Nathaniel Ewer

51

Chris Ison on 2nd December 2024

The following important extracts we copy from Sydney Gazettes to the 30th ultimo: " From Captain Carns, commander of the ship Neptune, we learn, that he left the ship Harriet, in which Mr. Alexander Riley left the Colony, at the Cape; from whom he has brought 15 male prisoners who had secreted themselves on board the Harriet. Five women were also concealed on board, who are not returned. The male prisoners who had effected their escape from hence in the Harriet, and returned by the Neptune from the Cape, were this day brought before a Bench of Magistrates, and Sentenced to receive one hundred lashes each, and worked in the gaol gang for 12 calendar months. The following is a list of the prisoners' names: Henry Chambers, John Druet, Benjamin Oliver, John Cochrane, Robert Plummer, John Skelton, Patrick Lowry, Nathaniel Ewer, Henry Moore, William Hollady, John Latham, James Quinn, Benjamin Little, Wm, Chapman, Thomas Edwards, and Moses Solomon, a boy. It appeared from a written statement transmitted from the Cape of Good Hope, that the delinquents had not made their appearance for a considerable time after the vessel's departure from hence, although it was known by some of the crew they were on board ; and, but for timely information being given to the commander, the consequences might have been very serious, as it was then represented to have been their intention to take the vessel, after the cargo had been received on board at the Cape, and carry her into South America ; in which design they would very probably have bean aided by seamen and other persons on board ; with which assistance they could scarcely have failed in accomplishing their purpose. The result of this discovery was, that the troops, in concert with the passengers were compelled constantly to keep the deck till they reached the Cape. (Hobart Town Gazette 20 Jun 1818, p. 2)

343

Maureen Withey on 18th March 2023

Colonial Secretary Index. EWER, Matthew (Per "Fanny", 1816) see EWER, Nathaniel. EWER, Nathaniel. Per "Fanny", 1816; coppersmith. 1820 May 13 Convict. Re deposition and statement of re case of American ship "General Gates" carrying off prisoners from New South Wales contrary to port regulations; deposition made on board "Dromedary" at New Zealand on 14 Apr (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.26) 1820 Dec 15 Recommended for pardon (Reel 6050; 4/1747 pp.303-5) 1821 Sep 8 Blacksmith. On list of all persons victualled from H.M. Magazines (Reel 6016; 4/5781 p.75) 1822 Feb 23 Testified before the Board of Enquiry into the Engineer Department (Reel 6053; 4/1754 p.119) 1822 Apr 20 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3217; 4/1865 p.43) 1822 Aug 20 Memorial (Fiche 3045; 4/1829 No.112) 1822 Sep 21 Offering his services to Government as a copper and tin smith (Reel 6055; 4/1761 p.181) 1822 Sep 30-1823 Sep 30 On lists of persons to whom convict mechanics have been assigned (Fiche 3296; X53 pp.28, 42, 58, 73) 1824 Mar 25 Re application to lease land in Sydney (Reel 6012; 4/3510 pp.580-1) 1824 Apr 12 On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3291; 4/4570D p.133) 1824 Apr 28 On list of individuals to whom bonded mechanics have been assigned; listed as Matthew (Fiche 3293; 5/3821.1 p.7) 1824 Sep Attesting to character of his servant William Whitton (Fiche 3312; 5/3821.4 p.17) 1825 Mar 15 Affidavit re loss of his certificate of freedom (Reel 6026; 4/1714 pp.181-2)

343

Maureen Withey on 17th March 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 March 2023), June 1815, trial of JOHN SILVESTER NATHANIEL EWER (t18150621-40). JOHN SILVESTER, NATHANIEL EWER, Theft > grand larceny, 21st June 1815. 720. JOHN SILVESTER , and NATHANIEL EWER , were indicted for feloniously stealing on the 17th of June , six charts, value 9 s. 6 d. one pen machine, value 6 s. 6 d. one mill-board, value 4 d. one hundred and seventy four bound books, value 5 l. 12 s. and one hundred and twenty other books, value 6 l. 7 s. the property of Messrs. Hearn and Benton. JOSEPH HEARN . I keep the King's Arms Inn , Snow-hill, Mr. Benton is my partner . I lost these things on Saturday the 17th; they were sent from my inn to go to Hull; they were sent to the Axe, in Aldermanbury, in order to be forwarded thither. JOHN WESTON. On Saturday the 17th, I drove my cart from my master's, the King's Arms, in Snow-hill, to the Axe, in Aldermanbury at which place I had to deliver three articles. I found it impossible to drive my cart up the yard as it was full of waggons and carts. I accordingly took the bundle and went up the yard with it. When I returned, the prisoner Ewer was at the tail of the cart; I took the second, and went up the yard with it. When I came back, he was in the same place; on my return after delivering the third, I missed the parcel containing the articles named in the indictment; I received information that the prisoners had taken the parcel out of the cart. Immediately I saw the prisoner run out of Phillip-lane, and make his way along Addle-street. A gentleman stopped him; I went up to him, and made him, go along with me. Going back again, up Phillip-lane, I saw a great crowd; Johnson the officer was there, he had arrested the other prisoner. I am sure Ewer is the person I saw at the tail of the cart, and who was afterwards running away. I never saw the other prisoner until I saw him in the custody of Johnson. Cross examined. Other persons might have taken this bundle out of the cart, and I might have been none the wiser. When I met the prisoner Ewer in Phillip-lane, he went with me very readily. BENJAMIN JOHNSON . I am an officer. On Saturday afternoon I was standing talking to two gentlemen in Phillip-lane; when I saw the prisoner Silvester with a heavy parcel on his back, and Ewer close behind him with his hat off; scratching his head, and wiping it, as if in a prespiration. I immediately laid hold of Silvester, and Ewer ran away. When I laid hold of Silvester, he tried to throw the bundle on me; I turned it off and held him tight. I requested the gentleman to go after Ewer; I had plenty to do to secure Silvester; he made very great resistance. Both the prisoner's were talking when I first saw them. WILLIAM WATTS . I am a porter to Messrs. Hill and Parkinson, in Snow-hill. I was in Aldermanbury opposite the Axe; on saturday the 17th. I saw this cart standing at the gate of the Axe, as it could not get up the yard. I saw a man take a parcel out of the tail of the cart. I don't know that it was the prisoner Ewer; I saw two men come down in possession of the officer, I don't know that one of them was the same man that I saw take the bundle. John Weston . The man who was standing at the tail of my cart, was dressed in black. Ewer's Defence. I am an articulator, I am employed to put skeletons together at St. Thomas and the London Hospitals. I had been to St. Thomas's Hospital; and as I was coming down Phillip-lane, I saw a great crowd, and two gentleman run after me; I never was near the tail of this man's cart. The pupils are all out of town, or I might have a good character. Silvester's Defence. I am a sea-faring man. I acknowledge my fault in taking this bundle out of the cart; but this man is quite innocent, for I never saw him before in my life. SILVESTER GUILTY . EWER GUILTY . Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder.

343

Maureen Withey on 28th December 2019

Absconded. Nathaniel Ewer, blacksmith, per Fanny, 5 feet 7 inches high, ruddy complexion, light brown hair, grey eyes, rather knock knee'd in right knee. Sydney Gazette,31 Jul 1819