Thomas Doling

54

Phil Hands on 16th November 2017

Citation details: no. 01106 10th September 1866 at Benevolent Asylum Thomas Doling, male, age 68 Cause of death chronic bronchitis unknown parents Informant: George Doling, son of Riley Street Buried 12th September 1866 at Camperdown cemetery Born England, about 45 years in NSW Married at Parramatta about 1831 to Sophia Smith 3 boys and 8 girls living. Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t18210214-17 354. JOHN BILLET and THOMAS DOLING were indicted for stealing, on the 23d of January , one great coat, value 3 l., the goods of Nicholas Darlington Kent , in the dwelling-house of Catherine Kent , widow . MR. BRODERICK conducted the prosecution. MR. NICHOLAS DARLINGTON KENT . My mother Catherine Kent , lives at No. 52, Southampton-row, in the parish of St. George, Bloomsbury . On the 23d of January I left her house about a quarter past six o'clock, to go to my office in Clifford's-Inn, and left my great coat hanging in the passage near the door; it cost me five guineas and a half, and is worth above 3 l. JAMES EAMES . I am servant to Mrs. Kent. On the night of the 23d, Mr. Kent went out about half-past six o'clock; a knock came at the door, and a lad asked if Mr. Watson lived there, (I afterwards saw a lad answering his description apprehended with Billet) a knock came to the door at half-past seven o'clock, on my going to the door Doling was there, he gave me a note and said he had brought it from Mr. Williams; part of Mr. Williams's family had been out with the Miss Kents that morning, and as I had never seen him before I asked him if he lived with Mr. Williams? he said No; I asked him where he brought the note from? he said from Mr. Williams, of Hart-street - I am certain he is the man - he requested an answer. I observed two great-coats hanging in the passage as I took the note into the parlour, and as I delivered it to Mrs. Kent, the street door slammed too; I instantly ran out, opened the street door, and shut it after me; Billet stood in front of the area rails; I asked if he had seen any person run out with something on his arm? he said "Yes, he ran up that way," (pointing towards Russell-square) I went that way, and asked an old gentleman if he had seen any body; I was in the act of returning when I met Billet walking towards me with his hands behind him. I accused him of being concerned in stealing a coat, and sending me the wrong way; he denied it. Plaistead came up, and said he had met a man running towards Bloomsbury-square with a coat on his arm. I went with him, but did not find the man. I returned and missed the coat from the passage, it hung there when the note was brought. I saw Billet in custody next day with a lad answering the description of the one who first knocked. I went with Jefferies to the Falcon, public-house, in Sutton-street, and immediately pointed out Doling in the tap-room from among twenty others. MR. KENT re-examined. I was present at the prisoner's examination, what he said was not taken down in writing. JAMES EAMES continued I was present at the examination on the 25th of January; Doling said some man sent him with the letter. MRS. ELIZABETH RANDALL . I went to my mother's, (Mrs. Kent's) with my husband about seven o'clock that night; a great coat hung in the passage, and my husband hung his up also. About half-past seven o'clock the servant brought a note in; he ran out quick, and we all ran into the passage hearing the door slam too. My brother's coat was gone, but my husband's remained. HENRY PLAISTEAD. On the 23d of January about half-past seven o'clock, I was in Southampton-row, and met Doling at the corner of the row and Bloomsbury-place, running towards Bloomsbury-square - I was going towards Queen-square. He had a great coat on his left arm, and ran against me; I am certain of his person. I went on past Mrs. Kent's, and about five houses down the servant asked me if I had seen any one running, he was talking to Billet; we pursued Doling, but did not catch him. Cross-examined. Q. Was there a light for you to see him - A. Yes there was a lamp just by the corner of Bloomsbury-place. I looked him full in the face; he was running as from Mrs. Kent's. I saw him again a week after. COURT. Q. Did you particularly notice Billet - A. I will not swear to him; I had a better opportunity of seeing Doling than him, for I ran against Doling. MR. KENT re-examined. I know there was a lamp at the corner of Bloomsbury-place; it has been removed within the last few days. I heard Doling tell the Magistrate a young man at the corner delivered him the note; the Magistrate asked him if he was to wait for an answer? he said Yes; the Magistrate said, "Then you ran away without one." NATHANIEL AVELING . I am an oilman, and live at No. 54, Southampton-row, two doors from Mrs. Kent. I know Billet. On the 23d of January, about a quarter or half-past seven o'clock in the evening, he came to my house, and enquired the name of the people who lived at No. 52. I told him Mrs. Kent. Cross-examined. Q. Was it not later than that - A. No. I knew him before; I believe he lives at Somer's-town. JAMES JEFFERYS . I am an officer of Bow-street. I went with Eames to the Falcon, public-house, he immediately pointed out Doling. I took Billet at his father's in Tucker's-rents, Somer's-town. I took his brother at the same time, he was afterwards discharged. Cross-examined. Q. Did you fetch the servant to the Falcon, public-house - A. No. I took Doling on the 25th. There were sixteen or twenty people there. JAMES EAMES re-examined. I went to the Falcon, in consequence of information I had. The boy who was taken with Billet appeared, in height and size, the same as the first who came to the door, I am sure Billet is the man who spoke to me at the area rails; there is a lamp at the next house, it is not a gass light. He stood on the Bloomsbury-square side of the door. Prisoner DOLING. I leave my defence to my counsel. BILLET's Defence. My brother was at home at the time. I was sent into Holborn on a errand. BILLET - NOT GUILTY DOLING - GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 23. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Richardson.

