Did they shoot my 4GGF?

[joboy]

1776 George Wood (fisherman) married Ruth Pumphrey 12 June 1776 St Clement's, Hastings
children baptised;
Mary 7.9.1777
George 27.8.1780
Ruth 9.3.1785

1784 Dec 30 - Hastings fisherman George Wood was shot dead by a soldier while trying to escape on his boat from revenue officers. The soldier was convicted of murder, but then pardoned and freed (from Hastings Chronicle).

Any likelyhood that George Wood who was shot dead would have been the husband of Ruth?
Joe

[Mutley]

Sorry Joe, I have no idea how to research this question, in this time frame.
My only advice is to find the burial of your George Wood to see if it fits in.

My initial thought on reading your post is that daughter Ruth was baptised on the 9 March 1785 but you are saying her father was shot on Dec 30 1784 so he was deceased prior to her birth.
Have you seen the actual parish register for her baptism? Perhaps a kind cleric made note of the fact.

The actual registers. I think, will be the only way you may answer this query.

[Kerrywood]

See Mutley's reply above ...

Also, newspaper reports indicate that the case was heard at the Lewes Assizes in March 1785. There's a slight chance there might be a further clue in the court records.

The crown minute books for the circuit at that period survive in ASSI 31/14, at the National Archives, Kew. I appreciate that access is difficult from your location, and none of the material is online. But as you have the date of the trial and there would be only one book to search through, perhaps somebody could go and search on your behalf?

[joboy]

See Mutley's reply above ...

Also, newspaper reports indicate that the case was heard at the Lewes Assizes in March 1785. There's a slight chance there might be a further clue in the court records.

The crown minute books for the circuit at that period survive in ASSI 31/14, at the National Archives, Kew. I appreciate that access is difficult from your location, and none of the material is online. But as you have the date of the trial and there would be only one book to search through, perhaps somebody could go and search on your behalf?

As you say 'access is difficult for me' ...... however I shall try somehow.
Thanks
Joe

[JohnN]

Any chance of looking up the Parish Register entry for Ruth's burial entry? There's a possibility that she is described as 'widow/relict of George Wood'. Worth a look, anyway.

John
.._

[joboy]

Any chance of looking up the Parish Register entry for Ruth's burial entry? There's a possibility that she is described as 'widow/relict of George Wood'. Worth a look, anyway.

John
.._

Thanks John .......... I have'nt found any more other than;
George was buried 30 Dec 1784 Hastings St Clements but no other info other than a +.
There is a burial for a Ruth Wood 21 Jan 1828 Hastings All Saints (Age 74) Other notes St Mary in the Castle.
Sadly nothing to link the two.