Robin Latham "Who Do Think You Are!"

Robin Latham's Zoom Talk.pdf

Tony Webb asked me to give a talk on anything I wished.

Well – it's NOT badgers, OR milk prices OR even Brexit

My talk is a variation of ''WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE'' or do you know your background.

I was newly married in 1967 – a year later Foot and Mouth wiped my herd out

• all my cattle and pigs were slaughtered
• it gave me a break to re-organise my farm buildings

Demolishing a piggery wall, I found an interesting brick – written in capitals in the soft clay, obviously done before firing – was EDWARD LATHAM AUGUST 2 nd .1889-

In Cheshire in those days – they just dug a hole and made bricks from the clay, and fired them on the farm – three large squares of burnt earth mark the spot to this day.

My topic therefore is THE SURNAME LATHAM.

I'm continuously being asked are you related to so and so Latham!

Latham is such a common farming surname in South Cheshire. DETERMINED TO FIND more about various relationships I attempted to do a family tree.

Perhaps I would find something interesting or possibly exciting.

A huge grave in one churchyard SUGGESTED THE FAMILY once HAD MONEY – where had it disappeared to?

Tough there is a well known saying ''Be careful what you wish for''

After checking through census forms in libraries and sorting through my piles of notes – I BECAME overwhelmed and gave up.

With the arrival of computers and printers, it's much easier. I joined the Find my Past and Ancestry Family History sites.

The 1851 Cholmondeley census – George Latham – a direct relation gave his place of birth as Muccleston in Staffordshire – on the 1841 Muccleston census – I found his mother was Jane Latham – a widow renting a farmjust behind Bridgemere nurseries called Phnsons Hayes farm, and it still exists today – LIVING with some of her family – but no husband. I discovered she had had 13 children, 8 boys and 5 girls – some had already left home, - her last child born 1831 was christened Colton Latham.

The marriage records in Standon parish church – confirmed Jane Smith had married a farmer called William Latham on 28^th September 1808.

When alive – husband William – who must have been a highly respected farmer and of good character. Records show – He was a member of the Woore Association for the Prosecution of Felons, and had just received a notice – The next Annual Meeting would be held on17th June 1831 for dinner at the Swan Inn, Woore, Staffordshire at 2 pm sharp.

As judge and jury they had the responsibility for passing judgements on wrongdoers, - in extreme cases sending them to Australia.

From reasons unknown – William appeared to have suddenly died in 1831 – His wife Jane – well educated – was no ordinary girl she could read and write – and was obviously thought suitable to replace William on the Felons Association.

Her father owned the Sydney Smith & Sons, Brass foundry in Nottingham. They were huge contractors to the Admiralty and British War department with offices in London, Glasgow and Sunderland, even supplying George Stephenson with safety valves for his steam engines.

In case, you are dubious about my family connection claim (see headed letter dated 1895) – copy shown

This letter is from Isaac Smith to George Latham reminding him of their visit – to the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, with his father Sydney Smith.

But something odd happened to the Latham family in Mucklestone – they appeared to have fled – none of Jane's first six children had married in Mucklestone Church – why?

In 1833 – Jane's name was struck off – the Felons Association committee, why?

My collection of Latham Wills proved the family had been living in Mucklestone and surrounding parishes for over 200 years – now they appeared to have scattered – gone – why?

Farmers by the very nature of their work remain fairly static

When Jane died aged 93 in 1879, she was buried in Wybunbury churchyard not in

Mucclestone churchyard with her husband! Why?

Persistent scanning through old newspaper for family references and by using different

computer sites.

The mystery – Why had the family fled?

Totally shamed and horrified, how could anyone in the family hold their heads up again?

The reason – Samuel Latham – Williams cousin had been arrested for stealing a calf, and was imprisoned

in Chester gaol – convicted at the County assizes on 2^nd Sept 1829 and sentenced to death by hanging – Imagine the families utter disgrace!

Naturally,the family gathered round – what else could they do?

