James Wood

Second offence. First offence stole a Boa from a pub. Second offence stole pair of shoes.

Birth date given on Fremantle Prison database was 1828 but records on Ancestry state 1831. James Wood was 25 years old on arrival in WA. Tried on 13/4/1849, so had spent some years in gaol. He was single, 5'3 1/2" tall, black hair, black eyes, round face, dark complexion, stout build. 1/5/1853: TOL 1854: Married Mary Ann O'Brien - children: James 1856, Grace 1860, Mary 1861, Margaret Grace 1865, John Thomas 1866. The village of Toodyay was established in 1836 and in 1864 George Hasell constructed a single storey building here for James Thomas Woods. Woods ran a store on the site and obtained a storekeeper's gallon licence. In 1875 Woods added eight rooms to the store and from 1880 provided a venue for dances in the "long room". In 1882 Woods applied for a Billiard and Bagatelle License and in 1888 he converted the store into a licensed premises, which he called the Victoria Hotel. He also acted as a banker, as there were no other banking services available in town. In 1892 Charles Corpaccioli leased the Victoria Hotel from J.T. Woods for a yearly rental of £100. 9/9/1903: James died and was buried at the Toodyay Cemetery. 3/10/1903 The W.A. Record, Perth: DEATH, OF your Charity Pray for the Repose of the Soul of James Thomas Wood, dearly beloved husband of M. A. Wood, who died at his home, Newcastle, on September 9, 1903, aged 73 years— R.I.P.