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Hi,

Could some kind person please look at the following record please. Trying to find out if its William Astill of Quorn Leicestershire who was released from Portland Prison the same year, and if there is anyway of finding out if he came back to England as I have him on 1901 and 1911 census in Quorn (Quorndon) and a possable death there in 1913. Also found a newspaper report sayin he went to San Francisco I have pasted it below.

WM ASTILL
Passenger Lists leaving UK 1890-1960
Collections from
Australasia, Great Britain, Ireland, United States
Country
United States
Ship Name
SERVIA
Ship Departure Port
LIVERPOOL
Destination Port
NEW YORK
Departure Year
1891
Image
Transcription



Release of a Convict - Daily News (London), Thursday 6 August 1891.

Yesterday, William Astill, a native of Quorn, Leicestershire, was released from Portland. In 1871 he was sentenced to penal servitude for life on the charge of wounding with intent to murder his wife. He was known to be of good character, and his friends at Quorn have lately successfully petitioned the Home Secretary for his release. After visiting his old home, Astill goes to San Francisco.

The wife was my 2nd great Aunt.



Thank you for any help.

Wendy

Wendy, when was he born? It helps when checking passenger lists.

Hi Marie,

Sorry should have said birth 1841.

Wendy

This is the one you refer to:

Wm Astill in the UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: Wm Astill
Gender: Male
Departure Date: 14 Aug 1891
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Destination Port: New York, USA
Ship Name: Servia
Master: Dutton

No age given on image, just "a" (adult?). Occupation labourer.

I'll see if I can find US arrival.

The age is right, and the destination ....

Wm Astell in the New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: Wm Astell
Arrival Date: 24 Aug 1891
Birth Date: abt 1841
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality: English
Place of Origin: England
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland
Destination: California <<<<
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Servia

On the image he's noted as a mason

Hi Marie,

Thank you it does look like him. Is there anyway of finding if he came back. wonder why he went there so soon aft coming out of prison.

Wendy

I can't see him coming back Wendy, and I can't find the 1901 and 1911 census you refer to.

Doesn't mean he didn't come back - I have relatives who lived in the USA for a few years c1900 but there are no records of their return, either.

Perhaps he wanted to put the past behind him? Fresh start.

Is this the 1911? Just putting for reference:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Leicester Road Quorn, Quorndon, Leicestershire, England

Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place

Henry Disney Head Married Male Jobbing Gardener 59 1852 Quorn Leicestershire
Annie Disney Wife Married Female Domestic 55 1856 Mountsorrel Leicester
Arthur Disney Son Single Male Baker 31 1880 Quorn Leicester
William Astill Boarder Single Male Laborer In Stone Quarry 68 1843 Quorn Leicester

Hi Marie,

OK Marie, The 1901 census says he was living High Street, Quorndon RG13, Piece 2108 don't have folio number pg 14
and 1911 census from Quorndon web site and it seems there is a head stone for him saying born 20 Feb 1841 died 10 Oct 1913 so I think it is him.

Maybe his son Allen was in USA as cannot find anything on him aft 1881 he also used the name Slater as surname as his mother Hannah (Williams wife) remarried to Charles Slater in 1878 while William was in prison.

Thank you anyway I have to go out now Dentist appointment

Wendy

Hi Marie


Back now. Sorry didn't see your post on the 1911 census yes that's him. I have him on all the census but not the 1871 but that might be because he was waiting for his trial in Nottingham.

Wendy

Here he is on the 1871 (Ancestry)

William Askll in the 1871 England Census

Name: William Askll [William Astill]
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Prisoner
Gender: Male
Where born: Quorndon, Leicestershire, England
Civil Parish: St Mary
County/Island: Nottinghamshire
Country: England
Registration district: Nottingham
Sub-registration district: St Ann
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Household schedule number: 1
Piece: 3514
Folio: 38
Page Number: 4

Thank you sooooooo much Marie,

no wonder I couldn't find him. Think I have everything on him now

All the best

Wendy

Could the headstone be just that - rather than marking his burial, it is just a stone acknowledging his death if he was elsewhere, somewhere for the family to gather and remember?

The plot reference given is F44 - have had a quick look and there doesn't appear to be anyone else in that plot. No other Astill's buried there or Slaters. The site details the transcriptions of the headstones that are in the Closed Churchyard area, there are more graves in a currently open part of the churchyard which was consecrated in 1933, but no recording of those have been put on the site.

There is also a note on the St Bartholomew's site - NB Post 1900 graves show basic details only (i.e. not full transcripts) so maybe there is more actually on the stone or in the Parish register?

Hi greyghost,

He is definitely buried there Transcript off the burial register has him buried on the 13 Oct 1913, his first wife Eliza was buried in 1865 they were only married for 4 yrs, his father John was buried there in 1886 and his mother Mary buried in 1893 all buried in same grave yard. I think he went back to Quorn to see his mother aft coming out of prison then went to the USA. I would like to find out when he came back.

As for the grave stone I did see on other web site which I cannot find now that it said he died from falling flat on his face. I think the people of Quorn thought a lot of him and put the head stone up and they also helped to get him released from prison.

Wendy

I find it hard to believe that a gravestone said that he died from falling flat on his face!

Quorn St Bartholomews Parish Church - Closed Churchyard Memorial Transcriptions

ASTILL F44 William Astill born February 20th 1841 died October 10th 1913

http://www.quornmuseum.com/artefacts/pdf/184.pdf

Chris :)

http://www.quornmuseum.com/artefacts/pdf/1762.pdf

(other Astills)

Hi Margee & Chris,

Yes I thought it was odd that was put on grave stone too, I've had a look round and cannot find the site it was on now it wasn't the Quorn Museum site.

I'm going to have a drive over there one day and have a look and see if I can find it, its only half hour drive from where I live.

He's the only Astill I'm interested in as he married and tried to kill my 2nd great Aunt.

Wendy

Well, that would be one for the Album!...wonder what Death Cert. says?.

Chris :)

Hi Chris,

Yes it would be interesting to see what the cert says but as he's not my line I won't be buying it.

As soon as I've been to Quorn I'll let you know abt the stone if its readable.

Wendy