Walter Pettit Tricker ( ( 1823 - 1907)
Walter was born in Stowupland the son of Mary Edward and her husband Walter Pettit Tricker (1794- 1874, husbandman). He was baptised on 18th August, 1823.
He was one of 10 children, though the brother born the year before his birth died before Walter was born.
In 1841, the 16 year old Walter was sentenced to transportation for 14 years for stealing 5 tame rabbits.
At age 15 or 16, just after the birth of his youngest sibling he was found guilty of stealing 5 tame rabbits from George Barnard of Stowmarket. He was sentenced to be transported for 14 years. He was held in a prison hulk awaiting transportation but his parents appealed his sentence. The sentence was adjusted to 7 years and the sentence to be served in England.
He never learned to read or write and in November 1845 he is described as a labourer when he enlisted with the 65th )2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment of Foot. By 1846 he was onboard the East Indiaman, Jave bound for Van Dieman’s Land.
Their were many clashes between the British Army and Maoris, for his service Walter was awarded the New Zealand Medal.
He purchased his discharge for £20 on 31 December 1849. In 1856 he married 15-year old Beborah and had 11 children and settled into a farming life.
Life did not always go smoothly as he was accused of murder and found guilty. However in 1870 Tricker was released but did not receive a full pardon until 1891. Eventually through hard work he re-established himself and by his death in 1907 had a substantial property.
Extracts from Christine Clement’s book, ;Walter Tricker, Soldier, Farmer, Victim of Injustice’ (Tricker:2014). Her book retells in detail the story of Walter Pettit Tricker who made a new life in New Zealand in the 19th century.
Following the death of Walter Tricker in 1907, the Christchurch News (New Zealand) printed a report of an 1870’s murder trial in which Walter had been accused and convicted of the murder of a man named Rayner. Walter was sentenced to life imprisonment but released after three or four years confinement.
Read more about other members of the Tricker families in Stowupland.
