Michael Connor

105

Denis Pember on 8th October 2017

In 1825, Michael was living with Mary Browning (Convict, 1811, "Friends"), the estranged wife of Edward Goodwin (Convict 1810, "Indian"). In the census of 1825... Browning, Mary, free by servitude, Friends, 1811, 7 years, lives with Michael Connor, Richmond Browning Edward 11, born in the colony, son of Mary Browning, Richmond Browning, Mary, 9, born in the colony, daughter of above Browning, David, 7, son of above [Connor, Michael, conditional pardon, Scarborough, 1788, life, constable, Richmond]. Then in 1826.... Mary Goodwin, Michael Connor, William Browning and James Yew were severally charged with a robbery. Committed for trial at sessions. These charges were discharged by Proclamation. And the following April.... Mary Goodwin was charged with being drunk and a little disorderly. Mary is an elderly woman; her son was ordered for transportation two days ago; she had travelled twelve miles to say "farewell;" acquaintances more frequently invite to "the bottle" than "the board;" she had drunk too freely, the effects are common. Mary, you are this time to be pitied. Fined five shillings to the poor, but being unable to pay, was allowed a few days to make up the fine - "god bless you, gentlemen, Micky Conner will pay you!" ## Not the most stable relationship!

105

Denis Pember on 8th October 2017

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org) 2nd April 1788, trial of MICHAEL CONNER (t17880402-9). MICHAEL CONNER, Theft > theft from a specified place, 2nd April 1788. 261. MICHAEL CONNER was indicted for stealing, on the 16th day of March, one iron bar, weight twenty-four pounds, value 10 d. the property of John Edwin , Esq . affixed to his stable . - ALVERTON sworn. I live in Compton-street facing the prosecutor's stables; on the 16th of March, about half after seven, I was at my window up stairs, and I saw the prisoner doing something that I thought he should not do; I saw the prisoner at work as hard as he could, getting the bar away, with an iron crow: he had one in his hand; I caught him; we scuffled; he got away from me; I am sure the prisoner was the man; he just dropped the bar, before the patrol took him; it was the crow which he dropped first, but he had a bar in his hand when I took him, and that he dropped, and his hat; I gave him his hat. JOHN SMITH sworn. I took the prisoner; I met him the corner of Bloomsbury-square; he had no iron bar upon him when I took him; he had nothing about him; he was without his hat; a gentleman gave me charge of him; I asked him how he came by the crow; and he said he found it; he said he was afraid he should be taken, and he flung it away; we took him to the prosecutor's house, there was the last witness with these five bars and the prisoner's hat, and we took him to the Justice, and he was fully committed. GEORGE GADDY sworn. I am a smith, I put up these bars; they are the same bars, that I can swear to; (deposed to) here is one bar, value one shilling. PRISONER's DEFENCE. I heard the cry of stop thief, I ran as the rest, and the watchman took hold of me, I was taken at a nonplus. GUILTY. Transported for seven years. Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice ASHURST. -------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org) 10th September 1788, trial of MICHAEL CONNER (t17880910-23). MICHAEL CONNER, Miscellaneous > returning from transportation, 10th September 1788. 519. MICHAEL CONNER was indicted for feloniously returning from transportation, and being found at large, on the 10th of July last. When the prisoner was arraigned he pleaded guilty; when he was thus addressed by the Recorder; I think it right that you should be fully informed of the consequences of your plea before it is recorded; if you expect to receive any favor from the court, or from your sovereign, on account of your pleading guilty, you may probably be deceived in that expectation, and the consequence of your pleading guilty, if it is recorded, will be exactly the same, whatever that might be, as if you was found guilty by a verdict of the jury; therefore it is for you to consider, whether you will abide by your plea of guilty, or take your chance of acquittal by a jury of your country: are you guilty or not guilty? Prisoner. Gentlemen, I am guilty; when I found the gates open, I walked out of the gates; I saw nobody to hinder me or to stop me; I went at my liberty; I have three small children and a wife; they had no support; I had served my king and country abroad during the time of the war; and I thought it very hard to be kept here. Court. Upon your plea of guilty; the only thing the court has a power to do, is to give judgment of death against you; if you have any matter to offer in excuse, in that case it must go in the form of a petition to your sovereign; but if you have any matter to lay before the court it must be by evidence; then this prisoner pleaded, not guilty. JOHN OWEN sworn. Here is a certificate of the prisoner's conviction. (Produces it.) (Read by Mr. Shelton, and examined by the Court.) On the 3d day of May last, the prisoner made his escape from the Goal of Newgate;afterwards Mr. Pitt and I apprehended him on the 10th of July, in Bambridge-street, St. Giles's; I know the prisoner to be the man that was convicted in April sessions; I am positive of it; I put him to the bar to take his trial; I took him away; and I afterwards brought him up to receive sentence; I recollect his being tried for stealing an iron bar, value 10 d. the property of John Edger , Esq; Prisoner. Please to ask him what I was doing when he took me? - He was in a back yard filling a barrow, I believe, with some rubbish or mortar; he was doing some work. JOHN PITT sworn. I have no more to say, than that he escaped from me the 3d of May last, and we retook him the 10th of July. Where did he escape from? - Newgate. Prisoner. What was I doing when you took me? - He was filling a barrow with something; he was at work. PRISONER's DEFENCE. My Lord, I have a wife and three small children; my wife came to me several times, and said her children and she were very much distressed; as I was in confinement, knowing that they were in this distress, I found the opportunity of walking out of the gate, when I saw the rest of the strangers going out, and I walked out along with them; I have no witnesses; they all told me I was to be tried the last day of trying; I will fetch them tomorrow; I will bring my master who I have worked for these four years. GUILTY, Death. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. ROSE.