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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: ian55 on Friday 13 February 09 12:25 GMT (UK)
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Austerfield is a village near Doncaster and in 1828 John Dyon was murdered by his brother and nephew who were convicted and executed at York Castle.
I am making enquiries at York Reference Library but I wonder if there is anyone in the area who knows the story or can tell me if there is an MI to John Dyon at Austerfield?
Ian55
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Hi Ian55
I live in Doncaster and would be happy to check for you but I won't be going to the FHS for another couple of weeks. I can check the death register for you then if you would like. Do you know where he was buried? I have MI's for Hyde Park Cemetery in Doncaster which is the main one in the town which I can check for you when I get home. If he was buried locally (i.e. Austerfield) I will have to check at the FHS. Do you know when in 1828 he died as there maybe a newspaper report in the local library?
Goofy
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Hi Goofy,
Thanks for your interest.
There is an IGI record (under the name John Dyson rather than Dyon but it is the same man) to the effect that he was buried 20 Feb 1828 at Austerfield.
Ian55
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Hi Ian55
Thanks for the info, I will look into this for you. Please be patient though as I will not be able to visit the FHS until the 26th/27th ;D
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Hi Ian55 and Goofy,
Hope this helps to track the information…….
I see there is a report in the “Derby Mercury” on Wednesday February 27th 1828, from a report that was in the Doncaster Gazette.
At the end of the report it says;
The remains of Mr Dyon were interred on Wednesday at Austerfield, by the Rev. Matson Vincent, amidst a large concourse of people.
Sheila.
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Dear Sheila,
I have found a website relating to capital punishment which has a record to the effect that William Dyon aged 45 and John Dyon aged 23 were executed for the murder of their brother/uncle at York Castle on 2 April 1828.
I am hoping this will have made the newspapers as well.
Ian55
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Yes...I have found the newspaper report on the murder & execution; message sent....
Sheila.
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Hello Ian,
It was just a thought to have a look on Google Books - http://books.google.co.uk/
And as you will see lots of information regarding the Dyson’s on there but this one is really good –
York Castle in the Nineteenth Century By William Leman Rede, Leman Thomas Rede.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bcQDAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA60&dq=john+dyon#PRA1-PA61,M1
Sheila
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Hi Ian55
What wonderful information you have from Dizzifish! :o It's a really interesting story.
I work near the library in Doncaster so popped in on the way home from work & managed to dig up a few articles in the Doncaster, Nottingham & Lincoln Gazette which may be of interest:
February 22 1828 - News of the murder & 100 Guineas reward (short paragraph)
February 29 1828 - Apprehension of William Dyon & son (one column)
March 7 1828 - William Dyon & son guiltless of so horrid a crime (short paragraph)
March 14 1828 - Re-apprehension of William Dyon & son (one column)
April 4 1828 - Transcript of the court proceedings and execution (six columns)
Sadly, though the articles were legible in the most part on the film, when I came to print them they are either too dark or light to read. :'( I can try and transcribe as much as possible for you but I think they will be impossible to scan unless any of the experts on here have any brilliant ideas. I will have a go scanning them over the weekend and let you know how I get on.
Goofy
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Hi all
I wonder if this is John snr's will?
Online Document PROB 11/1825
Will of John Dyon Yeoman Austerfield , Yorkshire . Date: 1833. (17 Dec 1833)
It would be interesting to see who his heirs were after such a horrible murder!
deb
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Hi Ian....Goofy & Deb,
Good finds and John Dyon Senior's Will !! ......wonder what happened next? ! :o
Sheila.
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I don't know Sheila but in the article I found for the 29 February 1828
"Mrs Dyon who was delivered of a still born child on Friday, in consequence of the shock which she received by the afflictive event of her husband's murder, continues in a very delicate state of health" :'( :'(
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Hi :)
these documents may reveal more ...from NA
Further deeds relating to the Dyon property in Austerfield CM/2225-2245 1839-1847
(held at Sheffield Archives)
Contents:
Which was bought in 1847 by Robert Pemberton Milnes. There are 3 abstracts of title.
Deeds relating to Brandcroft Farm in Austerfield CM/2206-2224
Part of the property sold by Miss Betty Dyon and others to Robert Pemberton Milnes in 1847. Originally Box 3.. [Sheffield Archives, Crewe Muniments] Date range: 1802 - 1847.