A petition was signed by the Church warden, and twelve parishioners was sent to Robert Peel the Home Secretary – asking for Samuel's past-irreproachable character to be taken into consideration.

The result

Samuel Latham aged 30, a butcher – convicted of Cattle stealing had his Sentence

commuted to transport to Australia for life. He would remain in Chester gaol until

transport could be arranged for him and other prisoners to be sent to Chatham docks, and held in a prison bulk – a de-masted un-seaworthy ship, and wait for the next ship carrying convicts to Australia.

Now imprisoned in Chester Castle – transport for 12 convicts was arranged for Tuesday morning 7^th November 1829.

The London Stage coach “Albion” would collect them from The Feathers Inn, Bridge Street, Chester.

One of Chester’s foremost coaching Inns built 1629- with extensive stables in town.

The substantial stage-coach its wooden wheels with iron rims and minimal springs had to carry 18 adults 250 miles along the uneven roads to Chatham docks.

It certainly wouldn't have been a very comfortable journey.

The Feathers Licensee William Jones took advantage of the assembled crowd waiting for the prisoners to arrive in the cobbled stable yard – ready to jeer at them as they departed.

The Licensee had issued an invitation to Chester race goers and worthy Equestrians that they had plentiful tables invitingly laid out with excellent food – Also FOR SALE a Black boy, 9 years old – capable of waiting in genteel company, remarkable for his good temper and affable behaviour – APPLY to Mr Leech. (remember this was 1829)

The convicts arrived, - 12 surly men chained together – guarded by jailers, all had been sentenced to death, their sentences now commuted to deportation to Australia for life.

(Britain having lost its 13 American Colonies now used Australia as a dumping ground for convicts – if only to populate it before the French. Britain continued transportation for 80 years.)

The stable yard now full of PEOPLE SHOUTING ORDERS – the convicts needed splitting into 3 groups – The noise of adjusting their ankle irons and wrist chains, and shaking of the coach as convicts clambered on top with their chains rattling, squeezing onto the high “Dickey” roof seat – behind the Box seat, and deciding who would sit in relative comfort inside, the commotion would be enough to unsettle any horse. The coachman and grooms – had already done an hours work preparing for the journey-were now standing patiently holding the head collars of the two leading horses, with the two younger ones behind their collars attached to the central pole, all fed and watered and impatient to leave and get moving.

The convicts divided into three groups – the Box seat, the Dickey seat, and inside the coach.

Once again -

The miracle of computers helps with the details of my story

This is copied from the newspaper cutting Chester Court report

The following is a full and authentic account of the affair

A report of the Transportation of 12 Convicts from Chester to Chatham Docks 14^th November 1829

On Tuesday morning last, the Albion London coach left the Feathers Inn, in the city (Chester) with the following convicts, all of whom had been sentenced to death -  but commutated to transportation to Australia for life.

The CONVICTS name and crimes

Samuel Stevens and John Sefton for uttering forged notes

Henry Wyatt for maliciously stabbing Henry Burgess

George Edwards, John Poole, William Riles, Joseph Worthington

William Beach for horse stealing

John Cately for forgery
Samuel Latham for stealing a calf

James Andrew, and Mosses Mottram for sheep stealing.

Besides the prisoners there were in the coach, Mr George Hillidge,  ( formerly of Manchester) deputy-governor of Chester Castle, who had charge of the convicts:

Mr Davies land lord of the Caernarvon Castle(a Pub) and a man named Roberts who accompanied him as assistants, and two passengers.

The prisoners were handcuffed in different parties, by a chain, bound their respective left hands. Around their ankles were usual irons, and dispersed in the coach in the following manner;- Four of the felons sat in front with the guard of the coach and coachman:- five sat behind them on the Dickey seat under the charge of Roberts , and three convicts occupied the inside of the coach, under the surveillance of Davis.

