes in the booth and watched me from nine o'clock in the evening till two o'clock in the morning, so that I could not stir. Several other persons were brought into the booth much cut and wounded; they were cut and wounded by the same party, and in the same place. I lost my hat and handkerchief. Q. Did the persons who were brought into the booth, remain there as long as you did - A. Yes. Two young ladies in particular were cut, and their clothes torn off. Furrian brought me my hat and handkerchief two or three days after; my name is in the hat. I was in great terror, and cannot identify any of the men. WILLIAM HELDER. I am clerk to Mr. Joseph Lowden , of Clement's Inn; I was at the fair with Pretyman. As we returned, we came through a passage between two booths, and were attacked by fifty or sixty men and boys; they separated us. After I had been robbed I heard the word trap given, I looked for the prosecutor, and saw him on the ground; I did not see him knocked down; I was carried away myself and robbed; the party were acting in concert. I lost some money, and was under considerable alarm. GEORGE FURRIAN. I am constable of Hampstead. I apprehended the prisoner on Tuesday, the 27th of July, at eleven o'clock at night, with the assistance of my brother officers, in a field at the back of the fair. I found a hat and two handkerchiefs on him; one round his neck, and the other in the side-pocket of his coat, which the prosecutor claimed. I made enquiry at the hatter's, and was referred to the prosecutor, who claimed the hat and handkerchief. ROBERT SUGGATE PRETYMAN re-examined. The hat and handkerchief are mine; there is a cut in the hat, which I suppose to have been made by the blow I received. I produce my pantaloons, which are much torn and cut; the pockets are nearly torn out. Some marks are torn out of the hat. Prisoner's Defence. I was coming across the field, and picked the hat and handkerchief up together. GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 18.