Thomas Bambridge

174

Iris Dunne on 4th October 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings 821. THOMAS BAMBRIDGE , THOMAS MURPHY , and BENJAMIN WYNN were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Julia Levene , widow , about nine o'clock in the night of the 28th of April , with intent to steal, and burglariously stealing therein, two pictures, value 18d., and one table-cloth, value 3s., her property . JULIA LEVENE . I am a widow, and live in Fashion-court, Spitalfields . On the 28th of April I went out about nine o'clock in the morning, and returned at half-past eight o'clock at night, and found my door broken open, and the pictures and table-cloth gone. Cross-examined by MR. PLATT. I was fetched home-it was then dark- my things were all lying about the floor; my trunk was emptied. WILLIAM FOSBROOK . I keep a coal-shed at the corner of Fashion-court. On the 28th of April, about half-past eight o'clock- I was fastening my shutters, and saw the prisoner, Wynn, standing at the corner of my house; he was singing very loud, and appeared agitated, which made me suspect him. I turned the corner of the court, he then called out "Wooey!" quite loud. I ran up the court to Levene's house, as she was out. The prisoner, Bambridge, ran out with some linen under his arm - I knew him before; he dropped it at the door; I pursued, and caught him about the middle of the court, and asked him where he had been? he said, "Nowhere." I saw some linen in his hand, which was behind him, and took it from him. As I was taking him back to the house Murphy ran out with a load of linen, which he also dropped at the door. I took Bambridge to the watch-house. I knew Murphy before - He had a remarkable ragged coat on. They had a light inthe house, which they extinguished when they ran out. As I returned from the watch-house, I was told he was at a public-house in Brick-lane- I went, and found him standing at the door- I am sure he is the man; I gave him in charge. I went to the house, and found they had broken the bolt off the shutters- it was quite dark. Cross-examined. I knew them both before. Bambridge had a candle in his hand, I saw his face. When I took Murphy, a gentleman said he had something about him; he immediately unbuttoned his coat, and threw out the table-cloth. JAMES ADAMSON . I am the watch inspector. On the 29th of April I was going on duty, and met the prisoner, Wynn, and Gordon, who is not here, about a quarter before one o'clock in the morning. As they passed me I heard Gordon say to Wynn, "Hold your tongue!"-Wynn used a bad expression, which made me notice them. I turned back, and followed them to Paternoster-row, opposite Spitalfields church; I then heard Wynn say, "If we had had a little more patience we should have done the trick." I immediately took them both. Wynn said he lived at No. 15, White Lion-street - I found it was false. THOMAS HART . I am constable of the night. The prisoners were brought to the watch-house. Adamson has spoken correctly. Cross-examined. Murphy's clothes were ragged. (Property produced and sworn to.) MURPHY'S Defence. I never saw the other prisoners - I was at the corner of the street. BAMBRIDGE - GUILTY. Aged 16. MURPHY - GUILTY. Aged 17. WYNN - GUILTY. Aged 17. Of stealing only . Transported for Seven Years. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t18180506-83 Prison Hulk ship Retribution moored at Woolwich, Aged 16, Received 30 May 1818 from Newgate, Tried 6 May 1818, Offence Felony, Transported 31 Aug. 1818 Certificate of Freedom No. 48/3672 dated 12 May 1825, aged 23, Native Place Dineon, Trade [?] weaver, Tried May 1818

4

June Henderson on 4th October 2020

Having served his sentence he accompanied two Wesleyan Missionaries to Tonga where he helped build a church. He arrived in Tahiti, possibly trying to get back to England, met and married Marae O'Conner (granddaughter of a ship wrecked Irish Sailor of the Matilda) and never left.