John Childs

342

Maureen Withey on 10th September 2022

At Dorchester, five prisoners received of death, but were reprieved, viz. Joseph Mercer, for horse-stealing, Francis Long, Robert Wilmington, John Childs, otherwise Giles, for burglaries ; and Jacob Martin, for stealing a watch. Bath Chronicle, 23 July 1812. ----------------------------------------------------- On Wednesday evening the commission was opened Dorchester, and the business began Thursday. There were twelve prisoners the calendar, of whom less than five were capitally convicted, and received sentence of Death, viz. ... John Childs, for entering the house W'. Minchington, Clifton, and stealing 7s. piece, a half guinea, and some silver; ... Oxford University and City Herald, 25 July 1812. ----------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. CHILDS, John. Per "Earl Spencer", 1813 1813 Oct 14 On list of convicts disembarked from "Earl Spencer" and forwarded to Revd Samuel Marsden at Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6002; 4/3491 p.561) ================================================== John Childs, in the service of Mr. L. May, of Pitt-town, stood charged with having defrauded his master of a considerable quantity of wheat, under the following circumstances. Mr. May is a constable for the carriage of grain, and the prisoner had untied the bags, and having taken grain thereout, substituted stones, dirt, and gravel in lieu thereof. However such a succedaneum may appear to have been ill chosen, wherewith to effect the fraud, nevertheless it answered the purpose of making a specious defence. The prisoner, when called upon to account how the dirt and gravel had come into the bottom of the bags, answered, a bag broke on the road, as I was travelling by night, and I picked it up as well as I could ! The overseer of the Windsor store proved the safe delivery, from that store, of a certain quantity of wheat, into the care of the prisoner. Mr. Longford, at Parramatta store, received the quantity brought and weighed it, and said, Is your's all right ? Yes, replied the prisoner—all right. The fraud was subsequently discovered ; the prisoner then acknowledged, as far as a dishonest man's prudence would allow him, and endeavoured to shade his guilt by a pretended mishap. The wife of the prisoner, who had been sent free to this Colony after her husband, appeared in Court ; she has 4 children. The prisoner did not call upon any one for a character ; he was a very excellent carter, but his master does not regret his loss. To be transported for the term of 12 months. Sydney Gazette, 19 Aug 1826. -------------------------------------------------- 1828 Census index. John Childs, age 50, per Earl Spencer 1812, Life, protestant, Labourer , Laur. May, Pitt Town. ---------------------------------------------------- I have not found his wife Martha on the census index. However, the two following entries may be two of his children. Mary Childs, age 12, B.C. protestant. Lives at Henry Stockfish’s, Evans District. (Henry Stockfish was a farmer, who lived in Evan district with his wife.) and John Childs, age 10, B.C. prot, Lives at John Fowlers, Pitt Town. (John Fowler was a Carpenter living in Pitt Town.) -------------------------------------------------- Convict Index. John Childs, alias Giles, per Earl Spencer, 1813, Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labour, No 28/14. Remarks: Martha Childs, came free per Northampton: alias Giles. John Childs, alias Giles, per Earl Spencer, 1813. Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labor/ No 29/63. To reside with his wife Martha, came free per Northampton in 1815, alias Giles. John Childs, alias Giles, per Earl Spencer, 1813. Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labor/ No 32/100. with his wife Martha, free per Northampton in 1815; Torn up on his receiving a ticket of leave (no 33/545); alias Giles. John Childs, per Earl Spencer, 1813. Ticket of Leave, No 33/545. District Windsor; Born Dorsetshire; Trade, Labourer; Tried Dorset Ass. John Childs, per Earl Spencer, 1813. Ticket of Leave, No 40/1380. district Wollombi; Tried Dorset Ass. John Childs, alias Giles, per Earl Spencer, 1813. Recommended Conditional Pardon, 1 July 1842. Recommended by S. North PM; Edward G. Payn; D. Dunlop. Convict Death register. John Childs, alias Giles, per Earl Spencer, Date 9/9/1848. District, Wollombi. Or Childs; Sec Letter 48/6230.