William West

218

Dianne Jones on 3rd June 2021

Death of William West: Assuming that William West did not leave VDL, and that he died some time after 1841, the most likely candidate from the Tasmanian records is given below... 1885, 24 June: A William West, 75, and a labourer, died at the Newtown Pauper Establishment in Hobart from "senilis". The record says he was born in England [Was he also transported to VDL per England?] (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-10p310j2k). 1885, 26 June: William West was buried in a public grave, no.453A, in the Protestant (Church of England) section of the Cornelian Bay Cemetery. He was recorded as an invalid, born in England, and his last known residence was the New Town Charitable Institution. The service was performed by Rev J Gray (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/AF35-1-1$init=AF35-1-1P164J2K).

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Dianne Jones on 3rd June 2021

1832: Muster - listed as "transported to Port Arthur" (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1833: Muster - as above. 1834, 16 February: William West is on a register of convicts arrived in VDL per England 1832 (see Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899). 1835: Muster - listed as assigned to W Keeble, Launceston (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1841: Muster - listed as assigned to W Keeble, Launceston (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1846: Muster - listed as absconded in 1836. Is this date correct? The 1841 Muster entry above suggests otherwise (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). Unable to find any further Muster entries after this date. --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 3rd June 2021

1832, 6 October: "John Knight and William West, charged with concealing themselves on board the "Sophia", with intent to escape from the Colony, on the 6th inst. Imprisonment and hard labour three years each, Knight recommended to Macquarie Harbour, and West to Port Arthur" (The Tasmanian, 12 Oct 1832, p6: Police Report). The brig "Sophia" had arrived at Hobart Town from Liverpool, via Sydney on 23 September. At Hobart Town, she took on cargo and passengers for the return voyage to Liverpool, and sailed on 10 October 1832. 1832, 8 October: The above conviction is recorded on William West's Conduct Record. The only entry after this date is in pencil and reads "dead" - no date or circumstances given (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-3$init=CON34-1-3P585).

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Dianne Jones on 3rd June 2021

1832, 7 March: William West, 26, was received aboard the Retribution hulk at Woolwich. He was sent from there for transportation on 24 March (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). --00-- 1832, July: On arrival in VDL, William West was listed as 26, a labourer and married with two children. His wife, Ellen West, and their children were living at Commercial Road, London. He said he had a previous conviction for assault (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-6$init=CON18-1-6p174).

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Dianne Jones on 3rd June 2021

