William Mobbs

75

iain Frazier on 9th February 2025

Family connections for William Mobbs) are MOBBS Isaac (Mobbs) married Mary (Ireland) on 24 12 1763 at St Marys St Marylebone London. Isaac (Mobbs) & Mary (Ireland) produced perhaps 2children: 1.William (Mobbs) was born in 1763/71 & became a labourer/servant. He was working for Mr (Hale) gardener at Twickenham when he married Ann (Grover) on 29 11 1790 at New Brentford west Greater London. He was a labourer for Edmund (Hill) who owned the Hounslow Powder Mills when he was tried with brother in law William (Bat/eman) for stealing saltpetre etc, on 20 12 1795, at Old Bailey on 17 2 1796, sentenced to 7years, held probably at Middlesex or London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 5 1798 after a voyage of 8months on BARWELL; he was Protestant. He is recorded in 1828 as Free by Servitude with his family & son John & family on 907acres at Field of Mars (near Pennant Hills) & as fruiterer & gardener in 1828 & 1829. His work & produce (oranges) were highly praised. He died on 25 9 1839 age68. ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Ann (Grover) was born about 1761. She arrived in NSW with her children following her husband on 12 6 1801 after a voyage of 10months on EARL CORNWALLIS. She is recorded in 1828 with her family on 907acres at Field of Mars (near Pennant Hills). ..William (Mobbs) & Ann (Grover) produced 5children: mostly boys ..1.William (Mobbs) was born on 7 4 1791 perhaps at New Brentford west Greater London. He arrived in NSW with his mother on 12 6 1801 after avoyage of 10months on EARL CORNWALLIS. He married Maria (Grono/Grong) on 14 12 1818 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was recorded at Pennant Hills as a settler in 1827, a fruiterer in 1829 & a gardener in 1830. ....Maria (Grono) was born on 1 12 1800. She died on 10 11 1871 age70. ....Details of Maria (Grono)s family are given in entry for David (Harkenett DUKE OF PORTLAND 1807) on this Website. ....William (Mobbs) & Maria (Grono) produced at least 9children: ....1.Elizabeth (Mobbs) was born on 6 9 1819 & baptised on 5 12 1819 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....2.Ann (Mobbs) was born on 1 9 1820 & baptised on 6 6 1824 age3 w/George, John at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....3.George (Mobbs) was born on 1 9 1820 also & baptised on 6 6 1824 age3 w/Ann, John at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....4.Maria (Mobbs) was born 8 11 1821 at Parramatta & was baptised on 31 3 1822 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....5.John (Mobbs) was born on 11 1 1824or18 4 1824 at Parramatta & baptised on 6 6 1824 w/Ann, George at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....6.Sarah (Mobbs) was born on 25 7 1825 at Parramatta & baptised on 18 9 1825 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....7.Matilda (Mobbs) was born on 23 5 1827 at Pennant Hills & baptised on 17 6 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....8.James (Mobbs) was born on 13 3 1828 at Pennant Hills & baptised on 26 4 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....9.William (Mobbs) was born on 12 9 1830 at Pennant Hills & baptised on 24 10 1830 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. ..2.Ann (Mobbs) was born in 1793 perhaps at New Brentford west Greater London. She arrived in NSW with her mother on 12 6 1801 after a voyage of 10months on EARL CORNWALLIS. She married Nicholas (Lacey) emancipist on 20 10 1817 at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. She is recorded in 1822 with her husband at Parramatta & in 1828 at Field of Mars. ....Nicholas (Lacey) was born about 1783. He was tried for larceny at Kilkenny Ireland, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 15 2 1806 after a voyage of 5.5months on TELLICHERRY. He had land at Pennant Hills. He is recorded in 1822 with his wife as landholder Parramatta & in 1828 as settler Field of Mars. He died in 1838 age about55. ....[Some details taken from this Website] .. ..3.Isaac (Mobbs) was born in 1794 perhaps at New Brentford west Greater London. He arrived in NSW with his mother on 12 6 1801 after a voyage of 10months on EARL CORNWALLIS. He married Ann (Tomlinson age15 sister of Phoebe) on 10 9 1821 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded as a farmer at Parramatta in 1826 & a gardener at Pennant Hills in 1829. ....Ann (Tomlinson) was born on 10 5 1806 & baptised on 24 12 1809 age3 w/Phoebe at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....Details of Ann (Tomlinson)s family are given in entry for Robert (Tomlinson CANADA 1801) on this Website. ....Isaac (Mobbs) & Ann (Tomlinson) produced at least 3children: boys ....1.George (Mobbs) was born on 1 4 1823 at Parramatta & baptised on 1 6 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....2.William (Mobbs) was born on 31 4 1825 at Parramatta & baptised on 25 6 1826 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ....3.Isaac (Mobbs) was born on 19 1 1829 at Pennant Hills & baptised on 1 3 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. ..4.George Mobbs) was born in 1795 perhaps at New Brentford west Greater London. He arrived in NSW with his mother on 12 6 1801 after avoyage of 10months on EARL CORNWALLIS. ..5.John (Mobbs) was born on 20 7 1802 & baptised on 5 9 1802 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He is recorded in 1826 as a farmer & in 1828 with his parents & own family on 907acres at Field of Mars (near Pennant Hills)-northern boundary (of settlement). He died on 27 12 1828 age26. ....Phoebe (Tomlinson) was born on 6 6 1809 & baptised on 24 12 1809 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1828 with her family on 907acres at Field of Mars (near Pennant Hills). ....Details of Phoebe (Tomlinson)s family are given in entry for Robert (Tomlinson CANADA 1801) on this Website. .. ....John (Mobbs) & Phoebe (Tomlinson) produced 2children: ....1.John (Mobbs) was born on 4 10 1826 at Orange Grove & baptised on 10 12 1826 at St Annes CofE Kissing Point. He is recorded in 1828 with his parents on 907acres at Field of Mars (near Pennant Hills). ....2.Sarah (Mobbs) was born on 7 7 1828 at northern boundary (of settlement) & baptised on 10 8 1828 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. 2.Mary (Mobbs) was born about 1766. She married William (Bat/eman), lived at Long Alley Moorefields London & produced perhaps 6children. She arrived in NSW with her family on 2 6 1797 after a voyage of 9months on GANGES. She is recorded in 1828 with her family on 25acres at Parramatta. ..William (Bat/eman) was born in 1765 & became a grinder/cutler. He was tried with brother in law William (Mobbs) for stealing saltpetre etc, on 20 12 1795, at Old Bailey on 17 2 1796, sentenced to 14years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 2 6 1797 after a voyage of 9months on GANGES; he was Protestant. He is recorded in 1828 as Free by Servitude timber merchant with 25acres at Parramatta. .[Some details taken from this Website] Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

