Edward Gasson

343

Maureen Withey on 21st January 2025

Calendar  Edward Gasson, 19, for stealing sheep, the property of Henry Farncombe, at Edenbridge, Sussex, on the evidence of William Goldsmith,  an accomplice, appeared that himself and the prisoner caught the sheep in question at five or six o'clock on Sunday morning ; gave it to the prisoner, who took it into pit, cut its throat, flayed the hind quarters  of it, and on discovering that they were overseen two men, they cut off a leg and ran away with it.  This they took to the house of witness’s mother, where they had some of it cooked and ate it. One of the men was called and proved that he saw two persons standing by the pond, where afterwards found the mutilated sheep, and the accomplice’s mother said that she some meat cooked, but could not say that it was mutton. Mr. Horne conducted the prosecution. Mr. Shoe, on behalf of the prisoner, contended that the crime had been committed by the accomplice, who had caught the sheep and killed it ,  and now tried to lay the blame on the prisoner.—Guilty. The prisoner had been before convicted of felony, and twice Committed for other offences, was now sentenced to ten years’ transportation. South Eastern Gazette, 9 July 1839.

221

D Wong on 11th April 2014

Many different birth dates for Edward, anything from 1817 to 1829. Edward was born at Edenbridge Kent, the son of William Gasson 1797-1854 and Mary Firminger 1801-1842. Edward married Elizabeth Jessep – her story: Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Jane Jessep. Elizabeth was baptised on the 10th May 1840 in Norfolk and arrived in Hobart on the 29th September 1854 on board the Caroline Middleton. Her mother Jane had died in 1851 while giving birth to her brother Henry who also died. Her father Thomas died on the voyage to Hobart leaving Elizabeth alone with only her stepmother and her siblings. The stepmother (Elizabeth) and Elizabeth were released into the colony on their own account. The youngest of the siblings, (Jane, William Thomas, Sarah Ann and Thomas) were all admitted to the Queens Orphanage by their stepmother. Elizabeth was already 14 years old and was not admitted into the orphanage, instead she would have had to fend for herself. The other children would be cared for in the orphanage until they turned 14. Elizabeth married Edward Gasson on the 17th November 1855 at the independent chapel Greens Ponds. Elizabeth was only about 15 at the time and Edward was 35.The marriage entry shows Elizabeth’s age as 18 . On the 11th October 1856 Mary Jane was born to Elizabeth and Edward Gasson at Green Ponds. Edward’s occupation was recorded as a Carpenter. In November, the remaining money owed for Elizabeth’s passage on the Caroline Middleton was paid to the Government. The payment recorded on the 26th November and noted Elizabeth intended to leave for Port Albert. This is where her Uncle James and family had moved to a month or so earlier. Once on the mainland Elizabeth, Edward and Mary Jane settled down at Woodside Gippsland. Edward was working as a Carpenter in the area. They had 11 more children. 1900: Edward died aged 83 and was buried at Woodside, Victoria. 13/11/1896: Elizabeth died at Woodside aged 56.