Luke King

341

Maureen Withey on 6th March 2026

Committed to the Castle, (by Sir Ed.Ffrench Bromhead, Bart.,) Luke King, of Bassingham, laborer, on charge of maliciously shooting at John Pearson, of Aubourn, cordwainer, and wounding him in the back with a bullet. Stamford Mercury, 27 Jan 1826. Diabolical and barbarous attempt at Assassination —In the afternoon of Tuesday se’nnight, as labourer was at work upon the road near Bassingham, in the vicinity of Lincoln, a man named Luke King, who had formerly been a brickmaker, and a worthless character, came up to him and had some conversation with him, and while  they were so engaged, John Pearson, shoemaker, of Aunborn, went past them on his way to the former village. King, not knowing him, inquired the road man who and  what he was, and where he might going to. The man not suspecting any evil (although he had previously discovered that King had gun with him) satisfied him as far as he was able, and added, that he thought might going to Bassingham to collect some of his Christmas bills. The latter part of the answer appeared to the chief object of the fellow’s enquiries for after having waited a considerable time for Pearson to return, he at last met him, and, shortly afterwards, just as Pearson was in the act of getting over a stile, he received the contents of the fellow's gun in his back, who was then and had kept within about twenty yards of him. The shoemaker  although wounded, turned round and exclaimed, “Now, you suffer for this, I know you,” and the villain immediately decamped,  but was taken in his house the same evening, Pearson having met with a neighbour before he got home, to whom he related all the circumstances. In King’s house were found three four old guns, the stocks which  were a good deal fresh burnt, in order, it is supposed, to prevent suspicion and identification.  He was had before Sir E. F. Bromhead, Bart., of Thurlby, who immediately committed him to the Castle for trial. Globe, 10 Feb 1826. The following convicts, under sentence of transportation have been removed from Lincoln Castle to the Dolphin hulk at Chatham: viz. Thomas Mills, Thomas Woodhouse alias John Hunt, John Askereen, John Surgay, James Buttry, Luke King, and John Spencer, for their natural lives; and John Micklebit, Nathan Parker, David Woodthorpe, Thos. Hollaway, and Isaac Chafer, for the term of seven years each. Stamford Mercury, 19 May 1826. National Archives. Chatham Hulk Records. Dolphin Hulk. HO-9-1_3 (page 14/44) Received from Lincoln Castle 20 May 1826. Luke King, age 20, Maly. Shooting with intent to kill, Tried at Lincoln, 4 March 1826, Life, To NSW 17 Sept 1826. -------------------------------------------------------- NSW Convict Index. Luke King, per Albion, 1827, Ticket of Leave, No 36/1144. District, Patricks Plains, Born, Linc; Trade, Brickmaker; Tried Linc Ass.