Robert Carver

75

iain Frazier on 13th November 2024

Family connections for Robert (Carver) are: CARVER Robert (Carver) was born about 1793. He was tried for breaking entering & stealing gold seals etc of Michael (Strapinte) of St James at Old Bailey on 14 2 1816, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 8 3 1817 after a voyage of 6months on FAME. He was a shoemaker when he married Elizabeth (Bloodsworth) on 24 4 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was in prison at Port Macquarie NSW for a period. He died in 1884 age91. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth (Bellamy/Bloodsworth) was born on 10 2 1802 & baptised on 29 5 1814 age12 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died in 1871 age about69. Details of Elizabeth (Bellamy/Bloodsworth)s family are given in entry for James (Bloodsworth CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website. Reference: 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.

54

Phil Hands on 9th May 2018

Tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 14th February 1816 for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Michael Strapinte, with intent to steal, and for stealing, 3 gold seals, 1 snuff-box, 1 coat, 1 letter-case, 9 pieces of foreign gold coin, 3 £10 bank notes, and thirteen promissory notes for the papment of £10 each, the property of the Rev. John Helyar, he was sentenced to death, this was later commuted to transportation for life. Left England on 9th October 1816. Ship:- the 'Fame' sailed with 200 male convicts on board of which 2 died during the voyage. Arrived on 8th March 1817. Married Elizabeth Bloodsworth (daughter of convicts James Bloodworth, 'Charlotte' 1788 & Sarah Bellamy, 'Lady Penrhyn' 1788) on 24th April 1820 at Sydney. Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t18160214-5 282. ROBERT CARVER was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Michael Strapinte , at about the hour of three in the night of the 6th of February , with intent to steal, and for burglariously stealing therein, three gold seals, value 6l. one snuff-box, value 2l. one coat, value 30s. one letter-case, value 2l. nine pieces of foreign gold coin, value 10l. three 10l. bank notes, and thirteen promissory notes for the papment of 10l. each, the property of the Rev . John Helyar . REV. JOHN HELYAR . I lived at 33, Duke-street, St James's . This was on the morning of the 6th of February; I was awakened by a noise in the room adjoining the one I sleep in; the door between the two rooms was shut. It was a nose like the moving chairs, and a bustle of that kind in the room, after which, I heard my bed room door opened; an being perfectly awake, I thought it was my servant cleaning the adjoining-room; it was dark. There is a venetian blind hanging at the window, which perfectly darkens the room. Several times I have observed that there is hardly any light come into the room, until I get up. At about a quarter of an hour after I heard this noise, I heard St. James's Church clock strike the quarters: not being then alarmed, I tried to go to sleep; but could not. I layed until the clock struck seven; my lodgings were so near St. James's Church, that I always hear the Chimes of the Church. I was then alarmed, and thought it was a robbery, because the noise was not continued; I then jumped out of bed. It was near when the quarter struck that the noise ceased. I jumped out of bed, and thought to myself, if the door be open, I have been robbed; it was nearly dark; it was so dark that I was obliged to feel my way across the room; I opened the window shutters, and feeling on the table, where I expected to find my writing-case, I perceived it was gone. I went to the other end of the room, and in a chair, I found flint and steel, and about three or four matches on a table close by. There were sparks of the fint on the chair, as if it had been much used, and one match was half consumed. There was a tea chest standing under the window, and there was the appearance of a candle having been stuck against it, and the tea chest appeared burnt; my silver snuff box was taken from the chimney piece; I missed a gold seal, which had also been on the chimney piece; on a chair had been a blue great coat, which was gone likewise. The contents of the writing-desk were, nine french gold coins, called Napoleons, thirteen ten-pound Country bank bills; all but one belonged to the Blandford bank, the whole twelve were payable at Sir James Esdale 's and Co; three ten-pound Bank of England notes, two gold seals, and a French pass-port. In consequence of this, I rang the bell; the window sash was open; that sash was shut the night before, I presume. I went into my room, and rang the bed-room bell; I rang it no more, conceiving the noise might disturb the family. I went to bed again, and tried to sleep. When I got up, I went to Sir James Esdale's; I had privately marked the notes, and I gave them notice to stop them; I told them what the private mark was; it was such as would enable me to speak to the notes should I see them. I received a note from Sir James Esdaile's, and I went and got an officer. An officer of the name of Branscombe, produced a gold seal to me, which I knew to be mine. JOHN