John Daines

343

Maureen Withey on 13th July 2024

Moreton Bay Convict Records. John Daines, per Planter, tried Norfolk Ass. 24 Mar 1832, for Highway Robbery, Life. Turner. Colonial conviction: Qr. Sess. Sydney, 27 Apr 1835, for Larceny. Sentence: Four years. Returned to Sydney, 22 Jun 1838. -------------------------------------------------------------- His Colonial Conviction: Joseph Weagly, John Deans, and William Taylor, all assigned to Mr. Underwood, Parramatta road, were indicted for attempting to steal a quantity of wearing apparel from the house of Mr. John Solomon, Publican, George-street, Sydney, on Sunday the 27th March. From the evidence it appeared that the three prisoners with two men also prisoners of the Crown, went to the prosecutor's house and had some spirits ; when they entered the house, Taylor contrived to slip up stairs to Mr. Solomon's bed-room, and having opened the drawers, packed up four large bundles of the contents, and left them outside the door on the landing place at the head of the stair; he then went to the bar and appeared so much agitated, that the servant suspected that he had been after some roguery and watched him on leaving the house, they found that he was carrying off a bundle which they took from him, and allowed him to go away. Upon going up stairs they found the other three bundles lying; they gave information to their master, and the parties were apprehended that night at 11 o'clock. According to the evidence of one of the witnesses, Weasley threatened to stab him if he made any noise about his taking the bundle from Taylor. The prisoners in defence asserted, that the robbery had been planned by the two witnesses Hannibal and Foster, both assigned servants to the prosecutor. That after the things had been packed up ready to take away, the witness Foster came to Taylor and told him he had a good thing for him, and told him to carry off the bundle; on which Hannibal seeing him about to leave the house took back the bundle and said it would not do at present. After they left the house, Foster came up to them, and wanted them to return at night and carry off the things, on which Weagley told Taylor to have nothing to do with Foster, and threatened to put his knife into Taylor, if he paid any attention to what he wanted him to do. The witnesses had been afraid of their master finding out that they had premeditated the robbery by the disarangement of the articles in the room, and had got up the present charge to save themselves,- Guilty, remanded. Sydney Monitor, 22 Apr 1835. Sydney Quarter Sessions, Saturday April 27. The following prisoners were brought up and sentence passed upon them : Joseph Whitely, Wm. Taylor, John Deans, ... to be transported to a penal settlement for four years. Sydney Gazette, 28 April 1835.

On 19 December 1832, John was assigned to John Wood of Maitland. On 30 May 1843, he was granted a Ticket of Leave and was assigned to William Miller Esq. of Lane Cove. He received a conditional pardon on 1 March 1848. Married Jane Leiper 19 November 1845 in St Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney. John's surname was spelt Dean/Deans/Deane/Deanes in different records.