Robert Clinch

110

Ron Garbutt on 22nd March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 March 2020), October 1816, trial of JOHN CARTER, alias WOOD ROBERT CHURCH (t18161030-9). JOHN CARTER, ROBERT CHURCH, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 30th October 1816. 1106. JOHN CARTER, alias WOOD , and ROBERT CHURCH were indicted for feloniously assauting William Marsh , in the King's highway, on the 5th of October , for putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, a silver watch, value 2l. his property . WILLIAM MARSH . I was passing through George street, Grosvenor-square , about half past ten, on the night of the 5th of October, I was walking along; I was met by six or more of them; they were between boys and men; they knocked me down; they snatched my watch out of my pocket, and I catched it in my hand as I turned myself over. In getting up, I got it by the chain. One said to another,"b-gg-r your bl-dy eyes an't you got the thimble." I went to get hold of Career, and I still kept the watch in my possession. He got away, and then they all dismissed; they all ran away, I knew Carter before; I kept possession of the watch it was got, out of my fob, and I caught it as it was passing. I could not catch hold of him. I called the watch; I knew no others of the party; I never lost sight of Church hardly. I lost sight of him just for a moment, going round the corner; but that was all. I followed him up directly; it was just at the corner of Oxford-street where I lost sight of him; I kept running after him; I am sure he was the same I had seen before. I lost sight of him; but not for half a minute. He had run altogether about two hundred yards. He could not run above ten yards while out of my sight. He was running alone. They all separated themselves different ways. He was going alone. He stopped at a pump, and knocked the crown of his hat in, to drink, and then I and the watchman took him. Carter was also taken that night. JOHN NASH . I know nothing of this, only that Marsh called to me to take this man into custody. I did not see any thing of these men surrounding him. I came up directly, and took Church into custody. He was standing by the pump, and Marsh gave me charge of him. Marsh said he was one the persons. I never heard him say, what the prisoner Church has represented. I called another watchman to my assistance. WILLIAM GREGORY . I am a watchman. When I came up, he desired me to take hold of Church. He charged him with knocking him down, and catching the watch out of his pocket. WILLIAM KERR . I was constable of the night. I remember these two lads being brought into the watchhouse. I had them in my custody from Saturday, until Monday morning. (Property produced and sworn to.) Carter's Defence. I was coming down Oxford-street. We had been to the play, and I met a parcel of girls, and they shoved up against me, and I was taken into custody. I never saw the prosecutor to my knowledge before. Church's Defence. I was a servant out of employ, and I had been for a place, and the gentleman asked me where I lived, and I told him; and he told me to call in about three days, and I went to know whether the character would answer, and he told me it would; and I said I would come on the Monday morning, but he said Monday night would do; and I then went and bought a two-penny loaf, and then I went up to the pump, and was going to drink, and the prosecutor and the watchman came up, and the prosecutor seized hold of me, and asked me if I was not in George-street, and I said no; and then he said take him, to the watchman, and I said I would let him know what right he had to be pulling me about; and with that he caught hold of me again and then two watchmen came up, and then the two watchmen and I went to the watchhouse; I had nothing to care for, for I will take an oath, I was not in George-street. CHURCH, GUILTY - DEATH , aged 18. CARTER, GUILTY - DEATH , aged 16. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Graham. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18161030-9

4

Colin Clinch on 23rd September 2015

Married Elizabeth Gatton in Sydney 1828. Three children from this marriage,Robert,William,George. NSW BDM records.Ticket of Leave granted 1840. Confirmation of Robert's death is sought as BDM records list his name as CLYNCH ???