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Ancestor hanged for murdering his wife

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Jane

Jane Report 21 Aug 2009 18:38

Can anyone help please- I believe my Great Great Great Great Grandfather (John Gibson of Hawick) was hanged in 1814 for murdering his wife - has anyone any idea how I can get more info on this, ie his wife's name - how many children they had etc. Any help would be appreciated,
Jane.

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 21 Aug 2009 18:57

Amazing what you can get by googling!

John Gibson came to Hawick from Ayr, became a butcher, married a local girl Janet Renwick and had 11 children with her. This was at the time of Napoleonic wars and John was about to be called up into the army, so he fled to Newcastle where he was immediately press-ganged into the navy. He jumped ship in London and walked all the way back to Newcastle only to find that his wife was having an affair with a French Prisoner-of-War Officer (and this after having borne 11 children!). John was about to be nabbed by the army but before they could get him he strangled Janet, was turned in by his furious father-in-law Gideon and was hanged in 1814, the last public hanging in the Borders.

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 21 Aug 2009 19:21

Well, isn't that curious? We've got 2 different stories! A butcher or a nailor. His wife was trying to poison him or she was having an affair. Surely there couldn't have been 2 of them?

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

K

K Report 21 Aug 2009 19:27

try

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Thursday, April 14, 1814; Issue 14406.

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Monday, April 11, 1814; Issue 14405.

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Saturday, April 16, 1814; Issue 14407.

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Thursday, November 25, 1813; Issue 14346.

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Saturday, May 14, 1814; Issue 14419.

which can be viewed if you join Lancashire library
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/onrl/index.asp
newspaper archives

Jane

Jane Report 21 Aug 2009 21:02

Thanks everyone, I had it down as a nailor, but I will definitely join the Lancashire Library and see what I can come up with - thanks so much!

Suzi-Wong

Suzi-Wong Report 21 Aug 2009 21:06

If he was press ganged into the navy, could the word be sailor?

Suzanne

Researching:
Allison, Wylie,Turnbull, Ker, McDougall, Stuart, Beer, Montgomery, Chapman, Harmon, Lillicrap, Muraldi, Hislop, McKay, McCordick

RStar

RStar Report 21 Aug 2009 21:29

Suzi, I was thinking that it could well be sailor.

Jane

Jane Report 22 Aug 2009 08:54

Got all information from Lancashire Library last night - and it is my GGGG grandfather. On his son's death cert it also says the father John was a "nailor", so I think it's right enough.

First time I've used this for help, so many many thanks for all your replies...