Richard Payne

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 31st July 2022

PIRATICAL SEIZURE OF THE UNITY. — This vessel, a colonial schooner of about 30 tons, left Port Dalrymple on the 3d of April last bound for Hobart Town, with Mr. W. H. MANSELL, who was one of the owners, and three seamen on board. Shortly after she had put to sea, however, she encountered a heavy gale, by which she was driven considerably out of her course, in Bass's Straits, and having but little provision on board, was obliged to procure from a small sealing party a quantity of salted mutton birds. On the 23d of the same month (April) she reached the Derwent, moored off Hobart Town, and was the same night boarded between eleven and twelve, by seven armed men, who presented firelocks at Mr. MANSELL and his small unarmed crew, and captured the vessel by surprise, without any possibility of rendering opposition effectual. Having cut her away from her moorings, the desperadoes made sail ; and landing the legitimate owner and crew at Frederick Henry Bay, gave them up the boat with which they had effected the piracy. The persons who were immediately discovered to be absent, and who there could be no doubt were the offenders, are as follow: William Britton, alias Symer, alias Mark Tyler, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1810 ; came by the Guilford ; a prisoner for life. Richard Payne, capitally convicted, at the Old Bailey in October, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; also for life. Patrick, commonly called Peter Russell, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; for life. Thomas Watson, convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1809 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for seven years. Thomas Curtis, capitally convicted at Bristol in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. Thomas Bird, convicted at Wells, in Somersetshire, in July, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable, for seven years ; and Frederick Callaghan, capitally convicted at Northampton in March, 1810; came also in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. As the only provisions on board the Unity comprised about 50 lbs. of flour, and 40 lbs. of salted mutton birds, it is scarcely possible that they should attempt a long voyage without adopting some method of recruiting their stock, in which effort a delay must be occasioned, which it is to be hoped will prove the means of their being secured, and speedily brought to condign punishment. The owners, we are sorry to add, had a considerable property on board, consisting of piece goods, wine, &c. shipped from hence for the settlements on Van Dieman's Land. Sydney Gazette, 21 Aug 1813.

Level 221

D Wong on 28th April 2020

Old Bailey: RICHARD PAYNE, JOHN MALONEY. Violent Theft: highway robbery. 30th October 1811 Verdict Guilty > with recommendation; Guilty > with recommendation Sentence Death; Death RICHARD PAYNE and JOHN MALONEY were indicted for feloniously making an assault in the King's highway, on the 7th of October, upon William Ducketts, putting him in fear and taking from person and against his will, a pocket book value 6 d. a ten pound bank note, a five pound bank note, and three one pound bank notes his property. PAYNE GUILTY - DEATH, aged 28, MALONEY GUILTY - DEATH, aged 22. The prosecutor recommended the prisoners to his Majesty's mercy, on account of Payne's relation being respectable honest people. (This was a lengthy trial and may be read in full on the profile page of John Maloney on the Fortune). John Maloney arrived NSW per 'Fortune' 1813. Richard Pane arrived in VDL. Cannot find a Conduct Record for him - found the following on: https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_indefatigable_1812.htm Absconders - Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst 31st. August 1831.......'In April 1813, the Unity schooner was moored in Hobart when seven convicts boarded the ship and seized control of the crew and the ship's owner, William Hobart Mansel. They sailed the ship down the River Derwent and off Cape Frederick they released their captives - Mansel, the captain and three seamen, and set them adrift in the ship's boat. Mansel and the crew navigated their way back to Hobart however the Unity was never heard from again. The convicts included five men of the Indefatigable - Thomas Watson, Patrick Russell, Richard Payne, Thomas Bird and Thomas Curtis. and two who arrived on the Guildford in 1812 - William Button alias Symer alias Tyler and Frederick Callaghan. (HRA)