John Mctear

94

Dennis Nightingale on 23rd May 2015

Maitland Mercury 12 August 1846 Highway Robbery - Daring Outrage- On Monday afternoon, the Maitland and Singleton mail was stopped, about two miles on the Singleton side of Black Creek, by two armed Bushrangers. one man (John McTear)took off in pursuit of a lone rider Mr Lumley. The other (John Rideout) ordered the mailman take the bags out of the coach, and leave them on the ground. In the meanwhile McTear had caught up with Mr. Lumley, ordered him to dismount and rifled his pockets, taking from him a booty of between seven and eight pounds in silver and notes and a gold watch. Maitland Mercury 22 August 1846-2 The Singleton Mail Robbery – In the Government Gazette of Tuesday last there is a reward of 15 pounds offered, or a conditional pardon to a prisoner of the crown, for such information as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the two men who robbed the Singleton mail on Monday week. The notice was issued subsequent to the capture of the men by Constable Barker and Mr. Perfrement; but we hope this will not induce the government to withhold a reward which has been so well earned. Maitland Mercury 19 September 1846-4 Highway robbery John Smith and John Rideout were placed at the bar, and arraigned on a charge of putting one John Lumley in bodily fear on the 10th August, and of robbing him of one gold watch, one chain, eight shillings in silver, and two orders on for 6 pounds 2 shillings 3d. and the other for ten shillings. Both prisoners were sentenced to fifteen years transportation. The Sydney Morning Herald 13 June 1855 A man who gave his name as John O'Brien, alias McIntire, was arraigned as a prisoner of the Crown illegally at large. The charge was preferred by Mr. Singleton, inspector of the detective force, Mr. Horsey deposed, that prisoner was identified as John Smith alias McTear, tried at the Circuit Court of Maitland on 16th September 1840, in the name of John Smith alias McIntire, and convicted of robbery, being armed, for which he was sentenced to fifteen years transportation to Van Diemen's land; he ran from the service of Mr. Rooke of Deloraine, on the 7th April 1851; was again convicted of horse stealing, in the Supreme Court of Sydney on the 9th February 1853 in the name of John O'Brien, an immigrant and sentenced to 5 years service on the roads or public works of the colony. He held a ticket of leave which was cancelled for absconding from his district; he was tried at Antrim in 1831 for burglary, in the first instance for life, and transported in the name of McTear; he was sent out in the Captain Cook, the first. To be imprisoned in Darlinghurst until opportunity offers of forwarding him to Van Diemen's Land.

94

Dennis Nightingale on 23rd May 2015

Born - Belfast Antrim County Ireland. Single - listed as a Pedlar. Colonial sentences - Maitland and Van Diemens Land.