John Goodwin

343

Maureen Withey on 24th April 2026

Hulk Records. HO-9-7_2 (page 42/48) Retribution Hulk at Sheerness. Received from Newgate, 1 July 1826. Jno. Goodwin, age 26, Hway Robbery, Tried at Middx, 11 May 1826, Life, To NSW 31 July 1826.

343

Maureen Withey on 13th July 2024

Source: Letters Re Moreton Bay, dated July, August and September 1837. Letter from Moreton Bay, to Col. Sec. Dated 25 Aug 1837. Acknowledging letters received per “James Watt” & Sloop “Captain Fyans” [No 37/2] 1: Re prisoners forwarded to Head Quarters per Steam Ship “James Watt” with exception of Richard Mayer [also spelt Meyers]/ “Mangles” 3 & John Goodwin/ “Speke”3 – Richard Mayer volunteers to stay on as Chief Constable, John Goodwin to remain until next ship south – his skills in ship or boat building needed. 4: Reporting arrival of Sloop “Captain Fyans” – leaks reported by late Master, Mr Jackson – mentions prisoner Goodwin to help with repairs.

343

Maureen Withey on 27th May 2023

John Price was tried with John Goodwin, and in the evidence at the Old Bailey trial, it is stated that both prisoners belonged to the same regiment. A Criminal Petition on behalf of John Price was made, and is held in the National Archives. National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/81/117 Date: 1826. Prisoner name: John Price. Prisoner age: 23 years. Prisoner occupation: Soldier in the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey May Sessions 1826. Crime: Highway robbery, stealing nine shillings and a watch worth three pounds from Thomas Conn. Initial sentence: Death. Annotated (Outcome): Considered at Report in Council 1 June 1826 [sentence respited]. Petitioner(s): John Price, the prisoner. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Seven years service in the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards for which his officers can vouch for his good character and honesty; it was not he that committed the crime, in fact he tried to warn the prosecutor that he was likely to be robbed; both he and the prosecutor were very drunk at the time the crime was committed and the prosecutor has since retracted his identification of Price as the robber; aged parents. Other papers: Discharge certificate from His Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. Additional Information: A second petition from Price says that his sentence has been respited and asks that he not be separated from his parents for life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This indicates that John Goodwin was also a soldier in the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards.

