John Silvester

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Phil Hands on 23rd September 2017

Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t18150621-40 720. JOHN SILVESTER , and NATHANIEL EWER , were indicted for feloniously stealing on the 17th of June , six charts, value 9 s. 6 d. one pen machine, value 6 s. 6 d. one mill-board, value 4 d. one hundred and seventy four bound books, value 5 l. 12 s. and one hundred and twenty other books, value 6 l. 7 s. the property of Messrs. Hearn and Benton. JOSEPH HEARN . I keep the King's Arms Inn , Snow-hill, Mr. Benton is my partner . I lost these things on Saturday the 17th; they were sent from my inn to go to Hull; they were sent to the Axe, in Aldermanbury, in order to be forwarded thither. JOHN WESTON. On Saturday the 17th, I drove my cart from my master's, the King's Arms, in Snow-hill, to the Axe, in Aldermanbury at which place I had to deliver three articles. I found it impossible to drive my cart up the yard as it was full of waggons and carts. I accordingly took the bundle and went up the yard with it. When I returned, the prisoner Ewer was at the tail of the cart; I took the second, and went up the yard with it. When I came back, he was in the same place; on my return after delivering the third, I missed the parcel containing the articles named in the indictment; I received information that the prisoners had taken the parcel out of the cart. Immediately I saw the prisoner run out of Phillip-lane, and make his way along Addle-street. A gentleman stopped him; I went up to him, and made him, go along with me. Going back again, up Phillip-lane, I saw a great crowd; Johnson the officer was there, he had arrested the other prisoner. I am sure Ewer is the person I saw at the tail of the cart, and who was afterwards running away. I never saw the other prisoner until I saw him in the custody of Johnson. Cross examined. Other persons might have taken this bundle out of the cart, and I might have been none the wiser. When I met the prisoner Ewer in Phillip-lane, he went with me very readily. BENJAMIN JOHNSON . I am an officer. On Saturday afternoon I was standing talking to two gentlemen in Phillip-lane; when I saw the prisoner Silvester with a heavy parcel on his back, and Ewer close behind him with his hat off; scratching his head, and wiping it, as if in a prespiration. I immediately laid hold of Silvester, and Ewer ran away. When I laid hold of Silvester, he tried to throw the bundle on me; I turned it off and held him tight. I requested the gentleman to go after Ewer; I had plenty to do to secure Silvester; he made very great resistance. Both the prisoner's were talking when I first saw them. WILLIAM WATTS . I am a porter to Messrs. Hill and Parkinson, in Snow-hill. I was in Aldermanbury opposite the Axe; on saturday the 17th. I saw this cart standing at the gate of the Axe, as it could not get up the yard. I saw a man take a parcel out of the tail of the cart. I don't know that it was the prisoner Ewer; I saw two men come down in possession of the officer, I don't know that one of them was the same man that I saw take the bundle. John Weston . The man who was standing at the tail of my cart, was dressed in black. Ewer's Defence. I am an articulator, I am employed to put skeletons together at St. Thomas and the London Hospitals. I had been to St. Thomas's Hospital; and as I was coming down Phillip-lane, I saw a great crowd, and two gentleman run after me; I never was near the tail of this man's cart. The pupils are all out of town, or I might have a good character. Silvester's Defence. I am a sea-faring man. I acknowledge my fault in taking this bundle out of the cart; but this man is quite innocent, for I never saw him before in my life. SILVESTER GUILTY . EWER GUILTY . Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder.

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Phil Hands on 23rd September 2017

Tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 21st June 1815 for stealing 6 charts, 1 pen machine, 1 mill-board, 174 bound books, and 120 other books, the property of Messrs. Hearn and Benton, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Left Portsmouth on 23rd January 1816. Ship:- the 'Atlas' sailed with 194 male convicts on board of which 7 died during the voyage. Arrived on 22nd July 1816. On 16th June 1832 at Richmond, John married free settler Harriet Hall, she was born at sea ('Mary Anne' 1816), the daughter of convict Thomas Hall, 'Ocean' 1816 & his wife Sarah. John and Harriet had 3 children between 1833-1839. John died on 27th August 1840 at Richmond age 57. Harriet then lived with convict Robert Biggs ('James Pattison' 1837), with whom she had 5 children between 1842-1848.