Until the coach arrived about a mile from Walsall, (60 mile) North of Birmingham nothing particular occurred: but here the pole chain of one of the wheelers, a spirited mare became unhooked( and she broke loose) – in consequence of which she was unmanageable: and the other horse alarmed at her restiveness, --sprung into a gallop, and ran away with the coach.

Two hundred yards from the George Inn at Walsall, - out of control  - the coach collided with an oncoming cart, so violent was the collision, that Mr Hillidge and the coachman were thrown off the box seat, - (therefore no-one was controlling the horses) – the iron work of the high dickey seat (7 or 8 feet high above ground level being forcibly torn from the coach, three of the convicts, Roberts and a lady, were precipitated into the street. None of the latter were much injured but we sincerely regret to say – that Mr Hillidge had his left knee so severely fractured that amputation was (considered) necessary, and his right leg was also broken below the knee. The coachman too, received a blow below the ankle bone, which we are sorry to learn, has since mortified and caused his death. The mare has likewise died through the injury sustained in the collision, no doubt a broken leg.

Mr Hillidge and the coachman were, of course unable to proceed on their journey, and the convicts were left in the custody of Davis and Roberts. The coach – able to continue. At Birmingham a change of coaches took place, and about five miles beyond that town the convicts partook of some refreshments: but they had not proceeded much further when the guard of the coach thought he heard someone at work with a file. He communicated his suspicions to the keeper who was on the front box with the coachman, and who immediately removed to the back part of the coach, the guard taking his seat on the coach box. About half-past eleven, the coach arrived at Coventry, and it was here ascertained that the irons of all the convicts were safe.

After (again) changing the horses the coach proceeded, and at a place called Thurlaston, about eight miles beyond Coventry, the desperadoes commenced the operations for their escape.

The four convicts in front, amongst whom was Edwards, his offence was horse stealing,

He would know how to control the horse- seized the coachman and guard, bound them to the iron seat, and stopped the horses,- declaring that they were determined to escape, - but would not injure any one provided no resistance was made.

At the same moment a similar plan was adopted with Roberts, who was sitting behind – they bound him to the iron seat – and the three convicts inside(being) aware of their plan and by confusion outside of what was going on, fell upon Davis , and after a severe struggle in which he fought until he became exhausted, they succeeded in overpowering him, and after rifling his pockets in which they found the key to their handcuffs, -they liberated themselves, - and handcuffed him behind his back.

Having thus far accomplished their purpose, (a part) some of the convicts un-tackled the horses, and lost no time in endeavouring to release themselves from their leg irons, but this was a more difficult task than they had contemplated, for being able to find the guards tool box, they were obliged to content themselves with the slipper of the wheel – instead of using a hammer.

          Let me explain,

(the slipper – was a heavy wedge shaped piece of channel iron carried by coaches used as a wheel braking mechanism to slow the coach when going downhill or to keep it stationery while loading, the convicts used this as a substitute hammer to break their ankle irons)

They were engaged in this attempt when the approach of the Alliance coach from London to Liverpool disturbed them, and fearful of being retaken, they all made off down Thurlaston Lane, and sought shelter in the woods – which are here very thick, and well calculated for the purpose of concealment, - the one who bound the coachman having, for some reason which has not yet being ascertained, previously released him.

The two keepers, after being released from their bonds by the passengers of the Alliance coach, returned to Coventry by that conveyance, and having procured another coach, and the assistance of Mr Carter, of Coventry gaol, and a posse of constables, they returned to the scene of action. Four of the convicts , Andrews, Wyatt, Worthington and Riles were speedily retaken;- one of them found in the wood, about three miles from the place of Escape, two others at Wolston, and a fourth at Ryton, where he was detained by the keeper of the turnpike gate. These were sent off by the Greyhound coach, on Thursday evening, a few minutes only prior to the arrival at Coventry, of Mr Dunstan the Constable of Chester Castle, with eight other convicts transports whom he was conveying to Chatham, and who were sent on immediately. Mr Dunstan remaining at Coventry to assist in the recapture of the others. On Thursday night, three more convicts were apprehended, viz. Mottram, Catley, and Latham , in a barn, - 2 nights on the run at Church Lawford, and  were sent under a proper escort to the place of their destination; and from prompt measures which have been taken, - scouts have been dispatched in every direction. -there is very little doubt the the remaining five will be ultimately secured.

