John Jones

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 12th March 2026

National Archives. Hulk Records. Sheerness Hulks, Retribution. HO-9-7_2. page 41/48. Received from Newgate, 17 May 1826. Jno Jones, age 19, Assault & Robbery, Tried Middx, 16 Feby 1826, Life, To NSW, 16 Sept 1826. --------------------------------------------------------- In view of the above record, which states john was aged 19 and convicted of Assault and robbery, I do not think that the trial if John Gardner and John Jones is the correct trial. There were several trials of a John Jones at the Old Bailey on 16 February 1826, two where the prisoner was sentenced to Life. I think it is more likely to be this John Jones, who was aged 19, when he was convicted of the robbery --------------------- Trial at the Old Bailey, 16 Feb 1826. SECOND DAY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17. Middlesex Cases, Second Jury. Before Mr. Sergeant Arabin. 366. JOHN JONES was indicted for feloniously assaulting Flave Hill , widow , on the 7th of February , at St. George, Hanover-square, putting her in fear, and taking from her person and against her will, 5 half-pence , her property. FLAVE HILL. I am a widow, and live at No. 5, Providence-court, near Hanover-square - I keep the house. On the 7th of February, about nine o'clock at night, I was in my parlour - two men came in, but I could not see them - I know there were two men; somebody came in and put both his hands suddenly over my eyes and mouth. I know there were two, because I heard the other shut the door while the other held me - neither of them spoke a word; the first continued holding his hand over my eyes and mouth, while the other stepped up, put his hand into my pocket, and took out five half-pence, which was all I had about me; they still held me - I could not call out as he stopped my breath - they were about five minutes in the room - I made a kind of moan, as well as I could, and the lodgers came in - they ran out - one escaped, and the other, who was the prisoner, was taken in the passage. - I could not move the protect my money. Cross-examined by MR. BRODRICK. Q. I suppose your sight is bad? A. Yes, being old. The prisoner had no business whatever in my room - he once lodged in the house. GEORGE SIMPSON . I am an hostler, and lodge in the prosecutrix's house. On this night, about nine o'clock, I was with my wife in my room, which is exactly over the parlour; I heard a groaning noise, like a person in an apoplectic fit - my wife followed me down with a candle; I tried the room door, and asked Mrs. Hill, three or four times, what was the matter, but got no answer. I burst the door open with my feet, and the first man I attacked was the prisoner; there were two of them, but the moment I seized him the other man rushed out, and snatched the candlestick out of my wife's hand: the prisoner and I were down in the passage for five minutes, and the other man was five minutes before he could find the door. I succeeded in detaining the prisoner - he had no right in the house. Cross-examined. Q. Could you tell whether the other man was older than the prisoner? A. I consider him younger - he left his hat behind, and it would hardly fit a boy sixteen years old. MARY ANN SIMPSON . I heard a groaning, and came down with my husband. The man took the candle out of my hand, and threw it away - he gave me a blow in the mouth or I should have detained him. WILLIAM KIMBERLY . I am a constable of St. George's, Hanover-square. About half-past nine o'clock I was sent for - Simpson gave the prisoner into my charge; on the way to the watch-house I asked what induced him to go into the old lady's premises - I neither threatened nor promised him; he said with intention to steal - that he was out of work and could not starve. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 19. Recommended to Mercy on account of his youth .

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 11th March 2026

The Old Bailey Trial took place on the 16 Feb 1826.

