LAST August John and Liedy Fearnley from Sydney in Australia were in Cleckheaton to visit the graves of ancestors who were parents to James Fearnley, a convict who was ‘transported’ for life to Tasmania.

James was John’s great great grandfather and was convicted at York Assizes for stealing six head of cattle in Shipley and selling them in Leeds for £65 – the equivalent in today’s money of more than £3,216.

The story inspired Jack Spindler, of Oakes, to track down a similar convict ancestry – and in so doing to find out more about James Fearnley.

It turned out that Jack’s ancestor, John Siswick, was altogether a more villainous character than Fearnley.

“James was in custody for 12 years for cattle stealing and during that time he was bad just once,” said Jack.

“In 1839 he absconded and when caught was given three months hard labour.

“As far as I could see he was a reformed man after that, going on to have 10 children and becoming a respectable landowner.”

John Siswick, on the other hand, had already spent three months in an English prison for stealing hay before the incident that had him transported.

Siswick was convicted four years earlier than James, in 1831. He was caught stealing four bundles of manufactured wool from a corn and scribbling mill in ‘Mill’s Bridge’ (Milnsbridge) being run, in the parlance of the day, ‘for the benefit of Sir Joseph Armitage’.

At the time it was stated that: “The jury (at York Assizes) found the prisoner guilty, and his Lordship (the judge) intimated that he would not be suffered to remain in this country.”