Joshua Boggis

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 12th December 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 No; 92. Name: Joshua Boggis Age: 30 [1797] Date of Conviction: 21 May 1827 - London Read or write. Protestant, Married 1 child Native County; Islington Trade; Painter & Glazier 7 years Offence; Robbing Dwelling House Height; 5 ft. 8 1/2 Complexion; Ruddy freckled Hair; Sandy Eyes; Hazel Additional Remarks; Assigned Dept of Public Works

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 11th December 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, Convicts Deaths. Effects of Deceased Convicts, - 38/0634 Date; 8 May 1830 Name; Joseph Boggis ** as per register ** Ship. Mermaid Year of Arrival; 1830 Amount; 3. £. 14. Shillings . 0. Pence. Deposited in the Savings Bank of New South Wales Died; 15 June 1834

341

Maureen Withey on 8th June 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 08 June 2020), May 1827, trial of JOSHUA BOGGIS (t18270531-4). JOSHUA BOGGIS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 31st May 1827. Before Mr. Baron Hullock. 1016. JOSHUA BOGGIS was indicted for stealing, on the 6th of June , at St. Mary, Islington, 4 Bank notes, for payment of and value 10l. each, the property of John Butcher , the younger, in his dwelling-house . MR. PHILLIPS conducted the prosecution. JOHN BUTCHER. I live at No. 6, Tyndale-place, in the parish of St. Mary, Islington . The prisoner was employed to varnish some furniture at my house on the 6th of June, 1825; I left the house about eight or nine o'clock in the morning of that day - I had four 10l. notes in a small book,(not a pocket-book) which I left on the mantel-piece of the second floor front room, tied round with a piece of tape,with other memorandums; I missed the notes on the following morning. I had put the book on the mantel-piece on Sunday evening, the 5th of June; I saw the book on Monday morning, but did not open it; my family were out of town. I saw my notes at Hatton-garden about a month ago; I had received them from Messrs. Hankeys, my bankers, on the 4th of June, but did not take the numbers of them myself. The prisoner had not finished his work; he was painting - it was his duty to return on the 7th of June, to finish the job, and take away his tools, but he never came for them. My servant is here. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Had you any other servant in your house that day? A. No. My family were at Highgate; my wife was at home on the morning of the 6th, and went out with me; I had occasion to leave town - I was out all day, and returned in the evening. The prisoner had not finished varnishing some furniture as I was informed - he had been working for me under Mr. Shaw's orders, some days before. I am not accustomed to leave my property about; the house had been painted throughout, and every thing of value was locked up. To the best of my knowledge there was no one in the house that day but him and the servant. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. You left the book on the mantelpiece on the Sunday evening? A. Yes. The prisoner left a paint-pot and some small brushes behind him; he had been employed by Mr. Shaw to paint, but not to polish the furniture. MARY MATLOCK . On the 6th of June, 1825, I was in Mr. Butcher's service; I saw the prisoner at work there on the 6th of June - Mrs. Butcher left about ten o'clock; nobody but the prisoner and I were in the house all day; I saw him leave the house about six o'clock in the evening; he said he had not finished his work, and would come again in the morning to finish - he left the tools behind him, and never came for them, or to finish. Cross-examined. Q. What tools were they? A. Some small brushes, a paint-pot, and a knife; I cannot say whether they were his or Mr. Shaw's. I am positive nobody else was at the house - no tradesman called; there was no carpenter or any other workman there; I did not go out further than into the garden all day - I might be there ten minutes or a quarter of an hour; I will swear the front door was shut all day; I will not swear there was no knock at the door, but am positive there was nobody in the house. The prisoner went out to dinner, and came back at two o'clock - nobody came while he was at dinner, to the best of my belief, but it is so long ago I cannot recollect; I was asked about the notes; but never suspected myself; I was not searched, nor were my boxes; I was asked if I had been with the man in the different rooms - I had been up and down, backwards and forwards. I had been in the kitchen with him; there is no bed in the kitchen - there was nothing happened between us on any bed that day. I was not examined before the Magistrate. I was the only person who had the care of the house. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Were you asked to go before the Magistrate? A. Yes, but I was not subpoenaed, and my master and mistress I lived with would not let me go; I had lived with the prosecutor three months. I am sure the prisoner said he would return next morning to his work; he had left the scrutire unfinished - he said he had not finished it, and would come in the morning to do it. JOSIAH ALLINSON . I am clerk to Messrs. Hankeys - the prosecutor banks there. I have a book here, the entries in which are mine - I find that on the 4th of June, 1825, a draft of his for 50l. was paid in four 10l. Bank notes, Nos. 5275 to 5278 inclusive, and ten sovereigns; I am certain No. 5278 was one - it was dated the 18th of May, but we do not enter the year; here is the cheque, but I do not know to whom I paid it. MR. ROBERT BUTCHER . I am the prosecutor's brother. On the 4th of June I presented this cheque to Messrs. Hankeys, and received four 10l. notes and ten sovereigns - I presented no other cheque that day; I gave my brother the same notes. Cross-examined. Q. What enables you to recollect having four 10l. notes? A. Their being stolen soon after made me recollect it. I heard of the robbery on the Tuesday following; I will not swear this is the cheque, but it was for 50l. JAMES SEABY . I am an apprentice to Mr. Tremain, a