Absconders

Absconders - running away

The freedom to leave home or job and seek a new life without retribution is a common phenomenon but in past times anyone who absconded or ran away from family, work, an apprenticeship, the army or the authorities, was likely to be hunted down and punished. This was the time before photographs were available and so detailed descriptions were published in the local newspapers listing the physical appearance and clothing of the wanted men in an attempt to assist in their capture.

The following absconders were among those who appeared in the Stamford Mercury during the 18th and 19th centuries:

¬ Went away from his Master, Christopher Newton, shoemaker, of Morton, near Bourne, Robert Gambel, a middle-sized lad, near 20 years of age, fresh coloured, thin nose, long visage, sad coloured clothes, buck skin breeches well worn, his coat torn on the left shoulder and mended like an L, and has sad coloured stockings. Whoever gives notice of the said lad to his Master, Christopher Newton aforesaid, so that he may have him again, shall have 10s.reward and reasonable charges, or whoever entertains him be it at their peril. - Thursday 31st May 1716.

¬ Whereas Robert Broughton, about 23 years of age, a tall thin look'd man with dark slank [long and lank] hair and usually following the business of breaking hemp and flax, is accused (upon oath before one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Lincoln), by one Sarah Ladson, single woman, of committing fornication with her and that she is now with child by him, who has since absented himself and is supposed to reside in the Isle of Ely. Whoever gives intelligence of him to the churchwardens or Overseers of the Poor for the parish of Dowsby, near Bourne, so as he may be apprehended, shall have two guineas reward and charges. - Thursday 26th January 1721.

¬ Went away one Edward Mason, an apprentice to John Haughton of Bourne in Lincolnshire, tanner; he is about 18 years of age, pretty tall, having lank black hair, he has on a coat and waistcoat of a lead colour trimmed with metal buttons, a pair of buckskin breeches and tann'd woollen stockings. Whoever shall approach the said lad and give notice to his above said master, shall have a guinea reward. N B: He has another suit along with him of a drab colour, if not disposed of. - Thursday 4th January 1728.

¬ Deserted from Captain Enos of the Honorable Colonel Egerton's Regiment at Nottingham, on the 13th February, John Baccus, born at Bourne, five foot 9 inches high, a butcher by trade; he is marked with the smallpox, of a fair complexion, and lisps in his speech, strongly made, about 25 years of age. Whoever secures him in any county gaol or prison, shall receive two guineas, besides what is allowed by Act of Parliament, and to give notice to Captain Enos at Lutton, Lincolnshire, and to Captain Wilson in Great Queen-street, Westminster. If he shall surrender himself to the Mayor of Bristol or Chester in 21 days from the date, he shall be pardoned. - Thursday 13th March 1729.

¬ Whereas on the 25th day of this instant November, John Tomson, an apprentice, ran away from Bourne in Lincolnshire; he is about 15 years of age, with a dark coloured cloth coat and waistcoat on, fresh coloured, and pock-marked, with dark lank hair. Whoever secures the said apprentice and gives notice thereof to Francis Moyer of Bourne, aforesaid, shall be paid all reasonable charges. - Thursday 29th November 1733.

¬ George Rose left his wife and family about two years ago chargeable to the parish of Billingborough, near Bourne. He was born at Musson, Leicestershire, is about 44 years of age, swarthy complexion, has a scar on the right side of his nose, thick lips, slim made, near-sighted and wears spectacles, is about 5 foot 3 or 4 inches high, by profession a rag-gatherer and pattin maker. He has been a soldier in the Cambridgeshire Regiment of Infantry raised in the American War about the year 1776 or 1777 under command of General John Parlow from which he obtained his discharge in the year 1783. Whoever will apprehend the aforesaid George Rose, lodge him in one of His Majesty's gaols and give information immediately to the overseers of Billingborough aforesaid, shall be handsomely rewarded for their trouble. - 4th January 1799.

¬ Absconded from Bourne and left his wife chargeable to the parish of Silk Willoughby, Jonathan Turnstile, chimney sweep. He is about 5 ft. 2 or 3 in. high, 28 years of age, his nose is much pitted with the smallpox, has sandy-coloured hair, and the third finger of his right hand is remarkably thick. He has a little boy with him named Jacob. Whoever will apprehend him and lodge him in any of His Majesty's gaols, or bring him to the Overseers of Silk Willoughby, aforesaid, shall be handsomely rewarded. - 18th April 1806.

¬ Absconded leaving his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Aslackby, John Gibbins, by trade a cordwainer [bespoke shoe maker], but works mostly as a labourer and has been employed for the last four summers at Folkingham brickyard as an assistant to the brick makers. He is 26 years of age, 5 ft. 8 or 9 in. high, fair complexion, dark brown hair cut very short, dark hazel eyes, long visage and a particularly long chin and nose, and walks upright. He went off in a velveteen jacket, purple and white striped waistcoat and light corduroy breeches. He has gone more by the name of Twigg than his own name but it is supposed he will now call himself Hakeman. It is believed he has absconded with a woman of the name of Jane Wray. She is of dark complexion, has a mark on her left cheek done by a stroke, black hair and blue eyes, and is about 5 ft. high. Whoever will apprehend the said John Gibbins, and give notice thereof to the Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Aslackby, near Folkingham, in the county of Lincoln, shall receive a reward of two guineas and reasonable expenses. - 27th October 1809.