Level 116

Tony Beale on 3rd November 2020

Old Bailey Online. Transported on the Albion London Cases, First Jury. Before Mr. Recorder. 363. JOHN JONES and JOHN GARDNER were indicted for stealing, on the 20th of October , at St. Bridget, alias St. Bride, 22 watches, value 420l., and 1 wooden case, with a glass top, value 4s., the goods of John Grant , in his dwelling-house . JAMES BANNISTER . I am servant to John Grant, a watch and clock-maker , who lives at No. 75, Fleet-street, in the parish of St. Bride's . On the 19th of October, about half-past eight o'clock in the morning, the two prisoners came into the shop; I am certain of them both; Gardner came twice that day. On the 20th, about the same time, they came again; I recollected them immediately - they asked to look at a watch which they had seen the day before; Gardner said he wished to have it - he left 5s. as a deposit, and was to call in a few days for it. I am certain of them both; Gardner gave his name as West, and after they had paid the 5s. they were going out together - they turned back short, and left the door a jar; Gardner then asked to see some watch-chains, which were in a glass-case by the side of the window; he paid me 2s. 6d. for the chain, and went suddenly out of the shop; I directly missed a case from the counter, containing fifteen gold watches, and about seven silver ones; the case had been put on the counter twenty minutes or a quarter of an hour before they came in; no other customer or stranger had been in the shop besides them, only a relation of Mr. Grant's. The case of watches was safe on the counter when the prisoners came in, and was within their reach; no one came in while they were there: I missed it a few seconds after Gardner left the door. The watches cost upwards of 400l. I immediately called the boy up, and ran into the street after them, but they were out of sight. The case was brought back to Mr. Grant's, by a ticket-porter the next day - I am sure it is the one which had the watches in it - here it is. I found Gardner in custody about a fortnight ago; I was taken into three different rooms, where there were thirty or forty persons - nobody was pointed out to me. I was told if I saw him to take no notice, but the moment I saw him the impression was so strong I immediately touched him on the shoulder. I saw Jones on the Friday following, at the Mansion House, among others, in the Justice room, and pointed him out to Mr. Cope, the marshal. Cross-examined by MR. LAW. Q. Was not Jones at the bar, under charge? A. I do not exactly know where the bar is; several people stood before him; he stood at a bar, among five or six other persons; I was not told I should see him. I was sent for against a person suspected to be the man; he was brought in after I got there, but I did not see him brought in, norin charge of any officer. Mr. Alexander Gordon, a relation of master's, came in a quarter of an hour before them. I had seen the case while the prisoners were in the shop; there was something singular in their appearance; Jones had a fustian coat. I know him by his face; his dress was very different when he was taken. COURT. Q. Did Jones appear to you, at the Mansion House, to be in a more forward situation than the others? A. No, my Lord - three or four stood in the same line; and when I first saw him I did not know it was a place for persons in custody. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Has your master any partner? A. No, nor any other Christian name. The case has a glass top; the watches were loose in it. I was behind the counter when they went out. The shop door is five or six feet from the counter. Q. Might not the watches flap against the glass? A. They might, but if carefully handled I think a watch would not come against the glass. I suppose I was ten feet from the door - Gardner was very close to me at the counter, and intercepted my seeing Jones passing - He had a fustian frock coat on; I do not think the case would go into their pockets; he might put it under his frock coat; my back was to the door - it was broad day-light. Crown-court is two doors from our shop - it leads to Water-lane, and has two passages leading out of it. The case was not broken at all when it was brought back. JURY. Q. Was your back towards them? A. Yes - only while I turned round to take the chain out of the glass-case; my back was then towards both of them; I only showed him one chain, and while I turned my back to get it Jones left the shop; Gardner remained, and paid for it. I had not time to put the cases in the window - there were four cases on the counter. JAMES PEDLEY . I am porter to Mr. John Threader, a hatter, who lives at No. 74 Fleet-street, next door to Mr. Grant. On See originalClick to see original >the 19th of October, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, I was cleaning the windows outside the shop, and saw two young men standing at Mr. Grant's window; Gardner was one of them. On the 20th I was again cleaning the windows, and saw Gardner with another person, whom I thought was the same I had seen before; they stood about the door; I saw them go into Mr. Grant's shop - I went in to breakfast, and saw no more. I afterwards saw Gardner in custody, at a public-house opposite the Mansion House, and was sure he was the person. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. This was between eight and nine o'clock? A. Yes, and the same time on the 20th. I went to breakfast in less than five minutes after they went into the shop; I might be twenty minutes at breakfast, and heard of this loss directly I came down, after nine o'clock. Gardner had a black body coat on, and the other a fustian coat, with pockets on each side; I cannot say whether it was buttoned; there is a court next door but one to Mr. Grant's. I do not think it possible for Gardner to put the case into his pocket. THOMAS CONNOR . I am shop-boy to Mr. Grant. On the 19th of October I saw two persons, like the prisoners, come into the shop - I did not see their faces, and cannot positively swear to them; they left the door open, and I shut it by Bannister's order. I did not see them on the 20th, but was called up about twenty minutes to nine o'clock, and the case of watches was gone. I had left the shop about half-past eight; it was then on the counter, and contained watches. I saw the prisoners when they were taken. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. You saw two men, whose faces you did not look at? A. I saw one of their faces, but did not take notice of them; the alarm was given before nine o'clock, I think - there were more cases on the counter, but they are of a different shape to this; I had dusted them, and know how many there were; when the alarm was given I looked and missed this one. The watches laid in the case, with a leather under them, but none on the top - they were not fixed; they would slide down if the case was turned up end-ways; it must be carried flat to keep them safe: they all had glasses. JURY. Q. Are all the cases in the shop alike? A. No- they are all moveable; some of the others had watches in them. THOMAS GARNHAM . I have been a ticket-porter at Fleet-market three years, and live at No. 3, Five-foot-lane. On the 20th of October, about nine o'clock in the morning, I picked up this case, with a bit of leather and paper by it, in Five-foot-lane, Old Fish-street, stuck in the window bars of Messrs. Yates and Hancock's premises, outside the window, by the area-grating; it must have been put there by somebody outside the house; it is a darkish place. I took it home, and at eleven o'clock that day took it to Guildhall, and was told to keep it till it was advertised. I took it to Mr. Grant's next morning, in consequence of what I saw in the paper; I left it there till to-day, and have now brought it here. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. How far is this place from Mr. Grant's? A. It is about three minutes walk - it is by Bread-street-hill. I am sure it was before nine, for the clock struck when I got in doors - it is not a public place, but it is a thoroughfare into Thames-street. JOHN FORRESTER . I am an officer. Foster apprehended Gardner by my desire; I was sent for, and found him at Lambeth-street, and took him to the Mansion House. DANIEL FORRESTER . I apprehended Jones in Cow-lane, on the 2d of February, about seven o'clock in the evening, and at the Compter I told him the charge - he said I was mistaken in the man. GARDNER's Defence. I am innocent. JONES' Defence. I know nothing about it. JONES - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. GARDNER - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 17. Recommended to Mercy on account of their youth .

Level 116

Tony Beale on 3rd November 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 2/3/1844 cert 44/322 for Eliza Thompson per ship Competitor (2) From Dundee Angus Scotland Wife of John Jones per ship Albion (2)