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Note: Edward Shoesmith 1803 - 1889 (110) Probably the best documented convict ancestor is Edward Shoesmith. This is mainly because he was charged with an offence against the Crown (smuggling). His case was heard at the Old Bailey and he was sentenced to death. Details of the trial are as follows. WILLIAM BENNETT, JAMES FOORD, HENRY MILLER, THOMAS MILLER, EDWARD SHOESMITH, JOHN SPRAY, STEPHEN STUBBERFIELD, SPENCER WHITEMAN, offences against the king : tax offences, 10th April, 1828. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t18280410-3 Trial Summary: · Crime(s): offences against the king : tax offences (Punishment details may be provided at the end of the trial.) · Verdict: Guilty: pleaded guilty · Other trials on 10 Apr 1828 · Original Text: 796. WILLIAM BENNETT , JAMES FOORD , HENRY MILLER , THOMAS MILLER , EDWARD SHOESMITH , JOHN SPRAY , STEPHEN STUBBERFIELD , and SPENCER WHITEMAN , were indicted for that they, and divers other evil-disposed persons, to the number of three and more (to wit) to the number of eighty, whose names are as yet unknown, heretofore (to wit) on the 3d day of January, at Bexhill, in the County of Sussex (to wit) at Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, being then and there armed with fire-arms and other offensive weapons (to wit) with guns, blunderbusses, pistols, bludgeons, bats, clubs, staves, and hedgestakes, unlawfully and feloniously did assemble themselves, and were then and there unlawfully and feloniously assembled, in order to be aiding and assisting in the illegal landing, running, and carrying away of certain uncustomed goods, and goods liable to pay certain duties of Customs, which had not then been paid or secured, that is to say, three hundred gallons of foreign brandy, and three hundred gallons of foreign Geneva ; against the Statute. SECOND COUNT, the same as the first, only instead of the words in italics, substituting the following "were aiding and assisting" in the illegal landing, running, &c. Bennett pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. Foord pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 43. H. Miller pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. T. Miller pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. Shoesmith pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 24. Spray pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 28. Stubberfield pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 34. Whiteman pleaded GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 26. The death sentence was commuted to transportation for life to Australia. He was transported on the Claudine in 1829 and was assigned to J. Davidson in Lower Wilberforce. He was granted a ticket of leave on 18th March 1838 conditional upon his remaining in the district of Patrick Plains. A conditional pardon was granted on13th August, 1845. From the records it appears that at least 5 Shoesmiths were involved in what became the “Battle of Sidley Green” but only Edward seems to have been charged! I suspect his brother William turned crown witness in return for a lesser sentence!! Reports state that there were over 100 men, armed with “guns, blunderbuss, pistols, bludgeons, bats, clubs, staves and hedgestakes” were smuggling three hundred gallons of foreign brandy and three hundred gallons of foreign Geneva (port?). They were apprehended by the customs and in the battle that ensued Charles Collins, the Quarter Master of His Majesty’s ship Hyperion was killed. The smugglers escaped and a reward of 500 Pounds was offered for information leading to the arrest of the smugglers. It appears that several people took advantage of this reward but, of the 100 reported to be involved, only 8 were convicted and all were sentenced to death. Edward was married in England and left his wife and five young children behind. Two of the children died and when his wife died his son, George, migrated to Australia and joined his father. Edward was remarried twice and had a further 13 children. Edward and George settled in Patrick Plains around Maitland. His brother William, who was also involved in the smuggling but was not charged, migrated to Australia as a free settler and settled in the Manning River district. There are now a large number of Shoesmith families in both regions.
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