Always go back and check your original sources.

3rd June 2022

Find My Past has offered free access to its newspaper archives to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Checking through I have found that new papers have been added since I last looked. One of these contains extra information about the trial of Thomas Bissett who had the misfortune to be married to my three times great aunt, Frances Garnett Wills aka Fanny Wells. Reading the pages to the right you will see that the jury implored the judge to be lenient with the sentence as Thomas had tolerated so much provocation from Fanny. Now a letter to the editor of a local newspaper reveals that the people of Newport, Isle of Wight paid for a solicitor to represent Thomas at his trial. After the verdict residents contacted the solicitor of their own accord to say that they would be prepared to sign a memorial to the Secretary of State requesting that his sentence be repealed. Unfortunately, the newspaper does say if this ever took place.➨

Hint 😉 It is always worth rechecking your research. New information is becoming available all the time.