Matthew Mccullum

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Dianne Jones on 10th May 2021

1827, 23 August: Matthew McCallum was executed (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1). 1827, 24 August: The Colonial Times (p4) reported on the men’s executions, as follows: “EXECUTION. Yesterday morning, the following nine unfortunate men, being the late gang of runaways, who attempted to take the cutter Emma Kemp, and afterwards took to the bush, committed several robberies, and then fired upon the Military, were executed pursuant to their sentence:- George Braithwaite (one of Lieut. Steele's Government servants, the other having died of the wounds received while engaged with the Military), James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis (Mr. Bisdee's servant), George Metcalfe, John Lee (bricklayer), James Coates, John Brown (mariner) and John Brown (bricklayer). All the prisoners from the Barracks, perhaps five or six hundred in number, were paraded under a Military escort to the front of the Gaol, for the purpose of witnessing the awful and exemplary spectacle. One or two of the unhappy culprits addressed the body of prisoners from the scaffold, warning them (especially those in Green's Chain Gang) not to attempt to abscond into the bush, that being not only a most miserable state of existence, but sure to lead to an untimely end. William Birmingham, Mr. Dean's man, Thomas Griffiths, who was wounded in the breast, and John Robertson, Mr. Young's servant, were reprieved on Friday night last, and had their sentence commuted to transportation for life to Macquarie Harbour.” FOOTNOTE: Of the 12 men convicted for bushranging/robbery, six had arrived in VDL per Woodman 1826: George Braithwaite, John Brown (bricklayer), James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Griffiths and John Robinson (called Robertson in some newspaper reports).

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Dianne Jones on 10th May 2021

This trial was reported by the Colonial Times, on 3 August 1827, p3: “Supreme Court. On Monday this Court re-opened, agreeably to the notice issued by the Chief Justice. The whole of the day was occupied in the trial of the late bushrangers, who attempted to take the Emma Kemp; namely, George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown (mariner), John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. They were tried for the robbery at Mr. Stanfield's, and all found —Guilty.” Note: The charge listed on court documents is stealing in a dwelling house (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p259jpg). 1827, 13 August: The convicted men’s sentencing was reported by the Colonial Times, 17 August, p3: “The following prisoners were then placed at the Bar, and sentenced as follows: DEATH. - George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown, (mariner) John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. The whole of these men, it will be recollected, were the runaways, who, after attempting to seize the Emma Kemp, and failing, took to the bush, and committed several robberies while armed, in which state they were apprehended by the Military. In passing sentence, His Honor held out not the slightest hope of mercy; but strenuously recommended them, one and all, to prepare for another world.” Court records of their sentences of death by hanging can be found at https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p265jpg. Note: Three of the men received reprieves from the death penalty - William Birmingham, Thomas Griffiths and John Robinson.

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1826: On arrival in VDL, he was 21, a labourer, 5’10½” tall with brown hair and grey eyes. His native place was Kilmarnock (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1). 1826, 8 May: He was suspected of robbing J Wainwright but the charge was dismissed – “no proof”. 1827, 30 July: Matthew McCullum was tried at the Supreme Court on a charge of stealing in the dwelling house of Daniel Stanfield property belonging to Stanfield including two coats, one waistcoat, six pairs of trousers, eleven shirts, three hats, two pairs of boots, ten pairs of stockings, one gun and nine bags.

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MATTHEW McCULLUM alias Mathew McCallum -- Precognition 1825 (National Records of Scotland, Reference AD14/25/185): Title: Precognition against Mathew McCallum for the crime of theft in 1825 Accused: Mathew McCallum, Age: 21, labourer, Address: Glasgow. --00-- Trial 1825 (National Records of Scotland, Reference JC26/1825/135): Title: Trial papers relating to Mathew McCallum for the crime of theft. Tried at High Court, Glasgow, on 28 Apr 1825. Accused: Mathew McCallum, Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Transportation – Life (see http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/). 1825, 13 June: Matthew McCallum, 21, convicted for theft, was received aboard the prison hulk Justitia at Woolwich. He was sent from there for transportation on 17 November (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).