Louisa Goslin

343

Maureen Withey on 30th September 2019

Devon County Sessions Thomas Goslin, Richard Thompson, John Jones, Nicholas Wood, Mary Thompson, and Louisa Goslin were indicted for unlawfully breaking grave and indecently carrying away the body of Thomas Webb. Mr Tyrell and Mr Praed appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Tonkin for the defence. Elizabeth Brooks stated that she saw the body of her father, Thomas Webb in the coffin, and was present when it was screwed down, and did not leave the room till she followed the body to the grave at Damerel churchyard. The peace officers, Messrs. Ellis, Day, Nosworthy, and Halse , gave evidence to their watching for and having heard persons digging in the yard, of having seen three men taking something to a house at Mill Pleasant, the residence of Gosling, and where on the next morning they found two bodies, one of which was identified by Elizabeth Brookes, as the body of her father; that they found all the prisoners in the house with the exception of Wood, who was the grave digger, and that they found a turn screw, a hammer, &c. and also two parcels of human teeth. They took the five persons into custody. Evidence was also given to prove the connexion existed between Wood and the other prisoners, and also of his having confessed that he had assisted the others by only loosely filling the grave, and giving other information, and that he knew of or bodies having been removed. Gosling and his wife appeared very respectably dressed, and the former took notes, and several times handed them over to his legal adviser. Thompson and his wife, and also Jones, (who stated his name to be Quin) appeared to be in the employ of Gosling. Other details have already been before the public. The court was very full, the jury after short consultation, returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners except Mary Thompson, no evidence having been given of any participancy in the act by her, except of her being found in the house. They were next charged, under a similar indictment, with carrying away the body of Eliza Margaret Hangar. The evidence in this case was very similar to the former, and a verdict of guilty was again returned against all the prisoners, except Mary Thompson. They were put back to be tried for two indictments of felony. Western Times, 11 December 1830 Devon General Sessions Thomas Goslin, 40, Richard Thompson, 23, John Jones, alias Quinn, 27, Louisa Goslin, 30 and Mary Thompson, 20 were charged with entering the churchyard at Stoke Damerel and disinterring and carrying away the bodies of Thomas Webb, and Eliza Margaret Hanger; and were further indicted for stealing the clothing in which these bodies were habited. Mary Thompson was acquitted, and the remainder of the prisoners being found guilty, two charges, of misdemeanour, were severally directed imprisoned one week on each in Bridewell; and being further tried the case of felony, were found guilty, and directed to be transported seven years. - Nicholas Wood, the grave digger, at Stoke Damerel, for assisting in the above transaction, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment in Bridewell. Sherborne Mercury 20 Dec 1830

108

Nell Murphy on 26th June 2017

Louisa GOSLIN or VAUGHAN was convicted at Exeter, Devon, England on 7 Dec 1830 for stealing - clothes from deceased persons. 7yr transportation sentence. Sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) per the ship 'Mary' arriving 19 Oct 1831. Ship Surgeon's Report: Good, exemplary. Was schoolmistress on the voyage. Aged 31yrs; can read; Roman Catholic; 4'11 3/4". Married woman - husband already transported. (Not clear if her married name is Goslin or Vaughan, but recorded that her proper name is 'Vaughan'.) Native place of birth: London VDL: Some records of misconduct whilst on service work. Time at the Female Factory, Hobart. Ticket of Leave granted.