John Blinkworth

Level 75

iain Frazier on 23rd July 2025

Family connections for John (Blinkworth) BLINKWORTH John (Blinkworth) son of a known scavenger was born about 1759. He was tried w/2others for breaking entering, on 7 3 1789, & stealing silver port mug etc of Joseph (May) at Old Bailey in April 1789 (Ref;'Forgotten...' gives date as May 1791), sentenced to death commuted to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 14 2 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT; much fever & attempts to escape from the ship resulted in deaths of convicts-of the 450convicts on board only 29 were alive at muster in May 1792 (or perhaps only this many could be mustered. He had a relationship with Elizabeth (Cummins her second relationship) in NSW, whom he later married. He became coxswain of the Government boat at Port Jackson. He received an Absolute Pardon from Governor (Hunter) in June 1798 & travelled back to UK with his son John Edward (perhaps after 1800). He, with his son, returned to Australia as a settler on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on OCEAN (supply ship with HMS CALCUTTA) (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. He went on HMS LADY NELSON to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 13 12 1803, arriving on 15 2 1804: & is noted for selling apparel he had brought on the ship at Sullivan Bay on 29 10 1803 (date wrong?). He married as an emancipist Elizabeth (Cummings emancipist) on 31 3 1804 at St Davids CofE Hobart & lived at Sullivan Cove Camp River Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania). He was granted 100acres. He is recorded as came free off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He died on 6 2 1846 age87. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth (Cummins) was born about 1756. She was tried at London Gaol Delivery, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 14 2 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT also; much fever & attempts to escape from the ship resulted in deaths of convicts-of the 450convicts on board only 29 were alive at muster in May 1792 (or perhaps only this many could be mustered. She married firstly Joseph (Gregory) on 29 4 1792 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She remained in Port Jackson when her spouse travelled back to UK sometime after 1798. She may have travelled with her children to Risdon Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in November 1803 on DART. She is recorded on 18 2 1804 on stores at Hobart. She was Free by Servitude by 1807. It may be she who is recorded as off stores with 1child at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. She died on 23 8 1832 age76 mother of perhaps 5children at Jerusalem Tasmania. [Some details taken from this Website; in Ref:'Forgotten...' she is referred to as Mary] .. John (Blinkworth) & Elizabeth (Cummins/Gregory) produced perhaps 5children: 1.John Edward (Blinkworth) was born on 19 10 1794 in NSW & baptised on 10 5 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. After 1798 he was taken to UK by his father, returning to Australia with his father on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on OCEAN (supply ship with HMS CALCUTTA) (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. He went on HMS LADY NELSON to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 13 12 1803, arriving on 15 2 1804. He married Vienne (Eades) on 17 7 1815 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He is recorded as born at Port Jackson off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He died on 23 12 1854 age60. ..Vienne (Eades) was born on 19 5 1795 & baptised on 20 12 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..Details of Vienne (Eades)s family are given BELOW. ..John Edward (Blinkworth) & Vienne/Vyenna (Eades) produced at least 3children: ..1.Sarah (Blinkworth) was born in 1816. ..2.John (Blinkworth) was born on 26 10 1817 & baptised on 24 11 1817 at St Davids CofE Hobart. ..3.Robert Charles (Blinkworth) was born on 6 3 1820 & baptised on 29 3 1820 at St Davids CofE Hobart. .. 