2

Sue Williamson on 24th April 2019

He is the 5th great grandfather of my husband

54

Phil Hands on 30th March 2017

Tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 17th February 1796, for theft, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Left England in early 1797. Ship:- the 'Ganges' sailed with 203 male convicts on board of which 13 died during the voyage. Arrived on 2nd June 1797. Old Bailey Tial Transcription. Reference Number: t17960217-51 204. WILLIAM MOBBS and WILLIAM BATEMAN were indicted, the first for feloniously stealing, on the 20th of December , six hundred pounds weight of saltpetre, value 481. the property of our Sovereign Lord the King. Second Count. Laying them to be the property of Edmund Hill , Esq . (The case was opened by Mr. Const). WILLIAM GODAN sworn. I am the manager of Mr. Edmund Hill's powder-mills; we have lost large quantities of saltpetre from the 14th of April to the 19th of December; when I made up my accounts, I always found short weight; in November ten hundred weight went of it; and, in December, thirteen hundred weight. Q. Is it prepared in any particular way? - A. Yes, calcined, as it is in no other place but his Majesty's magazine; nobody in the whole kingdom, but those who make gunpowder for government, have it calcined in that way; it was all marked as this is (producing a cake with the weight marked on it); the prisoner Mobbs was servant to Mr. Hale, a gardener at Twickenham, (two or three years back, or more than that; I don't know any thing of the other prisoner. Q. That is not one of the pieces that was stolen; have you seen any that was stolen? - A. I have, but it was melted down; I don't know it; there is some of it here. JAMES MEDWIN (an accomplice,)sworn. Examined by Mr. Fielding. Q. You come here prepared to speak the whole truth, I hope? - A. Yes; I know both the prisoners. The prisoner Mobbs worked with me in digging gravel on the Hanwarth-Road, the gravel-pit is within a quarter of a mile of the powder-mills, to the best of my knowledge. I was at work with him about fifteen weeks ago, and he asked me if I would assist him with the property belonging to Mr. Hill, which was saltpetre; I agreed to his terms; and he said, he would satisfy me for my trouble; we went from our work that night, or the night after, between five and six o'clock, to Mr. Hill's mill, he got in at a hole where there were some boards taken away, at the back side of the coal-house; he took out, to the best of my knowledge, about a hundred weight; I took it of him, and put it on one side till he thought it convenient to come out again; we put it into a basket, and a bag, and put it on our shoulders; we were there near an hour; we took it to his house, and he put it into a shed adjoining his garden; I applied to Mr. Birch, of Twickenham, for a horse and cart for Mobbs, he let me have it; and the next morning, between five and six o'clock, we took the same saltpetre to London in the cart; it was in cakes, but some were broke; we carried it according to the description of Mobbs, to his brother-in-law, William Bateman, the prisoner . Q. Where does he live? - A. It is not in my power to tell you; it was carried to a shed in the alley where he lives; Bateman went with Mobbs and the saltpetre; I stopped at Bateman's house till they returned, they returned together. Bateman desired of Mobbs to come up stairs and he would settle with him. Q. Were those the words? - A. They were, I am sure; they went up stairs, I did not go up with them; we returned home with the cart. Q. Did you receive any part of the saltpetre, or any thing else, for what you did? - A. I received a guinea from Mobbs when I helped him bring it from the Mills. Q. You took about a hundred weight? - A. Yes. Q. How much did you carry to town? - A. About six or seven hundred pounds. Q. What is Bateman? - A. By Mobbs's account, he is a cutler. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. For a guinea you would break into any house? - A. No; he desined me to assist him, and said he would pay me for it. Q. You gave the Magistrate an account of all the bad tricks you have been guilty of? - A. I gave him an account of it. Q. Did you ever live with Mr. Howard, a baker? - A. Yes. Q. What did he turn you away for? - A. He did not turn me away; it was by the agreement of my friends. Q.Whether your friends did not agree that Mr. Howard should not prosecute you? - A. I don't know; there were false witnesses brought against me; it is a hard thing for an innocent man. Q. You have been a thief in this instance? - A. We are all guilty of faults. Q. You knew very well you were to be prosecuted if you did not give evidence? - A. No, I did not. Q. Were not you taken up? - A. Yes. Q.Then was it not in your power to tell whether you would be prosecuted or not? - A. No. Q. You knew you were guilty? - A. Yes, I knew I was guilty. HARLES DICKINS sworn. I am a grocer and cheesemonger, I know both the prisoners; Bateman did live in Long-alley, Moorfields; he followed the business of a grinder . In the month of December last, I saw a quantity of saltpetre that had been brought out of the country, in a shed belonging to William Gabriel, who keeps a chandler's-shop by Billingsgate. Q. What had Bateman to do with it? - A. I don't know any thing he had to do with it, but put saltpetre in it. In the middle of December, he applied to me to dispose of a quantity of saltpetre for him; I took a sample of six ounces, it was at one Mr. Moore's, in Wentworth-street; Mr. Gabriel informed me it was there; I took it out of the bag it was in. Q. Did not Bateman say where it was? - A. I cannot say that he did; I told him I would try to dispose of it for him. I saw Bateman a day or two after, and told him I had offered it for sale, and was to have an answer in a few days; I told him I had got a sample of saltpetre from Mr. Moore's, and carried it to Mr. Macrae's, in Whitechapel; I received no answer from him till I was apprehended; Bateman was in my shop at the time. Q. Did you know that it was the saltpetre that you were apprehended for? - A. I did not till afterwards; Bateman said, he would bring Gabriel forward, whom, he said, it belonged to, and that he would own it. Q. Has he done so? - A. No. Q. Did you ever go out of town with Bateman? - A. No; about the beginning of November I was to have gone with him, in a chaise cart. Q. Did you know what you were to go for? - A. No. Q. How much faltpetre did Bateman tell you he had to dispose of? - A. Between four and five hundred weight. Q. Was it in cakes, like that, (shewing him one)? - A. That at Mr. Moore's was in pieces. When I was taken into custody, and Gabriel was not brought forward, in the evening, I was permitted to go and endeavour to apprehend Bateman; Mr. Moore and I apprehended him just by his own house; I said, you are the man I was looking for; you must go with me; he said, very well; let me go peaceably; when we had got a few yards, he offered to run away; I ran after him, and caught him again; I kept him at my house till the officer came in the morning about eight o'clock. