William Riordan

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 14th May 2021

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. Ship; Almorah No; 31 Name; William Reardon Age on Arrival; 31 Trade; Bricklayer Native; Place; London Remarks; * Ticket of Leave - April 10, 1819 * Married; Eleanor Stewart a convict 21 Sept 1817. * DIED; April 1820

108

Nell Murphy on 16th June 2016

William Riordan/Reardon was transferred from NSW to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the ship 'Pilot' (date not given). Conduct Record in VDL: aged 31yrs; bricklayer' 5'5 1/4"; Hazel eyes; drk brown hair; drk sallow complexion. General remarks - "indifferent". 17/04/1818: disobedience of orders - to work for Govt., one week, in his own time. 08/06/1818: Receive stolen property - acquitted.

221

D Wong on 16th June 2016

Old Bailey: WILLIAM RIORDAM, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th September 1816. Reference Number: t18160918-18 Offence: Theft > theft from a specified place Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Death WILLIAM RIORDAM was indicted for stealing, on the 8th of July , five hundred and fifty pieces of Foreign silver coin, called dollars, value 110l. the property of Col. William Jervois, in the dwelling-house of Thomas Hedges . COL. WILLIAM JERVOIS. On the 8th of July, I lodged at No.35, Duke-street, St. James's-square . The prisoner was my servant; at the same time he lived with me, I was in possession of a quantity of foreign dollars, there were eighteen hundred; they were kept in a box in my bed-room; that box was locked. I met the prisoner in Sr. James's-street, a short time after I had returned from Canada, where I had been on service; he was looking in at a shop window, and seemed, as I thought, in very great distress; he addressed me, and told me that he was in very great distress, and had been out of employ for six months, and had been obliged to pawn all his clothes from poverty; from a feeling of charity, I took him into my service. Q.How long after this was it that you missed any dollars - A. I don't know exactly how many days it was; but it was between the 5th and the 8th that I missed them, I only missed a portion, about five hundred and fifty-five, within one or two. After the prisoner came to live with me, I believe the next morning, or the day after, he appeared in a new coat, in an extremely nice new coat, and his appearance was changed very much indeed for the better. I had left my lodging for one night to go to Richmend, and foolishly left my keys behind me; one of those keys would open the box in which the dollars were deposited. The prisoner was my only servant. In consiquence of my suspicion, I went to Bow-street. I was present when the Bow-street officer apprehended the prisoner; he was not living in the same home with me; he slept in one of those old houses in Bolsever-street. At the time he was apprehended I told him what I apprehended him for; I told him I missed a quantity of dollars, and I conceived it impossible for any one else to rob me. He then became rather abusive, and he said, he was extremely sorry that he ever came into my service, on account of his character, and he never had taken any money of mine. On taxing him with the alteration for the better in his appearance; he said, he bought the new coat from a jew in the street. I went with the Bow-street officers to his lodging in Bolsover-street I took the prisoner with me. I saw the officers examine his lodging, and we found a parcel of women's new shoes, a quantity of trinkets, and silk handkerchiefs quite new. We did not find any dollars. JOHN HARRIS. I am shopman to Messrs. Rochforts, in Jermyin-street, they are pawnbrokers. I know the prisoner at the bar; he purchased a watch at our shop, I think on the 9th or 10th of July; a silver watch; he paid me in Spanish dollars, fifteen in number; the amount was three pounds two shillings and sixpence. The next day be bought a gold seal, I think for twenty seven or twenty eight shillings; he paid me with nine Spanish dollars, and I gave him the difference of a few shillings; he did not make any other purchases of me; those he made he paid for allia Spanish dollars. HENRY MYERS. I keep a sale-shop, in Swallow street. The prisoner bought something of me, about two or three days before he was taken up; he bought a coat; I asked him two guiness for it, and he gave seven Spanish dollars; I allowed him four shillings and four pence a piece for the dollars; so then he paid me in all dollars. I am sure he is the man; he used to pass my door almost every day. DANIEL REECE . I am a sales-man, in Swallow street. I know the prisoner; but no father than by sight; I now recollect his person; he purchased a pair of pantaloons of me about two or three days before he was taken into custody; he was to give me fifteen shilling for them, he paid me in four Spanish dollars, and I gave him two shilling in change. JOHN CAESHAW . I am shopman to Mr. Wilkinson, the jeweller, in Piccadilly. I know the person of the prisoner at the bar; he came one morning; I think Thursday the 11th of July; we asked him four pounds for a gold seal; be bought it. I agreed for three pounds ten shillings at last. He paid me eighteen dollars, and I gave him two shillings change out; they were old Spanish dollars; at that time he had a number of dollars in his possession. He asked if we could not give more than four shillings a piece for them; and we told him no. He brought sixty four other dollars in his possession; he said he could get four shillings and sixpence and five shillings a piece for them in Swallow street; but the person to whom he applied had gone out for change of a fifty pound note, to make a purchase of them. We purchased the sixty four dollars. I saw him in custody with in three or four days after this, I knew his person. PETER PERRY. I am a conductor of the patrole of Bow street. Col. Jervoise applied to me to take this man into custody; I don't know any more than Col. Jervoise has told you. I went to three several places, and collected these witnesses. I found these things in his lodging; I found all these things the Col. Jervoise has told you of; I know no more, I found no dollars on the prisoner's person, and he had but one shilling on him when I searched him. Prisoner's Defence. I was in my working clothes when the Colonel spoke to me; I lived six years at Carlton House , and then General Bloomfield got me a place as an officer of the Woods, and then that office ceased, and I was out of employ; and Col. Jervoise spoke to me, and asked me if I was out of employment, and I told him I was, and I shewed him my papers that he might see the respectable situations. I had been in, and he gave me a direction to call at his hotel in Bond-street, and I went to his service as clean as any servant ever went to any place, and as for their saying I was shabby it is no such thing. There is the Colonel, and I will leave it to him to say whether I was or not. I had been paid for my work in Spanish dollars, and went to lay them out where I was well known; and as for this old man, Myers, I did not lay a halfpenny out with him. I purchased the things of his son. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 41. William was listed as being 31 on the Irish Convicts records website - found no records of him in NSW.

108

Nell Murphy on 14th June 2016

William Riordan was convicted at Middlesex Gaol 1816. Life sentence. Transported to New South Wales, Australia on the 'Almorah' 1817. Bricklayer; aged 31yrs. Native place - Cork Co. Ireland.