54

Phil Hands on 16th November 2017

Thomas was tried on 14th February 1821 at the Old Bailey on circumstantial evidence, for theft of an overcoat. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, which was commuted to transportation to Botany Bay for life, he was sent to the Prison Hulk 'Bellerophon', which was moored at Sheerness prior to transportation. Left England on 1st August 1821. Ship:- the 'Minerva I' sailed with 172 male convicts on biard of which 3 died during the voyage. Arrived on 16th december 1821. It is believed that he worked in the road gang on the Blue Mountains as he carved his name in one of the cells at the Hartley Court House. He was also sent to Moreton Bay in 1827, sentenced to three years for "stowing away with intent to escape the colony". He obtained his Ticket of Leave in February 1839, sometime later, in 1844, he was granted a Conditional Pardon and started a workshop in his trade as Painter, Plumber and Glazier in Kent Street, Sydney. Married Sophia Smith (daughter of convict James Smith, 'Indian' 1810 and Elizabeth Holland, 'Friends' 1811) on 15th July 1839 at Sydney, they had 15 children between 1836-1857, 9 of which died in infancy. He was elected Superindendant of Water Works in 1849. The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 20th March 1849 SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS The Council then proceeded to the election of a superintendent of the Water Works, there were eleven candidates, whose testimonials were read. The three selected were Messrs. Thomas Doling, George Commins, and John Dillon. The result was as follows : Mr. Doling ..........17 Mr. Dillon............9 Mr. Commins........ 6 In 1850 Thomas sent a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald regarding their reporting that the Corporation's Engines were in an inefficient state:- Sydney Morning Herald Monday 2nd December 1850 To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald GENTLEMEN,- In reference to a paragraph in your journal of the 20th instant, relative to the fire in Hunter-Street, on the premises of Mr. Youngman, in which it is stated the Corporation engines are in a most inefficient state, and that several articles purchased with them are now missing, the engine-keepers trust that you will do us the justice to cause your informant to enumerate the missing articles, which may afford a clue to the detection of the thief, and thus clear ourselves of any blame that might otherwise be attached to us. The delay on Friday night was occasioned, firstly, by the obstructing zeal of the people, who laid hands on the various articles necessary to put the engine to work, without knowing what to do with them--they thus put them out of the way of the engine-keeper,--and also, by the crowd having been allowed to trample on and destroy the hose, When the alarm was given that the fire had broken out afresh, on Saturday night, the large engine was ready for action, even to flood the house, within five minutes of its arrival on the ground--a fact for which an Alderman and one of the first merchants of the city, who were actively engaged in organizing a force to work it, can vouch. We are, Gentlemen, Your obedient servants. THOMAS DOLING, JOHN WARNER. November 30. Thomas died of bronchitis in the Benevolent Asylum at Sydney in 1866 age 68. Sophia died on 14th April 1884 at Harwood Island, Northern Rivers, New South Wales age 66.

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Elaine Doling on 13th April 2014

Birth date variously recorded as 1797 and 1799 in convict records.Birthplace listed as London in convict records.Date of birth and parents unknown.Convicted at the Old Bailey on 14 February 1821, kept in prison hulk "Bellerophon" until sailing to NSW on the "Minerva" from Downs, Kent, 26 July or 1 August, 1821, arriving at Sydney 16 December 1821. Obtained Ticket of Leave in February 1839, Conditional Pardon in 1844. Married Sophia Smith (b. Parramatta 1818)at St James Church of England, Sydney on 25 April 1839. They had 8 children. Thomas had a workshop for his trade of Painter, Plumber and Glazier in Kent St,Sydney. Thomas died of bronchitis in Sydney in 1866.