Southend Timeline

Sheep Rustlers Hanged - The offence of sheep stealing attracted the death penalty.  In 1820 the last case to have this imposed happened in Southend.  Thomas Fairhead (23) a Southend butcher, Henry Gilliott (23) a shepherd from Temple Farm and Henry Jay (21) a butcher from Great Wakering, were convicted of stealing a sheep from Temple Farm, Prittlewell.  Fairhead and Gilliott were hanged and Jay was transported for life.