George Roberts

221

D Wong on 6th August 2020

Old Bailey: GEORGE ROBERTS. Theft: pocketpicking. 9th January 1822 Verdict Guilty Sentence Transportation GEORGE ROBERTS was indicted for stealing, on the 17th of December, one watch, value 4 l., one seal value 4 s., and one key, value 6 d., the goods of Mark Reed, from his person . MARK REED. I am a haberdasher, and live at Aldgate. On Monday night, there was an overdriven ox in the street; I went to the door to prevent the people breaking the window, the prisoner, with several others, came up to the door, saying, "Take care, here he comes;" the ox was coming. I received a blow on my shoulder, and immediately felt my watch being drawn from my fob. I put my hand down to protect it, it had not got out of my fob; I caught hold of my watch, the prisoner drew it through my hand, by some means or other. I touched the outer case, which came off, and he made his way through the mob with the watch - it was about six o'clock in the evening; I pursued, and as I passed through the gang, I received a blow on my side, which took my breath away, till I got about six houses off. I then cried Stop thief! I was only a few yards from him, keeping my eye on him, and crying Stop thief! He was turning up Black Horse-yard, and was stopped - I never lost sight of him from the time he took the watch, till he was stopped. At the time he was seized, I received another blow on my head - the watch was picked up in the kennel, a few yards from him, I am certain of him. Prisoner. Q. How could you swear to me - A. He looked me full in the face before he took it. CHARLES HARRISON. I am a cheesemonger, and live in Lime-street. I was in Aldgate , about six o'clock in the evening, near the Black-horse, public-house, and heard the cry. About three minutes after, I saw the prisoner running down the middle of the road, a gentleman seized him - I heard something rattle on the pavement, and upon looking, saw the watch about four yards from where he was stopped, without the case, the prosecutor claimed it. WILLIAM BILLETT. I am a tea-dealer, and live in Charlotte-street, Whitechapel. On the 17th of December, I was coming up Hounsditch, and called at the Blue Boar-yard, Aldgate. I heard the cry and ran out, seeing the people running and at the corner of Black Horse-yard, I saw the prisoner seized, and saw him throw the watch out of his right hand, it was picked up. ROBERT HESKETH. I am a day patrol. I saw some persons knock Mr. Reed down, about a minute before the prisoner was secured; the person who knocked him down was crying Stop thief! I took charge of him, when he was stopped, and the case was given to me. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I heard the cry, and happened to go out of the way, they caught hold of me. GUILTY. Aged 17. Transported for Life. George Roberts was listed as 19 years old on arrival. Place of Birth: Shoreditch. Occupation: Fish Boy George was 5'5½" tall, brown hair, hazel eyes, scar on first joint right forefinger, several pockpitts on face. Father: Edward Roberts. 1830 Muster: Assigned to Mr. R. White 1832 Muster: TOL 1833 Muster: TOL 30/4/1832: Permission to marry Mary Ann Sullivan (Sovereign 1827). 25/6/1832: Married at St. John's, Launceston. George had a TOL, Mary Ann a convict - both signed with their marks. Children: Jane Roberts, b. 1841, d. 1929. Catherine Roberts, b. 1827, d. 1909, Buried in Hamilton VIC. Edward Roberts, b. 1831, d. 1893. George Roberts, b. 1835, d. 1858. James Roberts, b. 1836, d. 1921, Buried Port Fairy. Francis Roberts, b. 1838, d. 1920. Thomas Roberts, b. 1843, d. 1908. John Roberts, b. 1845, d. 1928. 12/11/1834: CP 22/7/1845: CP extended to the Australian colonies. Arrived in Victoria C1847/8 1/11/1879: George Roberts died at Hamilton, Victoria. 8/11/1879 Hamilton Spectator, Victoria: A very old resident of the district, Mr. George Roberts, expired on Saturday last at Hamilton, whither he had gone to consult one of your medical men, and have an operation performed upon him for some internal complaint from which he had long been suffering. The old man was 78 years of age, and was well known throughout this neighbourhood as a hard-working and reliable resident. He had a large family of sons, all of whom are settled around Belfast as farmers. The funeral took place on Sunday, the body being interred in the Yambuk cemetery. (Mary Ann Roberts died 30/3/1873 of cancer, she was also buried at Yambuk.