William Hemming

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Maureen Withey on 2nd March 2026

Local News. Capture of a Gang of Burglars.—At the Public Office, on Tuesday, Thomas and Samuel Scott, both of Buckingham Street, William Hemming. Edward Jones, Fanny Cotterill, and Eliza Jones, all of Well Street. Hockley, were charged with being concerned two of the recently reported burglaries. The first charge was that of breaking into the dwelling house of Mr. T. Parkes, of No. 4, Unett Street. It appears that, in the absence of her husband, Mrs. Parkes locked up her premises at about six o'clock on the evening  of the 16th inst. On returning late in the evening she found that the house had been broken into, and the rooms ransacked. Wearing apparel, pictures and other property were carried away, worth from £10. to £15. Three days previously the house of Mr. Jenkins, in New John Street West, was broken into in a similar manner, and property of various kinds to the value of £15. was stolen. The police being made acquainted with the robberies, detectives Spokes and Mountford visited  the various pawnshops, where some of the stolen property was discovered. It was found that the property had been mostly pawned by the prisoners, and their houses were then searched, when more property was found, and then the whole of the gang were taken into custody.—The Magistrates committed the prisoners for trial.  Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, 25 Jan 1862. Borough Sessions.  A GANG OF HOUSEBREAKERS.Thomas Scott, 1, gun barrel filer, Samuel Scott 2, brass dresser, ?? Hemming, 23, caster, Edward Jones, 19, pen maker, Fanny Cottrell, and Eliza Jones 22, polisher, were charged with having, on the 16th of January last, broken into the house of Thomas Parkes, and stolen  therefrom one clock, one watch, and other articles, his property. The same prisoners, with the exception of Edward Jones, were also charged with having, on the 13th of January, broken into the House of Henry Jenkins, and stolen therefrom a brooch, a guard chain, and some trinkets. They all pleaded not guilty to both charges. ... … The evidence against Fanny Cottrel and Edward Jones was not conclusive, and they were found not guilty. The other prisoners were convicted.. Thomas Scott pleaded guilty to having been previously convicted. The evidence as to the second indictment was then taken, and Mrs. Jenkins gave evidence of her husband's house having been broken open on the 13th of January and property the value of £18. or £2. having been taken away.. She identified several of the articles produced, and it was shown that some of these were found in the possession of the Scotts five days  after the robbery, the woman Jones wise proved to. have warn the stolen brooch, and the other prisoners  were connected clearly with the possession of some of the stolen property. Samuel Scott called his mother’s maid. the young woman with whom he has been living to prove an alibi, and they both swore that he was at home at time of the robbery. They did not however attend at public Office to give evidence to that effect. Hemming at his own request, had the evidence of the two female prisoners taken, and they both swore that he was with, them in their sight between five and half-past eight on the night in question ... Birmingham Daily Post, 1 April 1862.

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Caz Derby on 2nd March 2026

William died in 1912 and is buried in the Pine Ridge Cemetery, Coburg, Victoria alongside his wife, Mary Ann (nee O'Keefe). Description from convict records: 5'5-6", stout build, sandy red hair, blue eyes. Scar to right groin.

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Caz Derby on 2nd March 2026

William (b 17 Apr 1838) was the son of a Birmingham Button Caster, William Snr and his first wife Sarah Owen (?). At age 17, William was twice convicted: Disorderly Conduct and Stealing and locally served 2 sentences of a total of 23 days. In 1862 he was convicted of housebreaking and larceny along with 5 others and having two previous convictions, was sentenced to 2 consecutive 5 year sentences of penal servitude. He was held awaiting transportation until 1864. He received a Ticket of Leave in 1866, married and received a Conditional release in 1869, before receiving his full Certificate of Freedom in 1872. In December 1878, he and his wife boarded the vessel Rob Roy (or the Otway on 21 Dec) for Adelaide - 6 days prior to a warrant being issued for monies owed in the Swan Colony.