Robert Wilson & Companions

Background

Robert Wilson was baptised in 1802 in Garvestone, being the second child of John and Susan Wilson. All eight of their children were baptised in Garvestone. John Wilson’s occupation is recorded on the first child’s baptism as “Labourer”.
Robert seems to have come to Deopham around 1821 and spent five years working and living on a couple of farms. There is nothing to suggest that his parents were directly involved with Deopham, especially since both John and Susan were buried in Garvestone in 1846.
The name of Robert Wilson has taken precedence on this page on account of the fact that there is more Deopham oriented material about him. The outcome for all the families involved is equally sad.

The crime and its detection

The following account of the theft from the shop of Samuel Gooch and the means by which the thieves were discovered appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette of December 23^rd 1826. Key items in the downfall of these crooks were pairs of “highlows” – these were a type of leather boot.

Committed for trial 23/12/1826

The “Norwich Gaol Calendar of Trials At Assizes and Quarter Sessions” records that:

William Everett, aged 23, Samuel Everett, aged 44, Robert Wilson, aged 22, William Baker, aged 24, and Robert Poll, aged 27:
All (except Robert Poll) committed December 23, 1826, by R. Plumptree. Esq. and the said Robert Poll committed January 22, 1827, by Benjamin Kittmer, Esq. charged on the oath of Samuel Gooch, of Deopham, shopkeeper, with having, in the night of 24th of November last, or early the following morning, burglariously broken into his shop, and stolen thereout a roll of sheeting, five shillings in halfpence, and other goods.

Trial verdicts 24/3/1827

A sentence of death was passed on four of these convicts.

Sentencing 6/4/1827

The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal of April 6^th 1827, under the heading Norfolk Assizes, reported the following:

Death Penalties for Felony reported 7/4/1827

The Norfolk Chronicle of April 7^th 1827 reported death sentences as below. This would appear to be in error since the report above dated April 6^th is consistent with the appeals against deportation which followed.

William Everitt [sic], aged 23, Samuel Everett, aged 44, Robert Wilson, aged 22, William Barker 24, and Robert Poll, aged 27, were severally capitally charged with having broken into the shop of Sam^l. Gooch of Deopham, general shopkeeper, and stolen thereout various articles consisting of sheeting, clothes, and other things, on the 24th Nov. last.
The charge was clearly brought home to all except Poll, who in consequence was acquitted, and the rest found guilty, and judgement of Death recorded against them.

It appears that Poll was acquitted on a technicality to do with his confession – see further in the full newspaper article. Several others convicted of theft at the same assizes were likewise sentenced to death.
There then followed a number of petitions from residents of Deopham asking for clemency – including Sam Gooch whose shop was robbed. These are copied below (I have tabulated the signatories for clarity and ease of search).

Petition 1 22/5/1827

To the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Home Department &c &c &c

The humble petition of John and Susan Wilson Most humbly Sheweth that your Petitioners’ Son was tried at the Lent Assizes held at Thetford in the month of March 1827 before Mr Justice Gazelee and being found guilty of Shop Lifting was sentenced to be transported as a Felon for life. The prisoner Robert Wilson it would appear had never been guilty of a crime before that ever brought him into disgrace & under all the circumstances attending the case your petitioners most sincerely hope and trust you may be pleased to lay the same before the King’s most Excellent Majesty and at the same time recommend that the sentence passed on Robert Wilson may be mitigated, and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Deopham
22^nd May 1827

Name	Title	Comment
R.M. Cremer	Curate of Deopham
R Curson	Churchwarden
William Knights
Garreth Taylor
Richard Breese		He was a good servant honest and Industrious while in my service
Daniel Smith	Parishioner
Sam Gooch [The man from whom Robert Wilson stole goods.]	Prosecutor	Wish that the Prisoner’s time may be mitigated so that he may not be sent beyond the seas.

Sailed for Tasmania 17/8/1827

Wilson, Baker and Everett sailed from Portsmouth on the 523¹ ton ship “Asia V” (which had been built in Calcutta in 1814 for the East India Company), spent 112 days at sea, arriving in Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania, on 7/12/1827.