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. You were apprehended and bound over to appear here, to answer to this charge? - A. Yes. Q. You understood from Bateman, that this saltpetre belonged to Gabriel? - A. Yes. Q. You took the sample from Gabriel's direction? - A. I took it by both their directions. Q.Then how dared you to state to the Jury, that it was only from Gabriel's direction? - A. I stated what I knew concerning it, as near the truth as I could; I don't know any thing that I have said wrong. Bateman told me, Gabriel would inform me where I should get it. Q. Bateman said he would bring Gabriel forward? - A. Yes. Q. You were apprehended? - A. Yes. Q.Bateman was not apprehended? - A. No. Q. He was by at the time you were apprehended? - A. Yes; but he went home when I was apprehended. Q. You know by giving evidence you save yourself from being prosecuted? - A. Yes; I look upon it in that light; I wrote a letter to the Magistrate, and stated every thing that I knew about the business. Q. Did not you know that by giving that account, you would be admitted an evidence? - A. I had some expectations of it at the time, but was not satisfied I should. Q. And the letter was wrote to the Magistrate with the hopes of being admitted an evidence? - A. Yes. Court. Q. Do you know where this shed is? - A. In Essex-passage; Bateman lives full half a mile off. Q. Did you ever see Bateman in that shed? - A. Yes; the first time I saw him, Mobbs and he were leaving saltpetre there; he was there every week almost. Q. Had you seen Bateman there in the course of December? - A. Yes; Gabriel dealt in gun-stocks, and sometimes he was there about them. Q.(To Medwin). When the cart came to town did you put the saltpetre in the shed opposite his house? - A. No; Mobbs told me, it was carried about half a mile off from there. Q. Did he tell you it was half a mile? - A. No; by going the second time I thought it was that; he told me, the second time, that he had lodged the saltpetre in that shed the first time. Q. Do you know who that shed belongs to? - A. No; I did not see any body there but Bateman and Mobbs. WILLIAM BIRCH sworn. I live at Twickenham: Medwin came to me to hire my cart for Mobbs; Mobbs used it, and paid me for it; he came for it between five and six in the morning; he is a labouring man. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. This might have been in October? - A. I don't know; it might have been as much as three months, or more, since the first time. Q. Is it more than two months since the last time? - A. I cannot say; it was about a week before Mobbs was taken up, as far as I remember. THOMAS JOHNSON sworn. I am a druggist, in Norton Falgate: I don't know either of the prisoners; I never saw them before I saw them at Bow-street. JOHN FISH sworn. I am agent to Mr. Hill; the prisoner, Mobbs, lived servant with him. Q.Have you seen Mobbs since he has been taken up for this offence? - A. Yes; I shewed him this letter, and he acknowledged it to be his hand-writing; and said, he would disclose what he knew of the matter; and the jailor gave him a sheet of paper to write it out; but when he was before the Justice, he said, circumstances had happened since, that he had altered his mind.(The letter read, purporting to be his confession). JOHN MOORE sworn. I live in Wentworth-street, I am a fallow-chandler and oilman; I know Bateman by sight; in December last, Gabriel came and asked me to lend him a copper for melting saltpetre; Bateman and Gabriel were both there; they were there three or four times while the saltpetre was melting. Q. Did you apprehend Bateman, or assist? - A. I did, along with a man of the name of Dickins; Dickins was himself apprehended at first, and was let go. Q. Did you see the saltpetre before it was put in the copper? - A. No, I did not. Q.There was some saltpetre found at your house? - A. Yes. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. You have no dealing in saltpetre yourself? - A. None at all. Q. How long have you been acquainted with Gabriel? - A. Three or four years; he keeps a chandler's and cheesemonger's shop, in Love-lane; and I serve him with candles. Q. You told me he was a chandler and cheesemonger; did not you think it strange that there should be some hundred weight of saltpetre, at a chandler's shop? - A. He merely came and asked me to lend him the copper; I did not ask him any questions where he got it. Q. Do you know Dickins? - A. Yes; he is a cheesemonger in the same street. Q. Did you ever lend this copper before for melting saltpetre? - A. No. Q. And yet you asked no questions about it? - A. No; I knew the man. Q. The officers found the property in your house? - A. Not all; they took a tub full away; I was out when Dickin was taken. Mr. Fish afterwards came into a house were I was, and asked, if Bateman was there, and if Mr. Moore was there; I said, yes; he said, come along with me, and explain what you know of this; I went with him to Bow-street, and told him how it came to my house. Q. Had Fish communicated a suspicion, that the saltpetre was stolen? - A. I cannot swear whether he did or not. THOMAS JONES sworn. I am an officer: I found this barrel of saltpetre(producing it,) in Mr. Moore's shed; some of it was in the boiler, and some sprinkled about the shed. Q. You did not find any in a state like that?(shewing him the cake). - A. No, I went to Gabriel's shed and found a quantity of powder there.(The prisoners both left their defence to their counsel).(For the prisoners). EPHRAIM HOWARD sworn. I am a baker at Twickenham; Metiwin was once my apprentice; he was in my service two years. Q. From your observation of his character, would you believe him, on his oath? - A. I cannot any way in the world. I have known Mobbs four or five years; I never heard of any misdemeanour of him in my life.(Mobbs called five other witnesses, who gave him a good character.)