James JONES found guilty of stealing cheeses in 1832

[Pat Hase]

James and Thomas JONES were found guilty of stealing cheeses from Stephen TOWNSEND of Dilton, Wiltshire at the Lent Assizes of 1832.  James JONES was initially sentenced to death but was later transported to Tasmania on board the SS York. 
James Jones seems to have spent some time in Salisbury Gaol and a Robert RUSSELL and a William RUSSELL from Widcombe in Bath unsuccessfully pleaded for clemency for him on account that they had employed him for several years without any trouble and that he had a dependent mother – unfortunately no name given for his mother.
Does anyone know of any relationship between James and Thomas JONES or any information about the parentage of James JONES.
With thanks
Pat

[ColC]

Newspaper reports on 2 Jan 1832 note that they were both labourers. Both death sentences were commuted to transportation but they left on different dates & ships.
James on 11 August, Thomas 28 September.

So it’s not clear if they were related, I have checked to see if I can find birth records that link them in Wiltshire with no luck. There are births in the same locations but different parents, so they could be cousins or more likely with a name like Jones it could just be a coincidence?

Colin

[Pat Hase]

Thanks for your interest in these JONES from Wiltshire.  I've assumed that they were from Dilton as that is where the robbery took place and have also been looking for their birth in the Dilton area but as many of the residents there were Baptists they are difficult to trace. James JONES eventually settled in Launceston in Tasmania and became a gardener there. 
Not sure what happened to Thomas. I have seen some transportation records for other people which list relations and their native place but can't seem to find any such details for either of them
Thanks
Pat

[matthewj64]

James JONES, York (2),Wilts 3 March 1832, police no. 616, native place Westbury
Thomas JONES, Georgiana (2), Wilts 3 March 1832, police no. 623 (no native place found yet) Nr. Westbury (near?)

Both found here: Alphabetic registers of male convicts https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-2  J610 to J629

[ColC]

Dilton, Wiltshire, England (Westbury is in the same parish)

James Jones Born 27 Jun 1803 Baptised 2 Oct 1803    Parents James & Betty

Thomas Jones baptised 31 Mar 1811, age 6. Parents James & Elizabeth

Colin
PS> It looks like James above may have died age 4?

[ColC]

James Jones married Elizabeth Hall (Some trees say Elizabeth Hooper)
6 Jun 1803 - Dilton, Wiltshire (OPR on An.....y)
Both of This Chapelry

Colin

[matthewj64]

Ages in 1832 according to prison hulk register and convict register

James 21
(b. about 1811)
Thomas 23
(b. about 1809)

M

[Pat Hase]

Thank you both, that's such a help.    Thanks for the link to those records - I'd obviously overlooked that one.
There is a James & Elizabeth JONES still in Dilton Marsh in 1841 and they have a son called James so if that is James JONES and Elizabeth HALL that seems to rule them out as James's parents but they could be Thomas's.  A lot of work still to do here!  Thanks for your help.
Pat