Benjamin Hill

174

Iris Dunne on 24th March 2021

Newgate Prison, Trial 17 Jan. 1815 for Receiving Stolen Goods Criminal Registers: aged 33, Offence Receiving Stolen Goods

174

Iris Dunne on 24th March 2021

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey JAMES MAYBANK, BENJAMIN HILL, Theft > grand larceny, Theft > receiving, 11th January 1815. 204. JAMES MAYBANK was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 19th of April , twelve bushels of coals, value 1 l. the property of Edward Wood , Richard Wood , William Wood , Thomas Hern , and Leonard Phillips : and BENJAMIN HILL for receiving the said goods, he knowing them to be stolen . BENJAMIN HODGES . I am a coal-metre. Q. On the 19th of April last, did you measure any coals to be delivered at the palace - A. Yes, I did not know where they were to go to: I measured eighteen sacks to go to Mr. Marrabone, out of Mr. Wood's stock; James Maybank was the carter to convey these coals; he drived the team, his name was inserted in the ticket as the carman; I saw him drive out of the dock. Q. Do you know Fox - A. Yes; he is the backer of the gang, he assisted in loading; it is common for other men to go with the waggons in the course of the day, and only the carman's name is inserted in the ticket. On that day I saw Maybank drive out of the dock; I did not see him in the street, whether he went with the waggon I do not know, nor whether any other man went for him; his name was in the bill as the carman. I gave Maybank this ticket in his hand, he drove out as the car-man. GEORGE LOCKETT . I am clerk in the house of Wood and Co. the names of the partners are Edward Wood, Richard Wood , William Wood , Thomas Hern, and Leonard Phillips , they are all the partners in that firm. I produce the book with the entry of the coals; the carman took out eighteen sacks to the stable-yard, St. James's, and twelve sacks to Burr-street; I have also it signed by Maybank, as the carman, his charge is eighteen-pence for shooting; he worked until the 22nd, and then he absconded. On the day the coals were taken out, they were five shillings and sixpence a sack; this sort of coals were sixty-six shillings a chaldron; they were the best coals the carman's name is signed on the ticket, he afterwards signs the book; we send one man, he may take another. Fox was a backer; we owed the prisoner one pound for shooting when he absconded; he never called for it. JOSEPH AMES . I have an apartment in St. James's Palace; Mr. Marrabone lives next door to me. On the evening of the 19th of April, I recollect seeing a coal waggon come into the stable-yard, it was near six o'clock; I happened to be looking out of the window; I saw the coals unloading; there were two or three sacks emptied; I saw the man moving the sacks from the front to the tail, he knocked two sacks down, and the coals fell into the street; he put some empty sacks down in the street; I cannot say how many; I then thought there was something wrong, and I watched the counting of the sacks; they counted eighteen, part of them were empty; I watched the waggon; they drove to Maddox-street, they stopped at Mr. Hill's door, in Maddox-street, it is a cook's shop, in Maddox-street, and a private house in Swallow-street, it is a corner house; the waggon pulled up to the private door; I thought the man in the waggon suspected me, I went two or three doors further; they went into the house with two sacks; I saw them come out as if they had taken more; the waggon moved on towards Burr-street, Golden-square; on my seeing Hill in his house. I went, and asked Mr. Hill if Messrs. Wood, were his coal-merchants; he said, no. I said you have had some coals in; he said, he had four sacks out of the waggon, Mr. Wood was not his coal-merchant; he said, the man came into his shop, and said he had some coals to sell, he bought four sacks of him. I told him he had done a wrong act, and he would get into trouble about it. The next day I told Mr. Marrabone of it, and afterwards Mr. Wood was acquainted with it; Mr. Wood sent the metre to measure them; they measured only fourteen sacks, instead of eighteen; they were four sacks deficient, including them that had been burned. I cannot tell who the carman was, whether it was the prisoner or any other man; this happened on the 19th of April. MR. M'CALLAH. I am one of the Westminster coal-metres. In April last, I measured some coals in Mr. Marrabone's apartments. I saw his servant, she told me how many she had used; they turned out to be fourteen sacks, and no more. THOMAS PACE. I am an officer. I apprehended Maybank on the 25th of November; there was a warrant against Hill, he came directly to the office; he was bailed out, and surrendered to day. ELIZABETH WALL . I am servant to Mr. Marrabone. I remember the coals coming in; soon after Mr. Amos told my master something, or else he would not have known it; I used no more scuttles of coals than four only; the scuttle is about half a bushel; I told the metre how many I had used. Maybank's Defence. I was very ill, I employed a man to do my work, and that is the occasion of this happening; I was not able to do my work; I signed the book, and got another man to do my work. Maybank called three witnesses, who gave him a good character. Hill said nothing in his defence; called eight witnesses, who gave him a good character. MAYBANK, GUILTY , aged 32. Transported for Seven Years . HILL, GUILTY , aged 33. Transported for Fourteen Years . Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t18150111-82

174

Iris Dunne on 24th March 2021

Prison Hulk ship Perseus moored at Portsmouth, Received 22 April 1815, aged 33, Offence Felony Certificate of Freedom No. 29/1 dated 12 January 1829, Year of Birth 1782, Trade Servant, had a Ticket of Leave dated 31 January 1820 now surrendered & cancelled

2

Helen Thompson on 24th March 2021

It is my understanding that the name of Benjamin's wife was Hester Halford. They married 28 Jan 1806 in London, at St. George's Hanover Square.

25

Carolyn Nock on 8th January 2017

Trial date 11 January 1815 5 Feb 1816 - Benjamin assigned to Liverpool. 1 Oct 1819 - Petition for mitigation of sentence 1822 Benjamin is a brewer of ginger and spruce beer. 1825 Muster - FS- Benjamin working as a publican, Sydney. In Nov 1825 granted a conditional pardon. 1825 'Midas - Benjamin's wife Louisa and his daughter Jane make journey to NSW. Louisa died of consumption on board ship 9pm October 1825.((See Surgeon's Report "Midas" 1825) ML. She had been warned by medics not to make the trip to NSW. In December 1819, Benjamin wished to go on board to collect his child. 1828 Census Benjamin Hill is a shopkeeper in Pitt Street. He wrote his will on 1st May 1830 and lived at Upper Pitt Street. He was by now holder of property in Pitt Street and his daughter Jane was a boarder at Thomas and Charity Nott's school in Castlereaggh Street. Benjamin was godfather to Thomas and Charity Nott's son, Thomas E. Nott Jnr. Probate Index 1800-1901 Series 1 Nos. 1003 and 1346 shows Thomas Nott senior was the executor of Benjamin's will and probate was granted 19 April 1839.