Wastel Brisco Born 1824 - "Assault with intent to ravish"
Reading Court 4th January 1875 Wastel Brisco & William Webb - Assault with intent to ravish - Rape.
The Brisco family at Bohemia Mansion were unremarkable compared to their ancestors who became involved in the slave trade and indulged in high profile adultry and divorce cases with a touch of libel. Wastel Brisco 1792-1878 & Maria Brisco (nee Lade) 1803-1877 had three daughters and three sons at Bohemia and son Wastel Brisco born in 1824 is the most interesting. There are unsubstantiated claims of Wastels eccentric behaviour,but a court case in 1875 recorded details of claimed sexual assault of a young girl, and for some reason the case was not adjourned for another day but just abandoned "No true Bill"
Wastel was born in Sussex and christned on 6th August 1824 at Catsfield. By 1843 he was at Harrow School and later Trinity College. In 1851 age 27 years he is recorded as living at Kingsnorth Wood, Kingsnorth with a servant Sarah Cresswell who came from Newbury Berks. Wastel was the father of her 6 month old child, Frances Cresswell born at Kingsnorth. By 1861 the records show him in Berkshire the birthplace of Sarah his servant or bedpartner. Sarah is shown as a Sarah Croswall (transcription error) and still a servant in the Brisco household. In 1871 Wastel was at Southcote House, Reading with 6 servants not counting Sarah Cresswell. The house at Southcote had been a 13th Century dwelling on a moated platform but it was replaced by a brick built house in 15th century built by Walter Sambourne or his son Drew. After the death of Wastel the house was demolished in 1926 leaving a free-standing tower and a moated enclosure.
The record shows he appeared at General Quarter Sessions Reading Berkshire on 4th January 1875 when he was 51 years alongside his labourer William Webb on a charge of "Assault with intent to ravish"
The Berkshire Chronicle on the 9th January 1875 reported on Page 3 Col 1 with careless and incorrect spelling of name & age that "Wastall Briscoe age 65yrs of no occupation and William Webb 30yrs agricultural labourer are charged with intent to commit a rape upon Harriet May. The case was one which excited enormous interest and the court through the day was crowded by a large number of men. It became known during the course of the day that some of the witnesses for the prosecution were not available in court. In the afternoon the Foreman of the Grand Jury asked the advice of the court under the circumstances and the chairman asked the prosecution if it had any application to make." It seems that there was no request to adjourn the case by Arthur Welch counsel for the prosecution but Green & Welling for the defence asked for the bill to be thrown out. To add insult to injury to the prosecution it seems William May had been bound over to procure the attendance of his wife Jemima and his daughter Harriet and because of their failure to attend he was forced to forfeit his recognisances. A witness who was present Richard Lovegrove another employee of Wastel was intoxicated and a Mary Ann Wickens had no knowledge of the incident.
The Reading Observer also reported on 9th January 1875 giving the age of "Wastel Brisco as Age 48 yrs a gentleman farmer of Southcote Manor, and described the case as a serious charge against a gentleman and his labourer described as an unlawful assault of Harriet May a little girl with intent against her will to treat her indecently at Southcote on 8th October 1874.
The reference by the Reading Observer that said Harriet May "a little girl" seems to be supported by the 1871 census where Harriet is the oldest of 5 children living in a cottage near to Southcote Manor and in 1871 was 9 years old and born at Kintbury. In 1875 at the time of the alleged offence Harriet would have been 12 or 13 years. By 1881 it seems that Harriet now aged 21 yrs was in employment as a housemaid at 119 London Road.
The Reading Observer went on to report "During the sitting of the court several rumours were in circulation that a person connected with the case had committed suicide." At the end of the day the decision of the court was No Bill and it looked as if the wealthy Wastel had caused witnesses to stay at home and used his position in society to influence the prosecution to abandon the case rather than request an adjournment to another day.
The 1891 census shows Wastel living with Sarah Brisco from Newbury that is his servant from 1851 with a Theresa Arbuthnot described as his daughter. Mirroring the history of his grandfather Wastel ensured Sarah remained as a servant for most of his life and it is not till 1891 that Sarah was on record as a Brisco although there is no record of a marriage.
On 2nd October 1891 Age 67 Wastel Brisco died. There was a suggestion that he was buried in Hastings in four coffins. Whilst living at the ancient and moated Southcote Manor with drawbridge he is reputed to have spent much money on the exterior of the building.
