Henry Howard

343

Maureen Withey on 20th February 2022

Portsmouth Hulk Record: Hulk Record HO-9-8-5. Received from Bury St Edmunds 28 March 1827. Henry Howard, age 20, tried 12 Jan 1827, at Woodbridge, 7 years, all tried for misdemeanour under 57 Geo. 3, Chap. 90. To N.S.W. 22 Apr 1828, Woodford. Thomas Howard, age 33, tried 12 Jan 1827, at Woodbridge, 7 years, To N.S.W. 27 Feb 1828, Phoenix. William Dade, age 26, tried 12 Jan 1827, at Woodbridge, 7 years, F.P. 10 June 1831. (Free pardon) John Albon, age 36, tried 12 Jan 1827, at Woodbridge, 7 years, To Bermuda 9 Dec 1828 per Weymouth.

343

Maureen Withey on 20th February 2022

QUARTER -SESSIONS, Jan. 13. Trial of Poachers. At these Sessions, bills of indictment were preferred against John Alton, William Dade, Joseph King, Henry Howard, Joseph Howard, and Thomas Howard. The bills against Joseph King and Joseph Howard were ignored by the Grand Jury. On Saturday last, the four prisoners, John Albon, William Dade, Henry Howard, and Thomas Howard were arraigned. There were two counts in the indictment; first, they were charged with having entered an inclosed wood, in the parish of Redlingfield, the property of Alexander Adair, Esq., and occupied by Edward Platford, armed with guns with the intent to destroy game; and secondly, they were charged with the same offence, the only variation being, that in it they were stated to be armed with bludgeons. Edward Platford said, that he was farmer, in Redlingfield and had orders from his landlord, Mr. Adair, to preserve the game in Redlingfield Wood ; that was disturbed on Sunday night, Dec. 17, between and o’clock, by the barking of a dog; he got up, and looked out the window ; but seeing nothing he was about getting into bed again, when he heard gun fired. He then called two of bis servant men, and sent them to call William Green and Noah Fyett. He himself went and called Richard Johnson. Tire witness, his two servants, Mr, Johnson, and bis servant, went to the wood; they left witness's servants at the entrance of the wood, and the others had not gone far in the wood, when they heard another gun fired at the further side of the wood; they went towards that part, and jumped into pasture field. As soon as they were in the field, two men came up to the gap in the wood, with guns in their hands. The witness called halloo, and the men retreated into the wood: directly after, witness saw a man in the wood without a gun; witness got back into the wood, and took bold of him; it was Henry Howard; be had a bludgeon; witness took hold hold of his slop, Mr. Johnson and bis men came up, on being called, and then Henry Howard cried out for help; on this, two men came up with guns, and then two more men with guns, and one without. William Dade went up to the witness, and presented gun at him, swearing that if he did not leave hold of the man, would blow out his brains Mr. Johnson said, Let him go,” which the witness did: when witness left hold of Howard, he struck him on the breast. Witness then returned through the wood, and met bis assistants near the outside: he seized William Dade and George Bolton, and another took away his gun. The gun was now produced. At the time it was taken from Dade, it was loaded. Dade escaped ; John Albon was taken. At the conclusion of Mr. Platford’s evidence, Dade said he was not in the wood. Henry Howard asked him how lung he had known him ; he replied, he had never seen him before. To question from Thomas Howard, he answered, that be had not said be was one of the persons in the wood. Richard Johnson was next examined: he said he was a farmer at Redlingfield, and that Mr. Platford went to him on the night of Dec. I7th; be said, there were men shooting in the wood, and be requested witness to go with him; accordingly Mr. P.. the witness, and their servants, went to the wood; they left two of the men at the outside; when going in the middle of the wood, they heard a gun fired; they proceeded the place whence the report came; but saw no one there. They then went out of the wood at the further side and two men came to the bank, directly afterwards with guns; they returned, and witness and those with him followed. Witness had not gone far into the wood, when Mr Platford called out that he had taken one of the men; witness went close to them; Mr. P. had bold of the man’s collar; the witness could swear it was Henry Howard; he had a bludgeon in bis hand; he called for help; two men with guns went up, and directly afterwards three more; two with guns, and one with a bludgeon. The witness knows William Dade was one the men who had guns. One of them presented gun at witness, and one at Mr. Platford. Dade said, If you not release the man, I will blow brains out.” Witness said, Anything but firing;” and advised Mr. Platford to let the man go, which he did. One of them struck witness on the breast with his fist. They returned to the other side of the wood with the three men; the assistants came up; Mr. Platford collared William Dade, and George Bolton seized the gun. Dade escaped escaped out of the wood, and there was only John Albon in custody; he was seized by the assistants, witness and the others came up to them; he had a gun, which was taken from him, and he was taken Mr. Plaford's house, Albon took cock pheasant out of his pocket; he had no net; he had a dog which followed him out of the