William Watts

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 21st December 2024

MIDDLESEX PRISONERS FOR TRIAL No; 135. * William Swallow alias Waldon. Aged; 45 years old. Mariner * George James Davis alias George Huntley. Aged; 27 years old. Watch case maker * Charles Williams aged 32 years old. Mariner * Alexander Stephenson alias Telford. Mariner * John Beveridge alias Anderson, Carpenter Committed By; - W Ballantine. Esq. 20 October Offence: Piratically stealing a ship called the Cyprus, with tackle, & etc., the property of His Majesty, on the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England Convicted; Oct 1830. SENTENSED TO DEATH Alexander Stevenson alias Telfort ... Respited FIND A GRAVE; William Watts Birth; 1792 Death; 16 Dec 1830 (aged 37–38) Wapping, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England Burial; St. George-in-the-East Churchyard Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England Memorial ID; 206115522 William Watts and George James Davis were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death at the Admiralty Sessions (held at the Old Bailey) for their involvement in the Cyprus Mutiny. They were hanged at Execution Dock on the 16th December 1830. They were the last men to be hanged for piracy in Britain and also the last to be hanged at Execution Dock, a place in the River Thames near the shoreline at Wapping, London that was used for more than four hundred years to execute pirates, smugglers, murderers and mutineers who had been sentenced to death by the Admiralty Courts. -------------------- Alias: Charles Williams. --------------------- Burial: 17 Dec 1830 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_mutiny https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_Dock http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/edock.html https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-8178-4-sample.pdf --------------------- [1] https://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng857.htm..... WILLIAM SWALLOW, alias WALDON; GEORGE JAMES DAVIS, alias GEORGE HUNTLEY; WILLIAM WATTS, alias CHARLES WILLIAMS; ALEXANDER STEPHENSON, alias TELFORD; and JOHN BEVERIDGE, alias ANDERSON. Tried for Mutiny and Piracy. The whole of these persons at the time of their trial for piracy were already convicts; but having been concerned in a mutinous seizure of a vessel, in which they were confined as prisoners, they subjected themselves to a punishment more severe than that to which they had been already sentenced, and were therefore liable to a second trial. They were indicted at the admiralty sessions of the Old Bailey on Thursday, November 4, 1830, for having, on the 5th September in the previous year, piratically seized the brig Cyprus. And they were also indicted for that they, being convicts, had been found at large in England before the period of the sentence of transportation passed upon them had expired. The facts proved in evidence were shortly these:-- The prisoners were convicts in Hobart Town, but having been there guilty of second crimes, by which they rendered themselves liable to new punishment, they were tried before the supreme court of judicature there, and sentenced to transportation. The places to which prisoners twice convicted were at this period assigned, were Macquarie Harbour, a place on the northern coast of Van Diemen's Land, and Norfolk Island, which is situated at a distance of about a week's sail from Sydney, in an easterly direction. The prisoners were ordered to be conveyed to Macquarie Harbour, where they well knew they would be subjected to drudgery of the very worst description, in punishment for their offences. The Cyprus, a colonial brig, was chartered to convey them to the place of their destination; and, in the month of August 1829, she sailed, having on board thirty-two convicts, a crew of eight men, a military guard of twelve men, under the command of Lieutenant Carew, whose wife and children were passengers, and a medical gentleman named Williams, under whose superintending care the convicts were placed. On the 5th of September, Dr. Williams, Lieutenant Carew, the chief mate, a soldier, and a convict named Popjoy, went ashore in Research Bay on a fishing excursion; but when they had left the ship about half-an-hour, they heard a firing on board, which induced a fear that the convicts were striving to overpower the guard and crew. They immediately returned, and on their going alongside found that their anticipations were realised, and that the convicts having risen en masse, had mastered the guard, and were now in possession of the ship. They refused to suffer any one to board except Popjoy; and, having secured him, they thrust him down below. Immediately afterwards the convicts sent the crew and the soldiers and passengers ashore, but without provisions or the means of existence. Popjoy swam ashore the next morning, and was of material assistance afterwards in procuring fish, &c. for his fellow sufferers. On that evening the Cyprus made off, and Lieutenant Carew and the rest remained in a most forlorn and miserable condition for many days, until they were at length happily delivered from the dangers which surrounded them by the Zebra, a small vessel which was accidentally sailing by, and saw some signals of distress which they made. The Cyprus was never afterwards heard of; but the prisoners were apprehended separately in various parts of Sussex and Essex, whither they had returned to their old haunts. The evidence of Popjoy, who for his good conduct on this occasion had received a free pardon, and who was now a seaman in the East India Company's service, was procured at the trial, and tended to fix guilt upon all the prisoners; Stevenson and Beveridge, however, he admitted were not so active as many others; and the conduct of Swallow, he said, was quite consistent with the defence which he set up, that he had been forced to act by the other mutineers. Other witnesses corroborated his testimony, and Swallow was acquitted, while a verdict was returned against the other prisoners, Stevenson and Beveridge being recommended to mercy. Sentence of death was immediately passed upon the convicts. On the 1st of December following, the cases of the prisoners were reported to His Majesty, by Sir Christopher Robinson, the judge of the Admiralty Court; and His Majesty was pleased to grant a respite to all but Watts, alias Williams, and Davis, alias Huntley. On Thursday, 9th* of December 1830, the sentence of death was carried into execution on these culprits. In the early part of the morning they partook of a slight repast, and at about half-past seven received the sacrament. They then admitted that they were about to die justly, and declared that they were at peace with the world. Davis was neatly and respectably attired in a new suit of blue clothes; and his fellow-sufferer also wore a blue jacket, with a white waistcoat and trousers. They behaved with much decorum, but were both extremely dejected. (*Actually executed on the 16th). Beveridge and Stevenson, who had also been convicted, were transported for life to Norfolk Island; and Swallow having been identified upon the indictment, by which he was charged to be a returned transport, was sentenced to be once more sent back to Macquarie Harbour, to undergo the remainder of the punishment to which he had been already sentenced. [1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206115522/william-watts

