Joseph Delaforce

Old Bailey: JOSEPH DELAFORCE, Theft > grand larceny, 10th July 1805. Reference Number: t18050710-3 Offence: Theft > grand larceny Verdict: Guilty > with recommendation Punishment: Death **This is a very long trial and can be seen in full at: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18050710-3-defend74&div=t18050710-3#highlight JOSEPH DELAFORCE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of June , five guineas , the property of William Stadden Blake . (The case stated by Mr. Gurney.) Prisoner's defence. On the constable coming into the shop, I immediately bid my fellow-apprentice good morning, on account, as I thought, that the constable was come on business; he immediately said, you cannot go; he turned round to me, and said, I shall want you, let me see what you have got in your pocket; I said, you are very welcome to see what I have got in my pocket; he took from my side pocket a pocket-book, which contained the copy of my freedom; he went to the shop-board to look over the pocket-book; I then followed him to the shop-board, and said, be so good as to take care of the things that are in there; O yes, said he, they shall be taken care of. By that time Mr. Blake came down stairs, and after he came to the place where I stood, Mr. Tagg said that he saw me go to the drawer; the constable turned round to my master, and said, I have searched him, and he has got nothing in his pockets; then he said I must strip myself; immediately I pulled off my clothes, one by one, and stripped myself properly; he searched my clothes, and found nothing upon me; he said to Mr. Blake, there is nothing upon him; Mr. Tagg said, I do not care what there is upon him, he has got it; then they searched about the shop, and in the course of a little time they found the money on the shop-board, near the place where Mr. Blake was. The prisoner called six witnesses, who gave him a good character. GUILTY, Death , aged 22. Recommended to mercy by the Jury and prosecutor, on account of his youth and former good character. Colonial Secretary Papers: DELAFORCE, Joseph 1811: Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3169; 4/1848 p.12) 12/9/1809: Conditional Pardon 31/1/1811: Absolute Pardon In looking for Joseph, found the following which seems, by the birthdate, to be him: At: http://www.art-science.com/Ken/Genealogy/PD/images2/Patrick book 2.1.pdf The Delaforce Family History Research. Joseph Delaforce, son of Thomas, weaver, St. Dunstans, Mile End New Town. 2 fee paid by Langbourne Ward Charity School. app. 1 Nov 1797, Free Feb 1805 (i.e. born 1783) Clothworkers Guild. (D) **Joseph stated in his trial that he showed his Free Certificate** Found no further records of him in Australia – since he received an Absolute Pardon and was then allowed to leave Australia, perhaps to went to America where it seem a lot of his relatives were.