William Seaward

Edit

Summary

Born
Unknown
Conviction
Malicious wounding
Departure
Dec 1834
Arrival
Apr 1835
Death
Unknown
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: William Seaward
Gender: Male
Born: Unknown
Death: Unknown
Age at death: Unknown
Occupation: Shoemaker/bootmaker
Aliases: William Cook Seaward

Crime

Convicted at: Devon Assizes
Sentence term: 14 years

Voyage

Departed: 3rd Dec 1834
Arrival: 9th Apr 1835
Place of Arrival: New South Wales

Transportation

William Seaward was transported on the Lady Nugent, departing 3rd Dec 1834 and arriving 9th Apr 1835 with 286 passengers.

Lady NugentLady Nugent (generic)

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/9, Page Number 477 (240)
Source DescriptionThis record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro
Original SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

Claims

No one has claimed William Seaward yet.

Photos

Become a supporter to manage photos for this convict.

No photos have been added for William Seaward.

Convict Notes

Maureen Withey avatar
343
on 18th January 2026

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/84/76 1834 Oct - 1834 Nov Prisoner name: William Cook Seaward [William Seward]. Prisoner age: 25 years. Prisoner occupation: Shoemaker. Court and date of trial: Devon Summer Assizes, Exeter, July 1834. Crime: Maliciously stabbing, with intent to kill a man at Crediton, Devon in [1834]. Initial sentence: Death recorded and commuted to 14 years transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Several times in prison for misdemeanours'. Annotated (Outcome): 'Nil'. Petitioner(s): James Chambers Hutchinson (brother-in-law); Julia Elizabeth Seward (wife); William Seward (the convict). Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Intoxicated at the time, during a drunken brawl in a public house; neither he nor his victim knew each other; the victim has completely recovered; previous good character; first offence. Additional Information: Ordered to Justitia [convict hulk]; unrelated to this case his wife states that William Cornish (her father) was executed at Exeter in August 1830 for a 'nameless offence' but that his accuser gave dying testimony that the accusation was false. --------------------------------------------------------------- Devon Lammas Assizes.  William Seward, was indicted for cutting and stabbing Wm. Setter at Crediton, on the 20th of May last. -This occurrence took place at the Duke of York public-house in Crediton, where the prisoner went late at night, and asked for beer;  on the landlord's refusal, he took some glasses and drank from which belonged to company; a scuffle ensued, and he wilfully cut and stabbed the prosecutor, who had given no provocation, with a large knife, his arm and side.-Guilty. Death recorded. Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 2 Aug 1834.

State Library of Queensland on 14th November 2011

William Seaward (or Seward) was convicted of wounding a man in a fight outside a pub in Crediton, Devon. He left behind a young wife called Elizabeth who pleaded for him to serve out his sentence on the hulk in the Thames, but to no avail. Her letter begging for mercy and trying to excuse his crime is in the National Archives in the UK.