51

Chris Ison on 3rd December 2024

PIRATICAL SEIZURE OF The Government Brig Cyprus, By Convicts, on their way to the Penal Settlement of Macquarie Harbour. We last week mentioned that the Cyprus was on her passage to the Penal Settlement of Macquarie Harbour, conveying 31 prisoners under sentence of transportation to that place ; and having on board a large supply of provisions for the Settlement ; and that the prisoners had mutinied and taken possession of the vessel , and carried her out to sea. … … The following is a list of the prisoners, who captured the Cyprus:— Michael Herring, Robert McGuire, William Templeman, Matthew Pennell, William Watts, James Davis, Samuel Thacker, John Beveridge, Alexander Stevenson, Leslie Ferguson, John Lynch, James Jones, William Swallow (commonly called Walker), Charles Towers, James Cham, Thomas Bryant, John Denner, William Brown. (Colonial Times 4 Sep 1829, p. 3.)

343

Maureen Withey on 19th October 2024

At the adjournment the Sessions for this city, on Monday last, the undernamed Prisoners were sentenced follows —William Watts, for stealing muslin;... Bristol Mirror, 17 Aug 1816.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 17th August 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Age; 19 [1797] Native Place; Somerset Trade or calling; Pipe Maker Height; 5 ft. 3 in Eyes; Hazel 1830 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. No; 151 Name; William Watts Ship; Lord Eldon Remarks\Assigned; ABSCONDED - 1829 1820 - New South Wales, Census and Population Books. No; 205. Trial Bristol - 1816. Sentence - 7 years. Off Stores. Assigned; Mr. Carter. 1835 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. No; 151. ABSCONDED - 1829 Hair; Black Completion; Dk. Ruddy

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 2nd July 2021

Alphabetical Registers of Male Convicts. (CON23/1/3) No; 151 Name; William Watts Height; 5 Ft 3 1/2 in Hair; Brown Eyes; Grey Age; 25 Trade; Horse breaker Trial; [1] Bristol - 15 July 1816 - 7 years. [2] Hobart Town - 16 June 1828 & [3] Hobart Town - 26 June 1829 - LIfe Ship; Lord Eldon 1817 - A Cockburn [2] Native Place; London Remarks; RUN; in Brig Cypress in 1829 - Reported as Executed at London in Public ??