John Robinson Mcveagh

4

Delbert Kulbeth on 25th March 2022

Certain Records list John alternately as either John ROBINSON or John McVEAGH - with him being cited as John ROBINSON alias McVEAGH in a small number of instances. In one such instance, online services index him under McNEAGH - owing to an erroneous transcription of the record due to a record-keeper's illegible handwriting - whereas the transcription reads "John ROBINSON alias McNEAGH". Additionally, he was once listed as John Robert McVEAGH (with the possibility that Robert was used in this instance as an abbreviation for "ROBERTSON" - a common variant of ROBINSON). Lastly, various record-keepers sometimes used variants of McVEAGH in John's records - with examples being McVEIGH, McVOGUE, McVEE, McVEI, McVEY, etc.

342

Maureen Withey on 21st June 2020

J. R. McVeagh was charged with stealing tea spoons and other articles. Jesse Smith, landlord of the Drum, at Walmer, said the prisoner was at the house of the witness, he thinks, but will not swear to him. He barred his window 5th February, at midnight. At three o'clock he was disturbed by a lodger —He found the shutter he had barred, much broken from without, a square of the window was broken, that a person might open the window and get in. He missed quantity spoons and sugar tongs. The spoons were most of them marked. There were shoes and other articles missing also.—(The property was produced, and identified by the witness.) Robert Limbery——A hat was produced by this witness, which the prisoner had the day before the robbery. The witness saw him about and thought him a very suspicious character. Wm. Payne pawnbroker. He lives at Chatham, had ten spoons and two pair of tongs. The articles were pawned with the witness by the prisoner. They were pawned in the name of McVeagh. Serjeant Wm. Magee: a penknife was produced to the witness which said he bought for a penny of the prisoner. It was on the or 6th March, at Rochester. Joseph Cooper, Constable of St. Marlin’s in the Fields, identified the shoes which were stolen. Henry Stokes shoe-maker, said, that he believed he sold them to Mr. Smith. Joseph Cooper being re-called, said he arrested the prisoner at Charing Cross, and deposed to the conversation on the occasion. he was taken Queen’s Square Office, and committed a charge of felony. The prisoner was re-examined, when his confession was produced. The prisoner was apprehended on the 15th instant. Fokle, a constable, took memorandum of a conversation with the prisoner. On his second examination, the witness conversed with the prisoner at Queen’s Square. The witness observed the shoes the prisoner in and told him they belonged Mr. Smith, of Walmer. said he knew nothing Mr. Smith, or Walmer, and wished know what he was committed for. Witness asked the prisoner if he knew of tortoiseshell penknife that he gave to Serjeant Magee. The witness told the prisoner he was well acquainted with what he was committed for. The prisoner then said, “Walk this way and I will say something to you.” The witness and prisoner went into a private room. The witness asked if the shoes were those he brought from Smith’s house, at Walmer. He admitted he had thrown his old ones he had, away. He said another man was with him. confessed they brought away with ilietu ten tea spoons, two pair of sugar tongs, two tablespoons, a quantity of bad shillings, old and new halfpence, and some tobacco, also the shoes. The prisoner added, they had packed more things, but were disturbed. The prisoner in his defence said, that on the 6th February, came from France, and he met a man with spoons and shoes, and gave for them. He gave Mrs. Thomas three of them to keep for safety, which no one who had stolen such articles would have done.—Verdict— Guilty. Samuel Newman Kentish Gazette, 26 March 1816. John Robinson McVeagh, 33. for a burglary at the house of Jesse Smith, at Walmer.— Death. Kentish Gazette, 26 Mar 1816

342

Maureen Withey on 21st June 2020

Early on Saturday morning, were sent under a strong guard, from his Majesty’s gaol at Maidstone, and put board the Hulks Sheerness, for transportation, the following convicts, viz. John Robinson McVeagh, Stephen Bushell, John Salvage, Richard Armstrong, George Cooke, Daniel Church, Daniel Hollands, John Mills, James Davis, George Coultrip, John Willis, John Gore and Charles Harding. Kentish Weekly Post, Friday 24 May 1816 -------------------------------------------------- HO-9-7-1 p 21/47.Hulk Report Record for Hulk Retribution at Sheerness. Received 18 May 1816, among 13 convicts from Maidstone: Jno Robinson McVeagh, age 33, Cap. respite, tried at Maidstone, 18 March 1816, sentence NSW Life, Transp 11 Sept 1816.