Illustration by Christine Fuller
The edition of the Bury & Norwich Post of the 25th November, 1846, contained the following article:
WHOLESALE SHEEP-STEALING - On Friday last, two men passed through Wymondham, driving 14 fat sheep, one of which they sold to Mr Cross, a butcher, for 35 shillings, saying they were in the employ of Mr Bilham, of Stow Bedon, and were taking the sheep to Norwich market.
As the value of the sheep was at least 45 shillings, Mr Cross suspected they were stolen; and telling the men he would see their master the next day and pay him, he communicated his suspicions to Pout and Fritter, two of the rural force stationed at that town, by whose directions he and another butcher, named Bales, followed the prisoners, and having overtaken them, about a mile from the town, Cross purchased three more, at the same price, 35 shillings; and Bales bought the other then for 38 shillings each.
The Police then took the men into custody, who gave their names as James Fawkes Skipper of Great Ellingham aged 32; and James Skipper of Hingham aged 17. Though of the same name, they said they were no relations, and persisted in the tale of their being employed by Mr Bilham, which was ascertained to be false. On Saturday they were taken before W R Cann Esq., by whom they were remanded; and since, the police have discovered that the sheep were stolen from Edmund Farrar Esq., of Sporle with Palgrave, whose shepherd have identified them.
Quarter Sessions
On the 6th January, 1847, both men appeared at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions held at the Shirehall, in Norwich.
The court found both men guilty of the offence.
James Skipper had previous convictions for two other felonies. Both James Skipper and James Faux Skipper received a sentence of 10 years transportation.
Leaving Norwich
On the 25th March, 1847, a group of prisoners left Norwich Castle for the Milbank receiving prison in London. This included James Skipper and James Faux Skipper. They probably remained in the prison until they were transported in accordance with the sentence.
James Fawkes Skipper
Although James Fawkes Skipper is said to be ‘of Great Ellingham’, he was born in Hingham. He may well be the James Skipper born on the 2nd October, 1816 to John and Tabitha Skipper (nèe Cooper). His baptism took place in the Parish Church at Hingham on the 5th October, 1816.
Just two months before his arrest, he had married Elizabeth Denmark (daughter of Isaac Denmark) in St James’s Church Great Ellingham. Elizabeth Denmark was born in Great Ellingham.
1851
The 1851 census captures Elizabeth Skipper as ‘married woman’ 25 year old Elizabeth Fawkes living in Long Street with her widowed mother, Hannah Denmark, and brothers, Edward 27 and Henry 21. Elizabeth Fawkes has a one year old son Henry.
1861
Ten years later, Elizabeth is using the last name Skipper. The 1861 census lists 34 year old Elizabeth F Skipper as a housekeeper for 34 year old single man Frederick Watson. They are living in Church Street. Elizabeth now has four children – 11 year old George H (Henry), Emily aged 8, Frederick W 4 and one year old Hannah.
I presume that James Fawkes Skipper was indeed transported. He may well have been sent to Van Diemen’s Land (later Tasmania) which was the primary penal colony from the early 1800s until 1853.
1871
By 1871, Elizabeth has dropped the last name of ‘Skipper’ and uses the surname of Forks (or variants). She remained with Frederick Watson with whom she appears to have had at least five children.
42 year old Elizabeth Forks and shoemaker Frederick Watson are living in Church Street. With them are their children Henry 22, Emily 17, Frederick 13, Maria 10 and 8 year old Elizabeth. However, the children are all listed as ‘Forks’.
1881
The 1881 census finds 53 year old Elizabeth using the last name ‘Watson’. However, I have not found a marriage between Elizabeth and Frederick Watson.
Elizabeth is still living with Frederick Watson. They are in Brick Lane, Attleborough. With them are some of their children and a grandchild, as well as Elizabeth’s brother, Edward Denmark.
1891
By 1891, Elizabeth has reverted to the last name ‘Forkes’. She is still with Frederick Watson and they are living in Market Street, Attleborough, along with their 26 year old daughter Elizabeth and grandchildren Agnes 12, Bertey 7 and five month old Violet.
Contact following Transportation?
We can but wonder whether Elizabeth ever had contact with her husband, James Fawkes Skipper. Did he ever come back to England after he had served his sentence of 10 years transportation. However, very few convicts made the journey home to England. Many took the opportunity of a better life in the ‘new land’.
I wonder whether Elizabeth is the 83 year old Elizabeth Forkes (born Great Ellingham) living in High Street, Shipdham in 1911. She describes herself as a widow. Elizabeth also states that she had completed 60 years of marriage. She had given birth to five children, four of whom were still living.
Death of Elizabeth Fawkes Skipper
Elizabeth may have died in 1911, not long after the census. The death of a 79 year old Elizabeth F Skipper is registered in the Mitford District between April and June 1911.
It is not unusual to find anomalies in a death registration. Many people did not either know when they were born or they just forgot. Further, many relatives did not know the actual year of their loved-ones birth.
Sources:
25th November, 1846 Bury & Norwich Post & 27th March 1847 Norfolk Chronicle. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD609. Also available via www.familysearch.org and www.ancestry.co.uk
Hingham Parish Registers & Archdeacon’s & Bishop’s Transcripts. Norfolk Record Office. PD 575. Also available www.ancestry.co.uk
1851 census HO107/1823/127
1861 census RG9/1237/80
1871 census RG10/1841/87
1881 census RG11/1974/51
1891 census RG12/1549/24
1901 census RG13/1850/68
1911 census RG14/11498/104
England & Wales. Criminal Registers, 1791-1892. Class: HO 27; Piece: 82; Page: 303
Home Office: Criminal Registers, Middlesex and Home Office: Criminal Registers, England and Wales; Records created or inherited by the Home Office, Ministry of Home Security, and related bodies, Series HO 26 and HO 27; The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
UK, Prison Commission Records, 770-1951. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; PCOM 2: Metropolitan Police: Criminal Record Office: Habitual Criminals Registers and Miscellaneous Papers. PCOM 2 1770-1951 Home Office and Prison Commission: Prisons Records, Series 1. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives. Ancestry.com. UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2020.