1789
Born, Plymouth Dockyard to Catherine and ? Wiltshire. His father had joined the navy at the age of twelve, and was Boatswain aboard the frigate Camilla, and
later rose to be a Warrant Officer, before dying in the service. John Wiltshire also had two brothers who served in the navy. There was obviously never any doubt about John's future career path
1799
Joins Navy, aged 10
1805-1809
Engaged to Elizabeth Collins of Pembroke Street, Plymouth - his long-term girlfriend, and neighbour of his family.
1809
John's ship is caught by the French Lugger Victore. He is taken to Dieppe as a PoW, where he is held for four months.
1809-1812
Held by French at Cambrai for 2 years 8 months, with 700 other prisoners of different nationalities. Sent to Arras, then to Brest, 500 miles away. Suffers "every privation" - this may have included torture, as at some point John loses four of the fingers on one hand. Whilst at the PoW camp, John purchased some identity documents from an American seaman of the name of Riley and so passed himself off as an American.
June 1812
As a result of being "American", released and escorted by two gendarmes to The True-Blooded Yankee. The gendarmes remained about a quarter of an hour, and afterwards John was not allowed to return to shore. The vessel sailed soon afterwards. The True-Blooded Yankee was an American vessel, out of Boston, but had been fitted out at Brest. She had a crew of 133 American and French sailors, including one Lieutenant George Brown. Three days after joining the Ship, John discovers to his horror that America is at war with Britain.
Over the next few months the True-Blooded Yankee captures five or six British merchant vessels, whilst John continues to masquerade as the American John Riley, and awaits the opportunity to escape back to England
3rd March 1813
The True-blooded Yankee give chase and take the Margaret, a merchant ship from Hull, bound for London from Dublin with a cargo of linen, off Whitton Lights. Six crew are sent aboard the Margaret to take her to Dieppe. They include John, Lieutenant Brown, Charles Connelly, and William Bradley. In the evening, John, desperate to return to England and to his fiancée, suggests to Bradley that they make course for Liverpool instead. He asks Bradley for assistance in the attempt, but Bradley laughs at the idea.
6th March 1813
The Margaret is caught by the navy Cutter Nimrod, and escorted back to Plymouth.
6th March- 22nd June 1813
John is held on the Salvador del Mundo Prison Ship at Plymouth. In an interview with a Magistrate, Mr Williams, he admits to being English.
John is in his home town, almost within sight of his house, and presumably believes he will be released. He is sadly mistaken.
23rd June 1813
Brought to Newgate Prison in London
5th July 1813
Tried at Admiralty Sessions, Hick's Hall, Old Bailey, before Sir William Scott and Judge A. Chambre. The principal prosecution witness was Lieutenant Brown. John's defence is that he was simply trying to get back to England. Judge Chambre said that "escaping from confinement was no excuse for entering service on board an enemy's vessel. Nothing could justify such an act, otherwise all the British prisoners now in France would use this as an excuse". Found Guilty of Treason and Piracy, and Sir William Scott pronounced Sentence of Death.
The streets of Plymouth are alive with celebration, and shops illuminated with transparancies, as the populace celebrate news of Wellington's victory at the Battle Of Vittoria. In stark contrast, in London, John languishes in Newgate Prison, awaiting his fate.
22nd July 1813
His Mother writes from her home at 55 Pembroke Street, Plymouth, petitioning the Home Secretary for Clemency, to "entreat your honour to compassionate the poignant sorrow of..an unhappy mother, a widow, by graciously laying before his Royal Highness..this her most humble solicitude for the precious life of her unfortunate child"
24th July 1813
John petitions The Prince Regent for Clemency, saying "It is true that your unfortunate petitioner was found on board an American privateer in the capacity of a Sailor, but it is not true that he was there for the purpose of fighting against his King and Country." He begs for the Death penalty to be commuted to transportation for Life.
25th July 1813
John petitions for clemency a second time. Again he says that he "had a strong desire to get from France to this country, not only from his natural attachment to it, but also from the circumstances of having previously promised to marry a young woman named Elizabeth Collins..to whom he has long been attached"
The Jury also write to say that if they had known all the facts, they would not have found him Guilty - We the underwritten, being the Jury who
tried John Wiltshire (Seaman) now under sentence of Death in Newgate, do humbly certify that if the circumstances stated in his two petitions to your Royal Highness, had been made out on the trial, they would have had great influence on our minds in consideration of our verdict. And under
all other cirumstances stated to us on the trial, together with the extreme ignorance of the prisoner Wiltshire, we did most humbly presume to hope he would have been found an object of Royal Clemency"
27th July 1813
The petitions are forwarded to Judge Chambre, who is now at Stevenage, for him to report back to the Home Secretary on the case. He does not have his notes with him at the time "I am very sorry that for want of my notes I am unable to state the evidence given upon the trial with the ..certainty to be wished for in a Capital case & I am afraid of some mingling in my recollection". Nevertheless, he answers as best he can recollect, but his reply is not favourable to
John.
30th July 1813
8.30 a.m. Taken from Newgate to Execution Dock, and Hanged. In the final indignity of a tragic life, The Times gets his name wrong, in their account of his execution
