I have tracked my 3xGt grandfather to Essex from Tasmania.
William MUMFORD originally WILLIS was tried 1st July 1835 for horse stealing.
Would somebody mind looking for additional information.
The following references have been suggested by the Archives.
"We hold the records of the Essex Court of Quarter Sessions, including those for the year 1834. We checked the Quarter Sessions Process Book of Indictments, 1832-1835 (Reference: Q/SPb 21) and found an entry (page 204) stating that William Mumford otherwise called William Willis, late of the parish of Little Bardfield, Essex, 'puts himself' [put forward a plea of] guilty to a charge of stealing a gelding, and was convicted and sentenced to transportation for life. As this volume has been digitally imaged and published on our website (
www.essexcc.gov.uk/ero)" I have seen this page.
It is possible that a little more relevant information might be found in the Quarter Sessions Book, 1829-1837 (Reference: Q/SMg 37), the Quarter Sessions Roll, 1 July 1834 (Reference: Q/SR 1053) and any report of the proceedings of the Session contained in the relevant issue of the local newspaper, the Chelmsford Chronicle (Reference: T/B 171). These are not available for viewing at our website, but if you think it worthwhile, you could commission a search in them