Petition 2 12/10/1827

To the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Home Department
The humble petition of John & Susan Wilson most humbly sheweth that your petitioners’ Son Robert Wilson was at the Lent Assizes held at Thetford in March 1827 before Mr Justice Gazeele tried for burglary, convicted & sentenced to be transported for life –
Now we your humble petitioner do sincerely pray that the hard but just sentence of the law may be mitigated, & that after a short interval he may be allowed to return to his native country.
We do the more earnestly pray that these our prayers may be heard when we know this to have been the first offence of a serious nature against the laws of his land & that through the instigation of bad company he was seduced from the path of rectitude & justice.
And we do moreover hope, should you be pleased to give it the trial, that, in consideration of his youth, his personal good conduct, previous to this late sad affair & an entire separation from his vicious companions he will see the fatal tendency of his crime, repent & become a good member of society.
That this our petition may be heard we the humble subjects of his Majesty will ever pray &c &c.
We the minister & principal inhabitants of the parish of Deopham in the County of Norfolk to willingly subscribe our names in order to forward the views of the petitioners:-

Name	Title	Comments
R.M. Cremer	Minister
Garrett Taylor	Freeholder
John Phoenix	Freeholder
Andrew Lane	Freeholder
John Dobbs	Freeholder
Richard Brees	Farmer	Have to say he lived with me 3 years and can say the best servant I ever had and always had the character for honesty.
James Bublen?	Freeholder
Daniel Smith	Freeholder
William Jolly	Freeholder
Arron Lane	Freeholder
John Bronton	Freeholder
Henry Clark	Freeholder
William Jessop	Freeholder
Jack Cunningham	Freeholder
George Hubard	Freeholder
Robert Curson	Churchwarden of Deopham & a Freeholder	This is to certify that the said Rob^t Wilson has wrought for me as a labourer & I never had any Reason to suspect him as a dishonest Man but very obliging young man. Signed this 12th Day of Oct 1827
John Curson	Farmer
Samuel Gooch [The man from whom Robert Wilson stole goods.]	Prosecutor	I Samuel Gooch Prosecutor do subscribe willingly to the above petition in order to forward the views of the Petitioners.

Petition 3 7/3/1828

To the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the humble petition of John and Susan Wilson most humbly Sheweth that your petitioners’ son Robert Wilson was at the Lent Assizes held at Thetford in March 1827 Before Mr Justice Gazelee tried and being found guilty of Felony was sentenced to be transported as a Felon for Life. Although your petitioners acknowledge the justice of the Sentence they beg to state that their son Robert Wilson was never known to do anything of theft before, but getting into bad Company & Lodging at a person house by the name of Sam^l Everett one of the gang with two more bad characters. They were found Guilty and Transported for Life, your petitioners are induced to hope Mercy may be extended towards their Son as he is only a youth about 21 years of age & held a good character till that unfortunate time &c &c.
And we that have joined in this petition being all Freeholders, Farmers Tradesmen & in the parish of Deopham having all of us had Knowledge of the said Rob^t Wilson and that his Character stood Clear till that unfortunate circumstance happened to him. We do all beg and pray that you will be so Kind as to Condescend to listen to the prayers of your very humble Servants , his Most Gracious Majesty’s Loyal Subjects &c.
Hereto annexed 1828 March 7^th Names of your most Humble petitioners from the parish of Deopham in the County of Norfolk with the prayers of John & Susan Wilson, Father & Mother of the unfortunate Rob^t Wilson their son all most Humbly Emploring Mercy in his favour.

Name	Title	Comment
Robert Curson	Churchwarden and Freeholder
Rich Brees	Farmer	The said Rob^t Wilson lived with me two years & a very Obliging & very Honest. I never heard any Thing of Dishonesty till he got in company with them bad characters.
Samuel Gooch	Prosecutor
Watts Haythorp	Carpenter
G. O. Taylor	Overseer Freeholder
Danil Smith	Freeholder
William Jolly	Fredholder
Aron Lane	Freeholder
John Dobbs	Freeholder
?Joe Eason	Freeholder
Andrew Lane	Freeholder	Have to say he lived with us 2 years and tidy honest man and the Name for such
William Lock	Farmer
William Liddelow	Farmer
Henry Clarke	Freeholder
Tho^s Matthews	Farmer
John Phoenix	Freeholder
John Brunton	Freeholder
Arch Bales	Freeholder
William Jessop	Freeholder
George Hubard	Builder [?] & Freeholder
David Badcock	Freeholder

Death of Robert Wilson

The death of Robert Wilson is recorded in Hobart Hospital, Tasmania on 25/3/1828

Outcome 29/5/1828

The following tag is attached to the above petitions reflecting the outcome:

Robert Wilson
Norfolk Lent Assizes 1827
Burglary
Sentence Commuted
Transⁿ for Life
Char^r f^m Gaol – Bad

29 May
refused

Petition 4 1828

After the above three petitions had failed, a further attem p t was made, even though by this time Robert Wilson had died on the other side of the world.