(Bateman called nine witnesses who gave him a good character.) Mobbs, GUILTY . (Aged 25.) Transported for seven years . Bateman, GUILTY . (Aged 30.) Transported for fourteen years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice LAWRENCE. The story of William Mobbs begins in England with his birth in 1771. He was the son of Isaac Mobbs and Mary Ireland who were marred at St Mary's St Marylebone, St Marylebone Road, London on 24 December, 1763) Little is known of Williams life until the 29th November 1790, when he married a lady two years his senior, named Ann Grover. The marriage took place at New Brentford which is in the western district of Greater London. Around this time William Mobbs was employed as a servant to Mr Hale, a gardener at Twickenham. Twickenham is situated south of New Brentford and it is assumed that William and Anne children were born in this area. They were William Junior born 7th April 1791, Isaac in 1793, Ann in 1794 and George in 1795. In the centre of London, at Long Alley, Moorefields, William Mobbs sister Mary Mobbs was living with her husband William Bateman. William Bateman occupation was that of a cutler, or a person who made knives and swords. He was also later described as being employed as a Grinder. Early in 1796, both William Mobbs and his brother-in-law William Bateman were sentenced in the Old Bailey for the crime of stealing, with both men being transported to Australia as their punishment. It was their dealings in the December of 1795 that changed their and their families lives forever. During the Autumn of 1795 William Mobbs had a labouring job digging gravel on the Hanworth Road at Twickenham. William was no longer employed by Mr Hale, but by a man called Edmund Hill who owned the Hounslow Powder Mills at what is now known as Crane Park. These mills were responsible for manufacturing gun powder, an important industry along the Crane River at Twickenham, and were established around 1768. Whilst working at the gravel pit in the middle of December 1795, William Mobbs approached a fellow worker and associate, James Medwin, and asked if he would assist him in moving some saltpetre for Mr Hill. On hearing that he would be paid for his trouble, James Medwin agreed. James Medwin had been an apprentice baker to a Mr Euphrain Howard at Twickenham for about two years but left his employment with Mr Howard due to an unknown dispute. Mr Howard, who was present at the trial knew both William Mobbs and Medwin and stated that although he knew of no previous misdemeanours with regards to William Mobbs he did not in anyway believe James Medwin could be trusted and basically labelled him as dishonest in everyway. According to Medwin, that evening or the evening after, when he and Mobbs had finished their work for the day, at the gravel pit, they walked the quarter of a mile to the Powder Mills of Mr Edmund Hill. The mills stood on approximately 100 acres of land, surrounded by trees and bushes. The reason for this being that explosions were frequent, and therefore the shrubbery and large expanse of land gave some protection to the surrounding neighbourhood. Once at the mills, they went to the back of the coal house, where William Mobbs proceeded to climb through a hole where some boards had been removed. He then took out about 100 weight of saltpetre and passed it to Medwin who on Mobbs instructions he then placed the cakes into a basket. This portion of the trial is illegible in parts but the general gist of it seems to be that William Mobbs hid the cakes of saltpetre, possibly at his house. Medwin then called on a Mr William Birch of Twickenham and arranged for William Mobbs to borrow his horse and cart the following morning. Mobbs picked up the horse and cart between five and six o the next day, paid Mr Birch and he and Medwin made their way into the city of London. It is assumed they then picked up Bateman as his name can been seen clearly in this section, and then rode to a shed possibly at Essex Passage or Wentworth Street, where the saltpetre was then stored. The shed at Essex Passage wheother saltpetre had been stored was owned by a William Gabriel. William Gabriel was a Cheesemonger and Chandler by trade and had a shop at Loves Lane (or Lovat Lane) at Billingsgate. This is situated just east of the London Bridge and is now predominantly a fish market. A Chandler was usually a person who supplied provisions to ships hence the reason Gabriels shop being situated alongside the River Thames. The shed of William Gabriel as stated before was situated on Essex Passage which according the trial was situated about a half a mile from William Batemans home at Moorfields. At around the time that this saltpetre was being stored, William Bateman discussed with an associate of his, Charles Dickens, the possibility of Dickens being able to dispose of about five or six hundred weight of saltpetre. Charles Dickens was a Grocer and Cheesemonger also with a shop on Loves Lane (Lovat Lane) and therefore knew William Gabriel as well. Dickens knew of Gabriels shed in Essex Street and stated in the trial that he had seen Mobbs and Bateman at the shed many times and had seen the Saltpetre here as well. He agreed to try and dispose of the saltpetre and went about obtaining a sample of it not from the shed at Essex Street but from a shop at Wellington Street near Whitechapel belonging to a Mr John Moore. John Moore was a Tallow Chandler and Oilman who supplied candles to William Gabriel and had known both Gabriel and Bateman for several years. Charles Dickens collected the saltpetre sample (which was in pieces and not the whole cakes) and showed it to a man called Mr Macrae of Whitechapel. Mr Macrae informed Dickens that he would have an answer for him in a few days. At some stage whilst all of this was happening, William Gabriel paid a visit to his friend John Moore and asked if he could borrow a copper for melting down saltpetre. Moore agreed to this and so Gabriel and Bateman began the job of melting the saltpetre at Moores residence. Two days after Dickens had spoken with Mr Macrae, William Bateman paid Dickens a visit. Dickens explained his conversation with Mr Macrae about disposing of the saltpetre, when to the apparent surprise of Dickens, he was arrested. Dickens explained in the trial that at first he did not know why he was being arrested but on finding out later William Bateman apparently explained that the saltpetre belonged to William Gabriel and that he would get Gabriel to own it. Bateman then apparently went home. By the time evening came, William Bateman had failed to bring Gabriel forward, and John Moore had had a visit from a Mr Fish who was an agent of Mr Edmund Hill. On finding saltpetre at Moores house, Mr Fish urged John Moore to come with him to Bow Street and explain why this saltpetre, which Fish believed was that stolen from Mr Hill Powder Mills and in turn stolen from the King was in his possession. The stolen saltpetre had been carbined specifically for the Sovereign and the Government, and therefore could not be mistaken for anything else. Once at Bow Street, John Moore and Charles Di