2.Robert (Blinkworth) was born in 1797. He may have travelled with his mother to Risdon Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in November 1803 on DART. He is recorded on 18 2 1804 on stores at Hobart. He married Mary (Adams perhaps her first marriage) on 21 2 1817 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He took over the running of 'Mitchells Farm' New Town for his wifes foster father. On 15 3 1817 the public was advised not to graze stock on his 'Mitchells Farm'. He is recorded as off stores with 1child at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. The Government took over the farm in 1822. He died on 15 12 1832 age about35. ..Maria/Mary (Adams) was born on 5 9 1798 on Norfolk Island & possibly became an orphan. She was placed in the orphanage by her father in 1801 & was baptised on 30 5 1802 age3 w/Ann on Norfolk Island. She was returned later to her father & later again she was returned to Mrs (Mitchell). She left Norfolk Island with Mr & Mrs (Mitchell) as part of the first evacuation on 26 12 1807 on HMS PORPOISE to Derwent Tasmania, arriving on 17 1 1808: to New Town Argyle. She married perhaps firstly Robert (Blinkworth) on 21 2 1817. ..[Noted a (Mary (Adams born in the colony) is recorded as marrying (perhaps secondly) Richard Buckingham (Tyndall) on 2 5 1828 at Christ Church Newcastle.] ..Details of Maria (Adam)s family are given in entry for (Hunt LADY JULIANA 1791) on this Website. ..Robert (Blinkworth) & Maria/Mary (Adams) produced perhaps 1child: ..1.??? (Blinkworth) .. 3.Elizabeth Mary (Blinkworth) was born in 1798 in NSW. She may have travelled with her mother to Risdon Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in November 1803 on DART. She was baptised on 18 5 1807 age about8 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She married Thomas (Lucas/Lind) on 14 12 1815 at St Davids CofE Hobart & produced at least 2children. She is recorded as off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. She died on 12 10 1830 age about32. ..Thomas (Lucas) was born on 19/29 12 1791 & baptised on 29 1 1792 at St Phillips CofE Sydney or recorded there. He went with his parents to Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as part of the first evacuation on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH, arriving on 5 10 1808; to Queen Borough/Sandy Bay. He was recorded as off stores in Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He died on 5 2 1846 age54. ..Details of Thomas (Lucas)s family are given BELOW. .. 4.Maria (Blinkworth) was born in 1800. She may have travelled with her mother to Risdon Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in November 1803 on DART. She is recorded as off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. She died in 1828 age about28. 5.Elizabeth Mary (Blinkworth) was born in 1807 in Hobart & baptised on 18 5 1807 at St Davids CofE Hobart-no mother stated. References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'

Level 221

D Wong on 10th May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (http://www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 09 May 2020), April 1789, trial of JOHN WARD EDWARD CHURCH JOHN BLINKWORTH (t17890422-71). JOHN WARD, EDWARD CHURCH, JOHN BLINKWORTH, Theft > burglary, 22nd April 1789. 356. JOHN WARD , EDWARD CHURCH , and JOHN BLINKWORTH , were indicted, for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Joseph May , about the hour of one in the night, on the 7th of March , and burglariously stealing therein, a silver pint mug, value 3 l. a silver milk-pot, value 8 s. two silver pepper castors, value 20 s. two silver tea-spoons, value 2 s. a pair of sugar tongs, value 6 s. a time-piece, value 10 s. a coat, value 3 s. a pair of velvet breeches, value 2 s. two canvas bags, value 1 d. several pieces of base metal, value 1 s. eight shillings, 16 sixpences, a piece of silver, being part of a sixpence, value 1 d. 9 silver threepences, ten silver fourpences, 250 copper halfpence, value 10 s. 5 d. his property. A second Count, for being in the same house, and stealing same goods, and afterwards breaking the same dwelling-house, against the statute. ALL THREE, GUILTY, Death. They were all humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury and Prosecutor. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH. John Blinkworth returned to England. Then in 1803 he arrived as a settler, per 'Ocean' 1803 at Sullivan Bay. Sullivan Bay, 29th Oct. 1803. John Blinkworth, a settler, has permission to sell a few articles of wearing apparel which he brought from England. 31/3/1804: John married Elizabeth Cummings - his defacto in NSW - at Sullivan Cove Camp, River Derwent, VDL, Children: John Edward born in NSW in 1795-died 1854 Robert 1797-1832 Elizabeth Mary born in NSW 1798-died 1830. Maria in 1800 There is also a birth listed in Hobart 1807 for Elizabeth Mary Blinkworth. 6/2/1846: John Blinkworth died in Hobart, Tas. Listed as 87 years old, a farmer, died at Jerusalem. 23/8/1832: Elizabeth (also listed as Mary at times) Blinkworth, died at Jerusalem, aged 76 years.