To the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The humble petition of John & Susan Wilson most humble sheweth that your petitioners son Rob^t Wilson was at the Lent assizes held at Thetford in Norfolk March 1827 before Mr Justice Gazelee tried & being found guilty of Felony & was sentenced to be transported as a felon for Life. Although your petitioners acknowledge the justice of the sentence they beg to state that he was never known to do any such thing before but getting into Company with three notorious bad characters was brought to this unfortunate Circumstance. They are induced to hope that Mercy may be extended to the said Rob^t Wilson their Son, as he is only about 22 years of Age, & he has lived with several farmers at Deopham in the county of Norfolk where the said robbery was Committed & have subscribed their Names as in Duty bound will ever pray & we that have joined our names in this petition being all Freeholders, farmers tradesmen &c in the said parish of Deopham having all of us had knowledge of the said Rob^t Wilson & that he has been a very Industrious young man until he met with Violent Temptation. We do all beg & pray that you will be so kind as to consider to listen to the prayers of your very Humble Servants.
His Most Gracious Majesty
Loyal Subjects
Hereto Anexed

Name	Title	Comments
R.M. Cremer	Curate of Deopham
Samuel Gooch [The man from whom Robert Wilson stole goods.]	Prosecutor
G.O. Taylor	Churchwarden & Freeholder
R. Curson	Churchwarden & Freeholder
Dan^l Smith	Freeholder
Tho^s Matthews	Freeholder
W^m Knights	Freeholder
James Brunton	Freeholder	his Mark X
John Brunton	Freeholder	his Mark X
Rich^d Breeze	Farmer	This is to certify that the said R. Wilson lived with me as Servent Two years & behaved himself in a Very Quiet Steady Manner as Witness my hand.
Edward Badcock	Freeholder
W^m Jesop	Freeholder
Henry Clarke	Freeholder
Rob^rt Knights	Freeholder
Taylor Phenix	Freeholder
John Phenix	Freeholder	his Mark X
Rowing Brasnett	Freeholder
Archibald Rowing	Freeholder
Andrew Lane	Freeholder
W^m Jolly	Freeholder
W^m Ludlow	Farmer
William Lock	Farmer
Honour Franklin		Robert Wilson lodged at my house 3 years behaved himself Honest upright man
John Dobbs	Freeholder
W^a Haythorp	Carpenter	[W^a = Watts]

A note added to the petition by its recipients reads “Robert Wilson, New South Wales”, although in fact he was sent to Tasmania.

This petition was forwarded on October 31^st 1828 to the Right Honourable Robert Peel (the Secretary of State for the Home Department, later to become Prime Minister). Whilst a note at the side of the covering letter from Mr Wodehouse to Robert Peele says “Ans^d 5 Nov^r“, it is not recorded what was in that answer. It was in any case too late to make any difference.

Summary

Name:	William Everett	Samuel Everett	Robert Wilson	William Baker	Robert Poll
Age:	22	44	22	24	27
Place Born:	Deopham	Shropham	Garvestone	Deopham	Deopham
Sentence:	Death	Death	Death	Death	Acquitted
Actual sentence:	?Imprisonment	Transportation	Transportation	Transportation	–
Previous Convictions:		Stealing wood from hedgerows		Deserted from Coldstream Guards	–
Last job before deportation:		I worked last for W^m Jolly, Farmer. at N.P	I worked last for Mr Lock	I worked last for Mr Castle of Attleburgh	–
Trade:		Labourer	Ploughman can Milk Cows 15 in 3 hours	Farmer’s Labourer and ploughman; can milk.	–
Status:	Single	Married 7 children		Married	–
Height:	–	5ft 3¾in	5ft 1½in	5ft 9¼in	–
Distinguishing features:	–		Little finger left hand crippled FW inside rt arm	Scar at side of upper jaw	–
Where detained pending deportation:	–	Hulk “Leviathan” moored in Portsmouth, arriving 2/5/1827		Hulk “Leviathan” moored in Portsmouth, arriving 2/5/1827	–
Prisoner No:	–	197	811	1011	–
Pardons:	–	Conditional: 14/4/1840 Free: 6/4/1843	–	–	–
Died:	11/1/1828	7/8/1843	25/3/1828	24/6/1838
Place of Death:	?? Swaffham Gaol	Launceston Infirmary, Launceston Tasmania	Hobart Hospital Tasmania	Launceston Tasmania

Notes

Charles Bateson, The Convict Ships, (1983) Pg 350

See here for another example of harsh justice related to Deopham.

Date	Change
17/3/24	6/4/1827 report
10/3/24	23/12/1826 account of the crime and its discovery
27/7/23	Link to Samuel Wright
28/3/23	Published