William Hogg

342

Maureen Withey on 20th December 2019

Suffolk Lent Assizes. John Battley, Thos. Battley, Thos. Filer, James Butcher, and Wm. Hogg, stood indicted for burglariously entering the dwelling-house of Mr. Robt. Buck of Nowton, in the night of the 25th March, and stealing therefrom divers articles of bread meat, and wine.- Mr. Robinson stated that the prosecutor was a gentleman known to many present, occupying Nowton Hall, near Bury. The five prisoners were indicted for an offence so recently committed as to be since the arrival of his Lordship: he had therefore found it necessary to detain the Grand Jury, in order that that prompt justice should be dispensed, which was so efficacious to the administration of the law. The Learned Gentleman found it necessary to state the evidence most minutely because it was circumstantial. He had also to allow witness, who, though not an accomplice, was not altogether blameless inasmuch as she was privy to the robbery. The evidence of such a per son, where confirmed, was essentially necessary to promote the ends of justice, and were it excluded, Society would be in a bad state. The following witnesses were then called: - Mr. Robert Buck: I reside at Nowton Hall; I was at home on the night of the twenty-fifth. I hear'd a noise in the parlour below where I sleep. I got up and rang the bell. I went to the window, and heard men running away from the house in the direction of the orchard. I went down stairs and found the door open. I found a pane of glass had been taken out and the window opened. I found a pair of shoes under the window. There is a gravel pit about 2 miles from my house. I went there between 7 and 8. I found the 5 prisoners there -four were known to me. Filer had been working for me; he was employed with other carpenters about my house. I knew the two Battleys and Butcher- they had been working near my house within a mouth. I found some bread at the house of a person named Deborah Pearsons: it was a hoar frost on the morning of the 26th, and I found the trace of a foot without a shoe-it was only a stocking. I fired off a gun about an hour after the men left. Ann Thomas.-I am housekeeper to Mr. Buck. I recollect the night of the 25th March. I make Mr Buck's bread. Same beef was shewn to me; it was from Mr Buck's beef; I had it under my care. Mr Buck had wine in in his pantry - gooseberry, raisin, and some mixed. John Fent. - I keep the Rushbrook Arms, at Sicklesmere about a mile from Nowton Hall. On Friday, the 25th, the 5 prisoners were at my house; they left five minutes after ten; they had been there between twelve and one. Thomas Lark.-I was at Hawstead on Friday the 25th. About it mile and a half from Mr. Buck's, as I was coming towards Siklesmere, I met five men at a quarter before 12, between Nowton and Sicklesmere; they were walking towards Hawstead. Deboras Pearson -I live at Sicklesmere. I was at home on Friday last. About 10 minutes after 10 the 5 prisoners came to my house; they brought beer; they stayed till 11 o'clock. Butcher borrowed a sack; he said he knew of a few potatoes, and he would go and get them. Filer attempted to take a flint and steel out of my tinder-box. I objected to it and took it from him. The men were not perfectly sober; they left a child behind sleeping with my two boys; at day-break they returned Butcher came in first; John Battley followed; my sack was brought later; some one took some bread out of it; there was also a piece of meat; I took it up stairs; one of the prisoners took some bottles; they had sweet wine in them. John Battley came in without shoes. I said, D-n you, you have lost my shoes. After that they all came in, Hogg and Filer went back after the shoes - they were gone 3 quarters of an hour. When they returned, they did not bring the shoes. They said, they heard the report of a gun, and thought it was Mr. Buck.- They hid themselves in a ditch, and they got away as quick as as they could. While Filer and Hogg were gone, I asked Butcher in the Battley's presence where they had been. He said first of all they went to Miss Metcalf's; there they found nothing either to eat or drink. From thence they went to Nowton Hall- they heard Mr. Buck ring the bell- Butcher left me part of a loaf of bread - I gave it to Mr. Davers or Mr. Buck.- (Bread produced and Mr. Buck being recalled, said he gave it to Dan. Garwood.) -It was between 4 and 5 o'clock when they left my house-I gave the meat to Mary Lofts, and also a bottle which was left behind. Bv the Judge-Why did you lend Butcherthe sack ?-I did not positively know he meant to steal the potatoes. By prisoner Butcher.- Did I know the sack ? You did - so help me God. Mary Lofts.--I know Deborah Pearsons; she gave me a piece of beef. I carried it into Mr Wood's field and threw it into a privy. JamesT'hrower.- I took a piece of beef out of Mr. Wood's privy, and showed it to Mr. Buck's housekeeper. Daniel Garwood.-Mr. Buck gave me this bread to take care of- (bread produced and identified .) Ann Thomas being recalled said, I know the bread by the quality and the mark, and I am quite sure It was made by me. Sarah Knock.-I knew the 5 prisoners; I saw Hogg, Filer and Thomas Battley about 6 o'clock on Saturday morning at Little Whelnetham; Battley had a glass bottle in his hand ; he said it was not beer, but something very good. Charles Driver-I saw Filer, Higg, and Thomas Battley on Saturday drew a bottle from his pocket, and gave me something to drink- it was something particularly sweet. Wiliam Cawston - I know a gravel-pit in Mr. Salepe's field at Great Whelnetham-I saw the 5 prisoners there about 8 o'clock on Saturday morning. J. Battley asked me to drink -it was wine; after they had emptied it, they gave me the bottle-it is since broken. Reuben Warren- I was at the gravel-pit about 9 o o'clock Prisoners were there- I found a piece of a bottle near there on Sunday. The constable produced Filer's confession, made without promise or threat, acknowledging the fact. The Learned Judge, in summing up to the Jury, described the offence of burglary, and said there was no question here to that Point, it was clearly in the night. The only question was, are the prisoners or any of them guilty. Much depends upon the evidence of Deborah Pearsons, who, though not actually an accomplice, was of very bad character- therefore they were to see whether there was such a confirmation of her testimony, as to make it worthy of belief. Mr. Buck had confirmed her tale by telling you, that he did call the servant- that he did ring the bell-that he did find the shoes-and that he traced footsteps of stockings- and, also, that he did fire off a gun an hour after the robbery. Hie also pointed out the other parts of confirmatory evidence. The Jury found all the prisoners Guilty and the Judge ordered sentence of Death to be recorded. Ipswich Journal, 2 Apr 1825 The following prisoners were removed from our Gaol to the Leviathan hulk at Ports mouth, in order to be transported for 14 years: — John Batley, Thomas Batley, James Butcher, Thomas Filer, and Wm. Hogger, convicted of burglary at the last Assizes, at Mr. Buck's, of Nowton . 4 May 1825, Bury Post. Hulk Records – HO-9-8-5 page, 28/53. Wm. Hogg als. Hogger, age,18, Offence - Ho. Breaking –Convicted 25 Mar 1825, Bury St Edmunds, 14 years, to NSW 16 Nov 1825 per Sesostris.

