John Brown

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1827, 24 August: The Colonial Times (p4) reported on the men’s executions, as follows: “EXECUTION. Yesterday morning, the following nine unfortunate men, being the late gang of runaways, who attempted to take the cutter Emma Kemp, and afterwards took to the bush, committed several robberies, and then fired upon the Military, were executed pursuant to their sentence:- George Braithwaite (one of Lieut. Steele's Government servants, the other having died of the wounds received while engaged with the Military), James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis (Mr. Bisdee's servant), George Metcalfe, John Lee, (bricklayer), James Coates, John Brown (mariner) and John Brown (bricklayer.) All the prisoners from the Barracks, perhaps five or six hundred in number, were paraded under a Military escort to the front of the Gaol, for the purpose of witnessing the awful and exemplary spectacle. One or two of the unhappy culprits addressed the body of prisoners from the scaffold, warning them (especially those in Green's Chain Gang) not to attempt to abscond into the bush, that being not only a most miserable state of existence, but sure to lead to an untimely end. William Birmingham, Mr. Dean's man, Thomas Griffiths, who was wounded in the breast, and John Robertson, Mr. Young's servant, were reprieved on Friday night last, and had their sentence commuted to transportation for life to Macquarie Harbour.” 1827, 24 August: John Brown was buried in Hobart Town (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-1p063j2k).

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1827, 17 August: The convicted men’s sentencing was reported by the Colonial Times, p3: “The following prisoners were then placed at the Bar, and sentenced as follows: DEATH. - George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown, (mariner) John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. The whole of these men, it will be recollected, were the runaways, who, after attempting to seize the Emma Kemp, and failing, took to the bush, and committed several robberies while armed, in which state they were apprehended by the Military. In passing sentence, His Honor held out not the slightest hope of mercy; but strenuously recommended them, one and all, to prepare for another world.” 1827, 23 August: John Brown was executed by hanging at Hobart Gaol.

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1827, 30 July: John Brown was tried at the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, on a charge of stealing in the dwelling house of Daniel Stanfield property belonging to Stanfield including two coats, one waistcoat, six pairs of trousers, eleven shirts, three hats, two pairs of boots, ten pairs of stockings, one gun and nine bags. This trial was reported by the Colonial Times, on 3 August 1827, p3, and he is again called John Brown, a mariner: “Supreme Court. On Monday this Court re-opened, agreeably to the notice issued by the Chief Justice. The whole of the day was occupied in the trial of the late bushrangers, who attempted to take the Emma Kemp; namely, George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown (mariner), John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. They were tried for the robbery at Mr. Stanfield's, and all found —Guilty.” Note: The charge listed on court documents is “stealing in a dwelling house” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p259jpg).

