BENNETT, John (1808-1831) & Thomas (1811-1860); ALLARD, William (1811-1885) – Hanged and transported
On the night of 17th January 1831, William Allard, aged around 70 years, was awoken at about midnight by four intruders who had broken into his Pebworth house. He found two of the young men had entered his bedroom and they proceeded to assault him with sticks. One of them, John Bennett, struck him with several violent blows to different parts of his body, causing severe wounds. They all then proceeded to rob the house until they were disturbed by a noise and fled.