Conveyances CM/2246-2249
By Miss Betty Dyon of Bawtry and others to Robert Pemberton Milnes of Brandcroft Farm for £1,750 (with abstract of title), a freehold farm and closes with a parcel of copyhold land for £1,840, and Low Common Close for £180 13s.4d., all in Austerfield. Date: 1847.
Poor woman, what a tragedy for her and the girls. :'( Miss Betty must have been one of the daughters.
added ...although the link of the book from Dizzifish states that John's wife was Betty!
deb
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Thank you all for taking such an interest in this story.
Thanks particularly to Sheila for directing my attention to a number of local newspaper accounts of the matter. I now know a fair bit about the crime and the trial. I also know rather more than I wanted to about the public executions!!
I can tell you that I have heard back from the friendly people at York Reference Library that they hold a slim volume (16 pages) entitled "Report of the Trial of William and John Dyon for the Wilful Murder of Mr John Dyon of Bancroft York Castle March 31 1828" by H. Deighton. I am hoping to have sight of this shortly.
I know that John Dyon and his wife Betty had four children christened at Austerfield in the period 1818-1825 and that their son died in infancy. At the time of the murder in 1828 Betty was left with three young girls to bring up. The news from Goofy that Betty was pregnant and lost her baby as a result of the shock only adds another layer to the tragedy.
What happened next?
1. The eldest daughter Elizabeth married in 1838 and was living in Austerfield with her husband, a farmer, and daughter in the 1841 Census.
2. Betty Dyon, said to be of Independent Means, and the two younger daughters were also still living in Austerfield in 1841.
3. The youngest daughter Matilda married a farmer in 1846 and went on to have a large family.
4. Betty Dyon and unmarried daughter Mary, both described as Annuitants, were living in the nearby town of Bawtry in 1851.
5. The death of Betty Dyon was registered at Doncaster Oct/Nov/Dec 1859. I am hoping she might be buried with John Dyon at Austerfied. I am looking forward to hearing from Goofy on that later.
It sounds to me as if deb usa has uncovered the sale of the farm in 1847 and that fits with the Census info. I am not sure about the laws of succession in England at the time. The motive for the murder appeared to be that William Dyon felt he had expectations of inheriting the farm if his brother John Dyon were to die. I will follow up you other suggestions when time permits.
Ian55
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Hi Ian55
What a fascinating story, particularly for me living locally. I have tried scanning the newspapers with disastrous effect but asside from the quote about Betty Dyon losing her child there is little more information than in the book Dizzifish found for you. I will take the information with me to the FHS next week and hopefully turn something up. It certainly would be nice to know that John & Betty rest together.
Goofy
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Hi Goofy, Sheila and Deb,
I have at last had the opportunity of reading the googlebook found by Sheila and it is great that this provides so much information about the background to the motive for the crime.
I had a look at some of the other references and there is a snippet in the book about South Yorkshire by Joseph Hunter mentioning that the burying ground adjoining the Chapel at Austerfield has "obtained a melancholy notoriety by the interment of Mr John Dyon of Brancroft who was shot near his own house a victim of fraternal jealousy".
In the circumstances I have high hopes that there will be a memorial stone at Austerfield.
Ian55
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Hi Ian55
I have been on the FHS website and they definitely have MI's and burial registers for Austerfield so there is a strong possiblity that something will be found. According to their website, Dyon Cottage and Dyon House Farm still remain (although the farm has long since gone, the house still remains).
http://www.doncasterfhs.co.uk/church/austerfield.htm
Goofy
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Hi , I was going to post a request for info on Dysons - but wonder whether I want to be related to these folk!
I have Moses Dyson marrying in Hucknall Nott 1777. born c 1750/51. He is stated of Hucknall, but there is nothing on the parish reg, so wondered if from other Notts parts or ? names William, John, Ann and Elizabeth in the family down the line. Dont know his work/trade. Ruth
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Ian
Have sent you a pm about the newpapers articles, as I've managed to get copies of them but they're too large to attach on here.
BG :)
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Hi ruthtree,
I have not looked for any other Dyon/Dyson names apart from the family in Austerfield so I am afraid I cannot help you there. Good hunting.
Hi babygirl101,
Just to let you know your email with the newspaper reports came through safely. Thank you for taking the trouble to help.
Ian55
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You're most welcome Ian - enjoy your reading !
