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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lincolnshire => Topic started by: janetgeo on Saturday 21 August 21 10:20 BST (UK)

Title: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: janetgeo on Saturday 21 August 21 10:20 BST (UK)
I am researching two incidents of GameKeepers shot in Lincolnshire.  One was William Dadley, Gamekeeper murdered in Well, Nr Alford, Lincolnshire, on his Wedding Day.  No one was brought to justice for this murder.

The other one is in the same area George Middleton, poacher, shot Charles Pollard, gamekeeper, in 1876.  He was shot but I don't know how badly injured or if it went to court, I think it may have been.  Any info would be appreciate.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: DCB on Saturday 21 August 21 15:53 BST (UK)
There is an account of George Middleton in The Lincolnshire Chronicle on 7th January 1876 - Unfortunately, it points to the wrong image and so all I can see is as follows:-

 " I know you ; you are George Middleton, of Alford." The keeper, evidently not looking upon the seriousness of the attempt upon his life, let the man go, as he thought he could find him afterwards for the poaching, and, as may be expected, the man absconded..."

These two point to the right images:- Newspaper archive on Findmypast

Lincolnshire Chronicle -  1st February 1839 -
" 1839. MURDER —£2OO REWARD. WHEREAS WILLIAM DADLEY, late Game keeper to R. A. Christopher, Esq., was on Thursday night the 10th inst.,MURDERED by some POACHERS, in a Plantation..."

Stamford Mercury - 18th January 1839
" REWARD, and her Majesty's free PARDON to any Accomplice, he not being the Person who actually fired the Shot. WHEREAS WILLIAM DADLEY, my Game-keeper, was on Thursday Night the 10th instant MURDERED by some POACHERS, by a Shot from Gun, in Plantation of..."

David
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: Br1gau on Saturday 21 August 21 17:06 BST (UK)
A wordy article, the essence of it is:

Lincoln Gazette 7th July 1877

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A POACHER
George Middleton, a notorious poacher, was apprehended in Sheffield by police constable Cobb of Navenby on a charge of attempting to murder a gamekeeper at Well in January 1876.  After the alleged offense was committed the prisoner absconded, and for 18 months has evaded police.…………Charles Pollard deponed: On the 4th January 1876 I was in the service of J.T. Bankley Esq., of Well in this County…………. At the time he (the prisoner) fired at me I was wearing the coat and waistcoat now produced by Inspector Skennett.  I had in my hand a stick, and my left arm was in such a position as to leave a space between my arm and body.  The charge fired from the gun passed between my arm and my body carrying away portions of the coat and waistcoat which I was wearing, and setting fire to the sleeves of my coat.   I immediately seized the man whom I found to be the prisoner, George Middleton and took from him the gun produced by Inspector Skennett, and also two fresh shot pheasants which were in his pockets…………. The prisoner was fully committed for trial at the ensuing Lincoln Assizes.  When leaving the court, which was crowded to excess, prisoner said in a loud voice, “Good day to you all”


Peterborough Standard 28 July, page 7

LINCOLNSHIRE ASSIZES
George Middleton (27) labourer was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude.
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: janetgeo on Sunday 22 August 21 14:21 BST (UK)
Thank everyone so much for your quick replies.  I really appreciate your help.
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: DCB on Sunday 22 August 21 15:38 BST (UK)
Some additional information:-

Lincoln Gaol, Lincolnshire: Calendar Of Trials At Assizes For The County Of Lincoln

Name - George Middleton

28th December, 1869, Petty Sessions, Alford.
Convicted under the Poaching Preventions Act.
Fined 20s., and costs 10. 6d. - Paid

1st November, 1870, Petty Sessions, Alford.
Convicted of game trespass in the daytime.
Fined 10s., and costs 10s. 2d., or 1 calendar month in Louth Prison.

Age - 27
Trade - Labourer
Education - N.

Name and Address of Committing Magistrate - Meadburn Staniland, Esq., Harrington Hall, Spilsby. Richard Parker, Clerk, Claxby, Spilsby.

Date of Warrant - 3rd July, 1877

When received into custody - 4th July 1877.

Offence as charged in the commitment - Feloniously shooting with a certain gun, loaded with powder and divers leaden shot, at and against one Charles Pollard, with intent to kill and murder the said Charles Pollard, at Well, on 4th day of January, 1876

When tried - 19th July 1877

Before whom tried - Mr. Baron Pollock

Verdict of the jury - Guilty of shooting, with intent to do grievous bodily harm

Sentence or Order of the court - Seven years penal servitude
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: Redroger on Sunday 22 August 21 17:16 BST (UK)
During the 1850s in the same general area, my grandfather was fined 2/6d for poaching a rabbit! 20 years before that his great uncle was transported for life guilty of highway robbery. If I were Australian I would be an aristocrat!
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: DCB on Monday 23 August 21 09:31 BST (UK)
There are two lengthy articles in the Lincoln Gazette.
The first re the committal for trial on 7th July 1877 and then the trial on 21st July 1877.
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: janetgeo on Monday 23 August 21 09:44 BST (UK)
Quote from: Redroger on Sunday 22 August 21 17:16 BST (UK)
During the 1850s in the same general area, my grandfather was fined 2/6d for poaching a rabbit! 20 years before that his great uncle was transported for life guilty of highway robbery. If I were Australian I would be an aristocrat!

If it was in or near Well I would be interested to know their names and where it actually happened since they were caught perhaps there are court records with that info?
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: Br1gau on Monday 23 August 21 12:42 BST (UK)
more poachers -

Four more poachers, named Bush, Hundleby, Dawson and Emerson, all of Candlesby and the neighborhood, were convicted on Monday last, by the Magistrates as Spilsby, of poaching with arms in the night time at Well, near Alford, and were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.  On the same day a private examination of John Baker, who is charged on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the late gamekeeper at Well, took place, and was further remanded until Saturday.
Stamford Mercury 22nd February 1839
Title: Re: Well, Lincolnshire, Gamekeepers injured/killed
Post by: Br1gau on Tuesday 24 August 21 07:22 BST (UK)
A few nights ago a desperate encounter took place between two gamekeepers or labourers of J.B. Dashwood, Esq., of Well Vale, and a party of two or three poachers from the parish of Bilsby near Alford.  All the combatants were severely hurt.  The poachers were victors, but their triumph was of short duration, as they were apprehended the following morning in their beds.
Morning Post 31 December 1831_page 4.  article repeated in five other newspapers

Mr. William Dadley, the gamekeeper shot and killed by poachers in 1839 was employed by R.A. Christopher Esq. at the time.  The land formerly belonged to J.B. Dashwood, (deceased by 1839.)

The Lincolnshire Chronicle, 13th January 1843 carried an article regarding the murder.
In October 1842 a man by the name of William Hewison confessed to the murder of gamekeeper, William Dadley some years ago, but as his statements were unsupported by any corroborative evidence, no further steps were taken.  Hewison was otherwise sentenced to seven years’ transportation for stealing a pig at Revesby.