Thomas Jones

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd May 2021

1832: On arrival in VDL, Thomas Jones was 18 and single. He was a harness maker and had a previous conviction for vagrancy (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-24$init=CON31-1-24p90). 1837, 4 February: He received a Ticket of Leave.

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd May 2021

NOTE: ERROR IN ABOVE TRIAL AT OLD BAILEY. BELOW IS CORRECT COURT APPEARANCE FOR THOMAS JONES, 16, TRIED ON 28 OCTOBER 1830, OLD BAILEY: "2033. THOMAS JONES was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of October, three clocks, value 20s., the goods of George Miller. GEORGE MILLER: I make Dutch clocks, and live in Broad-street, Bloomsbury . On the 15th of October I was at work in my back-parlour; I looked round, and saw a person taking three clocks out of the window - I went into the shop and he ran off with them; he ran fifteen or eighteen yards and then dropped them - I pursued him four or five hundred yards; he got out of my sight, but I had given the alarm, and the prisoner was found soon afterwards - I had not seen his face in my shop, but by his garments he is the person, to the best of my knowledge. Prisoner: He said he did not see any one drop them. Witness: Yes; I saw you drop these three clocks - to the best of my knowledge he is the man. JAMES COBBINS: I am a Policeman. I heard the alarm, and saw this man as I believe (by his wearing apparel) run, and a great many persons following - I came up, and a young man who had followed him close, said, "He is gone into this house;" I waited there ten minutes, and sent to the station-house - when the officer came I went in with the serjeant and some woman; we brought the prisoner out - he said, "Let me go; I will go quietly;" from his clothing I have no doubt he is the same person, but I did not see his face. CHARLES FREDERICK FIELD: I had information of the loss of these clocks; I went into the house, and saw the prisoner concealed behind a bed - I said, "You are the man I want;" I brought him out - he said, "Don't collar me; I will go quietly;" in going along, he said, "I never was in trouble before." Prisoner: He asked me whether I had been. Witness: I did not; I asked if your mother was coming, and you said, "I don't know, I never was in trouble before." Prisoner's Defence: I was sitting on the corner of the bed, bad with a cough; I was not near the shop, nor had the clocks. GUILTY. Aged 16. Transported for Seven Years (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/). ... 1830, 21 December: Thomas Jones, 16 (born 1814), was sent from Newgate prison and received aboard the Cumberland hulk at Chatham. He was sent from the hulk on 26 September 1831 for transportation (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).

