Thomas Moffatt

343

Maureen Withey on 23rd May 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 23 May 2021), 20 April 1814, trial of THOMAS MOFFATT , alias SQUIRE MASON (t18140420-33). 318. THOMAS MOFFATT , alias SQUIRE MASON , was indicted for that he, on the 5th of March, had in his custody and possession, a forged bank note for payment of 2 l. he knowing it to be forged . To this indictment the prisoner pleaded GUILTY. Transported for Fourteen Years . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. 319. THOMAS MOFFATT, alias SQUIRE MASON , was indicted for feloniously forging, on the 5th of March, a certain bank note for the payment of 2 l. with intention to defraud the Governor and Company of the Bank of England . Mr. Knapp, counsel for the prosecution, declining to offer any evidence, the prisoner, of this charge, was ACQUITTED . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.

343

Maureen Withey on 23rd May 2021

Colonial Secretary Index. MASON, Squire alias MOFFATT, Thomas. Per "Marquis of Wellington", 1815. 1815 Request for ticket of leave for; appears as Thomas Morphet alias Mason (Reel 6045; 4/1733 p.155) 1822 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3222; 4/1866 p.97) 1825 Jun 29 On list of prisoners of the Crown in the employ of Thomas Rose (Fiche 3153; 4/1844A No.706 p.345) 1825 Oct 14 Convict in the service of Thomas Rose of Sydney at the last two musters; listed as Moffet alias Mason (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.434) -------------------------------------------------- 1828 Census Index. Letitia O’Flaherty, age 37, F.S. Wanstead, 1814, 14 years, protestant, Ux Squire Mason, Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Squire Mason, age 37, F.S. Wellington, 1815, protestant, Shoemaker, Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Has 1 horse. -------------------------------------------------- On Monday night, Squire Mason was knocked down in the streets, and robbed of several pounds. He was severely injured from the violence used. Sydney Herald, 26 July 1832. -------------------------------------------------- List of Convicts assigned and transferred between the 1st and 30th of April 1832. 1718. Snow George, Captain Cooke, shoemaker, to Squire Mason, Sydney. NSW Govt. Gazette, 15 Aug 1832. --------------------------------------------------- Mr. Squire Mason was fined £5 at the Police Office by the Third Police Magistrate on Friday last, for obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty. We forbear making any remarks upon this case, as ulterior proceedings will be taken against the constable. Mr. Mason would have appealed (and we think on very good grounds) against the decision of the Magistrate, but on reference to the Police Act it appears that no appeal is allowed in such a case. The Australian, 30 Dec 1834. -------------------------------------------------- In our last we noticed that Mr. Squire Mason, a respectable inhabitant of Castlereagh-street, had been fined at the Police Office for obstructing constables in the execution of their duty, on Wednesday week last. A Court of Enquiry was held by Colonel Wilson, in his private room, on the conduct of the constables, when it was distinctly proved that they had been drunk on duty, and had committed a violent assault on Mr. Mason without the slightest provocation ; he therefore stated his intention of recommending the Governor to dismiss the two constables (viz. Herbert Green and George Brerton), and also conductor Burnet, by whose directions Mr. Mason had been unjustly confined in a cell at the watch-house—[We presume that the £5 paid by Mr. Mason in this case will be restored to him.—ED. Sydney Gazette, 6 Jan 1835. ---------------------------------------------------- CAUTION TO ASSIGNEES.-Mr. Squire Mason of Castlereagh street, shoe-maker, pleaded guilty to an information of the chief constable for failing to report to the principal Superintendent, or the nearest Justice of the peace, the absence of his assigned servant, as required by Act of Council, 3rd Wil. IV., No. 3, and was fined in the lowest penalty £5. Had the defendant not pleaded guilty, and appeared to have acted in ignorance of the existence of the law, the highest penalty of £10 would have been enforced. This is the first conviction under this act. Sydney Monitor, 21 Jun 1839. -------------------------------------------------- A race took place at Windsor, on Thursday last, between Mr Squire Mason's Sly Boots, and Mr Doyle's Soldier, for £100 aside; heats, twice round the course- It was cleverly won by the former. The Australian, 7 Sep 1839. -------------------------------------------------- Thomas Taylor and John Kitchen were indicted on a charge of having assaulted and robbed one Letitia Mason, on the Parramatta Road, on the 7th March last. The evidence of the prosecutrix and her husband, Squire Mason, fully proved the charge against the prisoners, who made no defence. ... Thomas Taylor and John Kitchen, highway robbery, 15 years transportation. The Dispatch, 6 April 1844. --------------------------------------------------- Thomas Taylor and Robert Kitchen were indicted for highway robbery. From the evidence it appeared that, as Squire Mason, on the 7th March, was travelling to Sydney in a gig, in company with his wife, opposite Dr. Ramsay's fence, at Dobroyd, on the Parramatta Road, two men stopped the gig; they came over the fence ; the prisoners were the men; Taylor held the horse's head, and Kitchen jumped into the gig; they first asked witness for his money, and he gave what silver he had; Taylor then told Kitchen to search the woman; Kitchen did so, and took from her pocket a roll of notes amounting to £28, a purse with £2 in it, and a quantity of silver coin besides: they then went away: he asked them to give him two shillings back, but they said they were too poor to do so. Inspector Molloy having received information that two armed bushrangers were concealed in a house, in a lane off Campbell-street, went there with two constables, and found the prisoners, whom he took into custody: they were then recognized by Mr. Mason as the men who had robbed him. The jury, without leaving the box, returned a verdict of guilty. The Guardian, 6 April 1844. -------------------------------------------------- It appears that Letitia Mason, Squire's wife died between April 1844 or December 1845, when he remarried. -------------------------------------------------- MARRIED. On the 27th ultimo, by the Rev. Mr. Tait, of Parramatta, Squire Mason, to Mrs. Frances Harper, widow, both of Sydney. Sydney Morning Herald, 1 Dec 1845. -------------------------------------------------------- On the 6th instant, at Mr. Turner's, the Australian Hotel, corner of Pitt and Goulburn streets, Squire Mason, a very old and much respected colonist, aged 73 years. Sydney Morning Herald, 7 Dec 1863. ---------------------------------------------------- On Monday in Sydney an inquest was held on the body of a man aged 74, named Squire Mason, resulting in a verdict of natural death. Deceased was a native of Yorkshire, and had been 47 years in the colony. He was possessed of some property, and drank occasionally. On last Tuesday evening ho returned to his lodgings 'rather tipsy,' and on the following morning was unable to leave his bed. He continued in the same state until Saturday night, when on attempting to cross the room, he was seized with a fit and died. Illawarra Mercury, 11 Dec 1863. ----------------------------------------------------- In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. In the goods of Squire Mason, late of the City of Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, gentleman, deceased. NOTICE is hereby given, that Frances Mason, of Bathurst, in the Colony aforesaid, the widow of the abovenamed deceased, intends at the expiration of fourteen days from the date hereof, to apply to this Honorable Court, in its Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, that letters of administration of the goods, chattels, credits and effects of the abovenamed Squire Mason, deceased, may be granted to her.—Dated the twenty-second day of December, A.D. 1863. RICHARD YEOMANS, Proctor for the said Frances Mason, 97 Elizabeth-street, Sydney. NSW Govt. Gazette, 22 Dec 1863. Colonial Secretary Index.