William Tunnicliffe

342

Maureen Withey on 21st April 2021

William appears to have had previous experience in the court, but was discharged before, finally, his luck ran out. -------------------------------------------------- George Sumner, aged 30, a weaver, from Mawley, William Tunnicliffe, aged 27, a tailor, from Cheadle, and Samuel Bardsley, aged 28, a hatter, from Stockport, for burglary— Tunnicliffe discharged; admitted evidence; Sumner, DEATH. Chester Courant, 29 April 1817. -------------------------------------------------- John Needham, aged 20, a weaver, from Stockport; Thomas Wood, aged 25, a weaver, from Bolton, Lancashire; William Tunnicliff, aged 29, a tailor, from and George Partington, aged 23, a cotton spinner, from Dudsbury, for burglary. Wood admitted evidence, and discharged ; Tunnicliff and Partington, not guilty; Needham, Death. Chester Courant, 7 Sept 1819 -------------------------------------------------- The following is a list of the names of the prisoners in our County Gaol, for trial at the next Assize, with their ages and offences. ... Sarah Tunnicliffe, aged 55, for receiving stolen goods; Wm. Tunnicliffe, aged 29, for burglary;... Chester Courant, 21 Dec 1819. --------------------------------------------------- Sarah Tunnicliffe, jennyspinner, from Stockport, for receiving stolen goods ; William Tunnicliffe. aged 30, tailor, Cheadle. for burglary; Chester Chronicle, 31 March 1820. -------------------------------------------------- Was Sarah related to William?

342

Maureen Withey on 21st April 2021

William was evidently an experienced seaman, and was captaining the Eclipse as it escaped. THE ECLlPSE; On Wednesday the 11th instant, at about the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, the cutter Eclipse, belonging to Messrs. John Atkinson and James Reibey, was piratically taken from alongside the Government Wharf, at the port of Newcastle, Hunter's River, by thirteen prisoners of the crown, three of whom are said to be seamen. They were facilitated in their escape by the sails being loosened to dry, and the master only being on deck at the time, so that they had only to put him below and slip the cable. There was a sentinel on duty at the wharf, when she began to move; she was almost out of musket shot before suspicion was excited. and any alarm given; she was nearly round Nobby's Island before a boat, properly manned and armed, could be got ready. The master and the crew were put into a boat, which was alongside belonging to the government, but this was not done until the vessel was well out at sea. At twelve o'clock she was just visible faraway, in the offing, steering North East. The provisions on board at the time consisted of two bags of bread, a cask of salt pork, a harness cask of beef, and a quarter of fresh beef, with about 80 gallons of water. Two puncheons of rum were landed from the cutter a short time previous to her seizure by the pirates. (Further particulars.) In less than two minutes the men had entire possession of the cutter. When she swung it was thought she had parted from her moorings; but, on seeing the sails begin to be hoisted, it was immediately suspected what they were at, and alarm was given; but before Captain A. or Lieutenant Owen could reach the wharf she was running down the harbour with a fine fair westerly wind and ebb tide. Every effort was made to get a boat away in pursuit; but the boats crews being all convicts, did not hurry themselves to overtake her. However, they started with six or eight soldiers, under Mr. Owen's orders, but their expedition was fruitless, and they soon returned. The pirates put the master and his crew into a boat, and sent them on shore; and by three or four o'clock the cutter was out of sight. The last time she was seen she was standing to the N. E., wind at west, and appeared to be hauling up north, under a press of canvas; but being very crank, on account of the small quantity of coal on board, they were obliged to run her away large. We have no doubt, from all that can be learnt, that they intend for Timor. A person who was steward with Captain King (Jas. Johnston) in his voyage round this Island, is the navigator, and Wm. Tunnecliffe, who headed the party that ran away with Captain Allman's gig last January, is the Captain. There were no spirits on board, and consequently there is less chance of falling in with the pirates, at they will be kept sober. They were, employed in lading the vessel with coals; for which service the owners were to pay to much per ton. Three of them had been ordered to be kept in gaol previous to their being transported to Port Macquarie but notwithstanding their being under sentence they were allowed to work in irons — their overseer had run away from Port Macquarie. The Australian, 26 May 1825.

342

Maureen Withey on 21st April 2021

Colonial Secretary Index. TUNNECLIFFE, William. Per "Elizabeth", 1820. 1821 Aug 22 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Mermaid" (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.255) 1825 Jan 3 Runaway from Newcastle in Government boat; retaken (Reel 6068; 4/1812 p.2) 1825 Mar On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 p.201) 1825 Nov 14,19 On lists of runaways; escaped from Newcastle in the cutter "Eclipse" on 11 May (Reel 6015, 4/3515 p.615; Reel 6063, 4/1784 p.307a) -------------------------------------------------- Date: 1825 March Place: Newcastle Source: Colonial Secretary's Papers. Monthly Return of Corporal Punishments inflicted at Newcastle Details: William Tunnicliffe, Thomas Smith, Joseph Pritchard, James Johnston, John Duncan and James O'Berry all assigned to government service. The first four sentenced to 100 lashes and the last two to 50 lashes for absenting themselves from the settlement at Newcastle and on a strong suspicion of piratically seizing, carrying away and destroying a boat, the property of the Crown. Source: https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/searchaction.php?page=1&surname=lyall&ship=&firstname=john