George Woodhead

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Maureen Withey on 18th December 2022

Victoria BMD registrations : Death Registration No 3882/1888. George Woodhead, Mother’s name, Elizabeth, mother’s name at birth, Radley; Father’s name, George. Place of death, South Yarra, Spouse at death, Phoebe Stewart, age at death, 60, year of death, 1888. Phoebe Woodhead, No 10727/1917. mother’s name at birth, unknown; Father’s family name, Stewart. Place of death, Millaura, age at death, 91, in 1917.

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Maureen Withey on 18th December 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 18 December 2022), June 1859, trial of GEORGE WOODHEAD (32) (t18590613-604). GEORGE WOODHEAD, Theft > burglary, 13th June 1859. 604. GEORGE WOODHEAD (32) , Burglary in the dwelling-house of Paul Puzey, and stealing 1 pint and a-half of rum, value 1s.; 1 quartern of peppermint, value 6d.; 2 bottles, value 2d.; 9 cakes, value 4d.; and 1l. 19s. 6d. in money, his property. MR. PLATT conducted the Prosecution. PAUL PUZEY . I keep the Island Queen public-house in Hanover-street, Islington—it is my dwelling-house, and in the parish of St. Mary, Islington—on 14th May I went to bed about half-past 12 o'clock at night—before I went to bed I secured the house—the door that leads into the bar was bolted—the kitchen window was closed—I can't say whether it was fastened—the house was closed as usual—about 3 o'clock I was disturbed by a noise on the stairs—I got up and went down to the bar—I found the prisoner there—he was the police constable on duty—he said to me, "I have found your place open as usual"—I had been called up by the prisoner twice previously, and found the place open—I said the place was secure when I went to bed—just at the time I got to the bottom of the stairs the police sergeant was passing, and he asked the prisoner how he came in there—he said he came in by the kitchen window—he said, at first, that he found the side door open, and after that he said he came in by the kitchen window—I am sure that door was bolted when I went to bed, I bolted it myself, and the window was shut down close—when I found the prisoner in the bar the window was open sufficiently to allow a person to get in—that kitchen window opens into a yard, and that yard communicates with the street by a gate—by going through the gate you could get to the kitchen window; and that gate is only fastened by a string—the sergeant desired me to look round, and I missed from a cupboard 1l. 1s. 6d. in silver, and about 18s. in copper; and from the till I missed a few coppers, and 1s. 6d. in silver—these two bottles (looking at them) are mine—I can swear to them—they have my name on them—when I went to bed I left them in the bar empty; now one of them has rum and the other peppermint in it—I had rum and peppermint in my possession, and they were near where these bottles were—I had some cakes, similar to those which are now produced—I saw all these things taken from the prisoner—these bottles were in his coat pocket—this money was in his trowsers pockets and his coat pocket—these cakes were in his hat—there is a dust-hole outside my house—when the prisoner was taken he passed by the dust-hole, and had an opportunity of putting anything into that dust-hole—I afterwards found 5s. 2d. in copper there. Cross-examined by MR. BEST. Q. Were these coppers loose in the dust-hole? A. Yes; all loose—I am married—I keep three servants—I was up last that night—my wife and servants went to bed before me—I went round the house that night, and examined everything—I saw the kitchen window was shut—I did not examine whether it was bolted—the noise that I heard on the stairs was the knocking of the prisoner's staff. WILLIAM ROBINSON (Police Sergeant, 50 N). About 3 o'clock in the morning, on 14th May, I was on duty in Hanover-street—I heard a noise in the bar of the Island Queen—after waiting a short time, I tried the side door—I found it was closed; but when I tried it, it opened, and I walked in—I found the prisoner there and the landlord—the prisoner was the constable on the beat—he was addressing the landlord, and saying, "I found your place open as usual"—I asked the prisoner how he came there—he said, "I entered by the kitchen window, which I found wide open"—I said to him, "You had no right to enter; you should have knocked on the outside"—I went down stairs to see in what state the back kitchen window was, and it was open wide enough for a person to get in—I told Mr. Puzey to examine his premises, to see if he missed anything—he said he missed 1l. 1s. 6d. in silver, and 18s. in copper, which were in three pint pots, and two of the pots were empty, and the third was nearly so—I said, "This seems a singular affair"—the landlord said he believed no one had been there but the policeman—the prisoner went out at the side door while I and the landlord were talking; and I opened the door and called the prisoner in—the dust-hole is a quantity of rubbish, which lies near the side door—I afterwards found in that dust-hole 5s. 2d. in coppers—I desired the prisoner to come to the station, and when there I asked him what money he had about him—he said about 30s. in silver and copper—I told him to put it on the table; and he took from his trowsers pockets 1l. 1s. 6d. in silver, and 4s. 9d. in copper—I asked if that was all he had got—he said yes—I said, "I shall search you"—he then said, "I have got some more;" and he took from the breast pocket of his coat these two bottles, which contained rum and peppermint, and 11s. 4d. in coppers—I then took his hat off, and found in it these nine cakes. Cross-examined. Q. When you got in, you told the prisoner he had no business there? A. Yes—there were no marks of violence on the side-door. GUILTY .— Ten Year's Penal Servitude.

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David Trim on 16th December 2022

George and Phoebe Woodhead are my great great grandparents. Would like to know more about them. David Trim (Toorak. Vic.)

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David Trim on 16th December 2022

George & Phoebe Woodhead are my great great grandparents! Would love to know more about them and their life.

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Claire Dawson on 11th January 2021

George’s wife Phoebe and children Emma, Ellen, George, Thomas and Alice arrived two years later in 1863 on the Strathmore. The family grew whilst living in WA with the addition of 4 more children. In 1877 the family left WA and ventured to SA, leaving behind the daughters Ellen and Emma. At some stage part of the family moved onto Victoria. George passing away in 1888 and Phoebe in 1917. George