Francis Jones

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Dianne Jones on 28th April 2021

1828: On arrival in VDL, he was listed as Francis JONES, 16, single, and an errand boy from Soho. He said his father James Jones was a Cyprus papermaker for book binders. He said he was last an errand boy for Mr Dobson, a paper hanger at 127 Strand. 1830: Muster – assigned to Mr E Lord (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1830 - 1831: He was assigned to Mr H Nicholls (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-23$init=CON31-1-23p152). 1832, February to November: Assigned to Sir John Owen where he was twice punished for disobedience of orders with three months on the chain gang and 25 lashes respectively (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-23$init=CON31-1-23p152). 1832: Muster – Francis Jones was listed as in jail (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849).

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Dianne Jones on 28th April 2021

1825, 15 December: Francis Jones petitioned, unsuccessfully, against his sentence. Below is the summary record of his case from the National Archives: “HO 17/49/114 … Prisoner name: Francis Jones. Prisoner age: 14 years. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey, December 1825. Crime: Larceny - robbing his master. Initial sentence: Seven years transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Belongs to a gang of young thieves'. Annotated (Outcome): Euryalus [convict hulk]. Petitioner(s): Francis Jones (the convict). Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Previous good character; first offence; in a bad state of health; he comes from a large and honest family.” (see https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14744887) 1825, 29 December: Francis Jones, listed as 14, was sent from Newgate prison and received aboard the Euryalus prison hulk at Chatham. He left there on 11 July 1828 for transportation to VDL (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).

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Dianne Jones on 28th April 2021

1825, 8 December: Francis JONES, born 1811, was tried at the Old Bailey: “136. FRANCIS JONES was indicted for stealing, on the 22d of November, 5 iron bolts, value 2s. 6d.; 5 brass knobs, value 6d.; 11 screws, value 3d., and 1 pair of scissors, value 9d., the goods of James Dobson, his master; and ANN STANTON was indicted for feloniously receiving four of the said bolts, well knowing them to have been stolen. JAMES DOBSON: I am a paper-stainer and builder - I live in the Strand. The prisoner Jones was in my employ for three weeks - there were some bolts and screws in separate parcels locked up by themselves, in a room over the factory. I went with Cousins, the officer, to Jones' father's lodgings, in Cooper's-place - we found these articles there. I then went to Stanton's shop, and found some others - they are all mine. Those found at her shop were of little value. WILLIAM COUSINS: I am a Bow-street patrol. I went to Jones' father's lodgings, on the 25th of November - we found these articles in the apartment - these ornaments had been fixed on a little pair of drawers. I then went to Stanton's shop, and found those other things - she said she had bought them nine months ago. Mr. Dobson said his boy had robbed him to a considerable amount, and she had the whole of it - she said she had had none of it, and these things she had bought three weeks ago. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS: Q. What shop does she keep? A. It is written over it, "Dealer in Marine Stores," but no name is up. The boy was taken by Mr. Dobson's man, and he came to inform me of it; but the watch-house-keeper said he was not justified in keeping him till I got to the watch-house. I asked him why he did not return to his master's; he said he was afraid. I said, "I suppose you have done wrong," - he said he had. I told him I was an officer, and not to say anything that would injure him - he then said, he had carried a pair of hinges to Mrs. Stanton's at first, and she gave him 2d. for them, and told him to bring anything else, and she would give him a good price - that he had taken all the things there which he took from Mr. Dobson's, and she had given him 4d. the night before, and told him to go to Whitechapel and keep there; and if he was taken, not to tell where he sold them. I showed him these four bolts, on the Monday morning, at the office, and he said he sold them to Stanton. Cross-examined: Q. Is not this woman married? A. A man came to the office and asked for her - she was not present at this conversation. CHARLES STEVENSON: My father lives in King's-street, Soho - he is a saddle-tree-maker. Mrs. Stanton keeps her shop in the same house. I saw Jones one day in November at her shop - there was a man in the shop, and Mrs. Stanton was serving him - he waited till the man came out. I went on, and did not stop - he had a paper cap full of brass bolts and nails. (Property produced and sworn to.) JONES - GUILTY. Aged 14. Recommended to Mercy - Transported for Seven Years. STANTON - NOT GUILTY.” (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/)