The trial of William Allen took place on 18 September 1802 at the Old Bailey, London
'William Allen was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 7th of March, a petticoat, value 12s. the property of William Lewis, Esq.' William Lewis had 'hired some waggons to remove my goods from North Badgley, in Hampshire, to my house at Hammersmith; I was present when they arrived, and missed a box, containing a great number of Jewels and trinkets, which was inclosed in a box in which the petticoat was placed.'
Mrs Rosetta Lewis stated she had helped with the packing which included a box of jewels and the petticoat, both of which were missing on arrival at Hammersmith.
Various witnesses were called before James BREDMORE was sworn in and gave the following statement
'I was hired as a guard to this waggon at Alton, and came with it to Hammersmith; the prisoner at
the bar, and another man and woman, came with the waggon, sometimes walking, and sometimes riding; when we got to
Staines, they all went to-bed at a public house; I am sure the prisoner was one of the men.'
The prisoner declared that on arrival at Staines they had stopped and dined and were drinking with the guard for two hours, before deciding to walk to London as it was a fine afternoon. They bid the waggoner and guard a good afternoon and left.
William Allen, aged 25, was found guilty and transported for seven years.
No further information is available about James Bredmore, or if he continued working as a waggon guard.
Andrew Young -
andrew@breadmore.org - © Margaret and Andrew Young
Breadmore One-Name Study - James the Waggon Guard -
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