wood. To question put to witness, by Henry Howard, he said he had never seen him before, Dade denied ever having been there. William Green was the next witness: he is a labourer, at Redlingfield; he was sent for in the night of Dec. 17, by Mr. Platford, whom he followed to the wood. Witness was behind with men, four of them going down the pasture; saw two men by a gale outside the wood, it was between and 12 o’clock. Johnson's servant, and one of Platford’s, were watching on the outside of the wood. heard a cry, the farther side of the wood, of Help, help;” witness said, We will go round to the Squire’s pightle,” They went to the gap, and heard a cry of Come up, lads; Come on; come on.” Witness went the side of the wood, and saw two standing about two rods from him, whom he knew was not one of his company. He had this gun on his arm (he held up the gun). Witness seized that man by the collar; the man called for help. There was answer of ‘Coming, coming.” The gun went off, there was a bush between witness and the man: the gun was not pointed at witness. No one came to the man’s assistance ; witness seized him; it was Albon; he was taken to Platford’s house. It was a moonlight night, not bright, but it was light enough to distinguish features. George Bolton, blacksmith at Redlingfield, the next witness, said, that Mr. Platford’s man went for him about or 12 o'clock at night, on Dec. 17, and said were people shooting in the wood, Mr. Platford called out, “Come on Bolton:” he had hold of Dade; witness is certain it was Dade; witness looked hard Dade, and Dade at him. Witness and another took Dade’s gun, and he ran away. Witness then went and assisted the other men with Albon. William Green had hold of him. Witness now pointed to Albon, who, having pleaded Guilty, was sitting in the dock; he had a gun,“I took hold of him, and Green, my father-in-law, took away the gun. He was taken Mr. Platford’s house.” Dr. Chevallier was next examined on the bench; he was the magistrate, who committed Thomas Howard. A paper was handed to the Dr, which was the confession of T. Howard. Dr. Chevallier said his name subscribed to the paper was in his own handwriting, and that the mark at Howard’s name was made by the prisoner. This confession set forth the time and place when and where these poachers, 6 in all, had agreed to meet, and their proceedings in the wood. The Dr. said that the witness was properly cautioned by him at the time of making the confession. George Bolton was called again. He said he was present at Aspal Hall, Dr. Cbevallier's residence, on Dec. 23d, when T. Howard was examined; after the examination, witness went out with the prisoner, and walked nearly two miles with him. Howard told witness they were going, that he had seen Albon, and agreed to go on the Sunday evening to Redlingfield wood with him, Howard’s two brothers, King, and Dade; they went to the wood, and were there an hour, examining if any body was about the Wood, before they fired; Dade, when be had lost his gun, went to his comrades, and said “They have got poor Albon, and I am afraid he will lose his gun.” He thought there were about a score of the keepers, &c. Howard said Dade's was a particular good gun, it would kill hare or a rabbit at 40 yards distance. When the prisoners were called on for their defence, Henry Howard said, no one could ever say he ever went after any such thing, “So help me God.” When asked if he had any one to speak to his character, he called on his brother, Joseph Howard, was implicated in the same charge, but the bill was thrown out by the Grand Jury. This witness was solemnly cautioned by the Chairman to be careful what he said under the solemn obligation of oath. He said his brother Henry was in bed with him all that Sunday night, which he believed was Christmas day. Thomas Howard, in his defence, said never was in the wood. He might have made a confession when at Dr. Chevallier's; but he was in liquor, and knew not what he said. The Chairman summed with great perspicuity, and said, that the evidence was so clear, that he did not see how the Jury could do otherwise than find the prisoners guilty. The Jury very soon returned a verdict of Guilty against them all. The Chairman, in passing sentence said, that three of them had been convicted before, and there was no hope they would ever be good men in this country; but he hoped, that if they were sent away from their wicked connections, they might amend in a distant country, and still become useful members of society. They were sentenced to seven years’ transportation. Suffolk Chronicle, 20 Jan 1827.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 20th February 2022

1828 - Source; CON31-1-19 Indent No; 867. Trial; 12 Jan 1827 Transported for "Being present at a scuffle, which took part between poachers and game keeper, when a gun went off Previous Conviction; Felony Status; Single 1828 - Source; CPN18-1/21 Trade; Farmer and Ploughman Age; 21 years ** Height; 5 ft 8 in Place of origin: Wortham, Suffolk 1832 - 16 May. Repeated Insolence and Insubordination. Sentence; 3 months imprisonment and hard Labour and returned to the Crown 1832 - Burials in the Parish of St John Launceston. No; 339 Name; Henry Howard Abode; Launceston Hospital When buried; 12 November 1832 Age; 23 years ** Ship’s Name; Woodford Quality or profession. Convict ** As per Registers