Daniel Priest

342

Maureen Withey on 17th December 2024

Tuesday last, the following convicts were removed from Hertford Gaol, on board the Fortitude Hulk, at Chatham, viz.—William Cook, Daniel Priest, and James Putnam,- transportation for life. ... Hertford Mercury, 11 Aug 1835.

342

Maureen Withey on 17th December 2024

Daniel Priest (26) and James Putnam (16) were indicted for feloniously stealing a sheep, the property of Mrs. Caroline Susanna Cooper , at Bovingdon. Richard Mortimer, shepherd to Mrs. Cooper, had 23 wether sheep on the1st of May ; he counted them on that evening, about six o'clock, and the next morning one was gone. Young Mr. Cooper, Master Pocock, and himself, went in search of the sheep, and traced the footsteps of two persons, a dog, and sheep   for about furlong down a lane leading from the field. Saw a sheep's skin afterwards at Bovingdon Cross, in the possession of John Hobbs, which witness would swear was the skin of one of the wethers under his care. John Hobbs— on the 2nd of May, went in search of a sheep of his own, and found, at the bottom of a chalk-pit, the skin of a sheep and the entrails and fat; brought the skin away, and, on shewing it to the last witness, he said it belonged to Mrs. Cooper. Thomas Cooper, son of the prosecutrix, saw the prisoners near the field where the sheep were on the night of the robbery; they had a white dog with them, with spot over his eve. The shepherd told him the next morning the sheep was gone; he went for Pocock, and they traced footsteps down a lane for about half-a-mile ; he then went for a constable, and afterwards traced them about a mile and a half into a wood —there were the footmarks of a boy and a man, of a sheep and a dog ; the sheep appeared to have been led by the boy. In a spring we saw some blood and wool, with sticks and leaves covered over it, also saw some white dog's hairs. James Smith, constable, confirmed  confirmed the former witness, as to tracing the footsteps and finding the blood, &c. The shoes were rights and lefts and had patent tips on. Made a further search, and found the carcase of a sheep in an old saw-pit, covered with leaves; watched the spot  with James Watkins all night, and went away about six in the morning. Got a warrant, and found the prisoners nine days afterwards at new Tom and Jerry shop; they had a white dog with them, which he produced in court. Upon seeing witness, Priest ran away across the orchard and over the hedge into a lane—he followed and took him. Measured both their shoes, and they tallied with the foot-marks before mentioned—they had new tips on. James Watkins, headborough, watched   with last witness, who left him six o'clock in the morning ; could see from the place where he was the chalkpit where   the carcase was found, and also the sawpit where the skin was found. About quarter past eight, lie saw the prisoners come direct towards the pits; Priest looked into the chalk-pit, and said, Here lays the now. When he (witness) thought they were gone, rose up, and saw them go away into a spring about four poles from him  and appeared to lay down ; went and watched again, and, after a short time, the prisoners came down a blind path  towards the saw-pit; they had the dog now produced with them. When they came near, the dog growled, and looked towards him. Was looking at Priest, and he immediately took out his knife and cut some sticks; they then went  away. I said, What, Daniel, is it you ? and he made me some answer, but do not know what. Daniel Thorn, soot-sower, was going to work on the 2nd of May. at half-past three in the morning, and saw the prisoners coming from  the spring in question. Daniel Priest had the dog with him. I said, Good morning, and he said, Morning to you.  James Putnam was about two poles behind, and had a bundle, wrapped in a cloth, under his arm, which was dropping with blood; he turned his head as he passed witness, and never spoke; the bundle seemed to stick out, as if it was meat.  Benjamin Reading, a blacksmith at Chesham, knew the prisoners, they came to his shop on the 4th of May, and had fresh tips put on their shoes; he took patent tips off—produced one of them. The Learned Judge summed up the case with great minuteness and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners, but recommended Putnam to mercy. His Lordship said in passing sentence, that the Act of Parliament had defined the punishment in the present case, and he had no alternative but to transport them both for life; the recommendation of mercy he had no power to act upon, it would for the prisoner (Putnam) to apply to the Secretary of State for mitigation of the sentence, in consequence of that recommendation. Hertford Mercury, 21 July 1835.

342

Maureen Withey on 20th April 2020

REWARD :— CONDITIONAL PARDON. Police Department, 12th April. Whereas Daniel Priest, a runaway convict, whose description is hereunder, stands charged with having committed a capital felony, and is now illegally at large: this is to give notice that I am authorised by his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to offer the Reward of a conditional pardon to any prisoner who shall apprehend or cause to he apprehended (by information or otherwise) and lodged in safe custody the said Daniel Priest. M. Forster, Chief Police Magistrate. Description of Daniel Priest -Trade farm labourer, height 5 feet 6. age 34 years, complexion fresh, head oval, hair brown (no whiskers in 1836), visage narrow, forehead high, eyebrows dark brown, eyes dark brown, nose medium length, mouth wide, chin long. Native place near Gourland, marks — woman inside left arm, scar on left eyebrow. Remarks — tried at Herts Assizes 15th July, sentence life. Cornwall Chronicle, 7 Oct 1843.

221

D Wong on 24th April 2016

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Daniel Priest (1814-1883) was a convict and bushranger in nineteenth century Tasmania. Priest escaped from the penal settlement at Port Arthur and became a bushranger while trying to avoid arrest. He became known to those he robbed as 'the friendly bushranger' on account of his 'almost unparalleled mildness and kindness towards persons with whom he came into collision in pursuit of his lawless career. Priest held up settlers at gunpoint but only took what he needed and was never violent. In 1845, he was eventually caught and, at an appearance before the Police Magistrate, witness George Lucas, who had recently been robbed, claimed the coat and trousers worn by Priest, were his. Priest replied: 'Yes, you're right, they're yours; you have told a very correct yarn; all that you have said is very true. When the Magistrate then told Priest that they would have to find him some other clothes, Priest answered, 'Just as you please, Sir, it's not as I like now.' Priest was sentenced to hang, but after the intervention of many members of the public, including three priests and several people who he had robbed, his sentence was commuted to ten years at Norfolk Island. 19/9/1853: Married Julia Cronin (Earl Grey 1850) – 3 children listed but looks like there were more. He was 36 and Julia was 30. 10/10/1894 The Mercury, Hobart: PRIEST.-On October 8, l894, at his residence, Kangaroo Valley. Daniel Priest, aged 81 years. Funeral will leave his late residence This Day, at 3 o'clock, when friends are respectfully invited to attend. Daniel's occupation was listed as a gardener on his death certificate and marriage certificate. The death of Julia: 9/9/1920 The Mercury, Hobart: PRIEST.—On September 8, 1920 suddenly, at her residence, Tolosa-road, Gelenorchy, Julia, relict of the late David (should be Daniel) Priest, aged 93 years.

4

Christine Loring on 23rd April 2016

1929 Married -3 daughters -wife died 1834 UK Hulk Prisoner "Fortitude" Chatham 1842 Absconded from custody Van Diemen's Land 1845 Surrendered to Police; sentenced to death. Petition, plea for his life, life spared Sent to Norfolk Island 1853 Married St Joseph's Church Hobart -3 sons