William Waddell

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Maureen Withey on 8th January 2026

William Waddel and Jamas McNicol were then placed at the bar, charged with horse-stealing; in so far as on the 1st or 2d of August last, they stole a horse, belonging to James Waitie, farmer, Rintassin, parish of Crathie; and also a mare, the property of John Rattray, farmer, Breancach, same parish. Panels pleaded Guilty.  Mr. Murray, their Counsel read a great many certificates of character in favour of panels, from clergymen, from masters and others, from which it appeared that they had, up to the period of the present offence, borne a good character. Mr. Murray said that want and bad company had led them to the commission of this crime, of which they now bitterly repented, Lord Medwyn said he gave them credit for their previous good character. The theft, however, had been committed in a highland district, where it was impossible that the cattle could be kept  under the eye of their owners, and that circumstances rendered the crime of greater magnitude. Sentence—transportation.  Aberdeen Herald, 29 Sept 1832. National Archives, HO-9-1_5. Cumberland Hulk Records. Page 34/44. Received from Aberdeen, 18 Oct 1832. William Waddel, age 29, Horse stealing, Tried Aberdeen, 27 Sep 1832, 7 years, NSW 24 May 1833.

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Keith South on 12th January 2015

Name WILLIAM WADDEL Standing No. of Convict 33-2401 Indent No. 318 Age 29 Education R&W R Read W Write Religion Protestant Single, Married or Married Widowed Children Male 4 Female Native Place Perthshire Trade or Calling Farm servant; sawyer Offence Stealing horses Where Tried Aberdeen Court of Justiciary When 28 September 1832 Sentence 7 years Former Convictions None Height Feet 5' 6-1/'2" Inches Complexion Ruddy Colour of Hair Brown Eyes Hazel Marks or Scars, Mole left cheek, mole right side of upper lip, another on forehead Remarks The Lord Lyndoch sailed from Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent on 4 June 1833. List of Male Convicts, by the Ship LORD LYNEDOCH (sic), William JOHNSTON, Master, David WATSON, Surgeon Superintendent, arrived from ENGLAND, 18th October 1833. William’s indent was on pages 141 – 142. When he arrived in Sydney he was assigned to a Joshua Thorpe of Sydney who had land on the Cook's River, about 5 miles from the centre of Sydney. He must have spent his whole time with him as he absconded on at least two occasions. These were reported in the New South Wales Gazette. On the 30/6/1835 he is reported as being apprehended after running away from T. Thorpe, Cook's River. In the Gazette of 18/12/1838 he is reported as having absconded from Joshua Thorpe, Cook's River, since 17th December. On the 28th September 1839 he received his Certificate of Freedom. He served exactly seven years! Written down the left hand side is a comment which is hard to read, it looks like "Received a hev 29 Sep 1842" CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM No. 391664 Date 28 September 1839 Prisoner’s No. 33/2401 Name William Waddel Ship Lord Lynedock Master Johnstone Year 1833 Native Place Perthshire Trade or Calling Sawyer Offence Horse Stealing Place of Trial Aberdeen Court of Judiciary Date of Trial 28 September 1832 Sentence Seven Years Year of birth 1803 Height 5 feet 61/2 inches Complexion Ruddy Hair Brown Eyes Hazel General Remarks mole left cheek near the mouth another right side of upper lip another in centre of forehead (then four words that I can't read). William died on the 14th November 1851 and was buried on the 15th November 1851 in the Camperdown Cemetery in Sydney. He was a patient in the Infirmary and died of heart disease. At the time of his death he lived in Druitt Street.