1832, February: William West was tried at the Old Bailey: "613. WILLIAM WEST was indicted for stealing, on the 24th of January, 1 watch, value 23s.; 1 watchchain, value 3s.; 2 seals, value 4s., and 1 watch-key, value 1s., the goods of John Wybrow, from his person. BENJAMIN WYBROW. I am the son of John Wybrow - he is a chair-maker, and lives at Lambeth. We were at Smithfield-bars , at half-past one o'clock, on the 24th of January; we were returning home from a party - my father and I stepped off the pavement to let a gentleman aad lady pass; we were in the act of stepping up again, as the prisoner snatched my father's watch - he was in company with eight or nine more, I should think; he drew it out of my father's fob, and ran away; I told my father he had lost his watch - the prisoner instantly ran; I pursued, and took him before he had got fifty yards, at the most; I took him by the collar of his white great coat, and held him for some time - I had called out for assistance, and a watchman from the opposite side of the way came; I held the prisoner till a watchman came and took hold of him - another man then came from the seven or eight that were there, and took hold of me by the throat; he threw me down on my knees, and the prisoner got away from us - I saw nothing more of him till I saw him at the station-house the same morning - I can swear he is the same person; his hat came off in the scuffle. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Where did you take the prisoner? A. Nearly opposite Charterhouse-lane; I never lost sight of him - my father's watch was not found; the prisoner's own watch was found on him; the party was in Northampton-street; we had after that called at a public-house, and taken a glass of cold gin-and-water -I believe it was the Red Lion; we did not go to any other - I was quite sober; he had the watch when I took him by the collar, but the other man coming up I lost all sight of the prisoner - he was one that rushed out of the crowd; he had been with five or six others in Smithfield; he had the watch in his right hand - the Policeman had a watch in his hand when he took the prisoner; I cannot say whether that was the watch I had seen in his hand - my father was not quite sober; he wound up his watch in the Red Lion, and put it into his pocket - he went to the Red Lion on the Wednesday, and I went with him, and I went on the Tuesday after we returned from Hatton-garden - we had been at Mr. Carey's, and left about halfpast twelve o'clock. JOHN WYBROW. I am father to the witness. I think I was the worse for liquor: I never saw my watch after I left the Red Lion, in St. John-street - my son told me that my watch was gone - I felt my fob, and the watch was gone; my son left me, and pursued the prisoner - I attempted to follow him; I received a blow on my nose, and did not recollect any thing more for some minutes. Cross-examined. Q. How many persons were in the public house where you last saw your watch? A. My son and three men; I took out my watch before two of the men; the third, I believe, had left the house - I put it into my fob, and never saw it again; I perfectly recollect what I was about till I received the blow - I went to the public-house to ascertain if they knew the young man, who had stood at the bar and drank some gin-and-water; I wanted to know whether he had gone forward to tell any person that I had a watch - I had been to the same house on Tuesday, and then ascertained that he had staid at the house half an hour after me - I called again on the Wednesday, but I merely went in to have a pint of ale, as I was ill; I was sober when I went there on the night of the robbery. JOSEPH FLETCHER. I am a watchman. I was on duty and heard the cry of Stop thief! I had before that seen several persons on the opposite side of the way, as I was crying half-past one; I went down Smithfield-bars on the right hand side, and came up on the left; I there heard the cry, and saw several persons; I saw the prisoner running; I sprang my rattle, and pursued him; he ran as far as the rents, and a private watchman, of John-street, came and stopped him; he resisted a great deal, and went down on his back - I was surrounded by ten or a dozen, who pushed me down, made an opening and rescued him. I got up, and pursued him, and when I came up, he was in custody of two Policeman - I am certain he is the person - as he ran his arm was swinging out; and I heard something chink on the stones; he had nothing when he was taken. Cross-examined. Q. Did you have the place examined? A. I did not come back for an hour; and if there had been anything, it would have been gone; the prisoner was searched; but nothing but his own property was found on him. WILLIAM DRAPER. I am a watchman. I was coming down Greenhill's-rents; I heard a cry of Stop thief! and stopped the prisoner in the rents; we both fell down, and I was upon him; there came a party, who rescued him from me, and he was taken at the corner of College-court; I never lost sight of him. Cross-examined. Q. What was found on him? A. A watch and half a sovereign. JOHN THOMPSON. I am a watchman. I was crying half-past one o'clock, and when I had passed Smithfieldbars two or three house, I saw a party of men, and the other watchman was coming down - I went on, and cried the hour; I heard a cry of Stop thief! the prosecutor's son then came to me, and said his father had been struck and robbed; I assisted in taking the prisoner; he was rescued from us - I ran to the bottom of the court, where I met the Policemen coming back with him. THOMAS DAVEY. I am a Policeman. I saw the prisoner about half-past one o'clock, in Cow-cross; I was in Greenhill's-rents; I heard a rattle, and ran out; I saw a number of persons running down the steps; I threw myself up, and caught a man, without a hat - Draper said,"That is not him:" I then ran on, and saw the prisoner; I overtook him, and conveyed him to the station - I found a half-sovereign and a watch on him. COURT. Q. What became of the man that you seized on the steps? A. I let him go - he was going in the direction in which I heard the rattle. WILLIAM DRAPER. We were all running down the steps; Davey trod on my coat, and we all fell down - he caught hold of a man who was not the prisoner; I said,"That is not the man, he is gone on." Cross-examined. Q. Who was the man that had his hat off? A. He was one of the party; his hat had fallen off, but the prisoner threw his hat away - I did not know that man, but I had known the prisoner for a long time, and I knew he was the man I had taken hold of. Prisoner's Defence. There was no one near me but the two Policemen; the others were not near me for some yards. GUILTY. Aged 26. - Transported for Life." (see oldbaileyonline.org) --00--