BG :)
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Hi
What an interesting story not sure if you have managed to find earlier relatives but if you check out www.archive.org they have parish records for Austerfield from 1559 to 1812 its volume 39
Pam
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Hi maplea,
Thanks for the link but I am having trouble navigating the site!! Where will I find the Austerfield Parish Records?
Ian55
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Hello Ian,
I remembered seeing Austerfield parish registers on www.archive.org but then couldn’t find it,reason being it is in the Yorkshire parishes and I was looking in Nottinghamshire.
If you want to see what else is available on the site re parish registers – in the search box type “parish registers” and leave the drop down box as “all media types”.
But hopefully this is the one Pam is pointing you to and on the left hand side choose which format you would prefer to view as….. :)
http://www.archive.org/details/publications39yorkuoft
Sheila.
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Hi Sheila and maplea,
Got it now and it comes with an index of names!!
Sadly no Dyon/Dyson names at all and no Conway names (Betty's maiden name) either.
Ian55
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Hi Ian.....
Yes there are :)
No idea why it isn't showing for you....
Try using the "Flip Book" format, in the search box type Dyson and some show for that name and also try Dyon....I am sure I am not imagining it :D
Sheila.
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I know what I did wrong. I went straight to the back of the book looking for an index and ended up looking at the index for the Parish of Cowthorpe not realising the volume covers two parishes and the index for Austerfield is in the middle.
I will read more carefully next time. Thanks for keeping me right.
Ian55
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Hi Ian Sheila
sorry about missing the last bit of that link and thanks Sheila for sorting it out. Hope you find some rellies
Pam
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Hi Ian
I popped to the FHS this morning but sadly there is not as much information there as I had hoped. They have the burial registers and there are 5 Dyons buried in St Helena's Church in Austerfield. There is William Snr and his wife Sarah, John and his wife Betty and another John (presumably the son of John & Betty who died in infancy).
The memorial inscriptions revealed even less information, there are no Dyons listed at all!! I drove to the church but there are only a few gravestones and could not see anything mentioning Dyon. There are a few gravestones which are illegible which are covered in lichen and others covered by grass or broken. It is also possible that they could not afford a stone.
Here is the information I found:-
John Dyon was buried 03.03.1820 aged 2 months
John Dyon was buried 26.02.1828 aged 43 *murdered 16.02.1828 in his own closes*
Betty Dyon was buried 04.10.1859 aged 70 (there is mention at the edge of the record to say she was the wife of John Dyon so it is possible they were buried together but there is nothing to confirm this).
I also spoke to the vicar of the church but they no longer keep the records that far back and they are now kept at Nottingham. Sorry I could not be of more help.
Goofy
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Hi Goofy,
Thank you so much for this information and for going to Austerfield to check the Churchyard. Of course there is an element of disappointment that there is no gravestone (or at least none surviving) but at least the story lives on.
Did you by any chance take notes of the dates for the other two burials - William Snr and his wife Sarah?
Ian55
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I did but rubbed it out as I didn't think they were relevant :-[ :P I am still going to the archives (which is next door to the FHS) as planned later this week for some stuff for me so I can get it for you then.
Goofy
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I thought I should post a note to say I have now read a copy of 16 page book about the Report of the Trial which is held at York Reference Library.
This is a verbatim account of the evidence in similar terms to the googlebook previously found by Sheila. However the googlebook provides more in the way of background information and I think the googlebook is a better read for anyone who wants to know the story.
Ian55
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Hi Ian, hopefully I have the right information for you this time ::)
I'm not sure why you mention WilliamDid you by any chance take notes of the dates for the other two burials - William Snr and his wife Sarah?
As the brothers William & John were born to John & Sarah Dyon.
John Dyon Snr was buried 14.04.1833 aged 83
Sarah Dyon was buried 22.11.1805 aged 66 (both at St Helena's Church, Austerfield)
I also found the following:
William Dyon christened 15.09.1782 - parents John & Sarah (transcribed as Diyion)
John Dyon christened 21.06.1784 - parents John & Sarah (transcribed as Diyon)
William Dyon married Sarah Senthouse 24.03.1805
John Dyon christened 14.07.1805 - parents William & Sarah
Elizabeth Dyon christened 22.02.1818 - parents John & Betty
John Dyon christened 02.01.1820 - parents John & Betty
John Dyon buried 03.03.1820 aged 2 months
Matilda Dyon christened 22.12.1825 - parents John & Betty
Also "Mrs Dyon who was delivered of a still born child on Friday, in consequence of the shock which she received by the afflictive event of her husband's murder, continues in a very delicate state of health"
This was reported in the paper dated Friday 29.02.1828 so I think think the date would have been the previous Friday 22.02.1828
All the above was at St Helena's Church, Austerfield.
