James Craft (1841 - 1903)

Born 26 Sep 1841 in Laguna, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Mitchell) Craft — married 24 Sep 1866 in Wollombi

Descendants

Died 8 Jun 1903 at age 61 in Shingle Gully NSW,

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Biography

James was born in 1841. ^[1] He was the son of James Craft and Ann Woodbury. His family came to live at Mangrove Creek.

He married Sarah Mitchell in 1866. ^[2]

He passed away in 1903. ^{[3] [4]}

On 23 July 1869, four head of cattle were stolen from the property of Philip GOULD at Mangrove Creek. After days of fruitless search, Philip received some information from one of his neighbours that they had been led into the mountains and slaughtered. He immediately made for the spot and found there 6cwt. of beef in a cask (salted) and four hides. He laid in wait for several hours to see if anyone would come to take away any of the beef. After some time, James CRAFT arrived with a horse and two bags and started to load-up the meat. Philip GOULD, gun in hand, challenged the thief and detained him until he was formally arrested by Sergeant Parker who had arrived soon after. Asked if he had anything to say in his defence, James CRAFT replied that he had not.^[5]

On 9 Sep 1869, James CRAFT was put on trial for the theft of Gould’s cattle and for receiving four hides and 6 cwt of meat from the butchered cattle. He pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty and sentenced at East Maitland Quarter Sessions to five years of hard labour in road building.^[6][7]

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Sources

1. ↑ NSW Birth Registration 1715/1841
2. ↑ NSW Marriage Registration 3375/1866
3. ↑ NSW Death Registration 8495/1903
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 03 July 2021), memorial page for James Craft (26 Sep 1841–8 Jun 1903), Find A Grave: Memorial #220116741, citing Wollombi General Cemetery, Wollombi, Cessnock City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Merridee (contributor 50104731) .
5. ↑ The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 7 August 1869, page 6
6. ↑ The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 11 September 1869
7. ↑ Returns of prisoners tried at East Maitland Quarter Sessions 1869, New South Wales Police Gazette, 15 September 1869, p.207

• Paul Bech, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Paul and others.

https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Ken Goodall for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Ken and others.