Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 7 researchers who have claimed William Clarke
- Researcher (513)
- Researcher (Juliette Hendry)
- Researcher (1568)
- Researcher (Joanne Fitzgerald)
- Researcher (Brian Clayton)
- Researcher (12829)
- Researcher (17370)
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Biographies
On a winter's night in February 1805 an upstairs room at a lodging in Rotton Row, Old Street, near Hatton Garden, London, sitting beside a fireplace there sat a sturdy native of Lincolnshire one William Clark (then Clarke) 35 years old 5' 9 1/2" tall with dark or black hair & hazel eyes. Before William, a hawker of earthern ware, stood a constable & an aggrieved householder, fresh from an examination downstairs of certain pieces of earthernware & glassware. Escorted by a constable & aggrieved householder, William Clark left his fireplace & appeared at the office of a Hatton Garden magistrate, where he heard the charge: that he, William Clark, had knowingly received a quantity of earthernware & glassware, feloniously stolen from the aggrieved householder (valued at the trial at the Old Bailey) at 2 pounds 14 shillings & 6 pence.
24th April 1805 Old Bailey - The Gaol Delivery for the County of Middlesex 4th Session
Charles Sumpter & William Clarke were indicted, the former for feloniously stealing, on 28th of February, a set of glass cruets in a mahogany frame, value 8/-, a water pot value 1/-, a pair of salts value 3/-, 3 glass vinegar-cruets value 4/-, 2 glass mustard-pots value 2/3, 2 glass cruets value 2/3 a Japan bottle stand value 1/6, a pot & top value 2/6, a pan value 2/6, 38 earthern dishes value 8/-, an earthern jug value 4d, 3 milk basons value 8d, 38 dishes value 10/-, and 2 pint mugs value 4d, the property of John Few & the latter for receiving the same goods, knowing them to have been feloniously stolen.
ROBERT CRIB sworn: I live at No 228 Holborn, I am a carver & gilder.
On the 26th of February about 10 o'clock in the morning, I was at my door, & saw the prisoner Clark at the corner of Hand-Court, directly opposite my door. In consequence of information, I suspected he was waiting for the prisoner, Sumpter. I then went out, and walked as far as the George & Blue Boar, which is opposite to Mr. Fews, I had not been there more than 2 minutes before I saw the prisoner, Sumpter come out of Mr. Few's with a basket full of earthernware. I followed him till he came to the corner of Hand-Court & saw him give it to the prisoner Clark. They set it down on the ground, & one said to the other, No one will meddle with it. I then went up close to it & they both went into the Gin Shop together., the corner house, they afterwards came out & went up Hand-Court together, they then separated, Sumpter went towards Red Lion Street, & Clarke went on towards Gray's Inn, with the basket on his arm. I followed him to Clerkenwell & not findindg a constable at the Sessions house, I went back & saw no more of him nor the basket till I saw the basket at the office, which I believe to be the same. I acquainted Mr. Few when I came back & in consequence of that information he taxed Sumpter with it in my presence & then he confessed to have given this to Clarke.
JOHN FEW Sworn: In consequence of Mr. Cribb's information, and my believing Sumpter to be a very honest man indeed, I could hardly credit what he had informed me of. I charged him with it. I went down with Sumpter to the Hatton Garden office & the magistrate sent Hancock, the officer, with me to the prisoner Clarke's lodgings, in company with Sumpter. I there saw an immense quantity of earthernware, & I was pretty certain they were my property. These are them (produces the property). Amongst them there were 2 baking dishes with the shape of an hour glass at the bottom. On the 28th we charged the prisoner with it & we searched the prisoner Clarke's lodgings on the same day. I only selected a few of the articles in the indictment. I believe them all to be mine.
Crossed examined by Mr. Watson: QUESTION: Can you swear, independent of any circumstance whatever, that this dish in my hand is yours. You know other people in the trade have dishes so marked?. ANSWER: They may have. COURT Question (to the prosecutor) What trade did Clarke carry on?. ANSWER: He is a hawker in
Submitted by Researcher (Brian Clayton) on 31 May 2020
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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 11/1, p.376
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