William Piesse

2

Mervyn Piesse on 4th November 2025

A person, named PIESSE, formerly a clerk in the office of the Inspector of Roads, was found drowned, last week, in the River Derwent, near the Government Garden. His body was found in a sitting posture, on the beach, with all his clothes on except his hat, which was lying on the bank. The unfortunate man, although in bondage, was respectably connected, and a man of some education. We understand, that some doubts are entertained as to how he came by his death. The Colonist and Van Diemen’s Land Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser, 29 March 1833, p. 3.

341

Maureen Withey on 16th October 2023

National Archives, Criminal Petitions. HO 17/92/3 Prisoner name(s): William Piesse. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey April Sessions 1822. Crime: Forgery. Victim Thomas Burn Hopgood, jeweller of Bishopsgate Street. Initial sentence: Death. Annotated (Outcome): Considered at Report in Council 18 May 1822. Petitioner(s): Henry Pigot, Frances Pigot, and Isabella Pigot, employers of the prisoner's parents. Henry Pigot. The prisoner, undersigned by the prosecutor and the jury. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Use of fictitious false name; did not mean to acquire goods; only change of £1 7s from forged £30 order; consideration for good character of distressed parents; prisoner's father was butler to Henry Pigot and had been with him about forty years; prisoner's mother was Mrs Pigot's maid. Additional Information: Imprisoned in Newgate. Date: 1822 May 3.

221

D Wong on 22nd September 2018

Old Bailey: WILLIAM PIESSE. Deception: forgery. 17th April 1822 Verdict Not Guilty WILLIAM PIESSE was indicted for that he, on the 27th of March feloniously did falsely make, forge, and counterfeit a certain order for payment of money, which is as follows: - "Messrs. Klaister and Horsley, No. 11, Leadenhall-street. Please to pay Mr. G. Glover, or bearer, the sum of 30 l., on account of your obedient servant, Alexander Wur . London, March 27th, 1822." With intent to defraud George Glover, against the statute. SECOND COUNT, for feloniously uttering and publishing the same as true with a like intent, knowing it to be forged. GEORGE GLOVER . I am a grocer , and live in Aldgate High-street. On the 27th of March the prisoner came to my shop, and said that he was Capt. Wur, of the ship Juno, which laid in the docks, and gave a verbal order for grocery, amounting to 29 l. 4 s. 6 d., to be sent on board the Juno, for the ships company's use; I did not pack them up; he asked if I could give him change for a draft for 30 l.; I said we were obliged to act with caution, and I would decline it; but if he would leave the draft I should have an opportunity of receiving it, and seeing if it was correct, and if so, I would send the goods down with the balance; he wrote a draft on my counter; I saw him write and sign it; I gave him pen, ink, and paper - I produce it - (read, see the Indictment.) MR. JOSEPH HORSLEY. I am in partnership with David Klaister ; we are ship-brokers and commercial agents, at No. 11, Leadenhall-street; Captains often correspond with us; I do not know a person named Alexander Wur ; we have no such customer - no such person has a right to draw on us. The Court ruled, that it was necessary to prove that the prisoner was not Capt. Wur, of the ship Juno; the prosecutors ought to have sent to the docks to enquire if there was such a vessel there. NOT GUILTY. WILLIAM PIESSE. Deception: forgery. 17th April 1822 Sentence Death WILLIAM PIESSE was again indicted for that he, on the 25th of Marc , at St. Botolph Without, Bishopsgate, feloniously did, falsely make, forge, and counterfeit a certain order for payment of money, which is as follows - "Messrs. Macauly, Babington, and Co. No. 16, George-street, Mansion-house - Please to pay Mr. T. B. Hopgood, or bearer, the sum of 30 l. on account of your obliged servant. W. H. Pasioe. London, March 25th, 1822." With intent to defraud Thomas Burn Hopgood, against the statute. SECOND COUNT, for feloniously uttering and publishing as true a like forged order, with a like intent, knowing it to be forged. MR. THOS. BURN HOPGOOD. I am a silversmith and jeweller , and live in Bishopsgate-street Without. On Monday, the 25th of March, the prisoner came to my shop, between eleven and twelve o'clock. I never saw him before; he looked out a number of goods, amounting to 28 l. 13 s. I made out an invoice in the name of Captain Pascoe, by his desire. He represented himself as the Captain of the Lively from New York. I was to send the goods down to the dock on the following morning. He wrote a cheque in my presence; for which I gave him 1 l. 7 s. in change - (I produce it), he went away immediately; I directly sent my son with the cheque. It was not paid. HENRY STEWART. I am in the counting-house of Messrs. M'Auley and Babington, No. 16, George-street, Mansion-House. I have been there five years, and am perfectly well acquainted with their customers, and all their correspondents. No ship of the name of Lively was consigned to us. I know no Pascoe. No such person has a right to draw on our house. I knew nothing of the prisoner before this charge. Mr. HOPGOOD re-examined. He bought the goods as Captain of the Lively, for the use of the crew. They were spoons, forks, and other things. He said he would be at the dock to receive them the following morning, and I was not to send later than eleven, or a half-past eleven o'clock, or he should not be there. My son went down to the docks, but he was not there. MR. GEORGE GLOVER. I know the prisoner; he called on me on 27th of March, I saw him write this paper and sign the name of Wur to it. He told me he was Captain of the ship Juno, laying in the London Docks, and wanted the grocery for the cabin's use. (Cheque read as in the Indictment.) JAMES MARSH. I live at No. 53, Tower-street, and know the prisoner; his name is H. C. Piesse. I have known him about eight months, by being in company with him and his brother. I have been in his company about three times. He has been a clerk. His brother goes by that name. The prisoner made no defence. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 35. Recommended to Mercy, by Mr. Glover. William Piesse was listed as 36 years old on arrival in VDL - Native Place: Dublin. Previous conviction: Forgery about 5 years back, transported for Seven, served ? and sven months, discharged in 1821 for Embezzlement. William was 5'2½" tall, dark brown hair, grey eyes, a few small dots on left arm, some scars on chin, single. Father and Mother at London, Steward to General Francis Piesse. May 1824: TOL 1830 Muster: Public Works 21/3/1831: Clerk to the Inspector of Roads. Aug. 1832: TOL 2/11/1832 The Tasmanian, Hobart: William Piesse, a tick-of-leave man, was admonished, having been found only comfortable in Mr Jeffrey's public-house on Sunday night. 23/3/1833: William Piesso - died Hobart Town - from Hospital, aged 39 years - drowned.