The friends of Mt Hillidge will be happy to learn that the gentleman is going as well as circumstances will allow, and the kindest attention is paid to his every want by Mr Fletcher and his family, of the George Inn, Walsall.

                                        End of Courant newspaper report

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Samuel eventually   arrived at Chatham dock yard 7^th November 1829 and was delivered to a HULK which began life as a French Frigate named HEBE captured 1809 – and renamed HMS Ganymede -  later in 1819 she became a prison hulk and was broken up in 1838.

              On arrival, the prisoners were immediately stripped and washed and given a suit of coarse clothing, to help prevent introducing disease on board,their own clothes were taken from them.

Then iron shackles were put around their ankles and sent below (anyone caught releasing the chains or any other misdemeanour were flogged with a cat-o-nine-tails)

Life in the prison hulks was terrible many died from cholera, or typhoid – mortality of 30% was common. Prisoners lived below decks with poor ventilation and lighting, sleeping on bare boards waiting to be allocated a ship. Packed in like sardines they were allowed 10 inches of lying space.

Preparing to leave for Australia – Moored at Chatham DOCKS was the Brig Nithsdale, a two/three masted ship of 414 tons built in 1826 with a crew of 32. The British Government paid ship owners a figure on tonnage (£6-10-0 per ton)

Loading food and water for 140 days at sea must have been a huge physical responsible exercise. Salted beef, biscuits, live poultry. How did they manage for water?

Samuel Latham -had already spent 33 days in the prison HULK Ganymede and 15 days below decks on the Nithsdale before sailing on 26^th December 1829 to Australia. Onboard was a military presence – Remember these desperate convicts needed to be controlled.

Captain Robert Moffat age 19 – born 1800 Ireland, married 1829 died 1848 aged 47 plus 29 Commissioned officers and men of the 17^th Regiment, (the captain’s wife and her friend Miss Singer.) (George Whittle and his wife and child were free passengers)

250 adults on board -would need a daily supply of food and water!

To make the voyage economic, 184 convicts were squeezed in below decks from other hulks – each with 10 inches lying space.

Records show on-

9^th December 1829  60 male convicts from the hulk Ganymede

18^th December 1829 64 male from Sheerness ship Retribution

19^th December 60 male from Dolphin Chatham

While checking details – I was shocked by the youthful ages of people in senior positions.

Military Captain  19 years old had 29 men

Ships Captain – Thomas Christian   age 32 (born 1797 died aged 45) had a crew of 32

Surgeon- superintendent Robert Malcolm age 32

Appointed assistant Surgeon Royal Navy 10^th June (age 15) to HMS Conqueror St Helena 1816

This was his 2^nd  convict voyage.

At age 22 – appointed a Surgeon to the Royal Navy in September 1819( Probably meant he could use a saw)

He kept the official journal and checked the convicts health before they boarded (The Journal still exists)

On arrival in Australia He was the first and only man allowed ashore, been responsible for the CONVICTS INDENTS of health records needed permission to disembark, which could only be granted by the Colonial Governor – again the convicts were re-examined and a medical record kept of each one.

After 131 days at sea – considering the general discomfort, the weather – the living arrangements and food -

184 CONVICTS embarked -  183 CONVICTS arrived – only 1 death.

(As a -point of interest. A total of 608 ships transported 168,000 CONVICTS to Australia) during this period transportation was considered an acceptable punishment

Samuel’s INDENT record – age 33, 5' 11” tall brown hair and eyes, dark ruddy complexion, blue mark between right thumb and forefinger.  Large burnt mark on shoulder, no doubt the result of crashing onto the road.

Thanks to Rod for retyping this talk as a word doc.