218

Dianne Jones on 1st May 2021

1831, 17 February: Thomas Jones and three others were tried at the Old Bailey: "569. THOMAS JONES, JOHN FERGUSON, EDWARD BOND and CHARLES BERRY were indicted for stealing, on the 27th of January; 9 pairs of shoes, value 29s.; 2 pairs of boots, value 10s.; and 1 boot, value 3s. , the goods of Mary White. MARY WHITE. I live at No. 109, Rosemary-lane, and am a widow ; I and my son sell a few second-hand shoes. On the 27th of January I was very ill, and was up stairs between twelve and one o'clock - I heard a huzzaing, and some person crying out, "Shoes and boots." I looked out at the window, and saw nearly two hundred persons round the house - they kept on crying out, and looking up to me; the prisoners said, "Halloo, mistress, for your shoes and boots;" my shop-window is glazed, and is a plain window - I saw the persons carrying the boots and shoes from my window; I then went down, and the people ran away - there was a great deal of noise and hallooing - one of the party had a flag, and I followed it; I had seen my son go out to try to save a few of the goods - he was struck several times, and had a black eye; I cannot speak to the persons of the prisoners - I lost nine pairs of shoes, two pairs of boots, and an odd boot; I have since seen one of the pairs of shoes, and the odd boot - they were part of the property stolen by the mob. JOHN COX. I am a Police-constable. On the 27th of January I went to Ratcliff-cross, between twelve and one o'clock; I saw Ferguson there, with the colours in his right hand - there were from a hundred to a hundred and fifty persons round them, within half a dozen yards; I saw a fresh pair of shoes on Ferguson's feet, and another pair under his jacket - these are the pair he had on his feet; they appeared clean, and have been claimed by the prosecutrix - the pair in his bosom were very dirty; I should think he was then a mile from the prosecutrix's house - I took him to the watch-house. COURT to MARY WHITE. Q. What was the man doing who had the flag? A. I did not take notice of any thing he did in particular, but he was among them, and near enough to see my shop and what was done. JOHN CRAWLEY. I am a Police-constable. I took Jones at Ratcliff-cross, where Cox took Ferguson; Jones was going round a corner - there was a mob of from a hundred to a hundred and fifty persons; they had been stopped by the officer before I got up to them - a pair of shoes, a boot, and an odd shoe, fell from under Jones' arm; the prosecutrix claims the boots as her property- he said he had picked them up. JOHN ROBERTS. I live next door to the prosecutrix, in Rosemary-lane. On the 27th of January I was at home when the mob passed; I saw Bond take a pair of shoes off the rail, at the prosecutrix's shop, outside her window - he went away with the rest of the crowd; they ran, and I followed them to Ratcliff-cross - I pointed Bond out to a Policeman; he had the shoes in his possession at the time I pointed him out, but I did not see them afterwards. ROBERT BUSSELL. I am a Police-constable. Bond was pointed out to me by Roberts; I found on him a list of a number of names, a pocket-book, and 2 1/d. in copper. JOHN ASHER. I am a Police-constable. I was in Rosemary-lane; I saw the mob at the prosecutrix's door- I saw Berry take a pair of shoes from her window; he put them under his jacket, and went among the mob - they went on to Ratcliff-cross, and he went with them; I attempted to get among the mob to get him out, but I was beat back twice - I followed them till I got further assistance; I came up and took Berry at Ratcliff-cross, but nothing was found on him. MARY WHITE. I know this odd boot to be one of those taken from my shop, on the 27th of January, and those shoes are mine which were taken from Ferguson - they had been in my shop that day. Jones' Defence. I had the shoes in my hand, which I had picked up in the crowd; I made no resistance - I know the prosecutrix's son was not touched by me, nor any of the mob, that I know of; the officer heard the people say that I picked them up - the word had been mentioned in the Asylum that we would all go to the Admiralty to try to get a ship, and as we came back there was a great loud hallooing; I saw the shoes, and picked them up. Ferguson's Defence. I picked up the shoes in the middle of the highway; I was out carrying the flag at the time they were taken - I had not had it five minutes when I was taken; I had a very bad pair of shoes on, and when I took these up I put them on my feet and my old pair in my breast. Bond's Defence. On the day before, while I was at the Asylum, a person asked me if I could write; I said Yes - I put down the names of about a dozen who were going to the Admiralty, in the morning, to see if we could get a ship - we went in the morning; they said they could do nothing for us, but told us to go down to Portsmouth or Plymouth; we then came back, and I was taken at Ratcliff-cross. Berry's Defence. I was in a public-house close by the docks - a man came, and asked me if I would go to the Admiralty; as they came back there were several persons pulling down things in Ratcliff-highway - when I got to the cross a person said, "Were you not in the mob?" I said, Yes - he said, "If you go to Denmark-street, the Magistrate will do something for you;" I went there, and then Asher said, "I think I can swear to you;" I had not followed them to the Admiralty - my name is not down. JOHN ASHER. I followed him from the highway to Ratcliff-cross - I should have taken him in the highway, but I was driven back by the mob; I am quite clear he is the man I saw take the shoes - I followed him till I got assistance, and took him. JONES - GUILTY. Aged 22. FERGUSON - GUILTY. Aged 26. BOND - GUILTY. Aged 26. BERRY - GUILTY. Aged 21. Transported for Seven Years" (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/).