Timeline
1822? – Estimated year of birth.
1854 – 18th February– Extract from the Reading Mercury – “On Saturday, a man named George Clements, and a woman named Mary Shell, were brought before the county magistrates, charged with stealing two sheep, the property of Mr. John Kent, of Stratfield Mortimer, in January, 1853. It appeared from the statement of the female prisoner, who was admitted evidence, that she, her husband, and Clements had gone to the sheep fold of Mr. Kent, and caught a sheep, which they brought away alive, and killed at home, burying the skin, after an unsuccessful attempt to burn it; and that lew nights afterwards the two men stole a second sheep from Mr. Kent, and another from (it believed) Mr. Benyon. The skins were found in the place indicated by the woman. The prisoners were committed for trial.”
1854 – 25th February – George Clements, a married 33-year-old labourer, was tried at the Reading Assizes and was sentenced to 4 years after having been found Guilty of Sheep Stealing.
1854 – 25th February – Extract from the Berkshire Chronicle – “George Clements, 33, Mary Shell, – charged with having, on the 10thJanuary, at Stratfield Mortimer, stolen two sheep, the property of John Kent.”
1854 – 4th March – Extract from the Reading Mercury – “Mr. Carrington made a similar application [of turning King’s Evidence] for Mary Shell to be admitted evidence against George Clements, for sheep stealing, and it was granted…George Clements, 33, was indicted for stealing two sheep, the property of John Kent, Stratfield Mortimer on the 10th of January,1853. Mr. Carrington for the prosecution. The prisoner was undefended. Mary Shell, a young woman, deposed that she lodged at the prisoner’s house, in December, 1552. A little before Christmas she, in company with John Shell (whom she afterwards married) and the prisoner, went the sheep fold of Mr. Kent, at midnight; the men went into the fold and took a sheep, while she remained outside. They carried the home, killed it a wheelbarrow. The skin was taken off, and put on the fire, to burn out the mark, but it smelt so bad they were obliged to take off, and it was then buried in the garden, on the top of a donkey, that had been buried there some time before. The mutton was cut up and eaten by them. Charles Rogers, one of the Hants Constabulary, and Spencer, constable of StratfieId Mortimer, deposed to finding the skin buried in the garden. (Guilty.— 12 month’s hard labour)”
1855 – 7th December – Committed Stratfield Mortimer for stealing potatoes.
1855 – 15th December – Extract from the Berkshire Chronicle – “George Clements was charged with stealing on the 6th December, at Stratfield Mortimer, three gallons of potatoes, the property of Thomas Edward Bradby. It appeared that the prisoner was employed by the prosecutor to dig up some potatoes, which were put into a wood house. Some of the potatoes having been missed, the prosecutor located himself in the wood-house to watch, and saw the prisoner come in and take some potatoes, which he put into a bag and carried away but he was followed by the prosecutor, and given into custody. In consequence of a previous conviction for sheep-stealing the prisoner was committed for trial at the sessions.”
1855 – 15th December – George Clements, a married 33-year-old labourer, was tried at the Reading Assizes and was sentenced to 4 years after having been found Guilty for stealing potatoes.
1856 – 22nd January – Transferredto Millbank Prison. He is given the prisoner number 2076.
1856 – 15th February – Transferredto Pentonville Prison. He is given the prisoner number 6424 and is described as having a cut on the little finger of his left hand, imperfect reading and writing and as having 2 previous convictions, despite his Millbank record stating 1 and 1 summarily.
1857 – 10th March – Transferredto Chatham Prison. He is given the prisoner number 851.
1859 – 6th May – Removed from Chatham Prison and transferred to Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 45.
He is described as swarthy complexioned with brown hair and grey eyes, his height is 5’4 1/4 and body type is slight. He is noted as having a cut on the little finger of his left hand. He is noted as being married to Mary Clements in Tadley Hampshire and as being a protestant.
1859 – 30th December – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.