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|-+  England (Counties as in 1851-1901)
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| | | |-+  Unsolved murder - True or False
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Author Topic: Unsolved murder - True or False  (Read 279 times)
Andcarred
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Unsolved murder - True or False
« on: Thursday 25 October 07 06:35 BST (UK) »
Hi,

Long story so please bear with me Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes  My g g g grandfather Lawrence Dewsbury (sometimes spelt Jewsbury or Jewsberry) was a canal boat man at Sutton Bonington and Leicester (St Mary de Castro).  He disappeared completely after the birth of his 6th child circa 1835. 

Family legend has it that Lawrence worked on the barges, and it was part of his job to collect the men's wages each week by barge.  It was wages collection day when he went missing and since the wages had been collected from the bank and no sign was seen or heard of Lawrence again, it was presumed he had absconded with the money. Shocked Shocked Shocked 

Years later a man made a death-bed confession, saying that he was one of a gang of men who lay in wait for Lawrence and robbed and killed him. Cry Cry Cry   He also said if someone were to dig in the stable-yard of the Plough Inn at Normanton-on-Soar, a pub on the banks of the canal, they would find his body.   

This was said to have been done and a body was recovered, but of course due to the passage of time it was impossible to identify the body.   This amazing story has not been proved or disproved.  There has never been a death record for Lawrence and his wife described herself as a widow on various census.  Two of his children migrated to Australia and one said on her shipping papers that her father had not been seen of or heard from for 15 years, making the disappearance c 1835.  Unfortunately there is no indication of when the death bed confession was made, just a vague "many years later".

Does anyone think it possible that after all this time there is somewhere that may have further information.  Probably an impossible ask but we live in hope.

Andcarred
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Allwood-Birmingham-Australia
Collins-Dublin
North-Sweden
Vincent-Dewlish, Dorset
Austen-Lydd
Dewsbury-Sutton Bonnington, Notts
Wood-Leeds/Huddersfield, Yorks
Godden-Cornwall/London
Jackett-Cornwall
mich b
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
Re: Unsolved murder - True or False
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 28 October 07 11:30 GMT (UK) »
Hi Andcarred,

Maybe you could contact the church in Normanton-on-Soar and find out whether they have any records of burying an unknown? I really have no idea whether this is likely, but it has to be worth a try. You could also contact the Normanton-on-Soar History Club, if you haven't already tried.
http://www.normanton-on-soar.co.uk/article.php?id=72

You'll find interesting links to all sorts on this site including pictures of the Old Plough Inn and the Plough Inn.

Whether you discover anything or not, its certainly an interesting family story and there is usually some truth in anecdotal evidence. Also Bargees, like Gypsies and Travellers had, and still have, a rich history of story-telling as reading and writing often weren't used so family events were passed down the generations by word-of mouth.

I'm surprised you haven't had more response as Rootschatters usually love a good mystery.

Good luck, and let us know if you find out anything.

Michelle  Grin
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BINI:Lucca,Italy/Sheffield/Shireoaks/Nott'm
JOHNSON:Whetstone,Leics
PINDER:Sheffield
KENNY:IRL,Dublin,ENG,Lancs,S.KENNY m BINI 
BINGHAM:Sheffield/Shireoaks
WATSON:Foxton,Leics
WORMLEIGHTON:Enderby,Leics
MARSH:Sheffield
KEMBLE:Godalming/Leicester
GLEDHILL:Bolton,Lancs/Worsop,Notts
PEBERDY:Saddington/Foxton/Gumley, Leics
HORTON:Saddington/Foxton,Leics
DANN:Foxton/Cosby/Leics
HARRITY:Sheffield
COLDERLEY:Bolton,Lancs
JONES:ChurchGresley/Smisby,Derby's/Worksop,Notts
JEACOCK: LEI/Blaby
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