George Beck

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 21st March 2023

Tried at the Old Bailey, together with Harry Griffiths, on October 26 1814, for Burglary. Both were sentenced to Death. George Beck's age was 23,Harry Griffith's 53. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18141026-66-defend637&div=t18141026-66#highlight -------------------------------------------------- His second trial at the Old Bailey in 1819. Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 21 March 2023), October 1818, trial of GEORGE BECK (t18181028-7). GEORGE BECK, Miscellaneous > returning from transportation, 28th October 1818. 1398. GEORGE BECK was indicted for that he, at the delivery of the King's gaol of Newgate, holden for the county of Middlesex, at Justice Hall, in the Old Bailey, on the 26th of October, in the 55th year of thereign of our Lord the King, was in due form of law tried and convicted of burglary, and was ordered to be hanged by the neck until he should be dead, but was afterwards pardoned, on condition of his being transported to the coast of New South Wales, or some one or other of the islands adjacent, for and during the term of his natural life, and that he the said George Beck afterwards (to wit), on the 28th of September , in the 58th year of the reign of our said Lord the King, feloniously was at large, without any lawful cause, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Great Britain (to wit), at the parish of St. Martin in the Fields , before the expiration of the said term for which he was ordered to be transported, against the statute . BENJAMIN MORRIS . I apprehended the prisoner on the 28th of September, in Duke's-court, Bow-street, on this charge. I produce the certificate of his conviction-(Certificate read.) JAMES JOHN SMITH . I know the prisoner to be the man who was convicted on the indictment; I was with Morris when he was apprehended. Prisoner's Defence. I am the man, but was not guilty of the burglary. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 27. [After the verdict was returned, the prisoner handed in a written statement, as follows-" George Beck humbly implores your Lordship to take into your humane consideration the hardships he has undergone. He had no intention of deserting when he left the ship, he fell overboard by accident; had it been designedly, there were six sentries on deck, who would have fired at him. He was six hours and a half in the water, and was so exhausted, that it was several days before he was sufficiently recovered to endeavour to regain the vessel. He then went over in a boat to Rio Janeiro, but found the ship had sailed, and he then got over to Buenos Ayres, where he worked for a printer during a period of three years. He has no doubt but that the returns of the ship at the Secretary of State's office suppose him to be drowned, and the captain of the Fanny he believes is not in England. He hopes these circumstances will have some weight towards mitigating his sentence.] First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Dallas.

Level 46

Peter Hinds on 21st September 2020

The John Barry had arrived at Portsmouth on 16 April 1819 and on 20 April, 60 male convicts were embarked from the hulk Laurel and 80 from the hulk Leviathan in Portsmouth harbour. On 23 April 1819 two more convicts were sent on board the John Barry from the Leviathan. One of the passengers on board the John Barry was John Thomas Bigge, New South Wales’ first Royal Commissioner. The John Barry finally arrived at Port Jackson on Sunday 26 September 1819 (See The Campbelltown Convicts).

Level 221

D Wong on 30th November 2012

George Beck was on board the Fanny 1815, but fell overboard near Rio. He spent 3 years in Buenos Ayres working as a printer and then made his way back to England. He was arrested (by the policeman who charged him with Burglary in 1815 and he was then sent back to NSW on the John Barry. 14/1/1820: Put ashore at Port Stephens from 'Black Jack' by Captain Ritchie. 15/9/1820: On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per Elizabeth Henrietta. 13/3/1823: Absconded from the Gazette Office. George was described as 32 years old, native of Oxford, 5'4 1/2" tall, hazel eyes, light brown hair, fair complexion. 20/1/1825: This was the last date the Government advertised for him, for absconding. Perhaps he made his escape back to England again. No further records found of him.