343

Maureen Withey on 27th May 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 27 May 2023), May 1826, trial of JOHN PRICE JOHN GOODWIN (t18260511-24). JOHN PRICE, JOHN GOODWIN, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 11th May 1826. 922. JOHN PRICE and JOHN GOODWIN were indicted for feloniously assaulting Thomas Quarn , on the King's highway, on the 2d of May , at St. George, Bloomsbury , putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, 1 watch, value 3l.; 1 watch-chain, value 1s.; 2 seals, value 1l.; 4 watch-keys, value 8s.; 1 ring, value 10s., and 9 shillings, his property . THOMAS QUARN. I live at No. 14, Duke-street, Bloomsbury . On Tuesday, the 2d of May, about ten o'clock at night, I was at the Black Lion, public-house, Castle-street - the prisoners and another soldier went in at the same time with me; I was alone myself, but when we got in we joined together; I knew the other man, who was Jerry Child, but did not know the prisoners before. We went into the parlour altogether; there was nobody else there. I joined their company, and staid there till a little after eleven o'clock; we all drank together, and had three pots of porter; I paid for one pot; Child went out a few minutes before eleven o'clock; I went out soon after eleven; the two prisoners followed me out. I lodge about thirty yards from the public-house. Goodwin was on my left side, and the other on the right - I had not got seven or eight yards from the public-house, when I was suddenly knocked down by Goodwin, in Duke-street; Price took hold of both my arms, and forcibly kept them down, while Goodwin dragged my watch out of my fob; I called out: he put his hand into my right-hand pocket, and took out 9s. in silver. I called for assistance, and they both ran away. I got up - Child was coming towards his quarters, and I seized him by the collar, told him I had been robbed, and I suspected he had something to do with it. The patrol came up, and I gave him in charge. I had not seen Child about me, but I suspected he was concerned. I went to the watch-house, and described the two prisoners; the constable found them that night. I saw them in custody next morning, and knew them; I was sober. Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS. Q. What are you? A. A gentleman's servant , but had been out of employ about three weeks. I had been to the Rose and Crown public-house before that, and had a pint of beer - I went there alone; Child came in afterwards, and had a pint of beer; I do not recollect seeing the prisoners there, but there were a great number of soldiers there; I had a pint of beer when I first went in, and took it into the parlour with Child - it was put into somebody's pot; I drank two or three times out of it; but had not spirits. Q. Will you swear you did not drink two pots yourself? A. Certainly not; we drank two or three times round; I only paid for one pot: I could not have drank two pints. I went there about eight o'clock, and staid till half-past nine, then went to the Black Lion with Child, and there we had three pots among four of us, and half-a-pint of gin; I had nearly one glass: we staid there till a few minutes after eleven. I was knocked down sevenor eight yards from the Black Lion; I was perfectly sober. The landlord was up - a watchman goes up the street; I do not know where his box is. I knew perfectly well who knocked me down, and who robbed me. I seized Child, as I thought he was concerned - only two persons robbed me. When I got up Child was just coming round the corner towards his quarters; he had not passed me. I could scareely get up, the fall was so great - he made no resistance; he was not at the robbery. Q. Did you invite either of the prisoners home to sleep with you at your lodging that night? A. Never. I did not ask Goodwin to take charge of my watch, because I was so drunk. I was at no other public-house that day; I dined at the Black Dog public-house; I took two pints of beer with my dinner, and had about three glasses of ale in the afternoon; I staid there till half-past four o'clock, then went home to tea, and about eight went to the Rose and Crown; Child had two eggs with me at dinner. We only had three pots of beer at the Black Lion. I have been out of town for a few days since the robbery, with my friends, in Essex. Q. In what part of Essex? A. I went to inquire for a friend; I went to the Eagle and Child public-house, Epping-forest, and took a lodging in the village, just by - I was only gone two days; I slept there one night. I swear I was perfectly sober. WILLIAM McGREGOR . I am a patrol of St. Giles's. On this night, Quarn had given information at the watch-house, I went round to different houses, and about one o'clock I was going through George-street, and by a lodging-house I turned my eye, looked through the curtain, and there saw Price sitting in the parlour, with a female; they seemed at very high words. I listened for about five minutes; she threatened to charge the watch with him for ill-using her, and for another thing. I beckoned the girl out, and in consequence of what passed I went in, and took him to the watch-house. I found a shilling, a halfpenny, and a penny piece on him; I left him in the watch-house, and found Goodwin in the upper part of the same house, about half an hour afterwards; we broke the door open; he was in bed with a woman: we desired him to get up and dress - he did so. I searched his pockets before he dressed; his clothes were on the floor, by the bed side, and in his left-hand jacket pocket I found the watch and a purse, with four shillings and four-pence in it- he put that jacket on when he dressed. I took him to the watch-house, and asked if he had got a watch - he said No. I said, "Have you got a purse;" he said, Yes, I have a metal purse, with two shillings in it;" I shewed him this watch and purse - he said he knew nothing of them - I do not think he had seen me take them from his pocket. Cross-examined. Q. Did you tell him you were an officer? A. No. I broke the door open, and told him I took him for ill-using a female. I thought him quite sober - he did not appear to have been drinking. WILLIAM