Thomas Lawson

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Maureen Withey on 19th October 2022

GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS. Government House, Sydney, Saturday, 29th July, 1820. CIVIL DEPARTMENT. A MEDICAL BOARD, consisting of the following Surgeons ; viz. J. M. Brydone, Esq Surgeon, R. N ; G. A. Stephenson, Esq. Surgeon, 48th Regt ; and James Hunter, Esq. Surgeon, R. N ; Whereof J. M. Brydone, Esq. was President, having been lately appointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into and report on certain Subjects connected with the professional Practice here ; and, among other Things, to examine and report on the Qualifications of certain Persons who were represented as practising Surgery and Physic within the Territory of New South Wales, and more especially at Sydney, and believed to be exercising such Art and Profession to the Prejudice of the Ignorant and Unwary, who had placed themselves under their medical Charge :— And the Board having thereon called before them and examined Joseph Hyams, and Simeon Lear, Thomas Lawson, George White, John Brennan, who were known to be exercising the Practice of Surgery and Medicine, has reported to His Excellency that the said Persons are not duly qualified to practice either as Surgeons or Physicians, being ignorant of those Professions. His Excellency the Governor is hereon pleased to order and direct, that the said Persons ; namely, Joseph Hyams, and Simeon Lear, Thomas Lawson, George White, John Brennan, do forthwith cease to practice either as Surgeons or Physicians at Sydney, or in any Part of the Territory of New South Wales, on Pain of being prosecuted for the same with the utmost Rigour of the Law. By His Excellency's Command, J. T. Campbell, Secretary.

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Maureen Withey on 19th October 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. LAWSON, Thomas. Prisoner at Newcastle 1814 Apr 7 Suspected to having been an accessary to the escape of four prisoners from Newcastle (Reel 6044; 4/1729 p.374) 1818 Feb 28 Acting in the place of Assistant Surgeon Evans (Reel 6066; 4/1806 pp.107, 116) 1818 Apr 25 Evidence re Alexander Tompsey's wounds (Reel 6066; 4/1806 p.120) 1819 Feb 1 Re remission of sentence and return to Sydney (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.294) 1819 Feb 6 Prisoner at Newcastle sent to Sydney (Reel 6067; 4/1807 p.5) ------------------------------------------------- LAWSON, Thomas. Surgeon 1819 Sep 29 Evidence at inquest on body of John Roberts (Reel 6021; 4/1819 p.576) -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Correspondence. 7 April 1814. Suspected to having been an accessary to the escape of four prisoners from Newcastle. To Sec. Campbell From circumstances I have since learnt I have reason to suspect that the Camp Overseer, Thomas Lawson was accessary to their escape but have not yet been able to get sufficient information to convict him. I have dismissed him from the situation and turned him into the working gang for even allowing him to be innocent of their design he should have gone with them himself agreaeable to my directions. From Thompson 25 April 1818. Thomas Lawson, sworn, deposed that on Wednesday the 8th of April Alexander Thompsey was taken to the Hospital dreadfully wounded, that on examining his wounds he found one on the back part of his head , so large as to allow him to introduce his finger, in ... Sec. Office, 1 Feb 1819. His Excellency has been pleased to remit the unexpired period of the sentence to Newcastle of Henry Burton, late an overseer there and of Thomas Lawson, late an assistant in the Hospital at Newcastle, and it is His Excellency’s Desire that they be sent hither per return of the Lady Nelson. Mos. Jennings, convict per Almorah is also to return from Newcastle per Lady Nelson, his Excellency having remitted the further period of sentence thither. 29/9/1819. Evidence at inquest on the body of John Roberts. Thomas Lawson, sworn deponent states he is a surgeon in Sydney, that having been called upon by the Coroner & Jury he hath in their presence examined the body of John Roberts the deceased and that from appearences he came to his death by strangulation and this by his own hand and further says he saw no appearance of any bodily harm. 25 April 1818.

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Maureen Withey on 18th October 2022

