Thomas Atkinson

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Maureen Withey on 25th August 2022

This account mentions the actions of Thomas Atkinson, who had escaped at the time of the trial of Higgins, Riley and Hill. Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Tuesday. John Higgins, Michael Riley and John Hill, were indicted for forcibly entering the dwelling-house of Mr. Wm. Kimberly, at Bagdad, and stealing sundry articles, therein; on a second count for, in like manner, robbing the house of, and putting in fear, John Clark, at the Tea-tree Brush; and, on a third count, with a like offence in the dwelling-house of Ambrose Rideout, at Herdsmen’s Cove. These houses had been entered on the same day. The prosecutors are settlers in the interior, and the prisoners, who took themselves to the woods, armed, had committed amongst various outrages and robberies, the specific offences charged in the information. Private Heywood, of the 148th Regiment, deposed, that he had been sent with a small party in quest of the bush-rangers; and shot at sun-rise on the morning of the 16th of July last, they came up with the gang, 4 in number, at Big Lagoon, near Jericho. As soon as they perceived them, the party desired them to lay down their arms; when the gang cried out—“Fire away, you b——rs,” and then snapped their pieces at the troops, who thereupon reserved, but afterwards commenced firing, when Higgins was wounded in two places. They took Higgins and Riley, and another named Atkinson, who has since effected his escape out of prison into the woods. Hill made his escape at the time, but was shortly afterwards taken by some constables. Hugh de Butts, a private also of the 48th Regiment, corroborated the whole of the last witness’s evidence, and displayed the coolness with which the conflict for a short time was sustained on both sides, though happily in the termination successfully for the troops. Some of the witnesses positively swore to the prisoners having been at their places in the middle of the night of the 12th of July, and having robbed them of whatever they choose to take away. At all the three houses, they threatened to blow out the brains of the persons there, if they did not quietly submit to their depredations. Thomas Seales, servant to one of the prosecutors, deposed, that he had every reason to think Higgins saved his life when they robbed his master, by his taking a gun from Atkinson, his accomplice, after he had presented it at him two or three times. Philip Pitt, a stock-owner residing at the Greenwater-holes, deposed, that about nine o’clock in the evening, several men came to his house ; and that Higgins, whom he well knew, was one of the number. This prisoner rushed into the house, leaving the others out side, and immediately said to the witness, “Don’t be afraid.” Mr. Pitt instantly rose up from his seat; and, taking an adze in his hand, advanced towards the prisoner, and endeavoured to take his piece from him ; when those outside cried out—“Fire;” and directly a gun was discharged. Mr. Pitt then made to a window (for, although there were three of his servant men prisoners in the house, not one of them even attempted to assist him), and gave an alarm ; the prisoners immediately decamped, without robbing the house.—The next morning, two slugs were found in the walls of the room, and one on the floor. Higgins in his defence, stated that he was compelled to fly to the bush in consequence of ill-treatment he received in the gaol-gang ; that he was only six days absent; and that it would be impossible for him to have committed the many robberies, that were now charged to him. Riley and Hill both persisted in a total denial of ever having committed any robberies, while they were in the woods ; and even denied having any arms with them, when they were taken by the troops, who, in fact, took three pieces, which were proved to belong to the respective prosecutors. His Honor the Judge Advocate having heard the prisoners, observed, that the Court were now called to decide upon one of those cases which was of the greatest consequence to this Colony, involving the very best interests of the settlers and inhabitants in general. It was unnecessary for him to go to any great length in this question, as the evidence seemed to be so particularly conclusive as to the facts. The only point was, as to one of the prisoners being sufficiently proved to have been of the party. The prisoners were charged with the crime of forcibly entering and stealing in dwelling-houses. Putting in fear the several inmates of itself, was a capital felony, while the proof of it against the prisoners rested upon a series of circumstances and proceedings, which His Honor then proceeded to point out, passing suitable comments as he went on, leaving it to the Court to say, under all the circumstances of the case, whether the simple negative of the prisoners was enough to subvert the credit of the circumstantial evidence given, against them.—His Honor here passed a very high eulogium on the conduct of Mr. Pitt, the settler, who had endeavoured to defend his property at the risk of his own life, while the conduct of his servants was no less liable to censure for their cowardly conduct, to say the least of it, in quietly submitting to the demands of a lawless banditti instead of seconding the efforts of their master.— Such servants were subject to no light suspicions. The servants in question would be looked to, and properly disposed of. His Honor trusted, indeed he was convinced, that if settlers in general would follow the conduct of Mr. Pitt, in boldly and determinately resisting the attempts of bush-rangers and protecting their own property, the mischievous combination, that had too long been tolerated would very soon be destroyed, and that hazard entirely removed, which, at present, was allowed so seriously to effect the public interests of the Settlement. The Court retired for a few minutes, and returned with a verdict of— Guilty against all the prisoners, who were then remanded for sentence. Hobart Town Gazette, 3 Feb 1821.