54

Phil Hands on 30th March 2017

Tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 17th February 1796, for theft, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Left England in early 1797. Ship:- the 'Ganges' sailed with 203 male convicts on board of which 13 died during the voyage. Arrived on 2nd June 1797. Old Bailey Tial Transcription. Reference Number: t17960217-51 204. WILLIAM MOBBS and WILLIAM BATEMAN were indicted, the first for feloniously stealing, on the 20th of December , six hundred pounds weight of saltpetre, value 481. the property of our Sovereign Lord the King. Second Count. Laying them to be the property of Edmund Hill , Esq . (The case was opened by Mr. Const). WILLIAM GODAN sworn. I am the manager of Mr. Edmund Hill's powder-mills; we have lost large quantities of saltpetre from the 14th of April to the 19th of December; when I made up my accounts, I always found short weight; in November ten hundred weight went of it; and, in December, thirteen hundred weight. Q. Is it prepared in any particular way? - A. Yes, calcined, as it is in no other place but his Majesty's magazine; nobody in the whole kingdom, but those who make gunpowder for government, have it calcined in that way; it was all marked as this is (producing a cake with the weight marked on it); the prisoner Mobbs was servant to Mr. Hale, a gardener at Twickenham, (two or three years back, or more than that; I don't know any thing of the other prisoner. Q. That is not one of the pieces that was stolen; have you seen any that was stolen? - A. I have, but it was melted down; I don't know it; there is some of it here. JAMES MEDWIN (an accomplice,)sworn. Examined by Mr. Fielding. Q. You come here prepared to speak the whole truth, I hope? - A. Yes; I know both the prisoners. The prisoner Mobbs worked with me in digging gravel on the Hanwarth-Road, the gravel-pit is within a quarter of a mile of the powder-mills, to the best of my knowledge. I was at work with him about fifteen weeks ago, and he asked me if I would assist him with the property belonging to Mr. Hill, which was saltpetre; I agreed to his terms; and he said, he would satisfy me for my trouble; we went from our work that night, or the night after, between five and six o'clock, to Mr. Hill's mill, he got in at a hole where there were some boards taken away, at the back side of the coal-house; he took out, to the best of my knowledge, about a hundred weight; I took it of him, and put it on one side till he thought it convenient to come out again; we put it into a basket, and a bag, and put it on our shoulders; we were there near an hour; we took it to his house, and he put it into a shed adjoining his garden; I applied to Mr. Birch, of Twickenham, for a horse and cart for Mobbs, he let me have it; and the next morning, between five and six o'clock, we took the same saltpetre to London in the cart; it was in cakes, but some were broke; we carried it according to the description of Mobbs, to his brother-in-law, William Bateman, the prisoner . Q. Where does he live? - A. It is not in my power to tell you; it was carried to a shed in the alley where he lives; Bateman went with Mobbs and the saltpetre; I stopped at Bateman's house till they returned, they returned together. Bateman desired of Mobbs to come up stairs and he would settle with him. Q. Were those the words? - A. They were, I am sure; they went up stairs, I did not go up with them; we returned home with the cart. Q. Did you receive any part of the saltpetre, or any thing else, for what you did? - A. I received a guinea from Mobbs when I helped him bring it from the Mills. Q. You took about a hundred weight? - A. Yes. Q. How much did you carry to town? - A. About six or seven hundred pounds. Q. What is Bateman? - A. By Mobbs's account, he is a cutler. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. For a guinea you would break into any house? - A. No; he desined me to assist him, and said he would pay me for it. Q. You gave the Magistrate an account of all the bad tricks you have been guilty of? - A. I gave him an account of it. Q. Did you ever live with Mr. Howard, a baker? - A. Yes. Q. What did he turn you away for? - A. He did not turn me away; it was by the agreement of my friends. Q.Whether your friends did not agree that Mr. Howard should not prosecute you? - A. I don't know; there were false witnesses brought against me; it is a hard thing for an innocent man. Q. You have been a thief in this instance? - A. We are all guilty of faults. Q. You knew very well you were to be prosecuted if you did not give evidence? - A. No, I did not. Q. Were not you taken up? - A. Yes. Q.Then was it not in your power to tell whether you would be prosecuted or not? - A. No. Q. You knew you were guilty? - A. Yes, I knew I was guilty. HARLES DICKINS sworn. I am a grocer and cheesemonger, I know both the prisoners; Bateman did live in Long-alley, Moorfields; he followed the business of a grinder . In the month of December last, I saw a quantity of saltpetre that had been brought out of the country, in a shed belonging to William Gabriel, who keeps a chandler's-shop by Billingsgate. Q. What had Bateman to do with it? - A. I don't know any thing he had to do with it, but put saltpetre in it. In the middle of December, he applied to me to dispose of a quantity of saltpetre for him; I took a sample of six ounces, it was at one Mr. Moore's, in Wentworth-street; Mr. Gabriel informed me it was there; I took it out of the bag it was in. Q. Did not Bateman say where it was? - A. I cannot say that he did; I told him I would try to dispose of it for him. I saw Bateman a day or two after, and told him I had offered it for sale, and was to have an answer in a few days; I told him I had got a sample of saltpetre from Mr. Moore's, and carried it to Mr. Macrae's, in Whitechapel; I received no answer from him till I was apprehended; Bateman was in my shop at the time. Q. Did you know that it was the saltpetre that you were apprehended for? - A. I did not till afterwards; Bateman said, he would bring Gabriel forward, whom, he said, it belonged to, and that he would own it. Q. Has he done so? - A. No. Q. Did you ever go out of town with Bateman? - A. No; about the beginning of November I was to have gone with him, in a chaise cart. Q. Did you know what you were to go for? - A. No. Q. How much faltpetre did Bateman tell you he had to dispose of? - A. Between four and five hundred weight. Q. Was it in cakes, like that, (shewing him one)? - A. That at Mr. Moore's was in pieces. When I was taken into custody, and Gabriel was not brought forward, in the evening, I was permitted to go and endeavour to apprehend Bateman; Mr. Moore and I apprehended him just by his own house; I said, you are the man I was looking for; you must go with me; he said, very well; let me go peaceably; when we had got a few yards, he offered to run away; I ran after him, and caught him again; I kept him at my house till the officer came in the morning about eight o'clock. