Elizabeth Hewer (1831-?)
1831
Elizabeth was baptised on 22 May 1831 at Castle Eaton, ‘daughter of James and Rachel Legg’.
Source: Castle Eaton parish records, at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
1841
The 1841 census shows Rachel and the four younger children were then living in Marston Maisey, Wiltshire and were using the name Hewer.
Source: 1841 Census, Wiltshire, Marston Maisey, District 5 (HO 107/1178/19)
1846
In 1846, both Emma and Elizabeth were in court.
James Woodham
v
Emma and Elizabeth Hewer
Emma and Elizabeth both described as ‘late of Highworth’ and ‘Singlewoman’. [Note: Highworth is near Castle Eaton.]
Emma Hewer was charged with ‘having on 29th March at Highworth feloniously stolen, taken and carried away two pieces of silver called half crowns of the current silver coin of the realm and one piece of silver called a shilling of the like silver coin, of the monies of the said James Woodham …
and the said Elizabeth Hewer with having then and there feloniously received the same monies the said Elizabeth Hewer then and there well knowing the said monies to have been feloniously stolen, taken and carried away’.
Depositions taken in Swindon on 30th March 1846 of James Woodham, Henry Simpson and Thomas Proctor, Police Officer, all of Highworth
Deposition of James Woodham [punctuation added to aid reading]:
‘Last night (29th March) I was at Newman Beer shop at Highworth about ten o’clock. I went to the privy on the premises. The Prisoner Emma Hewer followed me there. I felt her hand in my trouser pocket, left hand pocket. I had two half crowns and one shilling and sixpence and one penny piece in a knitted purse. I felt her draw my purse out and she went out of the place and back into the house. I heard the purse drop on the floor. I followed her into the house and asked for my money back. She slapped my face. I then gave her into custody. The purse now showed to me by Police Officer Proctor is the same purse my property. I know it by a darn at one end and the sixpence and penny piece were both crooked and I know one of the half crowns by a black spot on it and it is one of those which were taken from me. I only had half a pint of beer before I went into the privy. The other Prisoner Elizabeth Hewer was at the same house. When I asked her for my money she said she hadn’t got it.
James Woodham X
Additional information from Henry Simpson’s deposition:
‘[When Woodham returned from the privy he said] “She’s got my money.” She said “I haven’t got no money about me.”
She ran at him and began punching him. He didn’t hit her but told her to stand back. I saw her run her hand into her pocket and pass some money to her sister, Elizabeth’
[When challenged by the police constable, Elizabeth denied any money. Threatened with being searched, Elizabeth] ‘pulled some money out of her pocket and placed it on the table and began crying’.
Emma Hewer (19) was sentenced on 7 April at the Salisbury Quarter Sessions to 6 months at New Prison, Devizes for larceny. Elizabeth Hewer (15) was sentenced to 1 month on the same date for receiving stolen goods.
Note: ‘late of Highworth’ suggests that they were no longer living there. Evidence suggests that they had moved to Burford by 1846.
Sources: Wilts Quarter Sessions A1/125/72 and A1/145/1846/E; Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
Rachel, Emma and Elizabeth’s mother, died on 19 November 1846 in Burford and Elizabeth was present at her death.
Two records of Oxford Quarter Sessions relate to an Elizabeth Hewer in Burford in May and July 1846. Since we know that Rachel died in Burford and Elizabeth was there, it is likely that these two records could relate to our Elizabeth Hewer and will be researched.
1849
On 15 November 1849, Elizabeth was ‘charged with feloniously stealing at Fairford on the 12th of November 1849 from the person of John Kimber seven half crowns five shillings one sixpence and three fourpenny pieces his property’. She appeared at the Gloucestershire January 1850 Quarter Sessions and was found guilty.
Details from her prison record are as follows:
365 Elizabeth Hewer of Burford parish [no occupation given]
Reads well
Age: 18 [suggests birth year of 1831]
Height: 5’ 1½”
Hair: dark auburn
Eyes: light hazel
Face: long
Complexion: light
No other marks
Found guilty at January Quarter Sessions and sentenced to 3 months’ hard labour in the penitentiary.
Discharged 1 April 1850, term expired.
Conduct: orderly
Previous known habits, character and connexions:
Native of Burford
Single
Father and mother are dead
I have been living with my sister at Burford.
‘Baptist’
Source: Q/Gc 6/2 1849-1853, MF1472; Gloucestershire Archives
Note that the above record states ‘of Burford parish’ and 'native of Burford'; also 'father and mother are dead' - they may have presumed James to be dead and they may not even have known that he had been transported back to Australia. See also John Hewer's goal records.
1851
The next we hear of Elizabeth is in 1851 when the census confirms that she is living in Burford with Emma.
Source: 1851 Census, Oxfordshire, Burford, District 11a (HO107/1731 folio 753)
Notes: Nymph of the Pavé – an obsolete euphemism for a prostitute
Maria Hewer is too old to be Elizabeth’s daughter so she must be their older sister Ann’s daughter.
1871
The last we hear of Elizabeth is in 1871:
Wilts Summer Assizes
Elizabeth Hewer, a young woman, was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury, at Cricklade, on 29th April. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of not guilty.
From the report of Wilts Summer Assizes, in the Reading Mercury, Oxford Gazette, Newbury Herald and Berks County Paper, 22 July 1871
No further definite information has been found about Elizabeth. As with Emma and Ann, Elizabeth was a popular name for Hewer girls and is frequently found in records.