PRICE . I accompanied McGregor to a house in George-street, kept by Mrs. Cummins, and took Goodwin in bed there. I saw McGregor find the watch in his jacket pocket. I did not see the purse found. Cross-examined. Q. Did McGregor shew you the watch? A. I saw him take it out of the prisoner's jacket in the room; I told him to put it into his own pocket; Goodwin was sitting on the bed side, near enough to hear, but he was drowsy; we made a great noise at the door to awake him - it was at one o'clock - he might have been in liquor before he went to bed. WILLIAM ADAMS . I am a patrol. I was about thirty yards off when this was done. I saw Quarn down on the pavement in Duke-street, Bloomsbury, between eleven and twelve o'clock, and when I made towards him I saw two soldiers run from him - they were close to him, and ran off, evaded me, and got away. I made towards Quarn- he had then got up, and laid hold of another soldier, and gave him in charge. My attention was drawn to it by hearing a scuffle. I only saw two soldiers come from him. Cross-examined. Q. Did you go before the Magistrate? A. Yes; I was sworn, and gave this account; my deposition was not taken down; I cannot say how the third soldier got there. Quarn accused him of being concerned in robbing him of his watch and money. PRICE's Defence. I have witnesses to prove I was not in the house for an hour and a half after Quarn came in. The landlord will prove he drew five pints of ale. Prisoner GOODWIN to THOMAS QUARN. Q. Did you never drink with me at the Two Brewers public-house, and gamble with me at the Queen's Head public-house? A. I never saw you before. Mr. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you not frequently gamble with him at the Canteen? A. I have no recollection of him. I have been at different public-houses since I have been out of place; I do not gamble much, and have no recollection of gambling with him; I never played at dominoes with him. I have no recollection of playing with him on the 1st of this month, nor the night before the robbery. I have been at the Canteen in the King's-mews, but not with him, to my recollection. I do not think I played with any soldier on the 1st of May, at the Black Lion - I never recollect seeing him. I once went to the Black Lion with Child, and gave him 6d. to fetch something to eat, and they did get something. Q. What do you mean by "They did get something?" A. Why, there were a great many soldiers there - I never paid for eggs and bacon for supper for the prisoner, that I know of - I know nothing about it. I do not recollect paying for any soldier's supper; I might have done so. Prisoner GOODWIN. Q. Did you not come to me at the Rose and Crown, and drink beer and liquor, then go to the Black Lion, and give me the watch to go home with you to your lodging? A. No - on my oath I did not. Mr. PHILLIPS called - ARCHIBALD DAVY . I belong to the same regiment as the prisoners. On the 2d of May I was at the Rose and Crown with them and Quarn - Child was there; we drank porter and ale; I was there with them about an hour; Goodwin was in their company: the prosecutor spoke to him, as if he was an acquaintance. I left about half-past nine o'clock leaving them there; Quarn then appeared as if he had drank a good deal. I was, about four weeks before, at the Two Brewers, George-street, St. Giles's, and saw Goodwin in Quarn's company; they were playing at dominoes, and drinking porter together. Goodwin appeared as if he had been drinking, at the Rose and Crown; Quarn appeared in liquor, but not so bad. JOHN BURCH . Child is in my regiment - he is on duty now - the prisoners are in the same regiment. On the 28th of April I saw Quarn drinking at the Canteen; Goodwin came in - Quarn got out of his seat, and asked him to drink - they drank together for two hours, talking together - this was between five and six o'clock in the evening; Quarn had been drinking there most of the afternoon. ROBERT CLEGG . I was quartered at the Hare and Hounds public-house, St. Giles's. I saw Quarn there three times - the last time he was with Goodwin - that was within the last ten days. WILLIAM RUDD . I keep the Black Lion. On the 2d of May Quarn came in about one o'clock; Child, who was quartered on me, joined his company; they had eggs for dinner - after dinner another soldier and a gentleman joined them; he drank a pint of ale by himself, and after they joined company they drank four or five pots. Quarn left my house about five o'clock, and returned a little before ten; they went into the parlour - he, Child, and the prisoners, together, and drank three pots of beer; they came in as friends, and drank as friends, and as they went out had half-a-pint of gin; Quarn could not be sober - they had liquor enough to make them all drunk. After they had been out a quarter of an hour the four soldiers and him returned, and knocked at my door - I opened it with the chain; Child said, "Open the door, and let me and my friend in;" I said I would not unless it was for him to go to bed; he said he would not. COURT to THOMAS QUARN. Q. Did you return to the house with Child and the prisoners? A. If I did it must be when I first went out, a few minutes after eleven o'clock, before I was robbed; I do not recollect returning, but I might have done it - I was not in liquor; I will not say I did not return. Three witnesses gave Price a good character. PRICE - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 23. GOODWIN - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 26. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Moreton Bay Convict Record. John Goodwin, per Speke 3, tried at Middx G.D. 11 May 1826, Life for Highway Robbery. Trade, Ship Carpenter & caulker. Colonial conviction: Escaped the Colony to the East Indies. Sentence: the remainder of his sentence. Returned to Sydney, 22 Jun 1838. Description: John Goodwin, native place, Aberdeen, age 28, 5 ft 0 ¾. Dark comp, brown hair, hazle eyes, P- religion.

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Penny-Lyn Beale on 29th August 2021

1828 - Convict Muster John Goodwin. Ship; Speke. 1826. 3 years Colonial Sentence. Assigned; Government. Morton Bay