Vol One was superb and fascinating beyond words not only for fans of local history to Oxford
"On this day in 1833, highwayman Giles Pinnegar, 25, escaped from the prison hulk Hardy where he was awaiting transportation for life to Australia. Along with three others, he had been convicted of robbing Robert Bridges, 24, a Long Hanborough farmer who was at the time returning from Charlbury Fair.
Farmer Bridges had died earlier in 1833, so Pinnegar may have feared that his crime would be upgraded to murder, with the possibility of execution. He left a wife, Elizabeth, and two infant children.
They went to live with Elizabeth’s parents William and Maria Lay at the Bell Inn in Long Hanborough. Following his escape, Pinnegar, who was better known in the Charlbury area as “Long Harry”, disappears entirely from the record. "
A true story for every day of the year in her excellent book "On this day in Oxfordshire: vol 2", available at On This Day in Oxfordshire - Julie Ann Godson
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