Jeremiah Aldred

221

D Wong on 25th January 2021

Jeremiah Aldred was listed as 21 years old on arrival. Native Place: Manchester. Jeremiah was 5'4¾" tall, dark sallow complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes. 7/7/1825: COF 1/4/1828: COF renewed. 24/11/1854 Sydney Morning Herald: Jeremiah Aldred pleaded guilty to a breach of the Police Act, in riding on his dray in Kent-street, and paid the penalty of 10s. with 2s.6d. for costs. Possible death: 1865: NSW BDM - Jeremiah aldred died, aged 69, at Liverpool.

343

Maureen Withey on 24th January 2021

It appears that Jeremiah may have been a constable in Sydney. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 26th May, 1834. HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the following Alterations in the Police of the Colony; namely, SYDNEY. To be Patrolmen—Jeremiah Aldred, free, from the 7th instant. NSW Govt Gazette, 28 May 1834. -------------------------------------------------- On Tuesday Mr. Windeyer paid a high compliment to a Constable named Jeremiah Aldridge, who was the instrumental party in bringing to justice Handley and his wife, charged with the robbery of Mrs. Purdy, who have been committed. Mr. W. said that he should make a very favorable representation to Colonel Wilson. Sydney Gazette, 18 Feb 1836. ---------------------------------------------------- Daring Robbery by a Bushranger. We were yesterday favored by one of the party robbed, and who has arrived in Sydney, with an account of a robbery effected by a single Bushranger, about fifteen miles above Bathurst, upon eight men, with an account of the affair. The manner in which it was effected is as follows. They had been proceeding to Sydney with a dray, and had stopt at a place on the road for refreshments for about as if an hour or thereabouts; when some of them left the hut and went on with the dray. As the others were about to follow, the dray having gone on a little before them, a person with a musket in his hand presented the gun, at the head of one of them, and ordered him to stand. he then forced the one to bind the other, and said that if he refused he would blow his brains out; being unarmed they were forced to comply. After he found they were perfectly secured he left the hut. One of the company, Jeremiah Aldred, who had accompanied the dray. states that he had gone into the bush for the purpose of bringing his horse which he had left there. On returning, he was met by the bushranger leaning upon his fowling piece; thinking from his well-dressed appearance that he was a gentleman on a shooting excursion, he was about to pass him, when on a sudden the stranger presented his musket at his head, and ordered him to surrender. Though Aldred was armed, having a loaded pistol in his pocket, the action was so sudden, and the muzzle of the robber’s musket being within half a yard of his head, he dared not move. The bushranger then marched him to the dray, and liberating one of the draymen forced him to bind Aldred to what is called a gibbet post, and the man was then ordered to stand, under the penalty of death, at a particular spot a short distance off. The robber then proceeded to rifle the pockets of the whole party in turn; it is thought that he took upwards of £50 from them in cash. When he came to Jeremiah Aldred, whom he had tied to the gibbet-post and rifled his pocket, he discovered that he was a constable, finding the pistol, warrants, handcuffs, &c. in his pocket. This discovery seemed to enrage him, as he stepped backward, anl presenting the pistol at Aldred's head, he said "' You b-y b-g constable, I have a good mind to blow your d...d brains out." he then handcuffed Adred with those he had found in his own pocket, locked them, and put the key in his pocket, and warning them all not to make one motion for at least three-quarters of an hour on the peril of their lives, sprang into the bush. They Waited patiently for about an hour and a half, until they thought they were out of danger, and then called upon the drayman, who had been liberated, with the exception of Aldred, two hammers having to be used to break the handcuffs upon his waists. No clue has as yet been obtained that can lead to the apprehension of the villain. Sydney Gazette, 22 Feb 1840.

343

Maureen Withey on 24th January 2021

Colonial Secretary Index. ALDRED, Jeremiah. Per "Baring", 1819 1819 Jul 3 - On list of convicts disembarked from the "Baring" and forwarded to Liverpool for distribution (Reel 6006; 4/3500 p.163) 1823 Jan, Apr - Government servant to Mr Warby. On list of prisoners detained for trial at Campbelltown and victualled by Thomas Burke, District Constable; listed as Aldridge (Reel 6058; 4/1769 pp.155b, 156c) 1825 Mar 16 - Re sentence and particulars; listed as Aldridge (Reel 6014; 4/3513 p.619) -------------------------------------------------- Application to Marry Jeremiah Aldred, per Baring (2), age 31, 7 years, Free; and Mary O’Brien, per Forth (2), age 28, 7 years, Bond. Date of permission, 3 May 1831, Sydney, Revd. J.J. Therry.