342

Maureen Withey on 20th December 2019

William Hogg was sent to Moreton Bay Penal settlement, after a colonial sentence. Moreton Bay Convict Records: William Hogg alias Hogger, farm labourer, native of Suffolk, age 20, Sesostris, Tried at Suffolk Assizes, 25 Mar 1825 for Burglary, and sentence 14 years. Colonial conviction, Sydney General Sess. 19 Mar 1831, offence, robbery on board the Brig Wellington in Sydney Cove, sentence, 3 years, He absconded 16 Dec 1831 per Caledonia. The Caledonia. NARRATIVE Of Captain Browning, late Master of the Caledonia schooner, who was taken from Moreton Bay by pirates, on the 16th of December, 1831. Our readers may perhaps recollect, that in the month of December last, a schooner called the Caledonia, belonging to Messrs, Mackay and Folkard of Sydney, was taken possession of by a large party of convicts, at Moreton Bay, and carried off to sea. Mr. Mackay, and the crew of the Caledonia were allowed to go ashore ; but the master, a young man named Browning, was compelled by the prisoners to remain on board for the purpose of navigating the vessel. A considerable time having expired without any tidings of the Caledonia having reached Sydney, it was conjectured that the Captain had been sacrificed by the miscreants, on their arrival at some of the numerous islands of the Southern Seas. However, on Monday last, an American whaler, the Milo, came into port, having on board the long lost Captain Browning; by whom, we have been kindly favored with the following particulars.-- On getting out to sea, the pirates informed Mr. Browning, that he must take the command of the Caledonia and steer for some of the Islands, where English whalers were in the habit of calling, - for the purpose, as they said, of stowing away in some of those vessels, and thereby reaching England in safety. Mr. B. at first was very reluctant to obey their orders, telling them that he did not understand the management of a vessel. They swore they would compel him, as they knew he was Captain of the Caledonia. Perceiving no alternative, he at last acquiesced in all their proceedings with a policy and presence of mind, rarely met with in persons placed in such a situation. Captain Browning invariably seemed to applaud their conduct, and listen to their complaints, -saying, that it was a pity for fine young fellows like them to be lagged from their native country, and how natural it was for all men to flee from bondage, and such like expressions; and by this stratagem, gained their confidence, and averted his own destruction. During the passage the pirates quarrelled, and several of them were murdered in a most diabolical manner. On leaving Moreton Bay, they were eleven in number, six of whom entered into a conspiracy, to destroy the other five. One man was with difficulty despatched. The villains deliberately fired at him when off his guard, but only wounded him in the hand, and slightly grazed his head. Mr. B. states his cries for mercy were most pitiful ; his supplications were unheeded, and they chased him about the deck with weapons, and endeavoured to make him jump overboard. At last he made a leap, and catching hold of one of the ropes of the vessel, he was suspended between life and death, when the savages cut away the rope and the poor wretch met his fate! Another of their number was put ashore at New Caledonia, where from the known ferocity of the natives, there is little doubt of his having met with a dreadful death, at the hands of these cannibals. The destruction of their comrades, is attributed by Captain B. to old disputes that existed amongst them while at Moreton Bay. Shortly after this murderous epoch, they encountered a dreadful storm which shook their courage, and proved that the monsters were at heart, a most despicable set of cowards ; and the courage displayed by Captain B. on the occasion, tended to raise him in their respect ; some of the fellows went on their knees begging of him to do his best in conducting the vessel in safety to some island. He told them he was certain they would "all go to the devil together," their crimes were of so aggravated a nature. After this he heard them distinctly planning his