Charles Holton

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 9th November 2024

Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868 Ship; Surprise 1792 - New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Burials. Name Charles Hotton/Holton, Burial Date 19 Apr 1792

343

Maureen Withey on 8th May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 08 May 2020), April 1788, trial of CHARLES HOLTON (t17880402-70). CHARLES HOLTON, Theft > grand larceny, 2nd April 1788. 322. CHARLES HOLTON was indicted for stealing, on the 3d of April , nine yards of Irish linen cloth, value 9 s. a calico shawl, value 4 s. two pair of stockings, value 4 s. and two linen handkerchiefs, value 2 s. the property of Samuel Ewbank . SAMUEL EWBANK sworn. I keep a linen-draper's shop, in Moor-street, St. Giles's ; I have missed some goods; this man was recommended to me very strongly, as a man of integrity and honesty; he came to me last Monday morning, the 31st of March, as shopman , and last Monday morning when I came down stairs about eight, I found him behind the counter, he was quite intoxicated; I asked him some questions, he could not answer; I went down in the kitchen to have my hair dressed, and through the kitchen window, I saw the prisoner go out with something under his arm; I went up stairs, and he returned in about five minutes; I asked him where he had been? and what parcel he took out? he denied taking any parcel out; I said, I saw you myself; then says he, it was my dirty linen; I turned, and saw his dirty linen on the counter; there it is, says I, how can you talk of your linen; what is the parcel you took out? he flatly denied it again; in consequence of which, he was running backwards and forwards all day; he was out and intoxicated all day; he came home late in the evening and went to bed; I suspected him, this morning, early, about seven o'clock, I got a constable to search his boxes, and there was nothing of mine; there was a pocket-book which the constable took charge of, in which there was a great many duplicates; he was sent to the watch-house; I went with the constable to the pawnbroker's by the direction of the duplicates; they shewed the goods, and I swore to them before the Justice; I knew the goods when they were produced. Mr. Schoen, Prisoner's Counsel. You have said this man was very well recommended to you? - Yes. You say he was so drunk you could not understand him? - Yes, he was very drunk. (The things belonging to these duplicates produced and deposed to.) The prisoner called one witness to his character. GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER. --------------------------------------------------National Archives. HO 47/9/12 1789 June 24 Letter from James Adair, Recorder of London, enclosing reports on 36 convicts. Adair also states that he has just resigned ('the Court of Aldermen having this day accepted my resignation'). The letter is a response to a letter to Adair, Recorder of London, from Whitehall urgently requesting reports in response to 36 petitions [wanting] on behalf of 33 convicts tried at the Old Bailey. Some of the report requests had 'been made upwards of a year ago, no answer has been made to any of them'. The judge lists A. nos. 1 to 13 to be recommended for mercy, and B. 1-23 [HO 47/3/13] were spoken of as not recommended to mercy [however, some appear to have successful on earlier occasions: see B. 14, 15 and 18]. 3. Charles Holton, convicted at April sessions in 1788, for stealing some linen drapery goods, property of Samuel Ewbank. Satisfactory evidence against Holton, shopman to the prosecutor. Initial sentence: 7 years transportation. Recommendation: no mercy.