John Hewer
1834
John was baptised at Castle Eaton on 7 December 1834, ‘son of James and Rachel Hewer’.
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)
1847
On 6 June 1847, John was ‘charged on the oaths of Richard King and others with feloniously stealing at the parish of Kempsford on the 20th of May 1847 about half a pack of bean meal his property’.
Details from his prison record are as follows:
1837 John Hewer of parish of Kempsford. Occupation: Labourer.
Age: supposed 15 [suggests a birth year of 1832]
Height: 4’ 8½”
Hair: brown
Eyes: dark
Face: oval
Complexion: brown
Other marks: slight flesh marks on right side of back.
Found guilty at Quarter Sessions on 29 June 1847 and sentenced to 1 calendar month’s hard labour at the House of Correction at Northleach
Removed 7 July 1847 by order of the court
Previous known habits, character and connexions:
Native of Kempsford
F – run away some years ago
M is dead
I worked last for Mr Painter before that Mr King.
Goes to Kempsford Church.
Behaviour in prison: Orderly
Source: Q/Gc 6/1 1844-1849; Gloucestershire Archives
1849
On 23 December 1849, John was ‘charged with feloniously stealing at Northleach on 21st December 1849 three half crowns five shillings and three sixpences the property of Benjamin Avens’.
Details from his prison records are as follows:
445 John Hewer of the parish of Kempsford, Labourer
R[ead] W[write] well
Age: 16 [suggests year of birth 1833]
Height: 5’ 2½”
Hair: brown
Eyes: brown
Face: oval
Complexion: dark
Other marks: small scars right side back
Found guilty and sentenced to six calendar months hard labour in the penitentiary and twice whipped
Discharged 1 July 1850 – term expired
Previous known habits, character and connexions:
Native of Kempsford
Father run away some years ago
Mother dead
He has been working for Mr Hunter(?)
‘Church’
Conduct in prison: Orderly
Source: Q/Gc 6/2 1849-1853; Gloucestershire Archives
Note that both prison records state that his mother is dead (she died in 1846) and that his father had run away some years ago. Either he did not know that his father had been transported back to Australia or he chose not to admit it. Elizabeth had stated in 1849 that her father was dead.
Elizabeth’s crime was committed in November 1849 and presumably both she and John appeared at the same Quarter Sessions in January 1850.
1851
John is recorded in the census as being a ‘sweep boy’ in Fairford, Gloucestershire.
Source: 1851 Census, Gloucestershire, Fairford, District 10c (HO107/1968 folio 707)
More information about John is still to be researched and verified, in particular a marriage of a John Hewer, chimney sweep, to a Mary Castle, in Cheltenham in 1856. In the 1861 census, a John Ewer, chimney sweep, his wife Mary and their children were recorded as being in Chalford, just doors away from Francis’ daughter, Elizabeth! The coincidences may be just too good to be true!