death, which was to be accomplished as soon as they arrived at their desired haven. The vessel was to be scuttled with the Captain on board. They observed that Mr. Browning was a good fellow, but he must be sacrificed for their safety. This scheme was concerted at a time when the Captain was supposed to be asleep. The island where this tragedy was to have been performed, was passed by Mr. Browning during the night, and he ran the Caledonia into one of the Navigator's Islands, near the Fejees. Here the Captain was on the "look out" for his life, which was saved, in consequence of the natives boarding the boats in an unexpected manner, and seizing the whole of them. On their arrival at Savi, (by some called Oteewhy), the prisoners commenced their work of destruction, by destroying the Caledonia with crowbars and other instruments, notwithstanding the earnest entreaties of Captain Browning, who requested them to spare the vessel ; but his efforts to save her proving ineffectual, the Caledonia speedily sank in deep water off the above Island. On coming on shore, the Captain was peculiarly fortunate in gaining the protection and esteem of one of the Chiefs. The pirates represented themselves as shipwrecked seamen, and the Captain as a missionary, accordingly the whole of them were treated with kindness by the natives. During Captain Browning's stay at this friendly island, he witnessed and joined in most of their customs. Sometimes he amused himself in shooting pigs, attended with the Chief; at other times he visited their place of worship, which was conducted with the greatest decorum, and assisted the Chief in officiating to his numerous audience. He used occasionally to give them a tune on a violin which he contrived to save from the Caledonia, and endeavoured to teach them to dance like Europeans, at which they were extremely delighted. One of their customs was very repulsive to Mr. B.; this was the process of making a drink which they called Kava. This liquor was made from some root, which, after having been cut up, was chewed by unmarried females, and then mixed with a liquid, which completed the dish. The Captain with difficulty persuaded them that he could not drink it, and was under the necessity of pretending illness when it was offered to him. Mr. B. represents the natives of this island as a fine race of people, of a copper colour, and they were nearly in a state of nudity. The Captain also states that these Islanders are remarkable for their humanity and kindness towards Europeans. After residing with them for some time, the Oldham, an English whaler, commanded by Capt. Johnson, touched at the Island. Mr. Browning contrived to get on board the vessel, and represent his case to the officers, who received him in a most hospitable manner. In a short time he succeeded in capturing one of the pirates, named Evans, and had him conveyed on board the Oldham in irons. The rest of the prisoners made their escape to the natives, who would not allow them to be taken. On the passage up Evans escaped from the Oldham by jumping overboard, in a heavy sea, with the tide running in a most rapid manner ; he was heard to express the determination of destroying himself rather than be brought alive to Sydney ; but from the violence of the sea at the period alluded to, the wretched man must have met a watery grave. Captain B. had considerable difficulty in leaving the hospitable residence of the friendly Chieftain ; who, with tears in his eyes, endeavoured to pursuade him to stop with them. But on Mr. B. faithfully promising to return again in a few moons, he was allowed to embark on board the Oldham, his faithful friend the Chief supplying him with pigs and other articles of subsistence for the voyage. The Oldham shortly after fell in with the Milo, bound to Sydney, and Captain Browning embraced the opportunity of returning home. While on board the Milo, Mr. B. was attacked with a severe fit of illness; and which, but for the great kindness of Captain West, would probably have proved fatal. He has, however, arrived in Sydney in good health and spirits, to the great surprise and happiness of an extensive circle of friends. Sydney Herald, 17 May 1832.