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Maureen Withey on 24th August 2022

The Police Fund of Van Diemen's Land, in Account Current with Edward Foord Bromley, Esq. Treasurer, for the Quarter ending Sept. 30th. 1820. Serjeant Hayward and Party of the 48th Regiment, for taking John Higgins, Michael Riley, and Thomas Atkinson, armed Absentees. 15. 0. 0. Hobart Town Gazette, 9 May 1821.

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Penny-Lyn Beale on 16th May 2021

1817 - 1821 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. Ship; Bencoolen No; 53 Name; Thomas Atkinson Age on Arrival; 30 [1789] Trial; Dublin - Sept 1818. 7 years Trade; Gentleman's Servant Native; County Meath Remarks; DIED; May 1821

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Maureen Withey on 3rd December 2019

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD. POLICE OFFICE, HOBART TOWN, 28th November, 1820. WHEREAS THOMAS ATKINSON (No. 55), 5 feet 4 inches high, dark Complexion, dark brown Hair, hazel Eyes, 31 years of Age, a Gentleman's Servant, was tried in the City of Dublin in September 1818, and sentenced to be transported for Seven Years, arrived at Sydney in the Ship Bencoolen, and here in the Ship Admiral Cockburn the 1st Time, was born in the County of Meath, and is freckled:— JAMES LETTING (No. 70), 5 feet 5½ inches high, brown Hair, hazel Eyes, 22 years of Age, a Farmer's Labourer, tried at Hertford 16th July 1818, sentenced to be transported for Life, arrived in the Ship Hibernia, was bom at Silso, in Bedfordshire:— THOMAS LAWTON (No. 88), 5 feet 4½ inches high, light brown Hair, grey Eyes, 18 years of Age, a Farmer's Labourer, tried at Lancaster in March 1819, sentenced for Fourteen Years, arrived in the Ship Dromedary, was born at Liverpool :— JOSEPH SAUNDERS (No. 167), 5 foot 9¾ inches High, dark Complexion, dark brown Hair, brown Eyes, 31 years of Age, a Farmer's Labourer, was tried at Hereford 16th July 1818, and sentenced to he transported for Fourteen Years, arrived at Sydney in the Ship Baring the 2d Time, and at this Settlement in the Ship Admiral Cockburn the 2d Time, was born at Bolswater in Herefordshire, and has S. J. on his right Wrist:— Charged with divers capital Felonies, broke out of His Majesty's Gaol, at Hobart Town, on the Night of the 27th Day of November. A Reward of TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS each is hereby offered to any Person or Persons who will apprehend and lodge in His Majesty's Gaol at Hobart Town the above-named T. Atkinson, J. Letting, T. Lawton, and J. Saunders. A.W. H. HUMPHREY, Hobart Town Gazette, 23 Dec 1820

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Nell Murphy on 17th September 2016

Thomas ATKINSON was convicted at Dublin City in Sept 1818. 7yr transportation sentence. Sent to NSW, Australia per the 'Bencoolen' then transferred to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) per the 'Admiral Cockburn' arriving Sept 1819. Assignments in Colony of VDL. 10 June 1820: charge of perjury - acquitted. Died 21 May 1821.