Francis Ambrose

221

D Wong on 28th December 2017

Old Bailey: FRANCIS AMBROSE, Theft > pocketpicking, 6th December 1827. Offence: Theft > pocketpicking Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Transportation FRANCIS AMBROSE was indicted for stealing, on 29th of November, 1 handkerchief, value 1s. 6d., the goods of John Beckett, from his person. JOHN BECKETT. On the 29th of November, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, I was in Whitechapel, sitting at the back of a Blackwall coach, between two gentlemen; a person ran behind, and said, we were robbed; I felt and missed my handkerchief, which had been safe just before, in my coat-pocket - I rode on, and did nothing.(Property produced and sworn to.) FRANCIS KEYS. I am an officer. On the 29th of November, I was in Whitechapel, and saw the stage coming from Church-lane; the prisoner ran behind, got up, and hung by his hands for about a hundred yards; he took a handkerchief out of a gentleman's pocket, and then got down - I ran up and took him with it, took him to the watch-house, and sent Fryer to tell the gentleman; there were some other boys at the corner of Church-lane, but not in company with the prisoner. Prisoner. Q. Did you not offer a boy 5s. to say I was in it? A. I did not - I found 6s. 3d. on him; he said,"You may take that, and let me go" - I said, that was not the way I did my duty. JOSEPH FRYER. I saw the prisoner get behind the stage, and take the handkerchief - I ran and told the gentleman. Prisoner's Defence. I ran to get a ride, and saw the handkerchief lay where the gentleman put their feet. GUILTY. Aged 14. Transported for Fourteen Years. Francis was 15 years old on arrival, he was 5'1¼" tall, fair freckled complexion, light brown hair, hazel eyes. Native Place: Cork, Ire. 4/7/1829: Convicted at Sydney for 'Stealing' - 3 years transportation. Sent to Moreton Bay. Absconded 18/2/1831, returned 1/3/1831. 4/2/1833: Returned to Sydney from Moreton Bay. 25/4/1833: Sydney Gazette: List of Runaways apprehended during the past week: Francis Ambrose, Bussorah Merchant, from Hyde Park Barracks. 23/6/1837 The Australian, Sydney: Thomas Brady, free, the antagonist of Francis Ambrose, alias Ginger, in a pugilistic encounter on the Parramatta Road a few days since, was on Tuesday held to Bail by the Police bench, for his peaceable behaviour during Twelve calendar months, himself in £20, and two sureties in £10 each. Having entered into the required securities, he was discharged. Ambrose alias Ginger, being a prisoner of the crown, was a fow days since rewarded with 50 lashes, for his share in the transaction. Mr. Inspector Jackson, who came in almost at the expiration of the brutal exhibition, was rather roughly handled because he endeavoured to put a stop to it. A summons had been granted at his suit against one individual for assaulting him, and the party summoned failing to obey the mandate on Tuesday last ; the time appointed, the Bench issued a warrant for his apprehension. 10/8/1837 Sydney Gazette: Francis Ambrose, arrayed in a blue frock velvetcollar, but a confounded dirty shirt, who was charged with having been attempting to do a bit of genteel about Sydney for the last fortnight, instead of hoeing up some corn land, was ordered a cheque for 50 for the same, and the Charley who captured him introduced into the pockets of his small's 10s, as a bonne bouche for his activity. 1866 - A Francis Ambrose was fined for drunkenness in Brisbane - not sure if this was him, not mentiond on the QLD BDM.