Catherine Fitzpatrick

342

Maureen Withey on 17th May 2022

Newspaper Report of the Robbery of George Tribe, his wife and two other men. Criminal Court. Tuesday. George Young, Thomas Scarr, John Williams, and James Simmons, were indicted for a highway robbery, near the South Creek, on the 20th of April last, having stopped and plundered a cart belonging to John Blaxland, Esquire; and Edward Grimmer was also indicted, for inciting, counselling, and moving the said four prisoners to commit and perpetrate the said robbery. George Tribe, overseer to John Blaxland, Esq. deposed, that two men, and his wife, were with the cart at the time it was stopped, which was about dusk; and that he was riding on the road along side the cart, when four men, almost breathless with running, overtook them, two of whom were armed with muskets, and the other two with bludgeons. That one of the robbers levelled a musket at the carter, and threatened to blow out his brains if he did not stop the cart; that he (the witness) was in the act of discharging a horse pistol at the plunderers but was prevented by the timely interference of his wife, for had he fired, murder would have inevitably been the result. The cart was stopped, and rifled of spirits, tea, sugar, &c; the witness in the interim making the best of his way to the house of a constable, which was almost in view of the robbery. Assistance being promptly obtained, the witness returned to the road, and found the cart had gone on, which was soon overtaken; the men in charge of the vehicle having received orders from the highwaymen to proceed on their journey. The witness, upon looking at the prisoners at the bar, said that they were correspondent in size and dress to the robbers; but he was unable otherwise to identify them. This witness further stated, which was corroborated by William Hill, constable at Bringelly, that next morning, with the assistance of three native guides, they traced the robbers some miles; and through the woods, to the farm of Mr. Johnston, finding upon the way broken bottles, a bottle of brandy, a coil of rope, &c. which had been deposited in the cart the preceding day. Upon tracing the robbers to this farm, the overseer was directed to muster and examine his men; and that, upon seeing Williams and Young conversing together outside, and being of the appearance of the plunderers, they were immediately handcuffed, and the other three prisoners were also then taken into custody; notwithstanding the assertion of their overseer, who had strongly declared that those men were on the farm at nine the previous evening. Upon searching the kitchen a shoe was found, which corresponded with one in the track observable by the natives, but which none of the men would lay claim to. Two guns were deposited in the kitchen, and underwent scrutiny, when they were, found not only to be rather dirty, but also quite damp ; they had, from appearance, been laid on the grass some time in the night, and were heavily loaded. John Taylor also proved the fact of the robbery, and further deposed, that the prisoner Young was the man that guarded the carter with a musket, while the cart was robbed, George Newsham, the carter, deposed, that when about five miles from the spot where the robbery was committed, the prisoner Grimmer carne riding up to the cart; he spoke to Mrs. Tribe, the overseer's wife, in a tone of familiarity; kept company a short distance; and then rode off, being seen no more. He swore positively to Young, who had threatened to shoot him if he did not stop the cart. Daniel Raine deposed, that he had been about 12 days a fellow government servant, with the prisoners at the bar, who were in the service of Mr. Johnston; that, on the evening of the robbery, he came home at 6 o'clock, where he remained all night; the sleeping room of the men was about ten yards from the kitchen, where the overseer and stockman usually slept. The witness said, that the prisoner Trimmer was a breaker-in of horses, and that he came home that night about sunset, having been absent all day. When Grimmer came Into the kitchen, the other four prisoners were in the room, as well as the overseer and stock-keeper. In a short time afterwards, the witness observed Grimmer whisper to one of the prisoners, when they all left the kitchen; that, in about ten minutes after, Young and Simmons returned, and each took down a musket from their place of suspension; the overseer very indolently enquired what they were going to do with those destructive articles, and they replied that they were going to shoot parrots, though it was then dark. [This overseer, we understand, was summarily dealt with by the Magistracy, and is now under transportation at Newcastle.] Between 11 and 12 Young and Williams came home, the barking of the dogs having caused the witness to awake. The former entered the room with a bottle of wine, some tea, bread, and other articles. The latter also was laden with spoil. The witness partook of the wine. The prisoner Grimmer, who had been at home the whole evening, was Iying near him, and he asked them (Young and Williams) what they had obtained ; the reply was "about half-a-chest of tea, and a good many other articles." Grimmer asked where Scarr and Simmons were, they replied that they were unable to proceed further from intoxication, and were lying somewhere on the road; Young and Williams then retired to rest. Between two and three in the morning, Scarr and Simmons entered the room, and immediately went to bed. The next morning the prisoner Williams, told the witness he had plenty of beef, and directed him to cook some for breakfast, which he thought proper, however, to refuse. This man's testimony went also to say, that Grimmer had informed him the preceding evening, that the, other four prisoners had gone to rob a cart, and that he would have borne them company, had it not been for the circumstance of his being known to the woman. When they were taken into custody, as already related, the witness being suspected as one of the robbers, was also handcuffed; when the prisoner Grimmer entreated him not to disclose what had come to his knowledge, and nothing would injure him. The shoe that was found in the kitchen, the witness swore was the property of the prisoner Simmons. Some beef was found in the kitchen, in various parts, which was proved by Mr. Blaxland's butcher, to form a part of that which had been in the cart, and as being sent to the labourers on the farm as their wet provisions. One piece, weighing 10½ lbs. he was very particular in positively and satisfactorily identifying. Several other witnesses were called, whose testimony more fully brought home the serious charge to the prisoners; who, being placed upon their defence, solemnly denied any knowledge of the affair. Guilty was the verdict. Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 14 Jun 1822.

342

Maureen Withey on 17th May 2022

NSW Convict Index. Catherine Fitzpatrick, Canada, 1817, Certificate of Freedom, 20 Oct 1825. No 155/4506. ---------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. TRIBE, George. Per "Marquis of Wellington", 1815. 1815 Feb 2 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Marquis of Wellington" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6004; 4/3493 p.436) 1819 Servant of John Blaxland. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3201; 4/1860 p.67) 1822 Jun 1-18 George Young and others convicted by Court of Criminal Jurisdiction of highway robbery of Tribe (Reel 6023; X820 p.53) ------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. George Tribe, age 42, T.L. Mq. Wellington, 1815, Life, protestant, Settler, Bringelly, Bringelly district. Has 400 acres of land, 100 of which are cleared and cultivated. Has 40 cattle. Catherine Tribe, age 31, F.S. Canada, 1817, catholic.

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Maureen Withey on 7th May 2022

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Catherine Fitzpatrick, age on arrival, 22, per Canada (4) 1817, Tried at Dublin City, 1816, 7 years. DOB, 1795, Trade: Dairy maid. Spouse: lived with George Tribe. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. FITZPATRICK, Catherine. Per "Canada", 1817. 1818 Feb 10 Received payment in lieu of beef due on voyage per "Canada" (Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.234-6)