William Ward

Level 135

C H on 8th March 2024

Old Bailey Online WILLIAM WARD. Theft; grand larceny (to 1827). 4th December 1816. Text type Trial account Defendants WILLIAM WARD Offences Theft > Grand larceny Session Date 4th December 1816 Reference Number t18161204-68 Verdicts Guilty Punishments Transportation 72. WILLIAM WARD , was indicted for stealing one shawl, value 4s. , the property of Charles Brooks . CHARLES BROOKS. I live in Duke-street, Manchester-square ; I lost a shawl I on the 15th of November; it was hanging up within the door-way; I had seen it safe about an hour before. ROBERT JAMES . I saw the prisoner take the shawl from Mr. Brook's door, and run off with it; he had another man with him; he ran towards me; I saw him with the shawl in his hand; he got from me; his companion knocked me down; I pursued him, and took him again; I am sure he is the man; I gave him in charge to the watchman; he had made away with the shawl before I took him the second time. Prisoner's Defence. I heard a ery of stop thief! I saw the thief knock the man down; he got up, and said I was the thief. GUILTY . Aged 17. Transported for Seven Years .

Level 1

John Hogg on 21st February 2012

William Wards wife Catharine Mitchell had a half sister Mary Mitchell alias Mary Green living in Sydney this Mary drowned 11-12-1862 in Darling Harbour- Mary Mitchell was born 1-10-1801 at Alloa Clackmannanshire Scotland to John Mitchell and Isobel Millar Isobel died and John Mitchell married second 1807 Catharine MacGregor Catharine Mitchell was their child born 1817 at Alloa - Mary Green had two children in Sydney to Hugh Green Mariner a Mary Ann Green born 1849 and Matilda Green born 1851 - Mary Mitchell alias Mary Ann French alias convict Tasmania unknown ? alias Mary Green - was Catharine Mitchell aware of her sister Mary Green as Mary Green mentioned to go to her sister at Brisbane Waters in March 1859 when discharged from the Benevolent Asylum - John Hogg Bli. Bli. Queensland

William Ward was 17 years old and a London Chimney Sweep when he was convicted of theft in the Old Bailey in 1816. Sentenced to transportation for seven years, he was transported on the Almorah, arriving in Sydney at the end of August 1817. With many other Convicts from the Almorah, he was immediately transferred to another Convict ship named 'Pilot' for the final leg of the journey to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania). They arrived in Hobart in early October 1817. William served most of his sentence in Port Dalrymple (now Launceston) and George Town. He faced discipline on a number of occasions, and suffered under the lash more than once. On his release in 1824, he made his way to Brisbane Water, north of Sydney, where he worked cutting trees for timber and shingles. He seems to have been an enterprising man and he was soon working for himself as a timber merchant and employing other people to do the hard work. In 1837 he married Catherine Mitchell, a young Convict woman from Scotland. The couple prospered on what is now the Central Coast of New South Wales, raising a family of nine children. William became a mariner and ship owner, while carrying on the timber business, while Catherine ran a general store. William died in 1876 but Catherine lived for another 20 years. Many of their children became involved in ship-building, either directly or through marriage. Their son Manasseh became a prominent citizen in the district, including becoming the first President of the Erina Shire (now Gosford). William and Catherine were hard working pioneers who prospered despite their Convict experience. There are many hundreds of descendents of this enterprising couple in Australia today.