To all those who have shown an interest in our Herbert convict (or not?) My Husband Roy Herbert has just informed me that his uncle Arthur was also a Burglar !! During WW2 he conveniently disappeared, living first in London then in Letchworth (some foreign country, certainly not Yorkshire). He kept appearing unannounced at the pub Roy's parents ran, stayed for a few days visiting relatives then disappearing again without notice. Blood will out.

Hereford Times 17 May 1856

FOREST OF DEAN.
FLAXLEY.-We noticed in our last, the theft of a dark brown mare, the property of Mr John Williams; and have now to add that the animal is supposed to have been stolen by a man named Robert Hawker, a native of Cinderford, who was transported for ten years at Gloucester Assizes, but returned on a ticket-of-leave in March, 1855. When he passed through the toll-gate with the horse, he was dressed in a gray mixture overcoat and low crowned black hat. The mare, which is supposed to have been taken to some part of Worcestershire or Staffordshire, is described as having a small substance about the size of a nut on one of the knees, and a rough mane, falling on both sides. She had been newly shod when stolen. We hear that the police are on his track, and no doubt will shortly bring him to justice.

Paul,I have also found that Edward Lane died in Portland 19/5/1852, which explains why he wasn't with the others when they were transported. Do you know if Henry Preest/Priest aka Henry Butcher and Thomas Brown were associates of Wiiliam Mercy, they were convicted on 7/8/1850 at Gloucester Assizes, the same day as William Mercy and William Fennell were convicted, of having assaulted and robbed Edward O"Hara at Newland on the 10/2/1849 and transported in 1851 three years earlier than the others. Henry Preest was a partner with William Mercy as Blacksmiths and Farriers at Northampton in Western Australia, it was dissolved at the end of 1868. I have been researching his associates transported to WA to see if any of them were associated with William Mercy (My gg grandfather) in WA. Thomas Brown is also mentioned as having been the Northampton/Geraldton area however his name is much more common and harder to trace.

Thanks for the update for Elijah Herbert.

Findmypast has a record of him in their collection "England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935". The source is 'Register of Prisoners in the County Prisons of Northampton'. He was bailed from Hereford on 4th Sep 1849, subsequent to which he was Committed to Gloucester County Gaol for Sheep Stealing. Convicted and sentenced to 10 years Transportation, was removed to Hereford by Habeaus. On 23rd March 1850 he was convicted at Hereford Lent Assizes for the crime of burglary. He was received at Northampton on 17th April 1850. His sentence is recorded as 20 years. He was removed 5th February 1851 to the ship 'Cornwall', for Gibraltar.

The next two entries in the ledger describe his associates Edward Lane and Samuel Lane. They were convicted at Hereford also on 23rd March 1850 for the crime of burglary and each sentenced to 10 years. They were received at Northampton on 17th April 1850 and removed to Portland Island on 22nd February 1851.

Hi Terry. You commented about the records showing Elijah was sent to Gibraltar and then died there. How can I access a copy of these records? Thanks.