Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed John Cecil
Biographies
John Cecil was born in Manchester in 1800 and baptised, as "John Saysall" on the 26th April 1800 at Manchester Collegiate Church (later to become Manchester Cathedral).
He was one of 12 children of William Cecil/Saycell and his wife Elizbeth Thomas.
His siblings all had different variants of the name!
In 1821 he was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing "one skip of weft"
In 1822 he was sentenced to death for highway robbery
From the Manchester Guardian:
"13/07/1822 - Cecil, an accomplice who was commited to Lancaster for another offence, and whilst he was in the New Bailey, made a confession of his participation in Mr Andrew’s robbery.
[Two men named Thompson and McKinley, were charged with being concerned in the robbery of Mr Andrew, in St George’s road, on 1st June last.
No evidence appearing to confirm the statement of the accomplice, the prisoners were discharged.]"
And
"24/08/1822 John Cecil,22, was charged with robbing John Williamson, on the highway, at Manchester. This was one of the street robberies which have of late been so numerous in this town; but it was very uninteresting. Sentence: death
31/08/1822 The following 18 persons convicted of capital offences were first placed in the dock together -. . . John Cecil . . . for highway robbery.
Mr Baron Wood reprieved all the capital convicts."
He was sent to the prison hulk Ganymede at Chatham where he was described as:
"age 22; height 5’ 5&3/4;dark;stout;dark eyes;dyer of Manchester
large? eyebrows, slightly P.Md,left arm broken,large scar left hand"
On the 16th Aug 1823 he arrived in Hobart on the Commodore Hayes being described as:
"a journeyman paper maker – Last worked for Jonathan Statham a dyer;
height 5' 7&3/4;hair lbro;eyes lhaz;age 24;trade frs lab plough;
tried Lancs;when 10/22;sentence life;ships;Comm Hayes 1823;Comm Hayes 1823;
native place Manchester;marks pock pits on chin, scar back left hand,left arm crippled;"
(his height appears differently in the 2 descriptions)
His ticket of leave was granted in 1826 and then:
"03 Oct 1827 charged with stealing a pig – discharged for want of evidence
21 May 1828 taking a load of fire wood out of the Govt Domain yesterday
T Wheel 7 days (PS)" [treadmill?]
There is no evidence of him marrying but there is a burial that looks like him:
Death: John Cecil 05 Feb 1834 New Norfolk age 33
However, there is also a record in 1839 Manchester that looks like him:
From the Manchester Guardian:
"For Sale;27/04/1839 Seven dwelling houses, with the appurtenances, fronting the Collyhurst Old Road, near the Vauxhall Gardens, Collyhurst, now or lately in the occupations of James Cecil, William Robinson, John Cecil, James Grimshaw, William Marsden, John Comperwell,John Edwards and three cellars under three of the dwelling houses."
The James Cecil in the advert looks to be his nephew, and this is the area of Manchester where the families were living.
e.g. 1841 Manchester Rate book Wm Cecil Vauxhall St
There are no other Cecils or Saycells known to be in this part of England at this time.
Neither John nor nephew James have been found in the 1841 census, although James got married in 1840 and had his first child in 1841, both certificates have him living in that same area.
No further records for John have been found.
Submitted by Researcher (9027) on 24 February 2018
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/5, p.25
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