JUNE . I am servant to Mr. Helyar. I had seen the room before I went to bed; I went into the room after my master went to bed; the window was shut, and I saw a writing-desk in the room, on the table. I recollect taking a gold seal off the table, and putting it on the chimney-piece; there was a silver snuff-box there before. I did not leave any steel or flints, or any thing of that sort there, the night before. The window was shut. The things were gone when I went into the room at about eight o'clock in the morning. FRANCIS SMITH . I am a clerk in the Bank of Sir James Esdaile. Mr. Helyar had lost some notes, and he gave me the particulars of them, and he had not been gone long, before one was presented for payment; I do not know the person; but he has since proved to be a silversmith's man. On his presenting the note, we sent him out. That person came back again; he tendered the note to the prisoner at the bar; he came back with the prisoner, and one of the partners of our house sent for a City officer. The prisoner was delivered over to Bowstreet. PHILIP FAREBROTHER . I am a silversmith, and jeweller. On the morning of the 16th of February, the prisoner came to my shop; by his desire, I shewed him several watches, and he selected one; he then wished to look at a gold watch-key; when he had selected one, he asked me to change a ten-pound note, and I immediately called my young man, and told him to get change; during the time the young man was gone, the prisoner left the shop; he waited some time, and then he said, he would go to the Bull inn, Whitechapel. He did not return. We saw him on the opposite side of the way, standing behind a coach, and upon that, my young man took him, I did not go. I should not know the note again; I am sure that the note which I received from the hand of the prisoner, I gave to my shopman to get changed; I am confident it was for ten-pound; my shopman is not here. I know it was a Country bank note; I told my shopman to take it to Sir James Esdaile; because I was suspicious; I live in Aldgate; I had rather a suspicion. I observed it was payable at Sir James Esdaile's, and that was what I sent him there for. ROBERT SPARROW . I am shopman to Mr. Milton, in Bridge-street, Lambeth; he is a pawnbroker. I produce a great coat, which I took in from the prisoner, to pawn, on the 6th of February; I took it in in the morning part of the day; to the best of my knowledge about ten or eleven o'clock; I am sure this is the great coat that was pledged by the prisoner; I gave one pound six shillings on it; it was pledged in the name of John Jones ; I never saw him before. To the best of my knowledge that is the man, (pointing to the prisoner,) I have not a doubt of it. JOHN BROWN . I am a City officer. I took the prisoner into custody at Sir James Esdaile 's, on Thursday, the 6th of this month, at about eleven o'clock in the morning; when I went into the counting-house, I searched him, and found on him two gold seals, and one ten-pound Bank of England note, a five-pound note, a two-pound note, and a one-pound note. I asked him where he got them, and he said he had picked them up in a handkerchief at about five o'clock that morning. I then took him to the Mansion House, and sent Branscombe to his lodgings, which he said were at 99, York-street, Westminster. THOMAS BRANSCOMBE . I am also a City officer. I went to 99, York-street, Westminster; I enquired if a person of the name of Carver lived there, and I found a woman up stairs on the second floor acknowledged her name to be Carver. I told her what my business was, and I searched her, and the room. In her pocket I found this purse, containing a Bank of England note for the payment of ten-pound, eight ten-pound notes of the Blandford Bank, payable at Sir James Esdaile 's, and one ten-pound note of the Old Somerset Bank, nine pieces of gold coin called Napoleons, five of which were double, and four single; this silver snuff-box, containing two ten-pound notes of Blandford Bank, and likewise in her pocket, this small ink-bottle belonging to a writing-desk; also in the table drawer was this gold seal. I went to Mr. Helyar's, and brought away the tea-caddy; it is here. Mr. Helyar. That is one of the notes I had; I know it by a mark, three little dots; it is a private mark of my own; I had seen the writing-case the day before; I think I put the notes into the case five or six days before; I have no mark on the Napoleons; I know the purse very well; I look at the great coat, and know it to be mine, by the deficiency of a button. Prisoner's Defence. This is the first offence I ever was guilty of in my whole life time; I was prompted to this by extreme distress; I have applied to two parishes, and I have been refused relief, by not proving my parish. I hope the consideration of my willingly giving up all the property, will plead in my behalf. I can have an excellent character; and should I be so fortunate as to obtain mercy, I shall ever as in duty bound pray. Three respectable witnesses gave the prisoner a very good character for morality and honesty from his childhood. GUILTY- DEATH , aged 23. [ Recommended to mercy by the Jury, on account of his good character .] First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Park.