William Webb

51

Chris Ison on 2nd December 2024

POSTSCRIPT EXTRAORDINARY. Yesterday afternoon the whaler Sisters, Captain Robert Duke, arrived from New Zealand, having left the 28th of January last. … The brig Wellington, belonging to Mr. Joseph Underwood, which was carrying prisoners to Norfolk Island, with the notorious Anthony Best, and other criminals on board, when within two days sail of her destination, was piratically captured by the convicts—the captain, crew, and troops made prisoners—and Mr. Buchanan, the engineer, had his head laid open with a musket. As soon as the vessel was in their possession, the pirates made for New Zealand, where it providentially happened that the Sisters was lying at anchor off the Bay of Islands. We hear that an action commenced between the pirates and the whaler, which lasted for six hours, in which two of the former were killed. Captain Duke then went on board with a flag of truce, and declared if they did not surrender, he would bear down upon them, assisted with 200 or 300 natives, and put every man to death. This had the effect, and the pirates surrendered. Some of them, however, made their escape on shore, but by means of the extraordinary exertions of Captain Duke, assisted by the natives, the whole were soon retaken. The following is a list of the gang which have been brought back to Sydney, on the Sisters—the remainder being on board the Wellington, which was off the heads yesterday evening late, having Anthony Best on board:— John Walton, ex-captain of the pirates; Charles Clay Todhunter, James O'Neal, Henry Drummond, Charles Daley, William Leddington, William Ryan, William Holt, John Jennings, John Lynch, William Webb, Patrick Flannigan, Cornelius Callaghan, John Stewart, Thomas Quinn, Richard Johnson, Thomas Edwards, Edward McGuiness, John Swan, Richard Carter, Thomas Carvell, William Brown, Patrick Geary, James Bennet, John Smith, Thomas Bayley, Edward Colethurst, William Bateman, John McGuinness, Abraham Davis, William Walker, John Boyde. [32 convicts in this list] (Sydney Gazette 10 Feb 1827, p. 2.)

