GAMEKEEPER SAID TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED ON HIS WEDDING DAY W. DADLEY murdered by Poachers Upon this Spot 10 Jan 1839 Photographs by Mike and Renata Fisher Above Gravestone in the churchyard of St Margaret’s Church Well From Lincs to the past:- Lincolnshire Life Winter, 1962 MURDERED BY POACHERS By Geoffrey Hadfield In the late 18th and early 19th centuries poachers were most active. For these were the years of unemployment and subsequent poverty and hunger to the village people. Many of them were forced to supplement their meagre rations by poaching the game preserves, and if they were caught could expect little mercy from the harsh Game laws. In many cases men were "transported" or given long terms of hard labour. Many desperate fights took place between the Gamekeepers and the poaching gangs. A grim reminder of those days is to be found on a gravestone in WELL near ALFORD which bears the following inscription: Sacred to the Memory of William Dadley late Gamekeeper at Well the faithful and devoted servant of Robert Adam Christopher Esq., who was hurried into his Redeemer's presence at the hand of a murderer in 32nd year of his age on the 10th day of January in the year of our Lord 1839. I am told by old people still living in Alford, who had the story handed down to them by their parents and grandparents (some of the latter were people associated in the tragic story) that Dadley had been married that day and that the wedding was being kept up in the evening at the cottage opposite Well Vale Gate on the main road to Alford. Dadley had set up home here for his new bride. The proceedings were brought to an abrupt halt by the sound of poachers shooting in nearby Well Vale. The guests tried their utmost to persuade Dadley from going out after them on his wedding night, but his sense of duty was too great to be restrained and he went out accompanied by two other men. Dadley was dressed in his wedding clothes and was wearing a white shirt front. There was a light covering of snow on the ground at the time and the poachers had left their footprints behind them in the snow, so giving away their whereabouts. As Dadley approached them his white front gave him away, the poachers shouted out to him "Stand back or we will shoot." Dadley did not heed their warning and was shot dead. The spot where he fell is marked by a stone, The poachers shouted out to Dadley's two companions: "lf there are any more of you, you can have the same dose." They had hidden themselves in the bushes, so terrified were they that the bushes around them trembled! The poachers got away, and so far as it is known were not brought to justice. But we are told that years later a man living at ABY was supposed to have confessed on his deathbed to the shooting of Dadley. Four more poachers, named Bush, Hundleby, Dawson and Emerson, all of Candlesby and the neighbourhood, were convicted on Monday last, by the Magistrates as Spilsby, of poaching with arms in the night time at Well, near Alford, and were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. On the same day a private examination of John Baker, who is charged on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the late gamekeeper at Well, took place, and was further remanded until Saturday. Stamford Mercury 22nd February 1839 Br1gau (Rootsweb) Alternative reporting From Lincolnshire Life Magazine. Words: Alan Middleton from the June 2015 issue Poaching in Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is well know for many things – Lincoln Cathedral, Tennyson, Margaret Thatcher – but what about the Lincolnshire Poacher? It is after all the county anthem and was the regimental quick march of the Lincolnshire Regiment (10th Foot). Here's a d sad tale about poaching in the country. William Dadley moved from Norfolk to Well, in April 1838 to become gamekeeper to Robert Christopher, a member of Parliament who owned Well Hall. On 28th April William wrote to this parents to report his safe arrival at Well, following an overnight stay in Boston. He said that he had received a very cordial welcome Captain Mansell who lived at Well Hall and from Mr Higgins who was agent for the Well Vale Estate. William worked hard and developed a good relationship with his bosses and was clearly held in high regard for the efficient way he carried out his duties. On 5th January 1839 married Margaret Brown at St Botolph's Church at Boston and they made their first home together in the Gamekeepers Cottage at Ulceby Cross. Five days after the wedding the happy couple held a wedding breakfast. The celebrations went on long into the night at some point the noise of disturbed game was heard and William decided that he would have to go and investigate. Guests at the party tried to persuade him not to go out but he went, unarmed, with Charles Harrison of Sloothyby. They soon came across the poachers, there was a single shot and William was killed. He was just thirty-one. Poaching had become a big problem in the area at this time and three poachers were sent to the House of Correction in February 1839 for snaring hares at Well. In the same month four men were sentenced to three months imprisonment for poaching with arms at Well. Local farmers and landowners were so concerned that they offered a reward for information leading to arrest of Dadley's killer and there was even the offer of immunity from prosecution for anyone involved, provided they did not fire the shot, in return for the name of the person who did. John Barker from Partney was a well-known thief and poacher who had terrorised the Spilsby area for years. He was suspected of the murder of the a gamekeeper at Normanby, so naturally came under suspicion for Dadley's murder. He was arrested at Candlesby having been found heavily armed in a loft, and was taken to Spilsby prison where he was committed for trial at Lincoln. Baker was cleared of a charge of house burglary in Burgh, but convicted of burglary at a house in Spilsby and sentenced to death, but he was eventually transported to Tasmania for life, sailing from Portsmouth on 13th July 1839. The police were always convinced that Baker was guilty of Dadley's murder but could never get enough evidence together to charge him. But it doesn't quite