Benjamin Longstreet

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Maureen Withey on 5th May 2022

John Eads was indicted for burglariously entering the dwelling house of Benjamin Longstreet, at Eastern Creek, near Black Town, on the evening of the 18th October last, and by force of arms, putting in bodily fear, &c. stealing therefrom twenty-five shillings in coin, one pair of shoes, value shillings, two gallons of wine, value five shillings, and one jar, value two shillings. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Benjamin Longstreet deposed that after he had gone to bed, and was asleep, two men entered his house with large sticks in their hands ; that he was awoke by the barking of his dog ; one man seized prosecutor by the throat, while the prisoner was picking up the things ; he know the prisoner by his voice as the man who had robbed him before on the road ; the other man never spoke, but stood over him the prosecutor, who was in bed ; the prisoner said, swearing-" put the old fellow on one side;" after a tussle or two, prosecutor sat on the bed, and begged them not to take his life ; the prisoner took the jar of wine, which was in a bag, over his shoulder, and went off; after the man had gone, prosecutor called in a neighbour, and related to him the whole affair; on the following they were induced to follow the track of shoes, which were remarkable, and which led them to Mr. Hall's farm at Black Town, where they found the bag which had contained the wine, in the hut of the prisoner, who was then out with some bullocks ; on his return they examined his shoes, and found them to correspond with the tracks they had followed ; in an adjoining hut they found another remarkable shoe, which exactly corresponds with some of the tracks, and was supposed to belong to the other man not present. (This shoe was produced, and handed round to the Jury for their inspection. ) William Hall, farmer at Black Town, stated that the prisoner was his assigned servant had been with him upwards of two years, and had always conducted himself satisfactorily. His Honor, in summing up, stated that the prisoner was indicted for robbing in a dwelling house, and the only evidence was that of the prosecutor himself, who spoke positively to prisoner's voice. The Jury would consider the evidence carefully, and come to their verdict accordingly. The Jury after retiring some time, pronounced the prisoner not guilty. John Eads was detained at the bar, indicted for highway robbery. Benjamin Longstreet deposed, that on the 14th day of October last, as he was returning from Parramatta races, about ten miles from the race course, in his cart, he saw two men come from the side of the road, one of whom, the prisoner, said " stop the cart," while the other went to the horse's head, and held it ; prisoner said " we must have what you got - get out of the cart ;" prosecutor got out of the cart, and gave up his purse, containing nine or ten shillings in coin ; prisoner then took off prosecutor's handkerchief and hat, and then ordered him to pull off his jacket and waistcoat, which was done ; he then was ordered to take off his shoes, but this he did not do ; the man that was holding the horse, said to prisoner, " let him have his clothes again," which was consented to, and they were returned ; prisoner then said " good night," and they both went away; Crawford's man, whom prosecutor had taken up on the road, sat in the cart during the affair, but said nothing ; prosecutor stated that he should have said nothing about this robbery if the same man had not come afterward, and robbed his house ; he knew the prisoner well ; he had several times been at prosecutor's house on business for his master ; prosecutor was sober ; he had but two or three pints of beer, and one glass of rum the whole day. A Juror wished Mr. Hall, prisoner's master, to be called, who stated that prisoner was never missing in the day time off the farm ; when he went to hut, after sun-set, he might have gone out, but not to his knowledge ; prosecutor had lived some years where he does, and was considered a creditable man; it was said he sold grog, but not to the knowledge of witness. His Honor stated that the prosecutor swears positively to the prisoner, who, with his accomplice, might have been waiting on the road for any other persons to pass, and was not aware, perhaps, at first, that it was this humble man, who says he would have put up with this loss if he had not been robbed a second time. The Jury, after retiring some time, pronounced the prisoner guilty. His Honor, in passing sentence on the prisoner, said you are a most dangerous person. Death is recorded against you. If any violence had accompanied this act, you would have suffered the extreme penalty of the law. You have stood in great jeopardy. You will be sent to a penal settlement for life, Sydney Herald, 2 Dec 1833.

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Maureen Withey on 4th May 2022

NSW 1828 Census index. Benj. Longstreet, age 52, T.L. per Indian, 1811, Life, protestant, Labourer, Bathurst (less) district. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. LONGSTREET, Benjamin. Of Eastern Creek. 1823 Sep 22-Oct 15 James Edward Turner convicted of stealing from (Reel 6023; X820 p.109) 1824 Sep 23 On return of wheat and maize on hand in the Districts of Bathurst and Melville (Reel 6061; 4/1780 p.291a) -------------------------------------------------- Criminal court. Tuesday. James Edward Turner and Charles Downes, were indicted for entering the dwelling-house of Benjamin Longstreet, at the Eastern Creek. Downes pleaded Guilty. Turner was found Guilty. Remanded. Sydney Gazette, Thurs 9 Oct 1823. WEDNESDAY.—This forenoon all the prisoners who had been convicted and remanded during the sessions, were now brought up for the judgement of the Court. DEATH.—... James Edward Turner, Charles Downes, … Sydney Gazette, 16 Oct 1823.

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Maureen Withey on 26th April 2019

Four prisoners capitally convicted at the Assizes at Salisbury last week, viz....Benjamin Longstreet, aged 30, for feloniously stealing from the door of the Waggon and Horses Inn at Semington, a dark brown gelding, the property of Edward Avon. Hampshire Chronicle. 8 Aug 1808 Prison Hulk Records, HO 9-8-3 p.21 Five prisoners received from Fisherton 26 Sept 1808 Benjamin Longstreet, aged 38, convicted at New Sarum 13 July 1808, sentenced to be transported for life for a Felony, sent on board Indian 27 June 1810. The undermentioned persons have obtained Certificates or Tickets of Leave, during the last week: ... Tickets of Leave Indian …..Benjamin Longstreet, Prospect; Colonial Secretary’s Office, 15th October 1823. Sydney Gazette, Thur 16 Oct 1823.