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 9th May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 09 May 2020), April 1789, trial of JOHN WARD EDWARD CHURCH JOHN BLINKWORTH (t17890422-71). JOHN WARD, EDWARD CHURCH, JOHN BLINKWORTH, Theft > burglary, 22nd April 1789. 356. JOHN WARD , EDWARD CHURCH , and JOHN BLINKWORTH , were indicted, for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Joseph May , about the hour of one in the night, on the 7th of March , and burglariously stealing therein, a silver pint mug, value 3 l. a silver milk-pot, value 8 s. two silver pepper castors, value 20 s. two silver tea-spoons, value 2 s. a pair of sugar tongs, value 6 s. a time-piece, value 10 s. a coat, value 3 s. a pair of velveret breeches, value 2 s. two canvas bags, value 1 d. several pieces of base metal, value 1 s. eight shillings, 16 sixpences, a piece of silver, being part of a sixpence, value 1 d. 9 silver threepences, ten silver fourpences, 250 copper halfpence, value 10 s. 5 d. his property. A second Count, for being in the same house, and stealing same goods, and afterwards breaking the same dwelling-house, against the statute. (The case opened by Mr. Silvester.) The witnesses examined separate by the desire of Mr. Garrow. ANN MAY sworn. I am wife of Joseph May my husband is a butcher , and lives in Fore-street, on Saturday the 7th of March, I went to-bed between 11 and 12, I was the last person up in the house, I was in the shop the last person, I fastened the door myself, I locked the desk, and I locked the till, the timepiece was there when I went to-bed, and the rest of the house was then safe; my servant Selina Wallis was the first person up the next morning. SELINA WALLIS sworn. I am servant to Mrs. May, on Sunday the 8th of March I arose nearly at six, I was the first person up, when I came down the street-door was open, I observed nothing else; I went up stairs, and my master came down in a few minutes after; I went and got a light, it was dark; then I remember some plate being lost, I saw it at 11 the night before; a silver pint mug, two silver salts, a silver milk pot, two silver pepper casters, two silver tea-spoons; I had left them in a closet in the dining-room; I shut up the place myself; the time-piece was below stairs in a little compting-house in the shop, I am very sure all the house was safe on the Saturday night. JOSEPH MAY sworn. I am a butcher in Fore-street, on Sunday morning, a little before six, my servant called me down, when I came down the street-door was open, I examined the door to see whether the lock was strained, I found the door was not in the least forced, and the key in the lock as we always left it; I examined the back part of my house, and found it was broke into, where there are some rails from two inches to one inch and a half square, and a wooden fence to admit a little air, and to prevent any-body from coming in; some of them had been pulled down, the nails drawn, and the laths or fence broken to pieces; they got in at that place, they had made an opening large enough to get in, they got in underneath the yard; this lartice supplies the place of the window, and this shop is part of my dwelling-house; I lost the things in the indictment (repeating them) the time-piece was in the compting-house in the shop; I lost some pieces of money, fresh of the Late King's coin, and one shilling in particular of the late King, that I marked, and one shilling wrapped up in a piece of paper of his present Majesty's coin; the paper has one or two faint marks of yellow, this money was in my desk in the shop, which was forced open, and the hasp that goes into the lock was forced into it; I lost a coat and a pair of velveret breeches which had been scowered, and the coat likewise; I lost some silver two-pences and threepences, I cannot say exactly the sum, there was some base metal that was lost, that was taken out of the till of my compting-house, which was forced open, which had been formerly passed as shillings and sixpences; I am overseer of the parish, there was a bag with some little cash, that might amount to a few shillings, that was left in my desk that night, and another small bag, which we make use of, we used to put farthings into it, which I can swear to, and that was taken away; the prisoner was a servant of mine, I discharged him the 3d of February last. JAMES ARMSTRONG sworn. I am a constable of Shoreditch parish, I attend Mr. Wilmot's office, I stopped Ward and Church first; the prisoner Blinkworth was about two or three yards behind them, it might be about ten minutes after six; I stopped them in a passage that comes into Gravel-lane, Shakeshaft and Harper came up directly, and Church rather tried to shift his hold, I kept hold of him, and then clapped my hand in Ward's pocket, and found this pepper castor; at that time I saw Shakeshaft pull a pint mug out of Blinkworth's pocket; then Blinkworth said, Mr. Armstrong here is more; I searched his waistcoat pocket, and found two teaspoons, and this pair of tea-tongs, and there is a new shilling in that pepper-castor, that Blinkworth gave me out of his pocket after he was in the watch-house, he did not say anything about that, coming along we met Mr. May; Ward was searched by Harpur afterwards; May said, he had been robbed, and he said Ward had been his servant, and that the plate was his; the prisoner was taken to Justice Wilmot's, and Mr. May swore to the goods; Mr. Wilmot then asked them, what they had to say? one by one; they said it was the first thing they ever did in their lives, and they hoped Mr. May would forgive them, this was not taken in writing, as for Blinkworth, if he had not said search me, I should never have searched him, for I knew him so long, and his