THE STORY OF GEORGE SAUNDERS WHO DIED AT POOLE, DORSET in 1903 -
Journal 2
The 1901 and 1891 Census Returns state George Saunder’s age as 78 and 68 respectively, and his place of birth as Linfield, Sussex. In 1891, his father Michael was living with him aged 96, born Binderton, Sussex. George’s wife was called Mary (maiden name unknown).
George was walking to work early one morning when he passed a pub outside of which, was parked a butcher’s cart. The butcher was inside the pub breakfasting. On emerging, the butcher swore a piece of meat was missing and, as someone had seen George pass by, he was arrested. By then it was past dinner time and he had eaten his dinner, which had consisted of some cooked meat. This had left a fatty residue on his pocket knife and that was the evidence that convicted him. He was sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia.
In those days that was a journey of several months on a sailing ship. On arrival he was put to work on a farm on outdoor duties and the farm was owned by two brothers who treated the convicts harshly. One day George was eating his dinner using his knife, when he clearly overheard two other Traveller men discussing him. “There’s a fine shiv (knife) the old mush has got, let’s moor (kill) him for it!” “No”, said the other, “Let the poor old mush go”.
Some time later, he was working on the drive leading to the house when a smart horse and trap raced by and a “Portmanteau” (large case) filled with important papers fell out. George took it up to the house and handed it in to a servant, who insinuated that since a convict had handled it, then something had to be missing. When all was found to be intact, George was given a job in the house. When his seven years were almost up, two sons of one of the owners’ were so friendly with George, that they asked him to go gold prospecting into the Blue Mountains with them, but he told them, “No, I have a wife and seven children back in England and I must return to them”. He boarded a ship bound for England, but this became stranded in some ‘sinking sands’ and they all feared they would die, but somehow they escaped, but only after several days. In the middle of the night his wife heard footsteps on their gravel path and declared “That’s my George come home!” When questioned by his family, George always maintained his innocence and they even asked him on his death-bed, but he always stated that he never did it!
George was born c.1823, his son Michael was born 1845, Edward (my g.grandfather) c.1850, William c.1860, Caroline c.1856, Emma c.1858. He had other children, so I presume he was transported around 1860, and possibly the other children were born after his return, as one was called Liberty. By 1891, Mary had died and George was living with his widowed father who died near Wincanton, Somerset in 1892, aged 97. Some time after that George went to live with his son William at Poole.
Pictured below :-
Holsworthy 1906 - Marriage of Alfred Penfold (s/o Alfred and Louise nee Small) and
Sally Orchard (d/o Joe and Susan Orchard)
Photo from Ian Orchard
Journal 2
The 1901 and 1891 Census Returns state George Saunder’s age as 78 and 68 respectively, and his place of birth as Linfield, Sussex. In 1891, his father Michael was living with him aged 96, born Binderton, Sussex. George’s wife was called Mary (maiden name unknown).
George was walking to work early one morning when he passed a pub outside of which, was parked a butcher’s cart. The butcher was inside the pub breakfasting. On emerging, the butcher swore a piece of meat was missing and, as someone had seen George pass by, he was arrested. By then it was past dinner time and he had eaten his dinner, which had consisted of some cooked meat. This had left a fatty residue on his pocket knife and that was the evidence that convicted him. He was sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia.
In those days that was a journey of several months on a sailing ship. On arrival he was put to work on a farm on outdoor duties and the farm was owned by two brothers who treated the convicts harshly. One day George was eating his dinner using his knife, when he clearly overheard two other Traveller men discussing him. “There’s a fine shiv (knife) the old mush has got, let’s moor (kill) him for it!” “No”, said the other, “Let the poor old mush go”.
Some time later, he was working on the drive leading to the house when a smart horse and trap raced by and a “Portmanteau” (large case) filled with important papers fell out. George took it up to the house and handed it in to a servant, who insinuated that since a convict had handled it, then something had to be missing. When all was found to be intact, George was given a job in the house. When his seven years were almost up, two sons of one of the owners’ were so friendly with George, that they asked him to go gold prospecting into the Blue Mountains with them, but he told them, “No, I have a wife and seven children back in England and I must return to them”. He boarded a ship bound for England, but this became stranded in some ‘sinking sands’ and they all feared they would die, but somehow they escaped, but only after several days. In the middle of the night his wife heard footsteps on their gravel path and declared “That’s my George come home!” When questioned by his family, George always maintained his innocence and they even asked him on his death-bed, but he always stated that he never did it!
George was born c.1823, his son Michael was born 1845, Edward (my g.grandfather) c.1850, William c.1860, Caroline c.1856, Emma c.1858. He had other children, so I presume he was transported around 1860, and possibly the other children were born after his return, as one was called Liberty. By 1891, Mary had died and George was living with his widowed father who died near Wincanton, Somerset in 1892, aged 97. Some time after that George went to live with his son William at Poole.
Pictured below :-
Holsworthy 1906 - Marriage of Alfred Penfold (s/o Alfred and Louise nee Small) and
Sally Orchard (d/o Joe and Susan Orchard)
Photo from Ian Orchard