Devizes Prison Records - COX 1829

[merrinlouise]

Hello,
I'm over here in Tasmania, Australia and wondering if there is anyone who would be able to lookup my ancestor, Anthony COX, who was sent to the New Devizes Prison, Wiltshire, for a limited time on or about 14 July 1829.  It may have been due to vagrancy.  He was later tried 3 March 1832 at the Wiltshire Assizes for housebreaking, and transported for life to Tasmania.
I'm trying to get as much information as possible as his birthplace is so far not proven, nor birth year, nor any hint of family members in England. There is a feint chance he may have a connection with Shellwood in Ugborough, Devon, but that is not definite, just suspected, due to the name of his property here in Tasmania.  Thank you in advance for any help. Merrin 

[Pennines]

Hi Merrin -- a very warm welcome to Rootschat.

In the English newspapers available at the British Newspaper Archive or on Find my Past ( both paying sites - but on the Bristish Newspaper Archive you can purchase a few views) -- an Anthony Cox gets several mentions from 1824 - 1832 in both the Salisbury and Winchester Journal and also Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette.

I don't know if all these entries refer to your Anthony of course - but it seems likely. He appears to have kept getting himself into trouble AND getting caught!

Unfortunately though no age is mentioned nor personal details. I noticed that one offence was in Trowbridge - and another in Holt - if that's any use!

[jrc11]

From Wiltshire Gazette and Herald May 7 1829 from a report on the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions under the sub heading " Committed to the House of Correction Devizes" is included "Anthony Cox for three months for vagrancy in the parish of Trowbridge"
From the Salisbury and Winchester Journal 19/12/1831 "Committed to old Bridewell Devizes Anthony Cox charged with breaking into the dwelling house of Robert Wiltshire at Holt stealing a pair of stockings and a variety of other articles" No place of residence mentioned.

[merrinlouise]

Not sure if this is the right way to reply but it's the only way I could find.
Thank you Pennines for the info. FindMyPast was playing up last night, but seems to have settled down now. I spent a lot of the night searching the newspapers and found additional info on the crimes committed by Anthony Cox...which is good as it fills out the picture...but as yet no other personal information.   
Oh...and I noticed you're interested in Daly from Westmeath, which is a bit of a coincidence since Anthony Cox married Jane Daly from Mullingar, Westmeath in Tasmania in 1849. Again, thank you for heading me in a good direction.

[merrinlouise]

Thank you jrc11.  I didn't know the location of the housebreaking was in Holt.

[Pennines]

Hi again Merrin --- your reply appeared on the Board, so you clearly got it right. It is confusing at first isn't it. Simply hit the 'Reply' button at the foot of the message string.

If you ever want to send someone a 'PM' - which is personal message - click on their user name at the left hand side of the screen on the actual Board - and you will get the option. This can be useful if you need to correspond with a contact off site.

Re Daly -- that is a coincidence -- Mullingar is the nearest proper town (I think) to where my Dalys were - a small place named Collinstown. Not got too far with the Irish lines (so frustrating) - haven't come across a Jane Daly I'm afraid.

By the way -- if you subscribe to Find My Past - there are some Wiltshire registers and records on that site. To access them;
1. Click Search on the ribbon menu at the top of home page.
2. Tab to A-Z of record Sets from the Drop Down menu which appears
3. Type in 'Wiltshire' (without the quotes) - as you are typing -- a selection of their Wiltshire datasets will appear. There aren't many -- but there are a load of baptisms which may prove fruitful for you.

Good Luck with your research.

[goddles1]

Hi Merrin

I guess you have checked the 4 convict documents that are available on the Tas Arcchives aite.  If not, search the Name Index and follow from there.

One thing I noticed when I checked the document, Description List (go to: http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-3,242,64,F,60)  is the word 'Trowbridge'.  As best I know this will be his 'native place' or perhaps where he was recorded as being late of when charged.

If you were able to access a copy of the indictment for his 1832 crime, which would be held at The National Archives, at Kew (UK) I would suspect that it will refer to Trowbridge,as either his native place of where he came from at the time of his crime.

As for the earlier conviction, I doubt there is much recorded about his origins.  Usually there's only a Calendar of Prisoners which give basic information, which is consistent to that provided in the transcriptions found on Findmypast.