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. You were apprehended and bound over to appear here, to answer to this charge? - A. Yes. Q. You understood from Bateman, that this saltpetre belonged to Gabriel? - A. Yes. Q. You took the sample from Gabriel's direction? - A. I took it by both their directions. Q.Then how dared you to state to the Jury, that it was only from Gabriel's direction? - A. I stated what I knew concerning it, as near the truth as I could; I don't know any thing that I have said wrong. Bateman told me, Gabriel would inform me where I should get it. Q. Bateman said he would bring Gabriel forward? - A. Yes. Q. You were apprehended? - A. Yes. Q.Bateman was not apprehended? - A. No. Q. He was by at the time you were apprehended? - A. Yes; but he went home when I was apprehended. Q. You know by giving evidence you save yourself from being prosecuted? - A. Yes; I look upon it in that light; I wrote a letter to the Magistrate, and stated every thing that I knew about the business. Q. Did not you know that by giving that account, you would be admitted an evidence? - A. I had some expectations of it at the time, but was not satisfied I should. Q. And the letter was wrote to the Magistrate with the hopes of being admitted an evidence? - A. Yes. Court. Q. Do you know where this shed is? - A. In Essex-passage; Bateman lives full half a mile off. Q. Did you ever see Bateman in that shed? - A. Yes; the first time I saw him, Mobbs and he were leaving saltpetre there; he was there every week almost. Q. Had you seen Bateman there in the course of December? - A. Yes; Gabriel dealt in gun-stocks, and sometimes he was there about them. Q.(To Medwin). When the cart came to town did you put the saltpetre in the shed opposite his house? - A. No; Mobbs told me, it was carried about half a mile off from there. Q. Did he tell you it was half a mile? - A. No; by going the second time I thought it was that; he told me, the second time, that he had lodged the saltpetre in that shed the first time. Q. Do you know who that shed belongs to? - A. No; I did not see any body there but Bateman and Mobbs. WILLIAM BIRCH sworn. I live at Twickenham: Medwin came to me to hire my cart for Mobbs; Mobbs used it, and paid me for it; he came for it between five and six in the morning; he is a labouring man. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. This might have been in October? - A. I don't know; it might have been as much as three months, or more, since the first time. Q. Is it more than two months since the last time? - A. I cannot say; it was about a week before Mobbs was taken up, as far as I remember. THOMAS JOHNSON sworn. I am a druggist, in Norton Falgate: I don't know either of the prisoners; I never saw them before I saw them at Bow-street. JOHN FISH sworn. I am agent to Mr. Hill; the prisoner, Mobbs, lived servant with him. Q.Have you seen Mobbs since he has been taken up for this offence? - A. Yes; I shewed him this letter, and he acknowledged it to be his hand-writing; and said, he would disclose what he knew of the matter; and the jailor gave him a sheet of paper to write it out; but when he was before the Justice, he said, circumstances had happened since, that he had altered his mind.(The letter read, purporting to be his confession). JOHN MOORE sworn. I live in Wentworth-street, I am a fallow-chandler and oilman; I know Bateman by sight; in December last, Gabriel came and asked me to lend him a copper for melting saltpetre; Bateman and Gabriel were both there; they were there three or four times while the saltpetre was melting. Q. Did you apprehend Bateman, or assist? - A. I did, along with a man of the name of Dickins; Dickins was himself apprehended at first, and was let go. Q. Did you see the saltpetre before it was put in the copper? - A. No, I did not. Q.There was some saltpetre found at your house? - A. Yes. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. You have no dealing in saltpetre yourself? - A. None at all. Q. How long have you been acquainted with Gabriel? - A. Three or four years; he keeps a chandler's and cheesemonger's shop, in Love-lane; and I serve him with candles. Q. You told me he was a chandler and cheesemonger; did not you think it strange that there should be some hundred weight of saltpetre, at a chandler's shop? - A. He merely came and asked me to lend him the copper; I did not ask him any questions where he got it. Q. Do you know Dickins? - A. Yes; he is a cheesemonger in the same street. Q. Did you ever lend this copper before for melting saltpetre? - A. No. Q. And yet you asked no questions about it? - A. No; I knew the man. Q. The officers found the property in your house? - A. Not all; they took a tub full away; I was out when Dickin was taken. Mr. Fish afterwards came into a house were I was, and asked, if Bateman was there, and if Mr. Moore was there; I said, yes; he said, come along with me, and explain what you know of this; I went with him to Bow-street, and told him how it came to my house. Q. Had Fish communicated a suspicion, that the saltpetre was stolen? - A. I cannot swear whether he did or not. THOMAS JONES sworn. I am an officer: I found this barrel of saltpetre(producing it,) in Mr. Moore's shed; some of it was in the boiler, and some sprinkled about the shed. Q. You did not find any in a state like that?(shewing him the cake). - A. No, I went to Gabriel's shed and found a quantity of powder there.(The prisoners both left their defence to their counsel).(For the prisoners). EPHRAIM HOWARD sworn. I am a baker at Twickenham; Metiwin was once my apprentice; he was in my service two years. Q. From your observation of his character, would you believe him, on his oath? - A. I cannot any way in the world. I have known Mobbs four or five years; I never heard of any misdemeanour of him in my life.(Mobbs called five other witnesses, who gave him a good character.)