father lived in such credit, I had not the least suspicion. What is Blinkworth's father? - A very great scavenger in our parish. Mr. Garrow, Prisoner's Counsel. If he had been in any erapen you were likely enough to have known it. - I am sure I should. JAMES SHAKESHAFT sworn. I was in company with Armstrong and Harper, I heard him call out, and went to his assistance; I took hold of Blinkworth, and one of the others, I cannot be sure which; then Harper came to our assistance, and out of Blinkworth's coat-pocket I took this mug, and then this pepper-box, and a milk-pot; I then took a base half crown, nine base six-pences, and five base shillings from Blinkworth; and I took eight shillings in good money, and some new money from Blinkworth; we took them to the watch-house, and Mr. May said there, that he believed he had lost some of his clothes; Church said there was a coat and a pair of breeches in the store-houses between the tiles in the yard; we went there, and left Armstrong to search about, and he found them, and took them to Mr. May; Shakeshaft, I, and Mr. May, was present before the magistrate; the property was produced, and the magistrate asked them what they had to say for themselves; it was not taken in writing; Mr. May heard it, and the magistrate asked them one by one; and I think Blinkworth said it was the first thing he ever did in his life; and he hoped Mr. May would forgive him; so the other two said. SAMUEL HARPER sworn. I was in company with Armstrong and Shakeshaft, I searched Ward and Church, I found in Ward's left-hand pocket the time-piece, I found nothing else upon him, but some money in his fob; there were silver groats, and three pences, and shillings, and six-pences, there is a new shilling wrapped up in a paper; on Church I found this bag with the contents, and a paper of halfpence that I in the scuffle let fall; I found a crown's worth, wanting two; I have one hundred and eighteen; here is the bag with some halfpence and silver, and a broken six-pence. (The things found on Blinkworth deposed to by the prosecutor.) Prosecutor. The ring is marked with H. C. on the back, that is mine; one of the pepper castors has got a bruise; the sugar-tongs has the initials of my name, J. M. and the spoons also; (these things were found on Ward) this pepper-box I am sure is mine; the time-piece I am sure is mine, one of the screws, in taking it off, is broke off, I am sure of it; this shilling is mine, I swear to the paper it is in, because it is marked with two faint yellow spots; this is the bag I kept my money in; I am positive of the bag, it is my wife's make, we used to keep farthings in it; I can swear positively to this bag, because it is rent down on each side; and here is the piece of a six-pence, it was in my desk among some other money; this coat and breeches were found in a store-house belonging to the brewer, in Holloway-lane, in Shoreditch; when I said I believed I had lost some of my clothes, Ward said there was a coat and breeches of mine in that store-house; we went and searched it. Armstrong got on the back of Harper, and took them out; I am certain of it, it is marked in the sleeve; these are my breeches, there is a different kind of stuff at the back to the fronts, I am positive they are mine, I was in possession of them on the Saturday night when I went to bed. Prisoner Ward. I leave it to my Counsel. PRISONER CHURCH'S DEFENCE. Ward was coming along, and this young man and I met him with these things under his arm, and he said he had picked them up. PRISONER BLINKWORTH's DEFENCE. I was going out, and I met Ward and Church, he had these things under his arm, we asked him what he had there; he said some things, he did know what they were; he said he found them. The prisoner Blinkworth called three witnesses who gave him a very good character. Blinkworth's Father. I had two or three words with my son one night, and he went a house of bad fame in Hollywell-lane, and I have lost my wife on account of it; she is since dead. The prisoner Ward called three witnesses who gave him a very good character. The prisoner Church called two witnesses who gave him a very good character. The Jury withdrew, after deliberating some time, and returned with a verdict, ALL THREE, GUILTY, Death. They were all humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury and Prosecutor. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. HO 47/9/14 1789 June 26 Report of James Adair, Recorder of London, on 2 individual petitions (prisoner and William Curtis, Sheriff of London) and 3 collective petitions (14 people, many local traders; 33 people, clergy and tradesman of St. Leonard, Shoreditch in Middlesex and surrounding area- includes many occupations, and 2 people, Sheriffs of London and Middlesex) on John Blinkworth, convicted (with John Ward and Edward Church) at the Old Bailey in April 1789, for stealing some plate and other goods, property of Joseph May, on 7 March 1789. Adair states that 'this case has made such an confusion in my mind, and I thought it right to consult Mr Justice Heath, who tried these prisoners, and who has authorised me to make use of his name as joining with me,' in his eventual recommendation. The judge states that Ward's death would satisfy public justice. Evidences supplied by Grace Wells, wife of publican Christopher Wells and now living at Leadenhall Market. Grounds for clemency: youth (19 years), penitent, first offence, was an accomplice and not a principal, was intoxicated, was no aggravation, the property has been restored to its owner, had been thrown out of his house by his father, previous good character, his mother has died and his father is in great distress. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: transportation.