Peter Pigeon

218

Dianne Jones on 16th January 2021

CRIME: Having concealed arms; tried Summer 1816; and listed as Peter PIGEON on the ship's muster roll (see NSW, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; 1817 Chapman).

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 12th June 2020

Peter Pigeon. Chapman 1817. Date of Death; 4 November 1847. NEWCASTLE - HANGED FOR MURDER of William "Coachey" Taylor at Morpeth. --------------------------------------------------------------------- New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 - 1817 Chapman Having concealed arms. Summer Assizes 1816. Place of Trail - Queens County - Ireland Transportation 7 years ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1825 - Employed by Wm Eckford. Newcastle ------------------------------------------------------------------- (NRS 12210) Butts of Certificates of Freedom 1843 February All Records NO 43/315. Native Place; Maryborough. Trade or calling; Labourer. Offence: Horse Stealing. Place of Trail - Queens County - Ireland Year of Birth; 1793. 5 Ft 4 inches. Ruddy: complexion, Hair: dark brown mixed with gray. Eyes; Grey. Whiskers ; Grey Was sent to Newcastle 20 October 1821 for two years for Bushranging. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848) Tue 5 Oct 1847 Page 4 COUNTRY NEWS. Peter Pigeon, convicted on Friday, the 1 7th September, of the murder of William Taylor, was sentenced to death. His Honor said that the prisoner, after an anxious and protracted trial, and the examination of more than twenty witnesses, had been found guilty of murder. The evidence was entirely of a circumstantial nature, and it was wonderful to reflect on the marvellous coincidence of events which led to the irresistible conclusion that the prisoner was guilty of the crime. It was remarkable what a number of false representations were proved to have been made by the prisoner, commencing with his stating to Taylor that he had a horse and cart at Maitland, earning a good sum. From this time to the tracing of the crime to the prisoner, falsehood, fraud and secrecy marked his every step But these falsehoods, though they postponed, did not finally prevent, the crime being traced to him. At Maitland, in the neighbourhood where the murdered man's body lay, the prisoner's statements, though false, were tolerably consistent, but at wolloogong, from whence they had ? departed together, his endeavouring to account for Taylor's disappearance led him to make statements equally inconsistent with each other and the truth. There were in the case no mitigating circumstances, no provocation shown, which could render it at all probable that mercy would be extended to the prisoner, and it only remained to him now to exhort the prisoner, to prepare himself .during the few remaining days of his life for another world. The sentence of the Court was, that Peter Pigeon be taken back to the gaol from whence he came, and from thence at such time and place as his Excellency the Governor might appoint, and be there hanged by the neck until he be dead.