Person:William Brockwell (4)

The following advertisement appeared in the The Times on Saturday June 26, 1830:

MISSING from his wife and children, a young man, of the name WILLIAM BROCKWELL, late in the employ of a respectable pawnbroker. Has not been heard of since the 25th of May. He had on a plum colour coat with black velvet collar, light waistcoat, black trousers, and a white handkerchief round his neck: is about 5 feet 3 inches high, dark hair, and 35 years of age. Should he be living, the earliest intelligence is solicited by his wife and children. Direct to Mrs Fuller, 9 Dockhead, Bermondsey.

This is William Christopher Brockwell, born 1795, son of waterman Christopher Brockwell and Frances Dean. Although most of Christopher’s sons followed their father into the waterman trade, this one became a pawnbroker. He married Celia Tanner on 12 Jan 1817 at St Olave, Southwark and they had five children between 1817 and 1827.

William Christopher has not been found in any census, so presumably he never returned. Wife Celia is to be found in both the 1861 and 1871 censuses, described as a widow – and with two more children, born some years after William’s disappearance! WE have not so far found her in 1841 or 1851.

Leslie Darbyshire From Brockwell Review August 2005

In the last issue of the Brockwell Review we looked at an advertisement in The Times for a missing William Brockwell, a pawnbroker’s assistant. We now have some information that may perhaps explain his disappearance.

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey have now gone online and a search through them revealed a number of cases in which William Brockwell was a witness, in each case because the accused had pawned stolen property at the premises where William worked.

Jan 1818 William Hodgetts, aged 31, was indicted for stealing one shirt, value 1s and one bible, value 3s, the goods of Thomas Charles and one gown, value 5s the goods of Sarah Charles

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1810s/t18180114-150.html

Sep 1818. William Davey age 19 was indicted for stealing one watch, value 30s, the goods of Thomas Spicer.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1810s/t18180909-146.html

Oct 1821. Ann Algar age 44 was indicted for stealing two sheets, value 12s and one blanket, value 4s, the goods of William Offerd.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1820s/t18211024-90.html

Jan 1824. Elizabeth Vowell age 28 was indicted for stealing a jacket, value 8s and three yards of cloth, value 8s, the goods of Michael Henry Hart.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1820s/t18240114-213.html

Jun 1824. Sarah Fox was indicted for stealing three sheets, value 7s, four yards of diaper value 2s, a tablecloth, value 2s and a decanter, value 2s, the goods of Charles Taylor.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1820s/t18240603-242.html

May 1826. John Grant, alias Brotherton, age 20 was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of William Malcolm with intent to steal and stealing one hat box, value 1s, one hat, value 15s, one pair of boots, value 4s, three shifts, value 2s 6d, one apron, value 6d, one pair of drawers, value 6d, two handkerchiefs, value 6d, one pair of socks, value 2d, two towels, value 8d, three frocks, value 2s, one half-crown and one shilling, his goods. Sentenced to death (jury recommended mercy).

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1820s/t18260511-31.html

Jul 1827. William Papworth, age 20 was indicted for stealing one coat, value 20s, one pair of trousers, value 6s and one pair of boots, value 4s, the goods of William Foster.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_units/1820s/t18270712-145.html

It is of passing interest that William changed his employer frequently, but more important is the fact that by regularly testifying against them he must have not exactly endeared himself to the criminal fraternity. Most of the cases were fairly minor but the one attracting a death sentence would surely have made him very unpopular.

So – did the underworld arrange for his (permanent) disappearance? Pure speculation I know but food for thought!

Leslie Darbyshire From Brockwell Review, Dec 2005