HEBBORN FAMILY HISTORY & NEWS -  October 2004

HEBBORNS IN TROUBLE.

I find most people are quite happy to discover a black sheep in the family, as long as it is not too close to home and not too recent. Well, I am sure every family has had one, or two, or more. The Hebborns seem to have had their share of black sheep, or are they only grey or like most sheep a sort of off-white.

Take for instance Anthony Hebborne of Hardwick. His crime of high treason rates as one of the most heinous under English law. He was attainted traitor for his part in the Catholic rising of the Northern Lords against Queen Elizabeth I in 1569. However, if you are of the Catholic faith, you are more likely to see him as a martyr rather than a criminal.

Then there is poor Henery Heborn [B001] of Hockmore Street, indicted for his part in an attack on the fences of Magdalen Common Wood in 1705. Was his only crime to protest at an injustice? You can see more about him in the May 2002 article.

Much more recently there was Eric George Hebborn [K027] 1934-1996. His crime was to make drawings in the style of the old masters. These received attributions from art experts and were sold at auction houses as the genuine article. Eric was never charged with any offence, but who was the real black sheep, the artist, the expert, or the dealer?

Our good friend Sue Hedges has recently been trawling the pages of 19th Century editions of Jackson’s Oxford Journal.  Her research has brought to light a number of Hebborns who might be deemed to be black sheep, perhaps only grey or off-white. They turn up in court cases as both accused and victim. I will start with two cases which are said to be connected. The report leaves quite a bit to the imagination.

The first case relates to Elizabeth Hedges and Julia Davies, two stylishly dressed young women who were seen descending the walls of Christ Church College by means of a rope, for an unlawful purpose. It was one o’clock in the morning, and they had not bargained for P.C. Holton waiting at the bottom. It seems they were known characters, and each received seven days in prison for their activities. The report says “see next case”. This relates to an assault on George Hebborn [possibly H035] by William Wright, a hawker. George did not turn up to pursue the case, but the police charged Wright with disorderly conduct. He was discharged on promising to leave the town. How the cases were connected is not explained. The baptism of George Hebborn [H035] was recorded on 19 Jan 1845, but I know nothing more about him. Perhaps he decided to leave town as well.

On the 10th July 1867, Charles Hebborn and Charles Howse were charged at Oxford with aggravated assault and highway robbery on the person of James Thomas Hall. This was said by the prosecution to be a most serious case, as Mr Hall had been knocked about in a grievous manner, and a number of gold objects were stolen by the prisoners and their confederates. The case was remanded to procure further evidence. The outcome of this case has not yet been found. It has not been possible to identify this Charles Hebborn; he might be the brother, or even the father, of the George Hebborn above.

The mystery of how the assault on George Hebborn was connected to the case of the two ladies of the night reminded me of a much earlier case in the City of London. An encounter between William Hebborn and a certain Priscilla Hodder is less of a mystery. This lady was tried at the Old Bailey on the 12th January 1791 with theft by pick pocketing. In his own words,        William admitted “I was in liquor” as he walked in the Barbican area about midnight. He told the court “I gave the accused lady sixpence and a glass”. As they came out of the pub she stroked him down. A passer-by told him to beware of his pocket. All of his money had gone, and the Night Watch was called. The missing coins amounting to nearly one pound were found in Priscilla’s clenched hand. The charge was reduced to one of stealing, but not privately, which carried a lighter sentence, and probably saved her from the gallows. She was found guilty and sentenced to seven years transportation. Who was this William Hebborn, described as a cooper of Southwark?

I have a number of other court cases relating to Hebborns on file, which I would like to bring to you in future editions. I make no apology for bringing these Hebborn black, grey and off-white sheep to your attention. I feel that history becomes propaganda if you only report the good things.
 
John Hebborn.


Anthony Hebborne of Hardwick – not yet included on a Family Tree Chart/
Henery Heborn [B001] see Chart B001
Eric George Hebborn [K027] see Chart J017
George Hebborn [H035] see Chart F010
Charles Hebborn [not positively identified] see Chart F010
William Hebborn [not identified]