I searched the parish registers and the IGI films and there is no record of a marriage for John & Sarah or John & Betty which is a shame (although you may have this already).
All the best, Goofy
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Dear Goofy,
Thanks for the additional information. Your posting on 21 Feb confused me as you said the other two burials were "William Snr and his wife Sarah". I see now that you meant "John Snr and his wife Sarah". The burial dates and ages for them is a great help. It also confirms that the Will in 1833 previously found by deb usa does relate to John Snr.
No, I could not find the marriage of John Snr and Sarah either but I do have the marriage of John Dyon and Bettey Conway at Blyth on 27 Feb 1817.
Thanks again for all your help.
Ian55
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Hi all
I have also been looking for the Marriage of John Dyon to Sarah ?
I recall in the beginning of this thread that Dyon might = Dyson.
So this is a bit of a long shot but IGI has this marriage which may be a bit too early;
John DYSON = Sarah Coching
28 NOV 1775 Finningley, Nottingham
I believe Finningley is in the parish of Blythe. (Wiki)
deb
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Hi deb,
Well spotted but if the burial records are correct Sarah was born c1739 which would make her 36 for a marriage in 1775. Son William the murderer was born in 1782 and son John the murder victim was born in 1784 which would make her 45 at his birth. I do not want to get myself in trouble here but I think you are right that it may be a long shot.
Ian55
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Hello Ian & everyone....
How about this marriage at Blyth?
Marriage at Blyth – 5th February 1782
JOHN DYON & SARAH SPENCER
Sheila.
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Hi Ian
As a member of the Doncaster FHS we get a quarterly magazine called The Doncaster Ancestor, which came through the post yesterday morning. I was sat reading it this morning over breakfast and low and behold on page 24 was an article called "1820's Doncaster - When Violence and Murder Were Rife! Murder of Mr John Dyon". :o Weird coincidence!! Anyway, its a report from the Doncaster Herald dated 25.02.1828. I will send you a PM as I still haven't figured out how to post pictures on here properly. ::)
Good find Sheila & Deb, although I think Sheila may be closer to the mark. Blythe and Finningley are both very close to Austerfield. There are also a lot of Dyons in Lincolnshire and I seem to remember reading somewhere that William lived at Morton Carr which is in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (a bit of a hike on foot but not too far away).
Goofy
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To all on this theme,
I run the environmental education centre in Austerfield and have done an amount of research on this subject.
The murder took place over the evening period as Dyon was returning home from the markets in Doncaster. His brother and nephew had made an abortive attempt to murder him the previous week, but he had failed to go to the market due to ill health. ( trial transcript which i have full copy of)
They had therefore left their guns in the barns at Partridge Hill Farm, a property at the beginning of a series of gateways leading to Brancroft Farm, for the week, returning the following week to lay in wait for his return.
If you use google maps to look for Austerfield, Brancroft still exists to the south east of Doncaster Sheffield Airport runway on the edge of the Finningley Road, with Partridge Hill to the south of the runway. Unfortunately, the tarck with the gateways no longer exists as its under the runway. Dyon House Farm and Dyon cottage have no known ownership link with the Dyon family, but I will check with the 1765 enclosure map to see what land they owned at that period. It is probably more likely that they were named as such as part of a moral tale with a warning for the outcome of greed. The trial transcript indicates the brothers gained wealth from their father and whilst one made more from his wealth the other was profligate and spent his apportioned amount. The death of his brother and some inheritence from it was indicated as the motive in the trial.
I have photos of the two dyon named properties at work and will attach them to another mailing. I also have the parish records for baptisms, marriages and burials as part of a transcription programme i did for the local fhs and will check those. There is not a headstone in the graveyard for this family,as there are a large number of plots without any markers. Although the parish is physically in Yorkshire it is part of the diocese of Southwell and as such its parish records are held in the Nottingham Archives.
Austerfield1
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Dear Austerfield1,
Thanks very much for your contribution. I did wonder if Dyon House Farm and Dyon Cottage might have belonged to John Dyon Snr. c1750-1833 (the father of the murder victim and the murderer).
