George Hibberd was born in the village of Coal Aston, Derbyshire, probably in 1808. He was baptised in Dronfield, Derbyshire on 10-4-1808.
The record states that he was the base son of Elizabeth Hibbert.
Coal Aston is a hamlet in the parish of Dronfield. The Anglican parish church in Dronfield is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It dates back to the 12th Century.
The earliest records we have about our George Hibberd state that his native place was Dronfield.
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Elizabeth Hibbert, George's mother, was born c1774.
At the age of about 34 she gave birth to her only surviving child, George. At the time she was living in the village of Coal Aston, about 10km south of Sheffield.
There is evidence to suggest that the person who fathered George was a wagoner, a person who owns a wagon and carts goods for payment.
It is also possible that this person’s name was John, though there is no way to prove this.
Elizabeth married John Simpson on the 26th November 1810 at the Cathedral in Sheffield. They were both of that parish, and John was a widower.
John Simpson may have died in 1814, aged 60. This John Simpson was buried on 22 July 1814 at the Cathedral in Sheffield.
Elizabeth then married John Hunter on the 5th April 1815 at the Cathedral in Sheffield.
John Hunter was a table knife blade forger.
John Hunter may have died in 1833. This John Hunter was buried on 19th July 1833 at the Cathedral, age 50.
There is no evidence to suggest that Elizabeth bore children to either John.
Elizabeth Hunter died on the 1st Oct 1841 at her home in Sportsman’s Yard, WestBar, aged 67.
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George Hibberd grew up in Sheffield, living with his mother and step-father, John Hunter.
As John Hunter was a table knife blade forger, it is likely that he worked with George, who was a table knife handle maker. They may have worked together, or John may have had contacts with table knife handle makers who taught George his trade.
From the age of 22 he starts to get in trouble with the law. There is extensive record of this.
*Firstly on Sunday 17-10-1830. He and two others break into the home of Mrs Sarah Chapman near Pond Hill. They steal 12 shillings in silver & copper coins, a silk handkerchief and two leather pocket books. The two other offenders are sent to Australia for seven years. George escapes with a sentence of three months hard labour at the Wakefield House of Correction.
The Sheffield Mercury on October 23, 1830 reported:
Chas. Revill, Frederick Bennison, and Geo. Hibbard, stood charged with breaking into the dwelling-house of Mrs. Chapman, near Pond-hill, on Sunday night last, during her absence, and stealing about 12s. in silver and copper coin, a silk handkerchief, a pocket book, &c. Thos. Malkin was called to prove that he saw the three prisoners in company with two others standing by a door near Pond-street, on Sunday night, looking at a pocket-book with some papers in, which they afterwards flung into the dam. As soon as they were gone he got the pocket-book out, and it was the same as was now produced. Mrs. Chapman swore to the pocket-book being the one which was stolen from her house. The prisoners were committed for trial.
And later on October 30th, 1830; General Quarter Sessions.
ABRAHAM BENNISON, CHAS. REVILL, and GEO. HIBBERT, stood charged with breaking into the house of Sarah Chapman, on Pond-hill, on Sunday night, the 17th of October, about eight o’clock, and stealing two leather pocket-books, and some silver and copper coin. We gave the particulars of this case about a fortnight ago. The prisoners were all found guilty, and as the two former had been before convicted, they were sentenced to be transported for the term of seven years, and Hibbert to be confined in the House of Correction for three months to hard labour.
George’s three months in the Wakefield House of Correction seem to have some effect as he marries the following year.
George Hibberd married Eliza Taylor on 22 June 1831 at the Sheffield Cathedral.
It is known they had four children before Eliza died in 1838. Her burial record states: "Eliza, wife of George, age 29, address West Bar, buried 8 August 1838".
During this period George commits other offences including stealing, getting involved in various fights and arguments, and rioting. He spends several months in prison.
The 1841 census records the family living on the southern side of Westbar, a street in Sheffield. George Hibberd (30), a cutler, living with Sarah (6) and Betty (10) (which could have been mistaken for Beccy, ie. Rebecca). Also in the house is his mother, Elizabeth Hunter.
Between 1801 and 1841 England's population nearly doubled from 10.1 million to 18.1 million. Poverty forced people from a rural lifestyle into the cities. Wages were falling, prices rising, hand trades were being mechanised. Deep unrest existed. A general feeling of hopelessness, poverty and resentment toward the government was endemic. Between 1830 & 1845 more than 10% of the population were classified as paupers. Most crimes related to theft and larceny and were committed due to poverty and starvation, not because of a life of crime. The typical convict was an innocent creature that had sinned once and been severely punished. Criminals were thought to come from a 'Criminal Class'; a lazy, improvident, poor and undeserving mob.
