William Seawood

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 14th July 2025

Place of origin: London, Middlesex To NSW per Lord Eldon To VDL per Admiral Cockburn Libraries Tasmania's Online collection - S 151 to 180 Aged; 23 years old. Trade; Seaman 1837 - Burials in the Parish of Trinity in the County of Buckingham in the Year 1837 No; 485/4961 Died in the Hospital. Burial; 31 May 1837 aged 41 years old. Ship; Cockburn

110

Ron Garbutt on 23rd March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 23 March 2020), October 1816, trial of WILLIAM SEAWOOD JOHN LATHAM (t18161030-16). WILLIAM SEAWOOD, JOHN LATHAM, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 30th October 1816. 1113. WILLIAM SEAWOOD and JOHN LATHAM were indicted for feloniously assaulting William Brooks , in the King's Highway, for putting him in fear, and taking from his person and against his will, a silver watch, his property . WILLIAM BROOKS . I am cellar-man to Mr. Beamer, a wine merchant, in Middle-row Holborn. On the 28th of September last, I had occasion to go to Hertford for my master; I returned by the Hertford coach in the evening to the Saracen's Head, Snow Hill, about ten minutes before eight. I walked all on the near side of Holborn Hill until I came near Gray's-inn-lane, and as I was crossing the other side of the way, I was seized with one hand by laying hold of this umbrella; it was about eight within a minute or two, one way or the other; a hand laid hold of this umbrella. The person tried to wrest it out of my hand. When he could not do that very easily, I turned round and he seized my coat, still holding the umbrella; immediately then I was seized on the other side by some one else hold the other arm; then a third one came and took my watch out of my pocket, which third one is one of the prisoners at the bar I saw the man's hand and the face of that man. I was held on each side. I immediately made a hue and cry; the person then ran. The man who took the watch was one of the prisoner's and the right hand man was the other; but I could not swear to the third man. I knew two of men who fled and I represented them before ever I saw them afterwards. John Latham the tall one held me, and the other robbed me. I should have got the tall one taken thatnight bad not eight or ten men come and stopped me in my progress; and there were two coaches began to gallop down as fast ever they could, and dround the noise. These other eight or ten came, pretending to render me assistence; and the men who were about me pursued for some time, and I believe them to have been accomplices; we did not overtake the prisoners. If I had a doubt in my mind of the prisoners person, as I am an advocate for liberty, I should be sorry to take away the liberty of any of his Majesty's subjects, and I am sorry to say that I have no doubt. I naturally went to my master the next day, and he advised me to go to Bow-street. In consequence of that I sent my son to Bow-street early on Monday morning to state the circumstances of the case; and an officer came to me on my master's premises; he took me to several houses; I went into two or three, and did not see them; at last he took me into the Castle, I think, in Tothill-street, Gray's-inn-lane. The first person I saw was Latham; I saw the other prisoner some time after; I pointed each of them out to the officer, and they were taken in charge to Bow-street. Prisoner Latham. Had I these cloths on - A. No; he had a large, darkish loose coat on. Prisoner Seawood. Am I now in the same dress as I was on the Saturday that you describe I was robbing of you - A. No he is not. JEREMIAH MAIDMENT . I am an officer. On the Monday morning the prosecutor's son came to me, and in consequence of that, I went down to him at his master's premises. I asked him if he would know the persons who robbed him if he saw them again; he said he would. I told him I would take him to different houses which character's of that sort used. I took him to two or three. He looked about the tap rooms of several of them, and did not see any one he knew; at last I took him to the Castle in Tothill street, little Gray's-inn-lane; I did not tell him what sort of a house it was before he went in; but pointing to Latham he said that is one that seized my umbrella. Then he looked over the settle to another part of the tap-room, and pointed out Seawood. I asked him if there was any one else he knew; and he said, no. I asked him if he was positive those were the people, and he said, yes. I took them into custody, and searched them, and there was nothing about them. They made no resistance, any father then saying that they knew nothing of it. Latham's Defence. On the Saturday evening about eight o'clock, I was in the Castle, I went into the Castle about half past six, and I saw William Seawood lying intoxicated on a seat, and in about half an hour he fell off the seal, and I stopped there until nine o'clock, and then a young fellow of the name of George Hutt said he was going to supper, and I went with him as far as Portpool-lane, and then I went to my sister; there I supped with her, and returned back between nine and ten, and there I saw William Seawood in the same state; and the landlord came in; and said I think this man has had a good sleep, and we will move him up. Seawood Defence I went into the Castle about six o'clock, and I asked for something to drink; and I laid my head on the tap-room table, and there I laid untill between ten and eleven. WILLIAM ELINGTON . On Saturday the 28th of September, between five and six o'clock in the evening, Seawood came into the Castle public-house, quite drunk; he went and sat down by the fire, and then lay down. He had not laid there long before he rolled off on the floor. I picked him up and replaced him on the seat again; he then fell off the second time, and crawled and the bench. There he lay until nine o'clock, at which time I left him. I am a waiter at this house; I left him lying under the bench at nine o'clock. The prisoner Latham came in between six and seven, and remained there until about a quarter to nine, at which time he went out. There were near twelve people in this place. I was obliged to run in and out at different times, and I can't exactly say the number that was there. I don't know what time Latham returned; I don't notice; I was out until the house was cleared; I went out at about nine o'clock to my sisters. I had leave to go out; there was a person in that house under the sheriff; when I returned at a little after eleven they were all in bed. GEORGE HUNT . I am an optician's turner. On Saturday evening, the 28th of September. I went to the Castle public-house, in Tothill-street, to have a pint of beer, at about half past six, or a quarter to seven o'clock. I had a pint of beer; I saw the two prisoners in the room; the prisoner Seawood was on the floor under the bench, apparently drunk; he appeared to be so, for I spoke to him and he could not answer; I saw Latham in the room; I staid there until about a quarter before nine, and I went out with Latham. I went to Embling's sheep-head shop, in Leather-lane. There were about six or seven persons in the room; there might be about ten in the. house alltogether. I left Latham at the end of Portpool-lane, and I went back to the Castle, with my sheeps'-head, to eat it; I was not above a quarter of an hour gone alltogether; about half past ten o'clock, the prisoner Latham came in again. RICHARD HATTON . I am a hatter. On the Saturday evening, which was the day before Michaelmas day, at about twenty minutes, or half past seven I went into the Castle, in Tothill-street, I called for a pint of porter and a pipe of tobacco; I sat down on the bench, and the shorter prisoner lay underneath on the floor. The tall prisoner, Latham, sat in a box along with two men, on the left hand side as I went in. I staid there until about twenty minutes before ten; the shorter prisoner never attempted, nor ever moved whatever that I know of; Latham went out I think about twenty minutes, or half an hour before nine o'clock, I staid until twenty minutes before ten o'clock, and I saw no more of them that night. William Brooks . Re-examined. I again look at the prisoners. I had plenty of light at the time of the robbery from the moon, and the gas lights, and I can swear to them. LATHAM, GUILTY - DEATH , aged 25. SEAWOOD, GUILTY - DEATH , aged 18. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Graham. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18161030-16