In his Will John Dyon Snr is described as a Yeoman of Austerfield and it goes on to mention Real Estate in Austerfield and Misson. The trial transcript I have read does not mention the father living at Brancroft so I am guessing he lived elsewhere in Austerfield.
Ian55
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Hello Ian & everyone....
How about this marriage at Blyth?
Marriage at Blyth – 5th February 1782
JOHN DYON & SARAH SPENCER
Sheila.
hi everyone ... and welcome to Rootschat Austerfield1
re; The above marriage;
I found this on National Archives which may relate;
Deeds relating to a farm and closes at Austerfield which was bought by John Dyon in 1813 CM/2151-2205 1713-1825
(Sheffield Archives)
Contents:
The property was freehold and copyhold and there are copies of the court roll of Austerfield. Some of the property was Hoyland's and some was Spencer's. It was acquired by Littlewood, descended to John Row by inheritance, and was sold by him to Dyon for £1,720. Copies of wills of John Littlewood (1791) and of Robert Spencer (1779).
deb
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Thanks for the welcome,
Further information - the 1765 Enclosure map shows no Dyon's as farming landowners at Austerfield. The land where Brancroft is was shown as belonging to George Peck Esq. and part of the ancient enclosure of John Harvey Esq.
The sale to John Dyon of 1812 would seem to match the family moving into Austerfield, so perhaps a look at Misson records (2 miles away from Austerfield) might reveal other ownership.
I also think the Dyson line you have been following might be a different family altogether.
So records as such:
1841 census Austerfield
Betty Dyon age 45 jacket Maker
Mary age 15
Matilda aged 10
They had a habit of rounding to 5 and 10 with this census.
Baptisms
Diyion - 15th September 1782 WILLIAM son of John and Sarah Diyion (murderer)
Diyon - 21 June 1784 JOHN son of John and Sarah Diyon (victim)
14 July 1805 JOHN son of William and Sarah Dyon (murderers in this case)
22 February 1818 ELIZABETH daughter of John and Betty Dyon
2 January 1820 JOHN son of John and Betty Dyon
8 April 1824 MARY daughter of John and Betty Dyon
22 December 1825 MATILDA daughter of John and Betty Dyon
MARRIAGES
25 March 1805 William Dyon and Sarah Senthouse
BURIALS
Betty wife of John Dyon 4th October 1859 aged 70 from Bawtry
John Dyon 25 February 1828 aged 43 -- murdered - shot
John Dyon 3 March 1820 aged 2 months
John Dyon 14 April 1833 aged 83
Sarah Dyon 22 November 1805 aged 66
Although this is about the 1828 murder did you know Austerfield has other claims to fame. Most know about William Bradford(Pilgrim Father), but did you know that Austerfield was the site of the 702AD synod that set the present way of calculating Easter --- or that the ancient Britains (coritani tribe) fought the Romans and won on the plains of Austerfield ---- or that in 616AD Edwin with the help of Raedwald ( warrior king of East Anglia and the face of the Sutton Hoo mask) defeated the King of Northumbria in battle for Edwin to reclaim his Northumbrian crown and throne.
Am attaching photos of the two Dyon named properties.
AUSTERFIELD1
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Hi Austerfield1,
Thanks for posting the great photos. It is also reassuring to know that Austerfield has other claims to fame.
Your finding in the 1841 Census is right as the eldest of the three daughters Elizabeth had already married and left home by then. However, I think Betty's occupation reads "Ind. M." meaning she was of Independent Means. There is an enumerator's stroke through the "d" which confuses things.
Quite apart from her murdered husband's estate she was also receiving the income from her father-in-law's estate to pay for the maintenance education and support of her three daughters until they each became 21 at which time they each inherited a one third share.
Ian55
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This conversation is fascinating. I believe I'm a descendent of William Dyon (murderer) via another of his sons George Dyon. I believe both he and his mother Sarah Senthouse immigrated to Canada sometime after the execution of William and John. I can appreciate why they would want to flee the country! They first appear in the 1851 census of Canada West, Lennox and Addington.
George Dyon later immigrates to the U.S. (Chicago) and names two of his sons William and John, so perhaps he thought they were innocent? I have attached the ballad of William Dyon (a broadside) in case anyone is interested.
Can you tell me which parish you find the burial of John Diyon (the father of William murderer)? I would like to try to take my family tree back further if I can. Many thanks!