Margaret Battersby

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 18th August 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 18 August 2022), October 1798, trial of MARY BATTERSBY (t17981024-19). MARY BATTERSBY, Theft > shoplifting, 24th October 1798. 566. MARY BATTERSBY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 22d of October , a base metal watch gilt with gold, value 21. the property of William Plumley , privately in his shop . Second Count. Laying it to be the property of Peter Upjohn . WILLIAM SINFIELD sworn. - I am a shopman to Mr. Plumley, silversmith and watch-maker , Ludgate-hill : On Monday, about four o'clock in afternoon, the prisoner came into my master's shop, to look at some watches, I shewed her several; she wished to look at one with the old fashioned figures on the dial plate, she said, It would suit better; upon that, I looked into the window, to see for one of that description, but not having one, she said, she would let the person know, they lived over the bridge; upon that she went on to the shop of Mr. Jones, in Fleet-street, a pawnbroker. I saw no more of the prisoner till I saw her the next morning, before the Magistrate. Q. Was there any body else in the shop at the time? - A. No, nobody About two hours after she had left our shop, Mrs. Jones sent to our house, there was a watch of our's found upon her, and then I heard that she was in custody. Q. Had you missed that watch? - A. No, I had not, nor I do not recollect shewing her that watch, I did not miss it till the constable shewed it me; according to our books, it answers in the name and number to one that we had. JOHN SMITH sworn. - I live in Wine-office-court; I was in Mr. Jones's shop when this woman came in and asked to look at some watches, on Monday, about half past four; Mr. Jones shewed her some, but she wanted to see one with a green case, she said, it was for a lady; in consequence of some suspicion, she was stopped, and a watch found concealed under her cloak, that she had taken from Mr. Jones's counter; I said, You have taken more than one; upon that I searched her, and found one in her pocket; I asked her, where did you steal this from; says she, I took it out of a shop in Cheapside; says I, you had better send for a constable, and she said, if you will go along with me, I will shew you where I took will go along with may be the man will forgive me, or something to that purpose. We then sent for a coach, and sent her to the Compter. Q. What became of that watch that was found in her pocket? - A. I gave it to the constable when he came. I forgot to mention that I asked her, what part of Cheapside, and she said, on the same side as Fleet-market, between that and St. Paul's Church-yard; we went to the different shops about Cheapside and Ludgate-street, and found that Mr. Plumley had lost a watch answering to the name and number. JOHN YOUNGHUSBAND sworn. - I am a constable: (produces the watch in question); as I was going with the prisoner to the Compter, in a coach, she told me, she never did such a thing before, that she was driven to it by distress. Q. Did you tell her you would forgive her, if she confessed it? - A. No, I told her the law must take it's course. She said, she had it from a shop on the side of the way that Fleet-market is on, and before we came to St. Paul's, I enquired, as I came home, at the different shops, and found that Mr. Plumley had lost such an one. PETER UPJOHN sworn. - The name and number corresponds with the memorandum that I have; Mr. Plumley had such a watch of me to sell for me. Q. Does it ever happen that the same name and number is put upon more watches that one? - A. It may, from different manufactories. Q. Do you believe that to be a watch that you had sent to Mr. Plumley's? - A. As far as human nature can say, I believe it is. Prisoner's defence. I did it from distress, I hope the gentlemen will forgive me. GUILTY of stealing, value 4s. 6d. (Aged 33.) Tried by the London Jury, before Mr. COMMON SERJEANT. ----------------------------------------------- MARGARET BATTERSBY, Theft > theft from a specified place, 24th October 1798. 567. MARGARET BATTERSBY was again indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 22d of October , a base metal watch gilt with gold, value 2l. 5s. the property of Thomas Jones , in his dwelling-house . THOMAS JONES sworn. - I am a silversmith and pawnbroker , in Fleet-street : On Monday last, the prisoner came into my shop between four and five o'clock, and desired me to shew her some watches, I shewed her some; she wished to look at one in the window, in a green case, I shewed it to her; after seeing that, that did not please her, she wished to look at a thin one, because they were more fashionable than the others; then, after seeing that, she wanted to look at some wedding rings, I shewed her one, which she put upon her finger, and which was rather too tight for her, I assisted her in taking it off; in the mean while, with the other hand, I saw her drop her cloak over the watches, my suspicion was well grounded, she conveyed one of the watches under her cloak, which I suppose she put in her pocket; I immediately laid hold of her by the shoulder, and asked her where she was going with that watch; I searched her, and took it out of her hand; Mr. Smith laid hold of her, and took it out of her hand. John Younghusband produced the watch. Jones. This is the watch I had shewn her, it has my private mark upon it. Prisoner's defence. I did not do it from any bad principle, but from distress. GUILTY of stealing to the value of 39s . Transported for seven years . Tried by the London Jury, before Mr. COMMON SERJEANT.

Level 25

Ron Selden on 27th February 2015

Margaret married a free settler by the name of John Ansel on the 1-9-1803. They had one son and Margaret died at Windsor NSW