George Wilson

343

Maureen Withey on 12th November 2025

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 14 October 2023), April 1817, trial of WILLIAM DRACAS GEORGE WILSON (t18170416-41). WILLIAM DRACAS, GEORGE WILSON, Theft > pocketpicking, 16th April 1817. 578. WILLIAM DRACAS and GEORGE WILSON were indicted for stealing, on the 25th of March , one pocket handkerchief, value 2s., the property of Henry Pater , from his person . MR. HENRY PATER. I am a merchant , and live in Lombard-street. On the 25th of March, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, as I was going up Holborn-hill , some person called me, and I missed my handkerchief from my right-hand coat-pocket; I turned round, and he produced the handkerchief, which I knew to be mine. WILLIAM SMITH . I live in Coppice-row. On the 25th of March, I was with Mr. Thompson, coming down Holborn-hill, and observed the two prisoners following a gentleman, and attempting his pocket. They kept close to him, till he got to the Swan Inn, Holborn-bridge; they stopped at the corner of the inn gate for ten minutes - They then came back again, and followed Mr. Pater; Wilson attempted Mr. Pater's pocket - They were both together - We followed them to the corner of Field-lane, and then Dracas took a handkerchief out of Mr. Pater's right-hand coat-pocket. We then collared them. Wilson said,"Dracas have you got it." On turning round, I saw the handkerchief in Dracas's right hand. We had followed them for a quarter of an hour. THOMAS THOMPSON . I am a constable. On the 25th of March, I was coming down Holborn-hill, and saw the two prisoners following a gentleman, who was going towards Cheapside. They attempted his pocket, and followed him to the Swan-inn gateway - They stood there a few minutes, and Mr. Pater came by; they immediately followed him. Wilson first attempted his pocket. Just before they got to Field-lane there was a crowd-Wilson left the pocket, Dracas slipped in, and Wilson closed in to hide him. I saw his arms move - I collared him, and told Mr. Pater he had lost his handkerchief. He said, "if it is mine, I have the fellow one in my pocket." He produced one, which exactly matched it. MR. PATER. I had two handkerchiefs in my pocket - I missed one. DRACAS'S Defence. I picked it up. WILSON'S Defence. The officer said, if I would say I saw Dracas take it, he would let me go. THOMAS THOMPSON . I said nothing of the kind. DRACAS - GUILTY . Aged 28. WILSON - GUILTY . Aged 17. Transported for Life . London Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hulk Record HO-9-7_5 page 3/42 Bellerophon Received twenty Five prisoners from Newgate, 5 May 1817. George Wilson, age 17, Felony, Tried London 16 April 1817, Life, Disch’d 4 July 1817, Larkin. NSW.

343

Maureen Withey on 15th October 2023

Source: Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. George Wilson, age 17, per Larkins (1) 1817, Tried London Gaol Delivery, England, 1817, Life. DOB 1800, Native place, Cork Co. Trade, Plasterer whitewasher wicker maker. Spouse: m. 1841 Sydney, to Constantia Bennett. Died 1866 at Newtown.

343

Maureen Withey on 6th May 2023

Colonial Secretary Index. WILSON, George. Per "Larkins", 1817 1820 Jan 20 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3501 p.197) 1821 Nov On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 p.137) 1823 Sep 22-Oct 15 Sentenced to death commuted to transportation to Port Macquarie. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.111) 1823 Oct 30 Re warrant for his execution (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.490) 1823 Nov 1 Sentence of death; reprieved (Reel 6070; 4/1265 p.40) 1823 Nov 3 Convicted of the robbery of Benjamin and Sarah Jameson. Petition of the Jameson's for mitigation of his death sentence (Fiche 3237; 4/1870 p.101) 1823 Nov 5 Sentenced to death (Reel 6057; 4/1766 pp.64-64a) 1823 Nov 5-6 Re respite of his sentence (Reel 6011; 4/3509 pp.518, 532) 1823 Nov 6 Execution respited (Reel 6057; 4/1767 p.131) 1823 Nov 10 Re withholding of execution (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.542) 1823 Nov 10 Tried in Sydney. Sentence commuted to transportation (Reel 6070; 4/1265 p.11) 1823 Nov 12 Capital sentence commuted; to be transported to Port Macquarie. Notification of commutation (Reel 6069; 4/1817 p.28) 1823 Nov 26 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally"; not conveyed per "Sally" but per "Lady Nelson" on 17 Dec 1823 (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.92, 452-3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Duggan, George Wilson and William Hennessy, were indicted for robbing the house of Benjamin Jamison, at Prospect, and putting the inmates in bodily fear, and Patrick Maddock and John Cambridge, for feloniously receiving the property. All Guilty.—Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 9 Oct 1823.. Criminal Court. WEDNESDAY.—This forenoon all the prisoners who had been convicted and remanded during the sessions, were now brought up for the judgement of the Court. DEATH.— ... Patrick McCourt, Bernard Duffey, Thomas Hall, Edward Harnett, Michael Duggan, George Wilson and William Hennessey. SEVEN YEARS.—... John Cambridge, Patrick Maddock, and ... The Sessions have terminated. Sydney Gazette, 16 Oct 1823. --------------------------------------------------------------------- List of 33 prisoners transported to Port Macquarie on board Sally , dated 26 Nov 1823, Sydney. They did not proceed per Sally, but were forwarded per ship Lady Nelson, 17 Dec 1823. George Wilson, tried Crim Court, Sydney, Oct & Nov 1823, Life sentence in double irons. Trade, Labourer. Per Larkins. Original conviction: at London, 16 Apr 1817, Life.