Job PRATLEY 1775 - 1865

Summary

Parents

  • Unknown

Dates

  • Born: c.1775
  • Buried: 09 Aug 1865, Fulbrook, Oxfordshire, England

Partnerships

Sources

Parish Register Marriages

23/07/1798Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, England
  Job PRATLEY     b   of Leafield otp    
  Hannah EDEN     sp   of Shipton    
 Witnesses: William Snowsell, Ann Pratley


Newspaper Articles

Jackson's Oxfordshire Journal
31 Jul 1824 [p.3, col.a]

OXFORD ASSIZES.

MURDER OF JAMES MILLIN.

Henry Pittaway, aged 25, and William James, aged 48 years, were indicted for having, on the 15th of June last, maliciously shot at and murdered James Millin, a gamekeeper to Lord Churchill, at the Forest of Whichwood.

Job PRATLEY, James PRATLEY, George PRATLEY


Newspaper Articles

Jackson's Oxfordshire Journal
07 Aug 1824 [p.3, col.a]

OXFORD ASSIZES.

TRIAL OF

Wm James & Henry Pittaway,

For the Murder of James Millin,

gamekeeper.

From the late hour when our Assizes finished on Friday last, we were unable to give so full an account of the trial of James and Pittaway as the importance of the cause require; we have therefore this week given the whole of the evidence, with an account of the behaviour of these unfortunate men from the time of their condemnation to the termination of their existence in this world.

The Counsel for the prosecution having opened the business (for which see our last Journal), proceeded to call his witnesses, as follows:-

Joseph Millin, the brother of the deceased, said - I am one of the keepers of Wychwood Forest. After my brother died, I desired Pittaway to call at a neighbour's named Godwin, and beg him to come to my house. On the following morning, between three and four, I and others examined the spot. We examined the ground, and saw where the powder burnt the bushes, where the ball had passed, and where it went into the ground. Pratley dug up the ball which entered the ground, and it is here to-day.

Jas. Pratley.- The day after the murder I assisted in apprehending the prisoner James. While he was in custody, I heard a conversation with him. George Pratley said, "It is a serious thing to shoot a man through a hedge." James said, "It is life for life." George Pratley said, "It could not be life for life." James said, "It would be, for if the man was found out he would be hanged." I said, "The man who shot James Millin would be glad he had not done it now." James said, "If that man could not rest till he had done it, what was he to do then? Perhaps he can rest better now then he could before. My neck is but short now, perhaps it may be longer at Midsummer." On the day after the murder I and my father Job, and Joseph Millin, examined the spot, and found the ball about five or six yards from the place where the deceased fell. I handed over the ball to Joseph Millin.

James Pratley cross-examined.- I was twice before the Magistrates before I told this conversation. I did not tell it, because I was examined to another part of the case.

George Pratley.- On the 18th of June I searched the house of Pittaway, and found a bullet mould, which I have here. I have compared this bullet produced with the mould, and I think it would fit the mould if it were not battered.

Job Pratley.- I was in company with James in the April before the murder, at the Swan. James said, "If one man could have an opportunity, Millin would not be keeper much longer." I said, "You would not kill a man for the sake of a deer?" He said, "No, I would not." I said, "We shall not be dismayed at that; we shall meet in the Forest and try that out." I am an assistant keeper.

Philip Pratley.- In the beginning of May last I was at work with both the prisoners in Furley Lees Coppice, in the forest. They were talking about poaching and the keepers. Pittaway said "he would no more mind shooting Millin than nothing, if he could get the chance, and was sure no one was with him; and he was sure there would be murder done this summer."

Mr. Augustus William Batt, a surgeon proved that he was called to see the deceased, and that his death was occasioned by a wound in the thigh, form a bullet which passed through the femoral artery.

This was the case for the prosecution.

The prisoners being called on for their defence, severally declined saying any thing.

Mr. Curwood said he had no witnesses.

Mr. Justice Park, after a short pause, proceeded to sum up the evidence. On this most important case, he intended to deliver no ultimate opinion himself, but to leave it entirely in the hands of the Jury, with such observations on each part of the case as it seemed to him to require. One general remark he could make - that it was a great mistake to suppose that only one man could be guilty of such a crime as that charged, because only one man could draw the trigger; for all who were present aiding and abetting were in law, as in reason and morality, equally criminal.

The Jury consulted in their box for a quarter of an hour and then returned a verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners.

Mr. Justice Park proceeded to pass sentence of death upon the prisoners, but was interrupted every sentence he uttered by the prisoner James, who used violent action, and called upon the Deity to witness that he was a murdered man.

Job PRATLEY, James PRATLEY, George PRATLEY


1841 UK Census

Fulbrook, Oxfordshire, England
(HO107/878/16 07/10)
Job PRATLEY 60   Ag lab y
Hannah PRATLEY   60   y
James PRATLEY 40     y
Jesse PRATLEY 20     y
Charles PRATLEY 10     y


GRO Death Index

3Q 1865 PRATLEY Job Witney    


Parish Register Burials

09/08/1865 Fulbrook, Oxfordshire, England Job PRATLEY Fulbrook 90