hatter, of King-street, Holborn. I know the prisoner, and remember his coming to our shop on the evening of the 6th of June, 1825, between seven and eight o'clock - he purchased a hat for 24s., and gave me this 10l. note, No. 5278; I knew him before this occurred, and cannot be mistaken in him - he mentioned his name to me in the shop - he waited in the shop while I went to Mr. Young, a baker, in Holborn, to get change; I wrote Mr. Tremain's name on the note, in Young's shop - I never wrote my master's name before on a 10l. note - this is the note, and has my writing on it. The prisoner came again in about two hours afterwards, and ordered a drab hat of my master, and paid 4s. in part of it - he was to call for it on the Saturday, and pay the difference - it was to be 24s.; he never called for it. He called again on the 21st of July, 1826, and had a black hat - he deducted the 4s. which he-had paid the year before out of it. Cross-examined. Q. Is Mr. Young here? A. No. I recollect the date - he appeared to have been drinking, and said master could never make him a hat big enough - master said he had not got a block big enough. I recollect it was the 6th of June, because I have the book here in which master made an entry when he came home, and I told him of it- I never changed a note for the prisoner before, and never saw my master change one, to my recollection; I never changed so large a note as a 10l. at Young's before; Young wished me to go back for my master to put his name on it. but he not being at home I wrote it myself. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. When your master came home you told him what had happened? A. Yes, and he entered it in the book with the date, and when the prisoner returned I saw my master enter the white hat down - here is the entry: I had seen him frequently at the shop before, but only once since - that was in 1826. I am certain he is the man. ANDREW DAVISON . I am clerk to Messrs. Hall and Davison, flour-factors, Broad-street-buildings. In 1825 Young, of Holborn, dealt with us - I produce our ledger - it is kept by my brother - I know his hand-writing; (looking at the note No. 5278) this note was in the possession of our firm in 1825; we paid it into the Bank of England - I did not pay it in myself. Cross-examined. Q. Except from the book can youstate it was ever in your master's possession? A. Except from his hand-writing being on the note. GEORGE DYER . I am clerk in the accountant's office at the Bank. This note, No. 5278 was paid into the Bank on the 17th of June, 1825, from Messrs. Hall and Davison, in a total of 105l. - they have an account at the Bank; the note is dated the 18th of May, 1825. I have two of the other notes here, Nos. 5278 and 5277 - the other note has come into the Bank, but has no name on it. Cross-examined. Q. You speak to these facts from having yourself indorsed one of the notes? A. Yes, and from reference to the books - they are not here; the entry is not in my hand-writing. FRANCIS FAGAN . I am a constable of Bow-street. I apprehended the prisoner on the 9th of April, 1827. Cross-examined. Q. In 1826 had you seen the witness Seaby? A. No. Young was examined before the Magistrate, who did not bind him over - I believe what he said was not taken down. Mr. CLARKSON called - MARKHAM CONEY . I have known the prisoner four years - he bore the character of an honest young man; he worked for my father about two years ago, in the country. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you know him in 1826? A. I did not see him in 1826 - my father lives at Lynn, in Norfolk. I know about two years ago my father wanted some work done there, and he told me Boggis did it. Q. Did you, from the 7th of June till the end of July last, know where the prisoner lived? A. I always applied at his father's for him when I wanted him, but I did not go there within that time. THOMAS COCHRANE . I live in Fair-street, and am a saddler. I have known the prisoner since October 1825 - he has had an honest industrious character; I lived in the same house with him for ten months - he lived with my father in 1826. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Where? A. In Mary-le-bone-lane, in October 1825 - he was living in the house when I came to it, and in January 1826 he removed to No. 18, Davies-street, Manchester-square - Mrs. Catley, a widow, is the landlady; I do not know whether she lives there now. I now live in Fair-street, Battle-bridge - I cannot say how long in 1826 I lived with him, but it was in February, March, and April; he was about publicly. I have known him intimately since - he works as a painter. THOMAS NELSON . I have known the prisoner eighteen years, and understood him to be an honest man. I did not see him in 1825, 1826, or 1827. EDWARD EVERETT . I am a painter, and live in William-street, Hampstead-road. The prisoner worked for me at Cirencester-place last September, for nine weeks - he was not concealed; I did not know where he lived, but always heard of him at his father's, in Edmund-street, Battle-bridge. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 28. Recommended to Mercy by the Jury, in consequence of the temptation laid in his way. ----------------------------------------------------- National Archives. Ref: HO 17/50/153 5 individual petitions (prisoner, Martha Boggis wife, John Butcher owner of house) and 3 collective petitions (48 people, 41 people and 9 people including wife, mother and prosecutor) on behalf of Joshua Boggis painter, convicted at the Old Bailey on May 31 1827 for stealing £40 in a dwelling house owned by John Butcher. There is also a memorandum from the Retribution stating that the prisoner's mother brought him half a pint of rum, and asking whether he should be deported. Grounds for clemency: first offence and is truly penitent, previous good character, has worked since age 12 (lists employers), has distressed wife, small children, aged parents, is an affectionate father, money should not have been left about to tempt prisoner, has behaved well in prison. Initial sentence: death commuted to transportation for life. Annotated: refused. HM40 Date: 1827 June.