(Bateman called nine witnesses who gave him a good character.) Mobbs, GUILTY . (Aged 25.) Transported for seven years . Bateman, GUILTY . (Aged 30.) Transported for fourteen years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice LAWRENCE. The story of William Mobbs begins in England with his birth in 1763. He was the son of Isaac Mobbs and Mary Ireland who were marred at St Mary's St Marylebone, St Marylebone Road, London on 24 December, 1763) Little is known of Williams life until the 29th November 1790, when he married a lady two years his senior, named Ann Grover. The marriage took place at New Brentford which is in the western district of Greater London. Around this time William Mobbs was employed as a servant to Mr Hale, a gardener at Twickenham. Twickenham is situated south of New Brentford and it is assumed that William and Anne children were born in this area. They were William Junior born 7th April 1791, Isaac in 1793, Ann in 1794 and George in 1795. In the centre of London, at Long Alley, Moorefields, William Mobbs sister Mary Mobbs was living with her husband William Bateman. William Bateman occupation was that of a cutler, or a person who made knives and swords. He was also later described as being employed as a Grinder. Early in 1796, both William Mobbs and his brother-in-law William Bateman were sentenced in the Old Bailey for the crime of stealing, with both men being transported to Australia as their punishment. It was their dealings in the December of 1795 that changed their and their families lives forever. During the Autumn of 1795 William Mobbs had a labouring job digging gravel on the Hanworth Road at Twickenham. William was no longer employed by Mr Hale, but by a man called Edmund Hill who owned the Hounslow Powder Mills at what is now known as Crane Park. These mills were responsible for manufacturing gun powder, an important industry along the Crane River at Twickenham, and were established around 1768. Whilst working at the gravel pit in the middle of December 1795, William Mobbs approached a fellow worker and associate, James Medwin, and asked if he would assist him in moving some saltpetre for Mr Hill. On hearing that he would be paid for his trouble, James Medwin agreed. James Medwin had been an apprentice baker to a Mr Euphrain Howard at Twickenham for about two years but left his employment with Mr Howard due to an unknown dispute. Mr Howard, who was present at the trial knew both William Mobbs and Medwin and stated that although he knew of no previous misdemeanours with regards to William Mobbs he did not in anyway believe James Medwin could be trusted and basically labelled him as dishonest in everyway. According to Medwin, that evening or the evening after, when he and Mobbs had finished their work for the day, at the gravel pit, they walked the quarter of a mile to the Powder Mills of Mr Edmund Hill. The mills stood on approximately 100 acres of land, surrounded by trees and bushes. The reason for this being that explosions were frequent, and therefore the shrubbery and large expanse of land gave some protection to the surrounding neighbourhood. Once at the mills, they went to the back of the coal house, where William Mobbs proceeded to climb through a hole where some boards had been removed. He then took out about 100 weight of saltpetre and passed it to Medwin who on Mobbs instructions he then placed the cakes into a basket. This portion of the trial is illegible in parts but the general gist of it seems to be that William Mobbs hid the cakes of saltpetre, possibly at his house. Medwin then called on a Mr William Birch of Twickenham and arranged for William Mobbs to borrow his horse and cart the following morning. Mobbs picked up the horse and cart between five and six o the next day, paid Mr Birch and he and Medwin made their way into the city of London. It is assumed they then picked up Bateman as his name can been seen clearly in this section, and then rode to a shed possibly at Essex Passage or Wentworth Street, where the saltpetre was then stored. The shed at Essex Passage wheother saltpetre had been stored was owned by a William Gabriel. William Gabriel was a Cheesemonger and Chandler by trade and had a shop at Loves Lane (or Lovat Lane) at Billingsgate. This is situated just east of the London Bridge and is now predominantly a fish market. A Chandler was usually a person who supplied provisions to ships hence the reason Gabriels shop being situated alongside the River Thames. The shed of William Gabriel as stated before was situated on Essex Passage which according the trial was situated about a half a mile from William Batemans home at Moorfields. At around the time that this saltpetre was being stored, William Bateman discussed with an associate of his, Charles Dickens, the possibility of Dickens being able to dispose of about five or six hundred weight of saltpetre. Charles Dickens was a Grocer and Cheesemonger also with a shop on Loves Lane (Lovat Lane) and therefore knew William Gabriel as well. Dickens knew of Gabriels shed in Essex Street and stated in the trial that he had seen Mobbs and Bateman at the shed many times and had seen the Saltpetre here as well. He agreed to try and dispose of the saltpetre and went about obtaining a sample of it not from the shed at Essex Street but from a shop at Wellington Street near Whitechapel belonging to a Mr John Moore. John Moore was a Tallow Chandler and Oilman who supplied candles to William Gabriel and had known both Gabriel and Bateman for several years. Charles Dickens collected the saltpetre sample (which was in pieces and not the whole cakes) and showed it to a man called Mr Macrae of Whitechapel. Mr Macrae informed Dickens that he would have an answer for him in a few days. At some stage whilst all of this was happening, William Gabriel paid a visit to his friend John Moore and asked if he could borrow a copper for melting down saltpetre. Moore agreed to this and so Gabriel and Bateman began the job of melting the saltpetre at Moores residence. Two days after Dickens had spoken with Mr Macrae, William Bateman paid Dickens a visit. Dickens explained his conversation with Mr Macrae about disposing of the saltpetre, when to the apparent surprise of Dickens, he was arrested. Dickens explained in the trial that at first he did not know why he was being arrested but on finding out later William Bateman apparently explained that the saltpetre belonged to William Gabriel and that he would get Gabriel to own it. Bateman then apparently went home. By the time evening came, William Bateman had failed to bring Gabriel forward, and John Moore had had a visit from a Mr Fish who was an agent of Mr Edmund Hill. On finding saltpetre at Moores house, Mr Fish urged John Moore to come with him to Bow Street and explain why this saltpetre, which Fish believed was that stolen from Mr Hill Powder Mills and in turn stolen from the King was in his possession. The stolen saltpetre had been carbined specifically for the Sovereign and the Government, and therefore could not be mistaken for anything else. Once at Bow Street, John Moore and Charles Di

