William Wouldhave WI107 - Convict

William Wouldhave

Baptised December 23rd 1821 in Barnard Castle. Father John, dier, and mother Margaret

In the 1841 census William is living with his parents and siblings in At Andrew Auckland. His occupation is given as a Coal Miner

Conviction and trial

Newcastle Courant Friday October 20th 18hearlings. 43 Durham Michaelmas Sessions Tuesday October 17th Civil Side William Wouldhave (20) William Williamson (20) and Mary Liddell (17) severally charged with having at the parish of St Andrew Auckland, on 29th September last, feloniously stolen a sheep, the property of James Robson; Mary Liddell was charged on a second count with feloniously receiving the same. Mr Wilkinson stated the case and called William Dawson, servant to Mr Robson and hind on Berkely Farm. Saw sheep about eight o’clock in the morning, there were then 21. On the Saturday there were only 18. The skin of one of them, a Cheviot shearling, was found in the hedge. Superintendent Ingo: From the information I received I went to Mary Liddell’s house. She said the house was her own. I cannot say that the other prisoners lived with her. Found the fore quarter of a sheep under a washing tub. Wouldhave said he had seen a man carrying a sheep towards Bishop Auckland. I found a small mallet and knife in the house. Cross-examined by Mr Granger – he said that Williamson lived at Mary Liddell’s house. John Barry, a policeman – I went to Mary Liddell’s house with Ingo and searched both the prisoners and found 2s 9d on Wouldhave and a knife on each marked with blood. Afterwards I searched the field and found four feet which had been thrown over the hedge. Another policeman also deposed to his finding the head and part of a sheep. Christopher Bellerby, a butcher at Bishop Auckland – I examined the feet and head and found them correspond with the adjoining parts of the mutton found at the prisoners. The meat was not regularly cut up: it had not been done by a butcher. It appeared to have been slaughtered 10 or 14 hours. Cross-examined by Mr Granger – The neck had been severed off; it was all rough and the flesh had been torn from the bone. Matthew fell, another butcher, agreed with the last witness; was confident it was recently dead. The sheep was a shearling. John Wilson said he saw Wouldhave and Williamson near Newton cap Bridge on 29th September; they were proceeding on the road to Berkely farm. Thomas Story, a policeman in charge of the station house at Bishop Auckland said that whilst the prisoners were in custody Williamson said that he had bought the sheep on the Sunday off the man who married Phillis Peacock. John Sisson said he had never sold any sheep or mutton to Williamson. Mr Granger addressed the jury for the prisoners and the Chariman having summed up the jury acquitted Mary Liddell and found Wouldhave and Williamson guilty, sentencing Wouldhave to be transported for 15 years and Williamson for 10 years.

Convicted 16th October 1843 at Durham Court
Transported 25 Jan 1844.
Ship Equestrian Arrived 2 May 1844.
Located in Tasmania in convicts musters Convict no 78674.
Sheep Stealing at Bishop Auckland.
Father John, mother Mary, Brothers Thomas, John, Robert; Sisters Margaret, Mary A and Jane.

Sources:

Australian Convict Transportation Registers 1791-1868 Convict musters, New South Wales and Tasmania