343

Maureen Withey on 12th July 2021

Colonial Secretary Index. WEBB, William. Per "Mangles", 1820. 1823 Oct 17-Nov 13 Former servant to Mr Rumker. Re his assignment to William Howe of Minto & the claim of Mr D Duncombe of Botany to his service (Reel 6058, 4/1769 pp.132-136b; Reel 6011, 4/3509 pp.445, 507, 559) 1824 On list of assigned servants mustered in the employ of William Howe of Minto; in 1824 (Reel 6062; 4/1781 p.393b) 1824 Jun 9 On list of convicts employed by William Howe of Minto (Fiche 3093; 4/1837B No.475 p.824) 1825 On list of convicts mustered in the employ of William Howe; in 1824-25 (Reel 6064; 4/1789 p.75c) 1825 Mar 7,11 Re permission to marry Sarah Brown at Parramatta; listed as Webbs (Reel 6063, 4/1785 p.143; Reel 6014, 4/3513 p.621) 1825 Nov 30 On list of convicts in the service of William Howe of Glenlie at the last two musters (Reel 6016; 4/3516 pp.54-5) -------------------------------------------------- This day, William Webb, per ship Mangles, and Sarah Webb, per ship Northampton, were charged before Charles Throsby, Esq. sen. and Mr. Throsby, jun. with entering the dwelling house of Mr. James Foster, and stealing therefrom sundry articles, the property of Robert Cotterell and his wife. It appeared the woman Webb was dressed in man's apparel, and pointed a musket into the house where Rebekah Cotterell was alone ; but, through the vigilance of Mr. Bowman, and two of the Aborigines of this colony, they were traced through a very difficult and rocky country and apprehended with the property that had been stolen from the farm of Mr. Foster in their possession. Both were fully committed to take their trial before the Supreme Criminal Court at Sydney. The Australian, 15 Apr 1826. --------------------------------------------------- Supreme Criminal Court. THURSDAY, JULY 13. William Webb, and Sarah Webb, his wife, were capitally indicted for a robbery in the home of Robert Cotterel, and therein putting in bodily fear Rebecca Cotterel, at Argyle, on the 26th of March last. The ATTORNEY GENERAL stated the case for the prosecution. Rebecca Cotterel deposed, that she is wife to one Robert Cotterel, living at Argyle; that, on the 25th of March last, the two prisoners, whom she knew, they having been at her house about a fortnight before, came (the female prisoner on this occasion, being dressed in mens clothing) during the absence of her husband from home, and asked for some provisions, which they gave them, and they went away; that shortly after, they returned, and the man asked her "if she did not say she knew them?" Witness replied that " she did not," when he said, "you did say so," adding, that "if she had not said she knew them, they would not have taken any thing but the provisions; he then proceeded to rifle the house of a considerable quantity of wearing apparel, and other property, which he handed through the window to the woman, who stood outside with a musquet in her hand, and who frequently threatened witness, telling her "to be still." Mr. William Bowman deposed, that he is a settler residing in Argyle; that on the 25th of March, he was returning from the interior, and passing by Cotterel's residence, together with his servant, a man came out of the house, saying that, they had been robbed by two bushrangers, one of whom was a woman dressed in man's clothes, and requesting that he would render some assistance in seeking to apprehend them, as they had not been long gone; witness asked why they had not applied for assistance when his cart, conducted by some natives, had passed by some time before; the man said they had done so, but that the natives would not stop; witness sent his servant after the cart, and having obtained two of the natives, they traced the prisoners by their footsteps for nearly three miles, and, after fording a stream, discovered them in a glen at the other side, concealed amongst the high reeds; they had a musquet with them and a quantity of property, which was identified by Cotterel. The male prisoner did not deny having committed the robbery, and observed, that "only Mrs.Cotterel said she knew them, they would not have taken any thing but the provisions, but, as she did, he thought he might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb." The prisoners being called upon for their defence, the man stated that his wife acted entirely under his control, and begged the Court, on that account, to extend mercy to her. The female prisoner pleaded that she was obliged to act as she had done, by her husband. His Honor summed up the evidence, observing, it was so clear and conclusive, that it was impossible lo entertain a doubt but the prisoners were guilty. If, from the circumstances of the case, the Jury could collect anything by which they could suppose that the woman acted under the coercion of her husband, they would so state it in their verdict; if, on the contrary, they saw nothing in the evidence before them to warrant that conclusion, then they had no occasion for such special finding. - Guilty. His Honor then addressed the prisoners on the heinousness of the crime of which they had been convicted. With regard to the female prisoner, he would not pledge himself to make any specific recommendation in her favour, but he would lay the circumstances of her case before the proper authority. It only remained for him to pass the sentence of the law. Sentence of Death was then passed upon the prisoners, at hearing which the unfortunate woman, who did not seem to anticipate such a result, dropped upon the floor, and was carried shrieking out of Court; and, for sometime after her removal, her cries resounded throughout the building. Sydney Gazette, 15 July 1826. --------------------------------------------------- GOVERNMENT NOTICE. Colonial Secretary’s Office, Feb 20, 1827. ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD. WHEREAS THE FIVE CONVICTED FELONS, whose names are undermentioned effected their Escape from the Phoenix Hulk, at an early Hour in the Morning of Monday last; NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a REWARD of TWENTY POUNDS will be paid for the Apprehension of each of the said Felons, who shall be safely lodged in one of His Majesty’s Goals…. EDWARD M’GUINESS, per Tyne, 1819 Labourer, a Native of Dublin; 26 years of age; 5 feet 5 inches high ; with dark sallow complexion, pock-pitted, black hair, and blue eyes. WILLIAM WEBB, per Mangles, 1820, Cloth-dresser, a Native of Gloucestershire; 30 years of age; 5 feet 7 inches high; with fair pale complexion, brown hair, and hazle eyes. THOMAS QUINN, per Minerva, (3), 1819, Labourer, a Native of Cork City; 24 years of age; 5 feet 3 inches and 3 quarters high; with fair pale complexion, brown hair, and hazle eyes. JOHN LYNCH, per Dorothy, 1820, Labourer, a Native of the County of Kildare;- 27 years of age; 5 ft. 2 inches and a half high; with fair ruddy complexion, flaxen hair, and blue eyes. PATRICK GEARY, or GOW, per Guilford (2). 1816, Blacksmith; 30 years of age: 5 feet 1 inch and 3 quarters high ; with ruddy complexion, brown hair and hazle eyes. By His Excellency’s Command, ALEXANDER M’LEAY. The Monitor, Sydney, 24 Feb 1827. ——————————————————————————------------------------ William Webb, one of the five pirates who effected his escape from the Phoenix hulk, was taken prisoner on Saturday last in the neighbourhood of Parramatta. He imposed himself on Mr. Lacey as a Liverpool constable on despatch to Parramatta. He had in his possession 2 pistols, 3 ball cartridges, a watch (No. 1821 ; Chestermore, London), and £136, the most of it sterling, in notes and silver. He told Dr. Harris he had nothing to say at present, but perhaps he might by and bye. Sydney Gazette, 27 Mar 1827. --------------------------------------------------- THE Supreme Court resumed its sittings on the Criminal side on Wednesday. Webb, one of the Pirates, was indicted for the robbery at Timothy Beard's, Bringelly Road, and found Guilty; as was Curry, for robbing the cart of Mr. Hassall, on the Liverpool Road.—Remanded for sentence. M'GUINESS, one of the Pirates, after being shot in the thigh, yesterday, on the Liverpool Road, has been safely lodged in Gaol, The Monitor, Fri 4 May 1827. --------------------------------------------------- William Webb was indicted for a robbery in the dwelling-house of Timothy Beard, at Carns' Hill, in the district of Cabramatta, putting the inmates in bodily fear, and stealing thereout £220 in money, some wearing apparel, a silver watch, and a pistol, on the I4th of March last. Timothy Beard, stated that he resides at the sign of the Bay Horse, at the bottom of Carns' Hill, in the district of Cabramatta, and keeps a public house; that about 8 o'clock on the night of the 14th of March, nine men, of whom the prisoner was one, all armed, got over the palings, and rushed into the house; witness's wife, and some three or four persons who were in the house, were forced into a small room, at the door of which one of the party stood with a pistol and cutlass to prevent their egress; the prisoner and another man then went into the bedroom, which they plundered of every article they could lay their hands on; they also demanded money, observing that it was the first robbery they had committed since getting away from the hulk, and that they would have ether money or life; witness's wife denied having any money in the house, and they then proceeded to break open the boxes with a spade, and carried off £220 in various kinds of money; they remained in the house altogether about an hour and a half; witness is positive that the prisoner was one of the party, having seen him at his house before; immediately when he heard the prisoner was apprehended, witness went to Parramatta, thinking to recover part of his money, and on his being produced for him to identify by order of Dr. Harris witness recognized a jacket and trousers on his person, which had been carried off on the night of the robbery; there were upwards of £160 found on the prisoner when he was apprehended. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 4 May 1827. -------------------------------------------------- SUPREME COURT.---(Wednesday.) The following prisoners were brought up to receive sentence :--- William Webb, a middle aged man, convicted on the 2d of May last of a robbery in the dwelling-house of Timothy Beard, a publican, living on the Liverpool-road, and putting the persons therein in bodily fear. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the indictment at the time of trial, and persisting in this plea, that verdict was recorded. The Court, in passing sentence upon the prisoner, said it would be highly improper to hold out the slightest hope, that mercy would be extended to him, and warned this unhappy offender to he prepared to meet that fate which inevitably awaited him. Sentence of death was then passed on the prisoner in the usual manner. The Australian, 11 May 1827. -------------------------------------------------- EXECUTION.—William Ward, Thomas Power, John Curry and William Webb suffered death at the usual place of execution, on Monday morning last. The awful sentence had been passed upon the two former for stealing from the dwelling-house of a person named Michael Foley living at Bringelly, on the previous Monday Curry was convicted of a highway robbery and Webb of house robbery, both heard their awful doom pronounced on the Wednesday preceeding. …. …. Ward and Curry, two Englishmen, fastened a handkerchief round each other's wrists. Power and Webb held one between them; they shook hands together with the hangman, and as they exclaimed "Lord Jesus deliver us", the drop was let fall, and a few moments after put a period to their sufferings. Ward, Curry, and Power were young men; Webb was an elderly man; he was married, and a parent. Round his neck was attached a locket, containing a portion of his wife's hair. The Australian, 23 May 1827.

174

Iris Dunne on 27th June 2020

24 June 1819 Register of Prisoners, Tewkesbury Borough Gaol, aged 22, Crime: on suspicion of being a Deserter from the Regiment, Trade Labourer, July, sent to Plymouth to join his regiment Indents: William Webb, aged 23, Convicted 23 Dec. 1819, Birth Year abt. 1796, Native Place Gloucestershire, Trade Cloth Draper

174

Iris Dunne on 27th June 2020

11 March 1825, Permission to marry at Parramatta, William Webbs (aged 26, Convict from ship Mangles) to Sarah Brown (aged 27, Convict from ship Providence arrived 1822). Both working for Government