On 18 December 1865, London clerk George Wheeler pleaded guilty to embezzlement at the Old Bailey. Sentenced to penal servitude, he passed through Newgate, Pentonville and Portland prisons before his release in 1869. His story reveals the realities of Victorian imprisonment beyond the courtroom.
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This Day in History: 11 December 1765 — Catherine Wilks and the Printed Cotton
On 11 December 1765, Catherine Wilks was tried at the Old Bailey for stealing printed cotton from a London shop. Found guilty of grand larceny, she faced transportation, the common punishment for such thefts. Her case reveals the risks and realities of women navigating 18th-century London’s commercial world.
This Day in History: 9 December 1789 — The Case of the Missing Goods
On 9 December 1789, Thomas Davis was tried at the Old Bailey for simple larceny. The evidence failed to convince the jury, and he was found Not Guilty. This retelling highlights how even in Georgian London’s strict justice system, doubt could still outweigh suspicion.
This Day in History: 2 December 1838 — The Boy and the Pewter Hoard
On 2 December 1838, sixteen-year-old David Leary stole 65lbs of pewter from London tradesman Uzziel Emarmel. Tried at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty and transported for ten years to Van Diemen’s Land. This retelling shows how a boy’s small theft led to exile across the world.
This Day in History: 1 December 1838 — The Servant, the Spoons and the Silver Basket
On 1 December 1838, servant Ludlow Tedder stole two silver spoons and a valuable bread-basket from her master, Fitzowen Skinner. Tried at the Old Bailey later that month, she was convicted and transported for ten years to Van Diemen’s Land. This retelling explores trust, temptation and punishment in Victorian London.
This Day in History: 27 November 1843 — The Teapot and the Daylight Dragnet
On 27 November 1843, Londoner John Lee stood trial at the Old Bailey for stealing a silver tea-pot and sugar-basin from the home of a gentleman. Convicted and sentenced to seven years’ transportation, his story reveals how even domestic theft could result in exile in Victorian Britain.
This Day in History: 20 November 1782 — The Watch in the Moonlight
On 20 November 1782, John Reynolds stood trial for stealing a silver watch from a passer-by in London. Caught within minutes and tried at the Old Bailey, he was convicted and sentenced to seven years’ transportation. This retelling explores the danger, drama and consequences of petty theft in Georgian London.
This Day in History: 18 November 1878 — The Night Watch on Frances Street
On 18 November 1878, John Burke stood trial at the Old Bailey for breaking and entering the home of Frances Marshall. Caught fleeing with burglary tools, he was convicted and sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour. This retelling reveals the harsh realities of Victorian crime and punishment.
This Day in History: 14 November 1770 — The Silver Tankard Affair
On 14 November 1770, John Buckley was tried at the Old Bailey for stealing a silver tankard from a London public house. Caught with it hidden under his coat, he was convicted and sentenced to seven years’ transportation. This retelling explores tavern culture, theft, and Georgian justice.
This Day in History: 13 November 1784 — The Copper Heist in the Night
On the night of 13 November 1784, James Thomas broke into John Parleyman’s London home and stole eighty pounds of copper in a hempen sack. Tried at the Old Bailey in December, he was convicted and transported for seven years. This retelling shows how one night’s burglary became a journey to Australia.
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