John King

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Beth Taylor on 8th September 2019

John King (c1778-?) John King reached Sydney on 28 July 1814 on the ship Surrey (1). He had been tried in London GD [see trial record below] on 8 April 1812 & was given a 7 year term. He was described as a native of Essex, a seaman, aged 36, 5’4¼” tall, sallow complexion, brown hair & light brown eyes. Also - John King, Age: 36, Born: Essex [ESS ENG], Seaman, Height: 5/4 1/4, Complexion: Sallow, Hair: Brown, Eyes: Light Brown, Convicted: Gaol Delivery 08 Apr 1812 London [MDX ENG] 7 years; Transported per Surrey, Departed England [ENG], arrived 28 Jul 1814 Sydney; Certificate of Freedom 2221. Source: Convict Indents &c; SRNSW ref: Vol. 4/4004 Surrey 1814 Entry No. 66 1812 - JOHN KING, Theft > grand larceny, 8th April 1812. 333. JOHN KING was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 4th of April, three bottles of castor oil, value 20 s. the property of John Kirk, Richard Herrin, Henry Herrin, and Brailsford Bright. THOMAS DENSON. I am warehouseman to John Kirk, Richard Herrin, Henry Herrin, and Brailsford Bright, they are chemists and druggist, Bishop'sgate within. The prisoner was a porter employed by them, I believe he received eighteen shillings a week. On Saturday April the 4th, I mentioned my suspicion to the partners, I had an opportunity on Saturday night of detecting the prisoner. Before I went into the cellar the prisoner was in the cellar, I called the prisoner up, and sent him with a bag which was standing about the cellar into another part of the warehouse, with a view of going down into the cellar myself. I went into the cellar and concealed myself behind a cask, and presently the prisoner came into the cellar and took two or three bottles off a shelf in the cellar, I supposed them to be castor oil, it was from a place where there ought to be nothing but castor oil. When he had taken them from a shelf he wrapped them up in paper and then put them into his breeches, he left a lamp standing upon a cask, and came up stairs in the dark, and I remained on the premises until eight o'clock. When the prisoner had gone about twenty yards from the door an officer secured him, which we had procured for the purpose, he was taken to the watchhouse. SAMUEL SHEPPARD. I am a constable I was stationed opposite to Mr. Kirk's house, a wholesale druggist, in Bishopgate-street; from the information I received I watched the prisoner, I saw him about ten yards from Mr. Kirk's house. Q. Did you know him before - A. No. I did not. I observed that he walked very wide and stradling; I walked close behind him for about ten yards further, then I laid hold of him and asked him what he had got about him, he said nothing, what did I want with him; I told him I was an officer, and insisted upon searching him; I put my hand between his legs, then he began to make some resistance; I told him I would knock him down if he took any thing out of his pocket; he was putting his hand into his breeches; I then took from his breeches three bottles, I asked him what it was; he said, oil; I asked him if he was not a porter in some house; he said, no, he was a jobbing porter in the street. I secured him and took him into the watchhouse; I further searched him, and only found his wages which he had received. I took him to the Compter, I there asked him where he lived, he said in Old-street-road; I then went to his lodgings in Draper's-buildings, No. 21, Old-street-road; I there saw his wife, I asked her leave to search the place; I found this quantity of soap of different descriptions, and a piece of rhubarb, and this roll of oil-skin. These are the three bottles that I took from his person, I have had them ever since. Q. What soap is it - A. Castile soap. RICHARD HERRIN. Q. Have you looked at these bottles - A. I have. They are castor oil. Q. Do you keep your castor oil in the cellar which we have been speaking of - A. Yes, of that description, we keep in that cellar, I have no doubt it is our property. The soap I can say is Castile soap of a similar description to ours we use it. The rhubard we sell and the oil skin we sell. The prisoner said nothing in his defence, nor called any witnesses to his character. GUILTY, aged 34. Transported for Seven Years London jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1814 Muster: Sophia KINGSMORE, con, Brox, off stores, wife to John King, Windsor (1859) & spouse - John KING, con, Surrey, off stores, to Joseph Mercer, Windsor (0917) 1814 – John King was sent to Windsor for distribution from the ship Surrey. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers) 1822 Muster: No record found for John King. 1823 to 1825 Muster: No record found for John King. 1828 Census: John KING, 37, Surrey 1813 (?), prot, tailor, at Thomas Kains, Clarence St, Sydney (K0819) [Note: There was a total of 10 people living at this address including Mrs Dorothy Wood, Age: 60, Protestant, Arrived per Broxbornebury 1813 (?), Came Free; Servant to Thos Kain; Householder; Residence: Clarence St [NSW AUS]; Household Return district: Sydney] Date and place of death for John King not found. From the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on hookey5609@yahoo.com.au for further info