¬Absconded: Lately absconded, under strong suspicion of committing theft, Edward Marvin, alias Soldier Ted, a carpenter, leaving his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Morton, near Bourne. He is about 5 ft 4 in high, upright and stout built, small eyes, ruddy countenance and bold manner. Whoever will apprehend him shall receive from the undersigned a reward of £5. Edward Baker, William Holmes, Overseers of the Poor, Morton. - Friday 13th October 1820.

¬ Absconded, John Wright, of Morton, near Bourne, cordwainer and private in the South Lincolnshire Militia, about 5 ft. 7 in. high, rather stooping, fair countenance with small hazel eyes, dark hair and a partial impediment in his speech, leaving his wife and family chargeable to the parish. Whoever will either apprehend or cause the offender to be so apprehended as to be safely committed to His Majesty’s gaol at Folkingham Castle shall receive five guineas reward from the Overseers of the Poor. – Friday 24th November 1820.

¬ Absconded some weeks ago, leaving his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Bourne, William Fox, by trade a tailor, about 40 years of age, slim made and of middle stature. Whoever will apprehend the said William Fox and lodge him in any of his Majesty's gaols, or will give information of him to the parish officers of Bourne aforesaid, so that he may be apprehended, shall receive two guineas reward. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th January 1823.

¬ Absconded and left his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Bourne, Samuel Sharp, about 30 years of age, stands 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, slim made, with sandy hair and whiskers, and marked across the throat with a cut. The said Samuel Sharp took with him the wife of Samuel Poxton. Whoever will apprehend the above named Samuel Sharp, and lodge him in any of his Majesty's gaols, shall received from the Overseers two guineas for their trouble and all reasonable expenses. - Titus Howett, Henry Bott, Overseers of the Poor, Bourne. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st August 1823.

¬ John Wade, clad in a velveteen jacket and high tops [boots], escaped whilst under examination for a felony at Morton, near Bourne, on Tuesday last. He is 5 ft. 10 in. high with a fair countenance, athletic build with sandy colour whiskers and tender eyed. Whoever will bring the offender to justice shall receive from William Dewey, Constable of Bourne, a reward of two pounds two shillings. - Friday 29th August 1823.

¬ Absconded, and left his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Bourne, Will Birch, by trade a tailor, about the age of 40, stands 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, stiff made, black hair and dark eyes: had or when he went away a light fustian frock and trousers. Whoever will give information of the above-named Will Birch and lodge him in any of his Majesty's gaols, shall receive two guineas for their reward by applying to Will Blanshard, the present Contractor for the Poor. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd December 1824.

¬ To Tailors and others: ABSCONDED and left his master's service on Sunday last, DALE SHIPLEY, an apprentice to Henry Parker, tailor, of [Star Lane] Bourne. The said Dale Shipley stands about 5 ft. 6 in. high, is 18 years of age, has a dark complexion with a large dimple on his chin and several moles on his face, his hair is dark brown and bushy: had on when he left a black coat with fancy gilt buttons, a grey mixture waistcoat bound with black and drab-coloured beverteen [coarse twilled cotton] trousers, and was met in a direction for Grantham. Any person who will apprehend the said Dale Shipley and lodge him in any of his Majesty's gaols shall be well rewarded for their trouble: and any person employing or detaining him after this notice will be liable to prosecution. - public notice in the Stamford Mercury, Friday 18th March 1831.

¬ To POLICE OFFICERS and CONSTABLES - TWO GUINEAS REWARD: Absconded, leaving his wife chargeable to the parish of Thurlby, Edward Musson, an agricultural labourer, aged 22 years: he has dark brown hair and eye-brows, small whiskers, blue eyes, large nose, very dark complexion, stout made, height about 5 feet 6 inches: he had on when he went away a new black beaver hat, brown silk handkerchief, old blue smock coat cut short, cotton corn breeches, green worsted single-breasted waistcoat, kerseymere [a fine twilled woollen cloth] gaiters, high-tops [shoes] patched up at the toes. The above reward will be paid to any persons who will apprehend the said Edward Musson and lodge him in any of her Majesty's gaols, and give information thereof to the Overseers of the parish of Thurlby, or any other officer of the Bourne Union. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th May 1841.

¬ On the 14th inst., Judd, constable of Spalding, apprehended Robert Turner on suspicion of having absconded from some Union, from having on part of the workhouse dress; and while he was in custody, Evans, the Bourne constable, who was at Spalding on business, identified him as being an inmate of the Bourne Union from which he had lately absconded. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 23rd September 1842.

¬ ABSCONDED, JOHN BARSBY, apprentice with Mr [Joseph] Cuppitt, joiner, etc, [of South Street] Bourne, age 19, about 5 feet 4 inches high, fair complexion, rather stout, gait in walking rather low in the left shoulder: hair light brown and lisp in his speech, a scar on his left leg; took with him a brown coat, striped jean trousers, Wellington boots, and a few tools of his own making. Whoever will apprehend the said John Barsby and give information thereof to his master shall receive a reward of one sovereign. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 7th October 1842.

¬ James Cooper, labourer, late of Bourne in the Union, aged 30, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, light brown hair, and whiskers meeting under the chin; dressed in a plain fustian coat, and white slop [tunic or smock] underneath, plain fustian trousers; a black billy cock hat; and strong lace-up boots. Left his wife and three children chargeable to Bourne. Supposed to be working on some railway. £1 Reward, and all reasonable expenses will be paid on his apprehension. Clerk, Mr Henry Mortlock, Solicitor, Caxton, Royston. - notice from the Poor Law Unions' Gazette, Saturday 10th December 1864.