Joshua Gross

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Maureen Withey on 9th July 2025

Removal of Convicts.-The following convicts, sentenced various terms of Transportation, were removed from our County Gaol to the hulk, … And yesterday were also removed … Joseph Gross and Robert Powell, sheep-stealing for fifteen years, for fifteen years. ... Worcestershire Chronicle, 22 March 1838.

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D Wong on 1st August 2016

15/3/1838 Worcestershire Chronicle: SHEEP STEALING AT YARDLEY. - Gross, Joshua, 18, toll collector, and Powell, Robert, 39, labourer, were charged with stealing at the parish of yardley, in this county, on the 27th of October last, one ewe of the value of forty shillings, the property of Samuel Bayley. Mr. Whateley was for the prosecution, Mr. Greaves for Powell, and Mr Beadon for Gross. Joshua Meads was the first witness called. He lived at yardley, and took care of the cattle of the prosecutor. On Thursday the 26th of October, he had care of a drove of sheep, to the number of 117, about twenty yards from his house, among which were four ewes, which he saw safe that evening. Next morning he found that a ewe was missing from the field, adjoining which was the turnpike gate house, kept by Gross. Witness asked the toll-people if they could inform him of his lost ewe. They severally expressed the most profound ignorance on the subject. As he was talking with them, he espied a gap in the hedge of the field where the sheep were placed, just opposite the turnpike house; and on making his way over, he found some wool scattered about, and the print of men's feet on the ground. All the inmates of the turnpike house ran over to the spot, and gave vent to exclamations of astonishment, whether at the robbery itself, or the negligence of the robbers in not covering their retreat, the witness did not say. In consequence of certain suspicions on his mind, witness sent for a constable, who searched the turnpike premises. The paunch of the sheep was found in a certain unmentionable locality; and the whole carcase of the sheep rolled up in blankets in a bed in the house - quite warm and comfortable. By this time the prisoner Powell and a brother of the other prisoner Gross, had made off. On Joshua Gross being asked for the skin of the sheep, he said, "Since my brother and Powell are gone off, I will tell you all about it, as they led me into the matter". He then directed them to go to Haycock's green field, and they would there find the skin. They went as instructed, and procured the skin, which, on being applied to the carcase, fitted exactly. Other evidence was procured to corroborate the above. The Learned Judge summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict of guilty. Transportation for fifteen years. Joshua was the son of Thomas Gross and Truth Ward. 6/7/1844: TOL Scone. 1/8/1849: CP 1/10/1853: Married Sarah Farrell (1829-1903) at Grafton, NSW - they had 12 children. Sarah was and assisted immigrant who arrived in NSW aboard the ship Humboldt in Dec 1852. On the indent: Sarah Farrell, age 23, a housemaid, native place Armagh, county Armagh, daughter of Robert and Mary, living at Armagh, Church of England, could read and write, a sister, Elizabeth living in Sydney. 1890: Joshua died at Emmaville, Northern Tablelands, NSW, aged 69.

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Sue Crouch on 30th July 2016

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