end there. Sometime later Stephen Cowley, on his death bed, confessed to shooting Dadley, so it could that Cowley and Baker were both involved in Dadley's murder but it was Cowley who actually pulled the trigger. There is a headstone in Well Churchyard inscribed as follows: 'Scared to the memory of William Dadley, late gamekeeper at Well. The faithful and devoted servant of Robert Adam Christopher Esq. who was hurried to his redeemer's presence by the hand of a murderer, in the 32nd year of his age on 10 January 1839'. A stone marks the place of the murder and this inscribed -'W Dadley – murdered by poachers on this spot 10 January 1839' These are transcriptions of Parish Records from FreeReg Marriage date 05 Jan 1839 Married at Boston Groom forename William Groom surname DADLEY Bride forename Margaret Bride surname BROWN Groom father forename William Groom father surname DADLEY Bride father forename James Bride father surname BROWN Burial date 15 Jan 1839 At Well Burial person forename William Burial person surname DADLEY Person age 31 Burial person abode Well So he was married at Boston January 5th. There was a party at Well on January 10th to celebrate the marriage which was when he was killed. He was buried at Well on January 15th. Lincolnshire Chronicle - 1st February 1839 - " 1839. MURDER —£2OO REWARD. WHEREAS WILLIAM DADLEY, late Game keeper to R. A. Christopher, Esq., was on Thursday night the 10th inst.,MURDERED by some POACHERS, in a Plantation..." Stamford Mercury - 18th January 1839 " REWARD, and her Majesty's free PARDON to any Accomplice, he not being the Person who actually fired the Shot. WHEREAS WILLIAM DADLEY, my Game-keeper, was on Thursday Night the 10th instant MURDERED by some POACHERS, by a Shot from Gun, in Plantation of..." DCB (Rootsweb) Another example The shooting of a gamekeeper [Alford poacher George Middleton shot Charles Pollard, gamekeeper, in Well Vale 1876] I will try to find out more about this. 1876 January 4th Note from Francis Cooks’ diary “Poaching affray at Well. N shot at but didn’t hurt him. N downed Middleton, took his gun and brace of pheasants.” There is an account of George Middleton in The Lincolnshire Chronicle on 7th January 1876 - Unfortunately, it points to the wrong image and so all I can see is as follows:- " I know you ; you are George Middleton, of Alford." The keeper, evidently not looking upon the seriousness of the attempt upon his life, let the man go, as he thought he could find him afterwards for the poaching, and, as may be expected, the man absconded..." DCB (Rootsweb) Lincoln Gazette 7th July 1877 ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A POACHER George Middleton, a notorious poacher, was apprehended in Sheffield by police constable Cobb of Navenby on a charge of attempting to murder a gamekeeper at Well in January 1876. After the alleged offense was committed the prisoner absconded, and for 18 months has evaded police.…………Charles Pollard deponed: On the 4th January 1876 I was in the service of J.T. Bankley Esq., of Well in this County…………. At the time he (the prisoner) fired at me I was wearing the coat and waistcoat now produced by Inspector Skennett. I had in my hand a stick, and my left arm was in such a position as to leave a space between my arm and body. The charge fired from the gun passed between my arm and my body carrying away portions of the coat and waistcoat which I was wearing, and setting fire to the sleeves of my coat. I immediately seized the man whom I found to be the prisoner, George Middleton and took from him the gun produced by Inspector Skennett, and also two fresh shot pheasants which were in his pockets…………. The prisoner was fully committed for trial at the ensuing Lincoln Assizes. When leaving the court, which was crowded to excess, prisoner said in a loud voice, “Good day to you all” Peterborough Standard 28 July, page 7 LINCOLNSHIRE ASSIZES George Middleton (27) labourer was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude. Br1gau (Rootsweb) Some additional information:- Lincoln Gaol, Lincolnshire: Calendar Of Trials At Assizes For The County Of Lincoln Name - George Middleton 28th December, 1869, Petty Sessions, Alford. Convicted under the Poaching Preventions Act. Fined 20s., and costs 10. 6d. - Paid 1st November, 1870, Petty Sessions, Alford. Convicted of game trespass in the daytime. Fined 10s., and costs 10s. 2d., or 1 calendar month in Louth Prison. Age - 27 Trade - Labourer Education - N. Name and Address of Committing Magistrate - Meadburn Staniland, Esq., Harrington Hall, Spilsby. Richard Parker, Clerk, Claxby, Spilsby. Date of Warrant - 3rd July, 1877 When received into custody - 4th July 1877. Offence as charged in the commitment - Feloniously shooting with a certain gun, loaded with powder and divers leaden shot, at and against one Charles Pollard, with intent to kill and murder the said Charles Pollard, at Well, on 4th day of January, 1876. When tried - 19th July 1877 Before whom tried - Mr. Baron Pollock Verdict of the jury - Guilty of shooting, with intent to do grievous bodily harm Sentence or Order of the court - Seven years penal servitude DCB (Rootsweb) There are two lengthy articles in the Lincoln Gazette. The first re the committal for trial on 7th July 1877 and then the trial on 21st July 1877. DCB (Rootsweb) Two pieces of research from MADDYS52 There are a number of newspaper articles relating to the murder of William DADLEY (who was shot on the 10th, though married on the 6th - so not quite his wedding day). Though I see that it is referred to as such in an item about the shooting of Charles POLLARD. Saturday, July 7, 1877, Publication: Sheffield Daily Telegraph The shooting occurred on 4 Jan 1876, though MIDDLETON was not apprehended until July 1877. It would appear POLLARD was uninjured "the charge passed between my arm and body, carrying away a portion of my clothing and setting fire to my sleeve and the waist of my coat". MIDDLETON was committed to trial. and MIDDLETON was tried on 26 July 1877 at the Lincolnshire Assizes where he was found guilty of attempting to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 7 years penal servitude. A detailed report of the trial here: Friday, July 27, 1877 Publication: Nottinghamshire Guardian