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1827, 30 June: John Brown was one of 10 men who absconded from Hobart Town. He is named (as John Brown, a mariner) in this report from Hobart Town Gazette, pp5-6: “POLICE. Several depositions have been taken during the week respecting the depredations committed by the prisoners who escaped from the barracks last week. After robbing Mr. Cartwright's farm at Sandy bay, it appears they crossed to the back of South arm, opposite Betsy Island, and robbed Mr. Barney’s farm of provisions and other articles. They then proceeded to Mr. Mortimer’s, the gun-smith, from whom they look several stand of arms, some of them fowling-pieces of great value, and also clothes and jewellery. On Sunday, they robbed Mrs. Watson’s house in the same neighbourhood. They had the audacity on Monday to return a second time to Mrs. Watson’s demanding adzes, saws and other carpenters’ tools for the purpose of repairing their boat, very narrowly escaping some of the parties who were in quest of them. On Tuesday morning they were descried by a boy on a small mount surrounded by bushes. They were standing in a circle apparently loading each other with their booty before setting off. As soon as the circumstance was known, the place was searched, and the spot was discovered where they had hauled up their boat, repaired, and subsequently launched her, so that they are again at sea. Every possible precaution and exertion are taken by the Government to apprehend them, which must inevitably be the case if they do not escape to Bass’s strait. They are young men from about 20 to 25 years of age. Besides the 8 who have absconded from the barracks, 2 others are missing and supposed to have joined them, viz: Thomas Davis who was known to have made an [unsuccessful] attempt to escape with [Alexander] Stirling, in the sloop Ellen, some time ago [in January]. He has since been employed as a servant in the gaol. The other named William Birmingham is an Irishman, and was in the employ of Mr. Dean of Liverpool-street. The names of the others are as follows:- John Brown, 5 feet 3 inches, a mariner, has a scar on the right side of his nose and also on the under lip and on his forehead. John Brown, 5 feet 6 inches, a bricklayer, is also marked by a scar on the right side of the nose. James Coates, 5 feet 6 inches, has a large scar on the left side of his chin, arrived by the Chapman last voyage. Thomas Griffiths, 5 feet 6 inches, a stout made man, a Welshman and a weaver, has a small scar in the centre of his forehead. James Horsefield, a canal digger, has high temples, and has the forefinger of his right hand enlarged and crippled. Matthew MacCullum, 5 feet 10 inches, pockpitted, R S on his left arm and W N on his right, a native of Kilmarnock. George Metcalf, a miller, has a scar between his eyebrows, and a mole on the left side of the neck. John Robinson, an Irish labourer.”

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1824: On arrival in VDL, John Brown (prisoner 733; not to be confused with John Brown, prisoner 727, who was also transported to VDL on the Phoenix) was listed as single, 24, 5’3” tall with brown hair and dark grey eyes, a large scar on the right side of the nose, a scar under his lip and a scar above his eyebrows. He was a mariner. His native place was London (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1, B716-748). On his VDL Conduct Record, he said he was apprenticed to the Douglas and Robinson shipping company and was “just off the ship William and Henry”. His jail report for England noted that he “requires being watched” but his hulk report described him as “orderly” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1; image 748). 1825: John Brown was sentenced to a penal settlement for an unspecified crime and in October 1826 received 50 lashes for escaping from the Maria Island Chain Gang near Launceston (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-1$init=CON31-1-1p282).

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1823, 21 November: John Brown’s sentence was respited to transportation for life (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/). 1823, 30 December: John Brown, listed as 27, was received aboard the Retribution hulk, and was sent from there for transportation on 23 April 1824 (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).

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Dianne Jones on 16th May 2021

1823, 10 September: John Brown, 23, was tried at the Old Bailey. A transcript of his trial follows: “1044. JOHN BROWN was indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Smith, about the hour of four in the afternoon, of the 7th of August at St. John, at Hackney (no person being therein) and stealing therein two coats, value 27 s.; three sheets, value 12 s.; a gown, value 6 s.; a pair of breeches, value 7 s.; a shawl, value 3 s.; a waistcoat, value 2 s.; a pair of shoes, value 5 s., and a handkerchief, value 5 s., his property. JOHN SMITH: I live at Hackney-wick, in the parish of St. John. On the 7th of August, at two o'clock in the afternoon, I went out, leaving nobody in the house - I fastened the doors and windows, and about half-past four o'clock, I was at work opposite, and heard the cry of Stop thief! and saw the prisoner secured. I went up, and he was given to me. I was taking him to the watch-house, and on looking at his feet, I saw he had a pair of my shoes on, and asked if he had any of his own - he said, Yes, he had left them under the foot of my bed; where I found them. I found the window open, and the screw taken out, which I had put in before I left. I missed the articles stated in the indictment. JAMES SIMCO: I live next door to Smith. On the 7th of August, I saw the prisoner put a bundle out of the window, and then come out himself, and get over the rails. I gave an alarm, and he was stopped without my losing sight of him. I saw him drop the property; it was given to Smith. JOHN GARVA: I am an officer. Smith gave me the property. JOHN SMITH: Here is a coat, gown, and shawl, which are mine. GUILTY - DEATH. Aged 23” (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/).