William Taylor

52

Robyn Everist on 20th January 2026

Age at transportation 36 years in 1842, which means year of birth is 1806. TAHO conduct record: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON33-1-22/CON33-1-22P251

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 28th June 2023

The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859) Sat 26 Jul 1845 Page 2 LOCAL. SUMREME COURT.-MURDER OF JANE SAUNDERS.-On Thursday, after a trial occupying nearly fourteen hours, Isaac Lockwood, Thomas Gomm, and William Taylor were found guilty of the murder of Jane Saunders, at New Norfolk. Sentence was passed upon them immediately on the return of the verdict, which was delivered by the jury (after an absence from the box of about half an hour) at half-past eleven o'clock at night. The confident demeanour of the prisoners during the whole period of the trial up to the time of conviction seemed the effect of a belief that it would have terminated otherwise. They are all men in the full vigour of life. Taylor seems to be about 30 years old, and the other two look younger. We must defer giving the evidence until next paper The Hobart Town Advertiser (Tas. : 1839 - 1861) Fri 19 Sep 1845 . Page 2 LOCAL. EXECUTION.-The murderers of JANE SAUNDERS On Tuesday morning, Isaac Lockwood, Thomas Gomm, and William Taylor, convicted of the murder of Jane Saunders, at New Norfolk, in January last, suffered an ignominious death on the usual drop, in front of the city goal, The spectators amounted to a vast multitude-such as the oldest inhabitant does not remember to bare seen in Hobart Town, on any similar occasion The men being all protestants, the bell of St. David's Cathedral sent forth its solemn toll- the stroke repeated each minute-until the clock itself struck eight. There was an on interval of anxious attention for a minute, when Lockwood, a fine looking young man ascended the scaffold, preceded by the Rev. Dr. Bedford, followed fay the executioner, The criminal, (who bus been a soldier), walked with a firm and military step, with bis head erect, and whilst the executioner wet adjusting the rope looked up earnestly towards the beam. Gomm was the next who came up; he also walked the scaffold with firm tread, but beat his head as one in meditation. Whilst the Rev. Doctor was administering the last office of Spiritual consolation the culprit bowed his head to hie bosom, and raised his bands so far as was possible from their being pinioned. Taylor was the last who appeared. Ha seemed still more calm than either of the others, and when placed under the fatal beam bowed to the spectators, he was placed on that part of the scaffold under the first transverse beam, next to Lockwood, but nearest to Davey Street; Taylor was under the beam behind. The clergyman remained in the performance of solemn duty for three or four minutes, in which brief time the expert finisher of the law had made all his preparations. Not a word was spoken by any of the three men. The clergyman turned round, the drop fell, and the men were sent " to that bourne from whence no traveler returns" It might have been more satisfactory had confession of their crime been made; but this they did not do, although all confessed that they deserved death for their numerous other offenses. The nearest to any confession was by Taylor, who has said, since his condemnation, that if Eliza Benwell and the other two men would tell all they knew they could save his (Taylor's) life. After hanging the usual period their bodies were out down. Those of Gamm and Taylor were conveyed to The Colonial Hospital, and that of Lockwood to St. Mary's Hospital where they have severally undergone the process of dissection and will be anatomized. Thus has a heathen boy [such are the inscrutable ways of Providence), been made the instrument of bringing to justice lie perpetrators of a crime which all the circumstance taken into account, has scarcely & parallel in the records of this, or any other criminal Court Isaac Lockwood - Per Ship; John Brewer Thomas Gomm - Per Ship; Bussora. Arrival date; 13 Jan. 1842 William Taylor - Per Ship; Eden JANE SAUNDERS 1845 -18 Jan. Death; Age; 17 years. Status; Spinster INQUEST; 21 Jan 1845

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 28th June 2023

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters Noted against name; EXECUTED 16 September 1845