George Cuerdale

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 15th February 2022

TRIAL: 9 August, 1856: George Curedale was convicted of "uttering a forged acceptance of a Bill of Exchange knowing it to be forged"; sentenced to 14 years' transportation (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Lancashire; 1856). --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 15th February 2022

NEWSPAPER report of his committal: 17 May, 1856: Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, p7: "MANCHESTER CITY COURT. The Forgeries by a Manufacturer. On Monday, George Cuerdale, late of Burnley, manufacturer, who stands charged with having committed forgeries to a serious extent, and who had been remanded from the previous Thursday, was brought for examination. Mr. Baldwin, solicitor, appeared for Mr. William Bamford, jun., of Burnley; Mr. Last for Mr. Dilworth, and Mr. R. B. B. Cobbett for the prisoner. Mr. John Dilworth, of the firm of Dilworth and Co., commission agents, Back St. Ann's Square, said that he held a bill for £477, which was purported to be drawn by George Guerdale and accepted by William Bamford. The bill was payable two months after date, and was endorsed by Cuerdale. It was dated the 11th of February, and due on the 14th of April. The bill was received by witness's partner from the prisoner as security for debt which he owed at the time. He did not know Wm. Bamford. Mr. William [Bamford] said the acceptance to the bill was not his, and it was the first time that he had seen it. In cross-examination by Mr. Last, he said he received a letter from Mr. Dilworth on the 12th of April, intimating that the bill would be due the 14th. The same day that he received the letter saw Cuerdale and asked him the meaning of it. Cuerdale told him that it would be all right. He did not write that day to Mr. Dilworth, because he intended to come and see him on the Monday, which he did, and if he had sent a letter it could not have arrived sooner. When he went to Mr. Dilworth ...he told him he knew nothing about it. He saw the prisoner on the Sunday, afterwards saw his father, but he did not tell his father that he would help the prisoner to meet the bill. Last year he accepted a bill for the prisoner for £570, but in consequence of his (witness's) father being uneasy about it, at his request Cuerdale obtained the bill back from someone to whom he had paid it. The prisoner cut witness's signature out of the bill, and said that if he should lose it it would not then be of use to any one. He had since accepted a bill for the prisoner for £400, but he had deposited some railway shares with him as security. The prisoner had not deposited any security for the last bill of £467. Mr Jesse Haworth said that he received the bill produced from the prisoner. He took it as security for an account past due, and gave him a receipt for it. He knew Mr. William Bamford, and therefore thought that the bill was a good one. This case was ordered to be added to the depositions previously taken, and the prisoner now stands committed for trial to the assizes for forging a bill for £300, two for £300, and one for £467." --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 15th February 2022

COMMITTAL: 12 May, 1856: Committed at Manchester to stand trial. --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 15th February 2022

NAME: George Ward Bowstead Curedale, born 1827 in Burnley, Lancashire, son of James Curedale and Jane Bowstead Curedale (1841 England Census). --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 15th February 2022

OCCUPATION: Cotton manufacturer (not listed in the options above).