John Jones

341

Maureen Withey on 27th February 2026

NSW Convict Index. John Jones, per John, 1827, Ticket of Leave, No 36/310. District, Evan; Tried Worcester Ass. John Jones, per John, 1827, Ticket of Leave Passport, 12 Aug 1839. no 39/236. Remarks: Ticket of Leave 36/0310. On the recommendation of Penrith Bench.

341

Maureen Withey on 18th April 2021

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/67/281826 1 individual petition (the prisoner, with a copy) and 1 collective petition (8 inhabitants of London, with a copy) on behalf of John Jones convicted at Worcester City Assizes at Lent 1826 of uttering a forged note. Grounds for clemency: respectable parents. Has a wife and three children. Worked as a waiter. Honest. First offence. Has made a full disclosure to the solicitor of the Bank. Jury recommended him to mercy. Ready to atone for his mistakes. Report of Mr Justice Park advising that convict was satisfactorily convicted. Judge told Bank solicitor that convict would not be executed but was unlikely to remain in the country. Gaoler's report: character unknown. Initial punishment: death commuted to transportation for life. Annotated: convicted at Worcester- all the testimonials are from London. 'Nil.' ML29

54

Phil Hands on 14th September 2017

Tried and convicted at the Worcester City Assizes on 18th july 1827 for uttering a forged £10 Bank of England Note to Mr. Reeves, of the Unicorn Inn, sentenced to death, this was commuted to transportation for life. Left England on 22nd July 1827. Ship:- the 'John I' sailed with 188 male convicts on board of which 3 died during the voyage. Arrived on 25th November 1827. Married convict Bridget McArdell ('Brothers'1827) on 12th April 1833 at Parramatta, she is thought to have died before 1838. On 24th December 1838 he married Lydia Field (daughter of Edward Field & his wife Maria ) at Castlereagh, Greater Sydney, they had 6 children between 1839-1852. Worcester Journal Thursday 9th March 1826 p. 3 John Jones, age 28, indicted for uttering a forged £10 Bank of England Note to Mr. Reeves, of the Unicorn Inn, in this city. The facts of the case were briefly as follows: - The prisoner arrived at the above inn on the evening of Feb 2d, where he remained, and bespoke a chaise to take him to Sir T. E. Winnington's the following morning; to pay for the chaise &c. he gave the waiter the £10 note in question; Mr Reeves gave in change seven country one-pound notes and 1 Bank of England. The prisoner then left the inn in the chaise, and when he arrived at the Hundred House said he should not go to Stanford until the following morning. Immediately after breakfast he ordered a chaise to take him to Kidderminster; soon after his departure Mr. Reeves, who had found that the note was forged, arrived, and pursued him to Kidderminster, and found he had taken a place in the coach from that town to Birmingham, in the name of Browne. At the latter place Mr. R. gave information to the police, and he was soon afterwards taken into custody. When the officer told him he was wanted, he attempted to give a companion a Pocket Book which contained seven one-pound Bank of England notes, and one 10l. the whole of which, with the note paid to Mr Reeves, were pronounced by an Inspector for the Bank (of 26 years standing) to be forgeries in every respect. - The prisoner wished to plead guilty, but being told that if he persisted in that plea he would be left for execution, he withdrew it. The Jury recommended him to mercy. Judgment of Death was recorded, and it is understood that he will not suffer. John died 1st October 1853 age 55 at Castlereagh, Greater Sydney. In 1854 Lydia married a James Brown at Castlereagh. Lydia died on 30th May 1909 age 87 at Nyrang Creek, Central Tablelands.