1.  William⁴ Metcalf  (George³ Metcalfe, Francis² Metcalf, Metcalf¹) was born July 14, 1808

in Battle, Sussex, England, and died April 21, 1879 in Battle, Sussex, England (Source: Battle

Cemetery Records.). 

He married Anne Bodle April 29, 1849 in Mountfield, Sussex, England, daughter of Thomas

Bodle and Ann Bodle.  She was born 1822 in Battle, Sussex, England and died 1889 in Battle.

Sussex, England.

Notes for William Metcalf:

"Crimes and Criminals of Battle" - William was transported for 7 years to Bermuda "he stole

Timothy Potter's hams"

Searched the Quarter Sessions Roll [QR/E868] and have found the various documents

relating to the trials of both Horace and William.

In the Gaol Delivery list William is shown charged jointly with George Stunt Junior and is

described as a labourer age 28 able to read but to write imperfectly. Charged with having on the

8th day of March 1839 at Battel [sic] feloniously stolen 2 hams and a quantity of other bacon

the property of Timothy Potter. Stunt "admitted evidence on behalf of the crown". Metcalf was

sentenced to transportation for 7 years.

Horace is listed as being on bail so no personal details are shown but he was charged jointly

with George Stunt Junior and Thomas Longley as having on the 2nd day of Feb 1839 at Battle

feloniously stolen 3 chickens the property of Thomas Bunker. Again Stunt admitted evidence

on behalf of the Crown. Longley and Metcalf were both acquitted

The Indictments also survive but show nothing new. William Metcalf's was dated 9 Mar 2 Vict.

He pleaded not guilty but was found Guilty. After sentence he was committed to Lewes House

of Correction to await transportation. Horace Metcalf's was dated 2 Feb 2Vict. He is described

as of  Battle, labourer. He pleaded Not Guilty and was found Not Guilty

The statements of all the witnesses also survive, including those of both the Metcalfs. The

basic facts were that George Stunt was arrested for one crime and turned "supergrass",

pleading guilty to numerous other crimes and incriminating a large number of other people,

including the Metcalf's [whose crimes were totally unrelated to each other]. He may have been

taking the opportunity to "settle old scores" by accusing innocent people against whom he

held a grudge.

In the case of Horace Metcalf the local constable followed a trail of footprints and feathers to

Longley's house. Stunt claimed that Metcalf was also involved and that he had dined at the

house of Horace and his wife and had "eaten of fowl" there. In William's case the bacon was

stolen from the house where he lodged. His landlord  stated that William had come home drunk

late at night. In the morning he had discovered the door unlocked and the bacon missing.

William had been seen drinking with Stunt in the Harrow Public House and had also been seen

walking off with Stunt towards Hastings. Stunt had been carrying a sack which the Tollgate

keeper claimed contained the bacon. Another witness couldn't swear that Stunt's companion at

that time was Metcalf but that he had been wearing a "shiny black Union Hat". William had also

been seen drinking with Stunt the night of the theft in the Half Moon PH.

The last document I found was the Bail bond for Horace in which he and George Metcalf,

cordwainer, had both pledged £50 against his appearance in Court.

Hulk" registers and have the date of William's transfer to Bermuda - 25 Jul 1840, when he is

listed on the "Coromandel"

I am happy to say that I have finally completed my trawl through the Bermuda records and have

now ascertained that William was returned to UK on 20 June 1846 [this is the date he would

have left Bermuda rather than his arrival here which would be 2-4 weeks later. He was held on

the Coromandel hulk throughout his sentence [he seems to have served only 6 years of his

sentence altogether - presumably for good behaviour]. The only "highlight" of his term was a

period of illness between Dec 1843 [health indifferent] through June-Sep 1844 [health very bad]

back to indifferent March 1845. Outside this period he was always described as "good

behaviour, good health"

More About William Metcalf:

1861 Census: RG9 / 565 Page 122

1861 Census-1: Ag Labourer

1861 Census-2: Lower Lake Street, Battle, Sussex, England

1871 Census: RG10 1036 Folio 69 Page 3

1871 Census-1: Ag Labourer

1871 Census-2: Marley Lane, Battle, Sussex, England

Baptism: August 01, 1852, Church of England, Battle, Sussex, England

Burial: April 26, 1879, Battle Cemetery, Sussex, England

Fact 1: c148391/0610

Registeration: February 01, 1812, Great Meeting-Presbyterian Or Unitarian, Battle, Sussex, England

Notes for Anne Bodle:

Also staying with William and Ann at the time of the 1861 census is Ann's niece Eliza Bodle, 8

of  Battle, Sussex.

More About Anne Bodle:

1841 Census: HO107 1105 Sch. 19 Page 2

1841 Census-1: Marley Lane, Battle, Sussex, England

1851 Census: HO107/1636 Folio 408 Page 10

Lower Lake, Battle.

(above images with thanks from Ken Clarke - Battle Museum of Local History - April 2007)

1851 Census-1: Lower Lake, Battle, Sussex, England

1861 Census: RG9 / 565 Page 122

1861 Census: Lower Lake Street, Battle, Sussex, England

1871 Census: RG10 1036 Folio 69 Page 3

1871 Census-1: Marley Lane, Battle, Sussex, England

Baptism: March 10, 1822, Battle, Sussex, England

Burial: 2 August 1889, Battle Sussex, England