John Horton

341

Maureen Withey on 19th December 2025

GOVERNMENT NOTICE, No. 141, Colonial Secretary's Office, June 22. The period for which the under-mentioned persons were transported, expiring at the date placed after their respective names, certificates of their freedom may be obtained then, or at any subsequent period, upon application at the Muster Master's Office, Hobart Town, or at that of a Police Magistrate in the Interior:— Colonial. (conviction) Shipley and Duke of Wellington—John Horton, 8th July. Hobart Town Courier, 3 July 1840.

341

Maureen Withey on 19th December 2025

Colonial Secretary index. HORTON, John Per "Shipley", 1817; nailor 1818 Jan 30 On list of prisoners embarked on "Duke of Wellington" for the Derwent (Reel 6006; 4/3498 p.35) 1818 Jan 31 Transferred from Lumber Yard, Sydney, to the Derwent (Reel 6047; 4/1741 p.224) 30 Jan 1818. On list of prisoners embarked on "Duke of Wellington" for the Derwent. Jno. Horton, per Shipley, Tried at Portsmouth, 21 Sept 1816, Seven years, Nailer. ----------------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Conduct Record: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-18/CON31-1-18P24 John Horton, per Shipley & Duke Wellington. Tried 21 Sept 1816. See record for details. In margin: SC 1 July 1826. Not Guilty. 8 July 1826, 14 years. ------------------------------------------------------------- THE undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates and Tickets of Leave during the last Week :— Certificates. John Horton . . . . . . . . Shipley Hobart Town Gazette, 20 Feb 1824. ------------------------------------------------------------ SUPREME COURT. Since our last report, the following trials have taken place, viz : ... John Horton, stealing 9 sows of Wm. Ellis, at the Coal River—acquitted by false swearing of Ellis, who swore he had given Horton authority to keep the sows. Ellis was in consequence committed to Gaol for perjury. ... John Horton, and James Gray, for stealing a steer—Guilty. Hobart Town Gazette, 15 July 1826. ------------------------------------------- Our Readers will have observed with pleasure, the promptness of the Supreme Court in committing and bringing to trial William Ellis for perjury. This man was free, and by trade a blacksmith, residing at the Coal River. Having occasion to go to Port Dalrymple, he left his house in charge and trust of John Horton, commonly called "Jack the nailer" who thought fit during his absence to sell two of his sows. On his return, Ellis swore to a robbery of these sows against Horton, who was fully committed, and subsequently tried for the offence. It was on this trial that Ellis was guilty of perjury—for although he had sworn to the robbery by Horton before the Police—caused him to be fully committed and to stand his trial, yet in despite of all this, he swore in open court, that he had authorised Horton to do what he liked with his property, thereby corruptly occasioning Horton lo be acquitted. We trust that this horrid practice, commonly called mounting by the unprincipled parties, will now be checked, and that the just punishment which awaits Ellis will deter others from committing a similar offence—an offence which we do not hesitate to say, is of the deepest dye. Hobart Town Gazette, 5 Aug 1826. ------------------------------------------------------------ SUPREME COURT, SEPT. 2 His Honor the Chief Justice PEDDER came into Court at 11 o'clock, for the melancholy purpose of passing sentence on the prisoners who have been convicted at the last Sessions. ... The following is the sad list, with their names and crimes, of the whole of the prisoners ... Death. - … John Horton and James Gray, for stealing a steer; Colonial Times, 8 Sept 1826.