Thomas Lawson, Anthony Best, Mary Ogle, Sarah Williams, and Jane Lord, were indicted for stealing various articles, the property of Adolphus Norblad. Hull Packet, 24 Oct 1809. ---------------------------------------------------- 20 GUINEAS REWARD. WHEREAS JOSEPH OGLE (who was lately discharged from his Majesty’s Gaol at this Town, and since made his Escape from a Party of the Royal Westminster Militia, at Redbourne, in Lincolnshire, when escorting him to the Headquarters of His Majesty’s Royal Stafford Regiment, from which he had deserted) did write a write a threatening Letter, dated the 26th January instant, which was put into the Post-office here, directed to Robert Dorsev, Constable, from which it strongly suspected, the said Joseph Ogle is lurking about the Town or Neighbourhood, with the design of carrying his threat into execution. The said Joseph Ogle, is native of Litchfield, has been employed as a Labourer, is more than thirty years of age, five feet seven inches high, dark hair, dark complexion, hazle eyes, and wore brown coat, black waistcoat, and corduroy breeches; but when last seen at Hull, had a great coat, with a red collar. He has gone by the several other Names of Thomas Acton, Dick Johnson, Richard Clegg, or Fighting Dick; is strongly suspected being a very notorious Offender, and supposed to have been the instigator and contriver of the various Burglaries and Robberies that have been lately committed at Hull and in the Neighbourhood, in which his Wife, together with Thomas Lawson, Anthony Best, and Sarah, the Wife of Thomas Williams were concerned, and have, in consequence thereof been sentenced for Transportation. Whoever will apprehend the said Joseph Ogle, and bring him before any of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace tor this Town, shall his Commitment, receive a REWARD TWENTY GUINEAS, to be paid by the Common Officer of this Corporation. Hull Advertiser, 3 Feb 1810. ----------------------------------------------------- Denis Pember on 17th October, 2021 wrote: York Herald Sat 14 Oct 1809 p. 3 Text: At the Central Quarter Sessions for the East-Riding, held at Beverley, on Tuesday week, before E. Topham Esq., chairman…Thomas Lawson, Anthony Best, Mary Ogle, Sarah Williams and Jane Lord, were indicted for stealing various articles the property of Adolphus Norblad. Mr Norblad stated, that he left his house at S—- for the purpose of going to London, on the 12th of July last. He locked the doors and gave the key to the front door to his partner; his family had gone from home some time before; he returned from London on the 26th, found the outer door locked as le left it, but on going into the house he discovered that several closets had been broken open, and property to a great value was missing. On Thursday the 27th, the house of the prisoner Lawson was searched, and in different parts of it several of the missing articles were found. Of these Mr Norblad identified some, others were of the same sort as those he had lost. Part of the property was further identified by Mrs Norblad, and the wife of Mrs. Norblad’s brother, who particularly spoke to some darns in two pillow cases produced, which darns he swore to have been made by herself, the pillow cases having been, when stolen, in one piece and under a cradle sheet.——Darrey, a constable, produced the property found at Lawson’s; he got it there, and had kept it under lock ever since. John Dunn, a Constable, swore he had searched the house of the prisoner Best, on the 28th of Aug. where he found the two pillow cases sworn to by Mrs. P. Norblad. A month had elapsed from the time at which the property was last seen in Mr Norblad’s house, to that at which it was found.——Smith spoke to various conversations of the three female prisoners. Mary Ogle had said they were to have “a crack” in a few days - afterwards she said, “the crack was done- they had “carried a parcel of screws to the Old King” with which they had “dubbed the jigger”. The women said that some of the property was hid in a close behind the gaol. On being cross examined, he said he was in prison at the time, on his sentence for having committed a felony, it was for stealing a watch, and he was not ashamed of saying it. Duncan MacFarlane spoke to finding the property which Smith stated Mary Ogle to have said was hid in the place Smith referred to. A boy of the Marine School found some keys and other things in a handkerchief, in a place near to which Lawson had been seen; one of the keys was sworn to by Mr. Norblad as being taken from his house. The handkerchief Smith swore was the same Mary Ogle had after brought to the gaol. It was moved by the counsel for Best, that as to him there was no evidence to go to the Jury, a month had elapsed between the time of the cradle-sheet being seen in Mr Norblad’s possession, and its being found in his house, and that after such a lapse of time he was not in ,aw called on to account for the possession, unless circumstances of suspicion appeared, and here were none. On the contrary part, it was argued, that changing the appearance of the sheet by converting it into pillow cases; was highly suspicious; to this it was answered that it a concealment had been intended, the marks by which it was recognised would have been destroyed. It was also argued, that the women were only receivers, if at all guilty, and consequently the indictment was wrong; both objections were over ruled. The Jury found the whole five guilty. Lawson, Best, Mary Ogle and Sara Williams, were sentenced to transportation; Jane Lord, an elderly woman, to a year’s imprisonment. ---------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. LAWSON, Thomas alias LOWSON. Per "Indian", 1810. 1817 Jun 10 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6005; 4/3496 p.177) 1821 Mar 14 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.170) 1825 May 26 Affidavit that ticket of leave taken by Mr Campbell (Reel 6028; 4/1690 p.118) -------------------------------------------------- On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson", June 10 1817. Thomas Lawson, free, per Indian, tried at Crim. Court, 12 May 1817, 7 years. -------------------------------------------------- COURT OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.-The Court assembled on Monday ; and the precept being read, and usual oaths administered, adjourned to the day following. TUESDAY.-Thomas Lawson was indicted on a charge of breaking and entering the store-house of the General Hospital, and of stealing from thence divers medicines of value, among which was a quantity of quicksilver, sworn to be worth £10; also, with receiving and having in his personal possession a great part of the said property, knowing the same to have been stolen; upon which latter count he was found Guilty; and remanded for sentence at a future day. Sydney Gazette, 26 April 1817. The following is a List of Criminals who were convicted and sentenced at the late Criminal Court Sessions. Thomas Lawson, for robbing His Majesty's medical stores, to be transported to Newcastle for the term of 7 years. Sydney Gazette, 17 May 1817. -------------------------------------------------- On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" 14 March 1821. Thos. Lawson, alias Lowson, per Indian, Trade, Doctor. Native place, Beverley, Original conviction, 3 Oct 1809, 7 years. This conviction: by Wm. Minchin, Esq. Sydney 10 Mar 1821, One year sentence. -------------------------------------------------- Convict Index. Thomas Lawson, alias Lowson, per Indian, 1810, Certificate of Freedom, 24 Apr 1824, No 133/2141. Remarks: TL 317/1916; in lieu of CF 15/1814. --------------------------------------------------