George Wright

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 29th July 2025

Place of origin: Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire 1877 - Inquests Age: 72. Ship to colony: Governor Ready Remarks: Conditional Pardon Date of death: 22 Apr 1877. Date of inquest: 24 Apr 1877 Verdict: Heart disease

341

Maureen Withey on 8th January 2023

ESSEX SUMMER ASSIZES. George Wright, Mary Wright, Thomas Wright and Naomi Wright, were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Joseph Morris, on the night the 11th of April last, at Langley, in this county, the borders of Hertfordshiie, and stealing therein various articles of various apparel, and a quantity of gold and silver coin, exceeding the value of 501. his property. It appeared in evidence that the prosecutor, a decrepit old man, eighty years of age, lived in a cottage in the parish of Langley. The savings of his life as day labourer, amounting to upwards of £50, consisting of guineas, sovereigns, crowns, half-crowns, and other silver monies, were deposited in a hutch in his sleeping room. In the middle of the night of the 11th of April, he was disturbed in his slumbers by a man coming to his bedside, and in a gruff voice demanding his money. He replied that he had none, and attempted to get out of bed ; but the man pushed him down, and got upon him in the bed, and held him down. The man then got hold of the old man's breeches, and putting his hand into the pockets, gave the key of the hutch to another man, who did not speak, and who proceeded effect the alleged robbery. After securing their plunder, the men escaped by the back door. The prosecutor lay covered up with the bed-clothes for some time ; and finding that there was no fear of personal danger, gave the alarm to his daughter and son-in-law, who lived in the adjoining cottage. It was then ascertained that a hole had been made in the lath-and-plaster wall of the cottage, close to the front door, large enough to admit a person ; that the hutch had been rifled of all the money, and a considerable quantity wearing apparel carried off. The case to implicate the prisoners was this:—The prisoner, Mary Wright, whose maiden name was Briggs, was the grand daughter of the prosecutor, and had married the prisoner George Wright. She was well acquainted with the prosecutor’s house, and knew that he was possessed of money. The other prisoners were brothers and sister. All the prisoners lived in the parish of Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire. about three miles from the prosecutor's house. It was proved, that just previous to the robbery the prisoners were very distressed, and destitute of money ; next day they were proved to be respectively possessed of guineas, sovereigns, and silver money, corresponding with the money which the prosecutor had lost. In the cottage of George Wright were found 14 guineas. Other suspicious circumstances were relied upon to establish the alleged criminality.—The prisoners denied their guilt. An attempt was made to set an an alibi, which, however, failed. The Learned Judge summed up the evidence with great minuteness, and the Jury acquitted Mary Wright, on the ground that she must be presumed to have acted under the control of her husband; and they found the other prisoners Guilty. Mr. Baron Graham passed the awful sentence of the law upon the convicted prisoners, and held out no hopes of mercy to the male prisoners. Kentish Weekly Post, 18 July 1826. ------------------------------------------------------ His brother Thomas was transported on the same ship. His sister Naomi was transported to NSW on the ship Harmony, arriving in 1827.