105

Denis Pember on 25th November 2015

The 1828 census shows William as holding William John's, Jennings', Crawford's and Dunlop's farms, 717 acres in total. He had cleared 87 acres of it and had cultivated 25 acres. J.T. Bigge praised Mobbs for his conduct in the colony, for his respectable character and unremitting industry. 'The state of his farm and habitation attests, in a conspicuous manner of good conduct in New South Wales and of industry well applied.' Mobbs was the exception for it was lamented in the same year that 'the grain grown at Pennant Hills is poor due to overcropping and dry elevated situation of the soil renders enough for internal consumption only'. In 1828 the Sydney Gazette made mention of his oranges. The 1832 Post Office Directory mentions 'Mobbs' house and gardens celebrated for the best oranges, apples, etc. in the colony. J.D. Lang commented that 'Settlers who are now realizing from their oranges incomes of two thousand a year' and that since 'the orange tree takes a comparatively long time to come to maturity it is rarely found therefore on the farms of improvident settlers.'

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Denis Pember on 25th November 2015

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref M2663] Mobbs, William Sr., 67, free by servitude, Barwell, 1797, 7 years, Protestant, landholder, Field of Mars, 907 acres, 172 acres cleared, 49 acres cultivated, 18 horses, 30 horned cattle [Ref M2664] Mobbs, Ann, 67, came free, Cornwallis, 1800. [Ref M2665] Mobbs, John, 25, born in the colony. [Ref M2666] Mobbs, Phoebe, 20, born in the colony. (#Note Phoebe is the wife to John) [Ref M2667] Mobbs, John Jr., 2 born in the colony. (grandchild to William and Ann)

105

Denis Pember on 25th November 2015

WILLIAM MOBBS and WILLIAM BATEMAN were indicted, the first for feloniously stealing, on the 20th of December, six hundred pounds weight of saltpetre, value 481. the property of our Sovereign Lord the King. Second Count. Laying them to be the property of Edmund Hill, Esq. Mobbs, GUILTY. (Aged 25.) Transported for seven years. Bateman, GUILTY. (Aged 30.) Transported for fourteen years. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice LAWRENCE. (Old Bailey Transcripts: t17960217-51) William Mobbs and William Bateman were actually brothers in law. William Bateman having married Mary Mobbs a few years before the crime was commited.

2

Leah Simone Parry on 13th March 2013

Convicted for Theft of Salt Peter

1

Michael Daly on 9th May 2012

His wife/partner was Ann Grover who came out to Australia with their 4 children on the "Earl Cornwallis" in 1801. Their son also called William Mobbs who was born in England in 1791 and came to Australia with his Mother in 1801 was my Great Great Grandfather and his Daughter Matilda Mobbs was my Great Grandmother on my Grandfathers side.