*Finally on 29-1-1842 George and two others steal some pigeons in the village of Bolton on Dearne. Firstly a quantity from Francis Whitaker Tyas, and then later the same night some more from Mr Luke White. At 7am the next morning the three men were coming from Bolton towards Sheffield. They are apprehended in Brightside Lane. George was found to have 20 live and 3 dead pigeons in his pockets. He was also carrying a ‘life preserver’ (blackjack). The three are remanded in custody at the Wakefield House of Correction on 5-2-1842 and appear in court on the 28-2-1842 at the Sheffield Adj.d Sessions. The judge describes George as a “very dangerous character” who is unlikely to be reformed in England. He is sentenced to be deported to Van Diemens Land for 7 years.
The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent reported on 5th March 1842:
West Riding Intermediate Sessions.
George Hibberd, George Birkhead, and Henry Cutt were indicted for stealing, at Bolton on Dearne, a quantity of pigeons, the property of Mr. Luke White. Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Overend for the prosecution, and Mr. Heaton for the defence... John Newham, constable of Brightside, proved that on that morning of the 29th January, he went with Joseph Sellars, his assistant, and Thomas Wolstenholme and James Sellars to watch in Brightside lane, in consequence of information he had received. Between six and seven in the morning, the three prisoners came on the lane from the direction of Bolton, towards Sheffield. Newham seized Birkhead, who had a knife in his hand, but not open. Newham struck him on the hand, and he tried to open the knife, but it was taken from him, and he was captured. The others were also taken by Newham’s assistants. On searching them, each was found to have about twenty live pigeons in his pocket.
On the Tuesday following, Newham [the constable went to Swinton, about two miles from Bolton, and turned out five pigeons [from those confiscated], with tickets tied to their legs. On arriving at Bolton soon after, he found that two of the pigeons were on Mr. White’s pigeon house...
Joseph Sellars confirmed the confirmed the evidence of Newham, as to the apprehension of the prisoner. He himself seized Hibbert, who said, “Stand off, while I get something out of my pocket, and I’ll give it thee.” He was, however, taken ; and in his pocket, besides twenty live and three dead pigeons, was found a life preserver.
On Tuesday, Sellars [the constable’s assistant] went to Swinton and turned out four pigeons [confiscated from George]. When he got to Mr. White’s, one of them was on his cote, and it was shot by the constable of Bolton...
Geo. Lawson, publican, Bolton, proved that he knew Cutts, who had been an apprentice in the village, and whom he saw there with others on the night before the pigeons were stolen...
Mr. White generally identified the pigeons as similar to his, and his son particularly spoke to one of them...
A man named Moore, living in a cottage of Mr. White, under his pigeon house, was disturbed during the night by a noise, and on looking out the window, he saw that there was a ladder up to the pigeon house, and he saw two men going away...
Mr. Heaton addressed the Jury at length for the defence, and the CHAIRMAN, having summed up, the Jury found all the prisoners Guilty...
Mr. Wilkins [for the prosecution] said there was another indictment against the prisoners for another pigeon robbery committed in the same neighbourhood, on the premises of Mr. F.W. Tyas, the same night. From Mr. Tyas, a greater number of pigeons were taken than from Mr. White’s, and there were found upon the prisoners a greater number of pigeons than Mr. White had lost...
After some consultation, the Court decided that it was not necessary to try the prisoners on the other indictment...
The Chairman then said, George Hibberd, George Birkhead, and Henry Cutt, it is now the duty of the Court to pass those sentences upon you, which your misdemeanours deserve. In the first place, George Hibberd, we find that since 1828, you have led a very irregular life, and you have been several times in the House of Correction for different offences, and on one occasion, have been guilty of felony. It appears that you have spent a great portion of your time in the House of Correction.
It is not possible to suppose that a man who has so conducted himself, and is now found guilty of an offence of this nature can be reformed in this country. The sentence of the Court upon you is, that you be transported for seven years. The evidence shews what a dangerous character you must be, from the circumstance of the life preserver being found in your pocket. It could be there for no purpose but to be used improperly ; and though, fortunately, you were prevented from making the use of it you intended, it shews you to be a very dangerous character. George Birkhead and Henry Cutts, there is enough in each of your cases, and the certificates we have of your being at the House of Correction to justify us in sending you also out of the country. However, there are some considerable shades of difference between you and Hibberd. The sentence of the Court therefore is, that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction for one year.