George Watling

Level 10

K.R.Watling on 27th September 2016

George Watling was born in Marlingford, Norfolk, to John Watling and his wife Ann, nee Wells. He was Tried at Norwich Lent Assizes for robbing Farmer Kirk Pitcher in Marlingford on the 21st,December 1834, he was found 'not guilty'. How then did he end up being transported on the 'Strathfield Saye' as a convict to Botany Bay ? It would seem that at his trial he was identified as the person who robbed another man on the 20th. of December 1834 at Barford in Norfolk, and he was brought before the next Assizes at Norwich later the same year and found 'Guilty M'Lud', the Bounder. In Australia he married 1st,Mary Ann King and 2nd. Elizabeth Adams, he had issue with both (this is still under investigation), he got his Ticket to Leave in 1849, but stayed on in Australia. "The family was very proud of our George, Here he was going overseas on Government business, the first time in his life the lad had ever owned a suit". "It was a pity about the large broad arrows plastered all over it, he would have preferred a more tradition Herring Bone, we were surprised about the Ball and Chain, normally it would have been a watch and chain attached to ones waistcoat, not a big black iron ball shackled to the ankle. Before anyone should ask, I am descended from his brother Charles who did not have any involvement in George's crime spree, Charles was already doing time for Night Poaching. Not a lotta people know that and there is a lot more from where that came from.

George Watling mother Ann Wells fatherJohn born Marlingford Norfolk about 1814 married 1st 1847 Mary Ann King in Denham Court NSW - marriage 2nd 1866 Eliza Adams in Campbeltown NSW died 1892 aged 76 Jindabyne NSW Australia George was a bit of a rogue, he was put on trial in he 1935 Norwich March Assizes on a charge of Highway robbery, he had been drinking in a beer house with a chap name Richardson,they were joined there by a farmer, Kirk Pitcher, George and Richardson left the beer house before Pitcher, when Pitcher left the beer house he was set upon on his way home by two men, one of whom he recognised as Richardson. Richardson was found guilty and sentenced to death (I do not know if the sentence was carried out), George was found NOT guilty, but here is the rub, it would seem that during the trial George was recognised as the person who had robbed someone else previously. In short, George was found guilty at a second trial in September 1835, I do not know what the sentence was, but George ended up on his way to Botany Bay, the family were thrilled, our George going overseas on Government business, with a suit, the first time the lad ever had a suit in his life, but he was a bit upset, because instead of a watch and chain for his waistcoat,they gave him a ball and chain and attached it to his ankle. One might have thought that there might have been a bit of rancour between the Pitcher’s and the Watling’s but not a bit of it, less than 10 years later Elizabeth, the sister of George, marries William Pitcher, the son of Kirk Pitcher and as Elizabeth already had a daughter and a son, they had most likely been on very friendly terms a long before that. Notta lotta people know that.