After his death Southcote Manor fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished. But shortly after Wastels death his daughter Frances was engaged in litigation with other parts of the Brisco family when an action Baille Hamilton v Brisco was in court discussing the will of Sarah Brisco who had died 20th January 1901 Age 68yrs. After inheriting parts of her father Wastels Briscos estate Sarah had made a will dated 17th March 1893. In 1899 two years before she died she made a deed of gift to convey Coghurst Hall to Musgrave Horton Brisco.
Wastel was born in Sussex and christned on 6th August 1824 at Catsfield. By 1843 he was at Harrow School and later Trinity College. In 1851 age 27 years he is recorded as living at Kingsnorth Wood, Kingsnorth with a servant Sarah Cresswell who came from Newbury Berks. Wastel was the father of her 6 month old child, Frances Cresswell born at Kingsnorth. By 1861 the records show him in Berkshire the birthplace of Sarah his servant or bedpartner. Sarah is shown as a Sarah Croswall (transcription error) and still a servant in the Brisco household. In 1871 Wastel was at Southcote House, Reading with 6 servants not counting Sarah Cresswell. The house at Southcote had been a 13th Century dwelling on a moated platform but it was replaced by a brick built house in 15th century built by Walter Sambourne or his son Drew. After the death of Wastel the house was demolished in 1926 leaving a free-standing tower and a moated enclosure.
The record shows he appeared at General Quarter Sessions Reading Berkshire on 4th January 1875 when he was 51 years alongside his labourer William Webb on a charge of "Assault with intent to ravish"
The Berkshire Chronicle on the 9th January 1875 reported on Page 3 Col 1 with careless and incorrect spelling of name & age that "Wastall Briscoe age 65yrs of no occupation and William Webb 30yrs agricultural labourer are charged with intent to commit a rape upon Harriet May. The case was one which excited enormous interest and the court through the day was crowded by a large number of men. It became known during the course of the day that some of the witnesses for the prosecution were not available in court. In the afternoon the Foreman of the Grand Jury asked the advice of the court under the circumstances and the chairman asked the prosecution if it had any application to make." It seems that there was no request to adjourn the case by Arthur Welch counsel for the prosecution but Green & Welling for the defence asked for the bill to be thrown out. To add insult to injury to the prosecution it seems William May had been bound over to procure the attendance of his wife Jemima and his daughter Harriet and because of their failure to attend he was forced to forfeit his recognisances. A witness who was present Richard Lovegrove another employee of Wastel was intoxicated and a Mary Ann Wickens had no knowledge of the incident.
The Reading Observer also reported on 9th January 1875 giving the age of "Wastel Brisco as Age 48 yrs a gentleman farmer of Southcote Manor, and described the case as a serious charge against a gentleman and his labourer described as an unlawful assault of Harriet May a little girl with intent against her will to treat her indecently at Southcote on 8th October 1874.
The reference by the Reading Observer that said Harriet May "a little girl" seems to be supported by the 1871 census where Harriet is the oldest of 5 children living in a cottage near to Southcote Manor and in 1871 was 9 years old and born at Kintbury. In 1875 at the time of the alleged offence Harriet would have been 12 or 13 years. By 1881 it seems that Harriet now aged 21 yrs was in employment as a housemaid at 119 London Road.
The Reading Observer went on to report "During the sitting of the court several rumours were in circulation that a person connected with the case had committed suicide." At the end of the day the decision of the court was No Bill and it looked as if the wealthy Wastel had caused witnesses to stay at home and used his position in society to influence the prosecution to abandon the case rather than request an adjournment to another day.
The 1891 census shows Wastel living with Sarah Brisco from Newbury that is his servant from 1851 with a Theresa Arbuthnot described as his daughter. Mirroring the history of his grandfather Wastel ensured Sarah remained as a servant for most of his life and it is not till 1891 that Sarah was on record as a Brisco although there is no record of a marriage.
On 2nd October 1891 Age 67 Wastel Brisco died. There was a suggestion that he was buried in Hastings in four coffins. Whilst living at the ancient and moated Southcote Manor with drawbridge he is reputed to have spent much money on the exterior of the building.
After his death Southcote Manor fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished. But shortly after Wastels death his daughter Frances was engaged in litigation with other parts of the Brisco family when an action Baille Hamilton v Brisco was in court discussing the will of Sarah Brisco who had died 20th January 1901 Age 68yrs. After inheriting parts of her father Wastels Briscos estate Sarah had made a will dated 17th March 1893. In 1899 two years before she died she made a deed of gift to convey Coghurst Hall to Musgrave Horton Brisco.
24th October 1874 Wastel Brisco age 50yrs Sexual assault of Harriet May age 12 years 3 months.