lived in Wiltshire gaoled in Somerset Why??

[k doyle]

HiRootschatters.

Many thanks for help in finding information on James Parker (b1818) Trowbridge.
I am stuck with two  major problems.
He lived in Wiltshire but was gaoled in Somerset. Why was that?

 It was 1835 James was apprenticed to John Chislett as a sweep. While at the Angel Inn (probably Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire) there was a robbery. Sometime later James was charged.  (later on his way to Australia, transported for life as a covcit, the records on the 'England 2' has  the offence as stealing a coat)

Problem 2 I can find no record of a coat being stolen, and the charge keeps changing. There was only 1 James Parker/sweep/ born 1818 in the county.

At Wells 23/3/1835 the charge was 'larcent from a public place'
At Ilchester gaol 'stealing a box of 80 yards of Irish (something?) of Elizabeth Fulsell'
When he was sent to the prison hulk Leviathan at Portsmouth the record shows the charge as 'stealing to the value of 5pounds in a dwelling house'
Only on the England 2 to Australia and from then on was the charge stealing a coat.

Can anyone answer why a Wiltshire person from a supposed crime in that county be sent to Somerset?
and  Why was the charge recorded in so many different ways.
Hope someone can help.
Regards
Ken Doyle

[bicker]

Hello Ken

I wonder where you found the records for James Parker. On An@@@try there are two records from 2 different books.

The first record 23 March 1835 comes from the Ilchester Gaol Felons Register 1833-1838
The second from the Description Book 1827-1838

The description book gives his age, physical appearance and gives his last abode as Wells, this is most likely why his trial was in Somerset. There are a couple of Elizabeth Fussell living in Wells.

There was another James Parker aged 19, tried 22 June 1839 sent to the Hulk shop in Gosport for stealing 4 half crowns and other money. Transported for 15 years.

Best wishes
Heather

[medpat]

Have you looked at a map? Upton Scudamore is very close to Frome which is in Somerset so the nearest court as well as the prison could be in Somerset.

[hanes teulu]

The Salisbury & Winchester Journal, 6 Apr 1835, reported that " James Parker, chimney sweep was charged with stealing  ...... a box, 2 shawls, 80 yds of Irish cloth &c ..."

[hanes teulu]

The FindMyPast prison Register entry describes the offence as "Larceny from a dwelling house"

Bristol Mirror, 28 Mar 1835
"... stealing on the 16th March from the commercial room of the Angel Inn, at Wells, a box, 2 shawls and 80 yards of Irish cloth &c ...... The Chairman remarked to the Jury that the prisoner was charged with stealing articles laid in the indictment as the property of Mrs Fussell, although it virtually belonged to the travellers; it was, however, properly laid, because as the property was in Mrs Fussell's custody, the law recognised it as hers".