John Shergold

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Maureen Withey on 9th November 2019

John Shergold and his brother George were convicted at the Wiltshire Special Commission, which was set up during January 1831, to deal swiftly with those agricultural workers who were arrested after the “Swing Riots”. During November and early December 1830, large crowds of impoverished agricultural workers gathered at night to break threshing-machines, which they saw as taking away their already, very low paid work, reduced further because the land owners were reducing the wages of the men due to decreases in the value of the corn they were producing. They demanded token sums of one or two sovereigns of the landowners if they left the farms. Wiltshire – Salisbury, Jan 3. Before Mr Baron Vaughan, Mr Justice J. Parke, and Mr Justice Alderson. John Shergold, 22, George Shergold, 28, and John Day, 22, were charged with having robbed Christopher Ingram of 5s., his money. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. The prisoners came to the prosecutor’s house at three o’clock on the morning of Wednesday , the 24th of November, and insisted on getting the money. The prisoners said nothing in their defence. The Jury returned a verdict of guilty against the two Shergolds, but acquitted Day. It appeared from the evidence, that George and John Shergold are both thrashers. George Shergold was in the East India Company’s service, and had been to China as a mariner. His appearance is very rakish. His conduct, and that of his brother, were marked with extreme levity during the trail. Mr Baron Vaughan desired them to be taken away, assuring them that their case required consideration, as their punishment would undoubtedly be severe. The Attorney-General said that there was another indictment against the prisoner Day for breaking a thrashing-machine; but as he (the Attorney-General) had heard that he was a man of good character, he did not intend to offer any evidence upon it. A verdict of acquittal was accordingly taken upon that indictment. London Courier and Evening Gazette, Wed 5 Jan 1831 John Shergold, 22, Geo. Shergold, 28, and John Day, 22, were indicted for extorting 5s. from Christopher Ingram. From the evidence, it appeared that a mob, consisting of a considerable number of persons, among whom were the prisoners, went to Mr Ingram’s house about half-past three in the morning, and demanded bread and cheese and cyder. Mr Ingram, alarmed by their threats, and fearful they might do some injury, was induced to give them 5s., and they departed. During their stay near his house they were riotous and noisy. The prisoners took an active part in the proceedings of the mob, of which George Shergold declared himself the captain. The prisoners made no defence. Thomas Blanchard, a parish clerk, gave Day a good character. Mr Baron Vaughan summed up, and the Jury found the Shergolds guilty and acquitted John Day. John Day was then indicted for destroying a Thrashing-machine, belonging to W. J. Hayter, esq. The Crown declined offering any evidence and he was acquitted. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 6 Jan 1831 John and George Shergold were baptised in the village of Stapleford, Wilts. It is probable that the farm they went to was in Codford St Peter, a nerby village. D Wong on 2nd September, 2014 wrote: Henry Shergold and his brother George and three cousins Henry, George and John. Henry Shergold was the son of James and Sarah Shergold, was convicted to hang as a result of the swing riots later commuted to transportation for life. He was transported along with his cousins, George and John who were sons of Joseph and Ann Shergold and another cousin George who was son of William and Jane.

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Wendy Smith on 5th November 2019

The Convict Annotated Indentures for the Eleanor state that all the convicts on board were transported for machine breaking except for Thomas Davis (Warehouse breaking); George Smets (or Smits) (Receiving stolen iron) and Pierre Tuite or Pierce Tait (for embezzlement). The last three convicts were convicted at Graham’s Town on Cape of Good Hope. They joined the ship at Cape of Good Hope.