Elmdon Poaching Affray

Date: 18 Dec 1828 [unknown]
Location: Elmdon, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Surname/tag: Bailey, Baker, Barker, Bond, Boyton, Brown, Burgess, Canning, Gates, Graves, Hollingsworth, Martin, Onion, Pickett, Pledger, Seamer, Unwin, Wisbey

Profile manager: Peter Jones

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On a winter night in 1828 at woods near Elmdon, Essex, a violent confrontation occurred with gamekeepers. A gang of poachers were caught and tried. Most were transported to Australia.

The poachers came from different villages in north-west Essex and east Herts.

Those convicted included:

At least eight of those convicted were all transported aboard the Katherine Stewart Forbes which arrived in New South Wales on 18 Feb 1830. Those convicts listed on the ship's register as having all been sentenced at Essex Assizes on 9 March 1829 and mentioned in a report of the poaching trial include:

Richard Boyton (bef.1811-1853) (sentenced to transportation for fouteen years)
James Bailey (sentenced to transportation for fouteen years)
John Wisbey (1810-1861) (sentenced to transportation for fouteen years)
John Brown (sentenced to transportation for fouteen years)
Joseph Burgess (1811-1886) (sentenced to transportation for seven years)
George Burgess (sentenced to transportation for seven years)
John Martin (sentenced to transportation for seven years)
Thomas Martin (sentenced to transportation for seven years)

Associated Pages

Clavering, Essex

Sources

Robson, Noel. (2014). The Elmdon poaching affray : Pond Street Wood, North West Essex, December 1828 : "echoes down the Australian corridor" / compiled by Noel Robson. [Blackheath, NSW] : Noel Robson. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/6571286
Jones, Peter F & Williams, Robyn, (author.) & Levett, Graham, (author.) & Somerville, Gary, (author.) (2024). Boyton Family Reunion 2024.Peter F Jones, Blacktown, New South Wales. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/255025926/version/288152466