Hastings Felons

[Derek Jempson]

Potentially sensitive this one. I wonder if anyone has Hastings ancestors who fell foul of the law, and would be willing to share the details here? Looking through Victorian and Edwardian issues of the Hastings & St. Leonards Observer in the British Newspaper Archive, it is apparent that there was much petty crime committed in the town and in most circumstances poverty, or alcohol related.

[Richard]

I had one who was 'transported' to America, but he was not a Hastings resident.
I assume 'transportation' was a reality at one time in Hastings though ??

[Gerry Glyde]

I have one related to minor drunkenness. But also see my latest Alpine Road post. That involved a friend's ancestor although the felons were not related. Quite happy to share "skeletons"

[Richard]

I suspect that 'sheep stealing' may have been quite common, but 'transportation' would not normally be a sentence unless previous convictions had been made.

A certain William Gain (Gaines, Gayne) born and baptised at Ore, 1816, was caught 'sheep-stealing', from a farmer at Icklesham, convicted at Lewes Assizes (the nearest Court to Hastings / Icklesham?) and sentenced in 1843, to 'transportation' of 10 years, he was then aged 27 and left behind a wife, Caroline and 3 very young children.
Sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) after being held at Millbank prison, London (Tate Britain of today) on the banks of 'The River Thames' for 3 months.
Sleeping in hammocks, along with 290 convicts aboard the 801 ton ship “The Equestrian” took 95 days to reach Hobart, without touching at any intermediate Port.


To cut short the remainder of a long story short:
... It would appear that William Gain survived transportation but did not return to England. His death is recorded at the New Town Charitable Institution, Hobart, Tasmania on 1 October 1893.
William died aged 75, and recorded as dying of "senile debility" and then buried in a simple pauper's grave.
And what of those left behind? Caroline Gain (nee Marchant) married Richard Thomas Ray, in the autumn of 1854 and she bore him several children.
Caroline (nee Marchant) died in June 1858 and Richard Ray subsequently remarried to Ann Field in late 1859.

Reference = 1066 Genealogy
http://www.rootschat.com/history/hastin ... /view/210/

[Derek Jempson]

Fascinating (and sad) story. Transportation in those days must have been akin to exile on Mars today (if that were possible). And thanks for the link to 1066 Genealogy Richard - wasn't aware of that site.

[Richard]

He was taken out for what, basically trying to feed his young family.
And very sad, at first glance, as clearly he did not see his wife and children again.
But who knows, he might have met a 'sheila' or three and sired a few sprogs in Tasmania, before finally suffering some sort of 'dementia'.

I don't know on what terms return trips would have been arranged anyway.

[Derek Jempson]

I doubt if the authorities even considered the possibility of return trips. Probably the only way to return home would be to work one's passage. Transportation was a harsh and cruel punishment.

[Richard]

Yes, I think they also would realise that their chances of taking up from where they had left off at home in Britain would be minimal and so would decide to make the most of a bad situation.
Not sure whether they could have entered into correspondence which may have made them realise that returning was not a sensible option.
But for those that could perhaps get relatives from 'home' to pay for their return then there must have been some sort of communication?

[Gerry Glyde]

We should not look at 19c crime & punishment with 21c perspective. Ownership of property was paramount and the taking of even the smallest item such as a silk handkerchief was considered as a serious crime. There is also a comparable situation if you read the parish minutes of Poor Law guardians and how people and their curcumstances were regarded at the time.

However for some people transportation to the colonies was a way out of poverty, despite the circunstances in which it happened. People were able to get a peice of land or sell goods òr learn a trade for which there was a demand in a growing demand as the colony developed. If memory serves correct a Sydney Mayor was an ex convict. The city was called something else at the time. Poor Law guardians were able to pay small allowances to people who wanted to emigrate and I imagine that may have also applied to families of criminals who otherwise become a burden on the parish.

Two or three of the Tolpuddle Martyrs returned to England.

[Gerry Glyde]

The Stocks are still popular at Fairs even today. There a few people that I would like to put in there but I will not say who they are.............