William Wilson

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 3rd February 2025

BURGLARY AND ROBBERY William Wilson, and Edward and John Carroll, (brothers,) were indicted for that they, the night of the 17th July last, burglariously broke into the dwelling-bouse of John Waters, and took thereout sterling, and quantity of wearing apparel. John Waters, examined by Mr. Schoales—Had gone bed on the night in question, and was awoke from by a noise in the kitchen; lay in a room off the kitchen, into which three men came, one had a pistol, another a sword, and a third, a candle ;   Wilson, the prisoner, had the pistol; pointed it at witness, and swore would blow the contents of it into him if he stirred; witness caught the pistol, and would have wrested it from him but that John Carroll struck him with the sword, Edward Carroll then went the chest and took out of it eleven sovereigns and £2 in notes, he also took from the house a coat, hat, pair of shoes, a handkerchief, &c. Edward had a handkerchief tied round his jaws, as if to disguise himself; they had broken a window,  through which they got into the house, and on going away they demanded and look the key of of the door. This witness was cross examined at great length by Mr. Shiel, but nothing material was elicited from him said they knew had money, as he had been bargaining with Edward for farm of land; they tied witness and his wife in the bed before they left the house; did not swear examinations against any of them until he ; had not known Wilson, or John Carroll, before the robbery, but was positive of them the moment he saw them afterwards; swears  positively the prisoners were the three men who robbed him. Anne Waters,  (the wife of last witness,) examined Mr. J, Boyd, corroborated her husband in every part of his testimony; she fully identified the prisoners, and added to what had been deposed, that she got out bed, and ran to the to the door, when these inside immediately called to others outside stop her, and when she got to the door she was driven back by persons who were stationed outside ; she produced the cords with which both herself and her husband had been tied.  She was also cross-examined at length, nothing to affect her testimony, or that of her husband elicited. William serjeant police, made the two Carrolls prisoners in their own houses, and when he brought them before Waters and his wife, they both identified them as having been two of the three who committed the robbery; the wife called out, the moment she saw them—“The rascals, that’s them.”’ For the defence—John and Nathaniel Maynes, Esqrs gave the Carrolls extremely good characters. The Judge, in charging the Jury, recapitulated the evidence at length, and in a few minutes they returned a verdict, finding all three guilty. The Judge expressed his sorrow   at seeing such respectable men found guilty of such an offence, and said, that he approved of the finding, for the evidence was strong Londonderry Sentinel, 6 Aug 1831. County of Tyrone assizes. Wm. Wilson and Edward and John Carroll (brothers), for a burglary in the dwelling-house of John Waters, on 17th July last. —Guilty, sentence of death recorded.  Newry Telegraph, 12 Aug 1831.

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 3rd February 2025

Absconded. William Wilson, No. 32-1364, City of Edinburgh, 22, Ploughs, Reaps, and Sows, County of Tyrone, 5 feet 8½, bluish eyes, brown hair, fair ruddy comp. from Mr. Archibald Bell. NSW Govt. Gazette, 26 Dec 1832.

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 2nd February 2025

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. William Wilson, age on arrival, 22, per City of Edinburgh (2) 1832. Tried 1831, at Tyrone, Life for Burglary. DOB, 1810, native place, Tyrone Co. Single. Catholic. Ploughman reaper, sower.