William Taylor

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty.

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

LEFT FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 1888, 28 April: William Taylor, 50, expiree, sailed from Fremantle on the barque “Alfred Hawley” for Adelaide; remarks – stout [all other physical characteristics as per his arrival in 1868] (WA Police Gazette, No.18, May 2, 1888, p.80). He was one of eight passengers in the “second cabin”. They arrived at Port Adelaide on 15 May (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160777263). --000--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: TAYLOR, William; inmate #9889, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1838 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Shepherd Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Chelmsford Crime: Firing a stable Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket Leave Date: 20 July, 1871 Certificate of Freedom Date: 9 Jan 1878 Comments: General servant, labourer, wood cutter. To South Australia, 28 April, 1888 (https://fremantleprison.com.au). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

IN WA: 1868: On arrival, William Taylor, 28, was listed as convict #9889; sentenced to 10 years, at Chelmsford, 5 March, 1866, for “maliciously firing a stable and previous conviction”; shepherd; single; literate; Protestant; family – sister Sarah, Little Hedingham, Halstead, Essex; behaviour “good”. Described as 5’4” tall, dark brown hair, black eyes, long visage, swarthy complexion, slight build; right hand been injured, cannot straighten the fingers, 2 scars left arm, scar back left hand and wrist. Previous conviction: 4 August, 1865, stealing a watch, 4 months’ hard labour. Ticket of Leave 20.7.71; Certificate of Freedom 9.1.78 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

EMBARKATION: 1867, 8 October: William Taylor was sent from Portland Prison to board the Hougoumont for WA, His behaviour for the previous quarter had been “very good” and health “good” (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876 for Thomas Wilson; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Convict Prisons/Lunatic Asylums; 1867; December; image 257). “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up, by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank, for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty [not the senior Fenian, Captain Moriarty; rather, this was Bartholomew Moriarty, aged 17]. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

1867, 4 January: Admitted to Portland Prison, Grove Road, Portland, Devon – William Taylor, 23, inmate #5936; convicted arson, Chelmsford, 5 March 1866, 10 years; surgeon’s report on health “good”; behaviour “good” (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Convict Prisons/Lunatic Asylums; 1867; March; image 242. --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

1866, 26 April: Admitted to Pentonville Prison, Caledonian Road, London – inmate #3675 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for William Taylor; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1866-1869; image 9). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

JAILS: 1866, 5 March: Held at Springfield Prison, Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, most likely prior to and certainly following his trial (now called Chelmsford Prison, Springfield began as a county jail in 1825). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

NEWSPAPER REPORTS: From the Bury & Norwich Post, 13 March 1866, p3: “Arson at Radwinter. William Taylor, 23, labourer, was convicted of maliciously setting fire to a shed, the property of Isaac Saward, at Radwinter, on the 18th of February, and was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000156/18660313/011/0003) --0-- From the Essex Standard, 14 March 1866, p4: Arson at Radwinter. William Taylor, 23, labourer, was indicted for maliciously setting fire to a shed, the property of Isaac Saward, at Radwinter, on the 18th of February. Mr. Walford prosecuted; prisoner was undefended. Prosecutor said — I occupy a farm at Radwinter, and on the 8th of February prisoner came to me and told me he was destitute; I took him into my employ for a short time, and he used to sleep in a stable adjoining the barns and other buildings. On Sunday, the 18th of February, I came home from church shortly before 5 o'clock, at which time my premises were safe; just before tea-time the servant raised an alarm of fire, and on going outside I noticed that the stable in which prisoner had been in the habit of sleeping was on fire. I went indoors for the key of the barn, and was some time in finding it; when I went out again the flames had communicated to two barns, a cart-lodge, and a portion of a cottage, all of which were entirely consumed. The barns contained the produce of six acres of barley and six acres of wheat, which was also consumed. An engine was sent for, and some buildings were pulled down to prevent tlie flames spreading. To his Lordship. The damage done amounted to more than £400 or £500. Examination continued. The first I saw of the prisoner was when he was in the custody of police-constable Lucking at the fire. Police-constable Cook, stationed at Great Sampford, said on Tuesday, the 6th of Feb., he saw the prisoner at that place, when he asked him the way to Ipswich. Witness directed him the way and asked him where he came from, upon which he replied ‘From Chelmsford. I have been in gaol there for stealing a watch. I am very hard up and have got no relatives. I have got to that pitch now I don't care what I do or what becomes of me.’ Witness was in plain clothes at the time, and prisoner looked at him and said, ‘I think you have been a policeman.’ Witness told him he was a policeman now, and after some further conversation he went away. Julia Bunter, a widow, of Radwinter, said on Sunday, the 18th Feb., prisoner came to her shop between the hours of divine service and asked for a box of lucifers. Witness handed him some, but he said they were not the sort he wanted; he wanted the sort that burned best in the wind for his pipe. She sold him some vesuvians like those now produced. She had sold him a box of lucifers on a previous occasion. Rosa Cox, in the employ of the prosecutor, spoke to seeing the prisoner standing against the stable on the afternoon in question, when she heard the bell ring for tea. She went in, and on coming out shortly afterwards for some knives she saw the prisoner walking along the road, looking up at the buildings. She then heard some one shrieking, and on looking that way saw that the bottom of the stable in which prisoner used to sleep was on fire. She at once raised the alarm and went and assisted in fetching water. The first person she saw near the fire was the prisoner, who said ‘Charlotte, Charlotte, I shall get ten years for this.’ She replied, ‘Never mind the ten years, give me some water and help put the fire out.’ Previous to the fire she saw prisoner take his pipe out of his mouth and put it into his pocket. Samuel Ketteridge, who lived close by prosecutor's premises, said just before the fire was discovered he was speaking to the prisoner near the stable. Prisoner was smoking at that time, and left witness and went into the stable. When witness noticed the smoke issuing from the stable he got some water and threw it on to the straw on the floor, which was the only place then alight, but he could not prevent the flames spreading. To his Lordship. After I saw prisoner go into the stable he came out again and walked down towards the village. It was about a quarter-of-an-hour after that I first saw the fire. Police-constable Lucking deposed to apprehending the prisoner, and on searching him found part of a box of vesuvians and several pipes upon him. Witness took him to prosecutor's, when he said he hoped he (prosecutor) would do nothing to him. Witness then took him to Newport police-station, and on the way prisoner said, ‘I am afraid I shall get nine or ten years for it, but nobody saw me do it.’ The prisoner's statement before the Magistrates was put in and read, and was to the effect that he did not set the place on fire, although he first admitted he was on the premises at the time it broke out, but subsequently denied it. Prisoner, who several times during the enquiry had denied that he set fire to the premises, was asked if he had anything to say in his defence, and replied in the negative. His Lordship then briefly summed up, and the Jury found the prisoner guilty. His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said the charge of which he had been found guilty was a very serious and dangerous one: he had destroyed a great deal of property belonging to a person who had acted in a very kind manner towards him, and it was not his (the prisoner's) fault that the entire village was not burnt down. From what he could see of the matter he was of the opinion that he (the prisoner) had arrived at that position by himself in a conversation with one of the witnesses and had determined to make a change in his position. His Lordship remarked that prisoner had named ten years as his probable punishment, and as he (his Lordship) considered that was a sentence he most richly deserved he should therefore order him to be kept in penal servitude for ten years.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000165/18660314/038/0004) --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

TRIAL: 1866, 8 March: William Taylor, 23 was convicted and sentenced at the Essex Lent Assizes at Chelmsford to 10 years’ penal servitude for arson (firing a stable) --0--