David Sinfield

116

Tony Beale on 12th October 2021

Old Bailey Online 659. DAVID SINFIELD was indicted for stealing, on the 10th of May , at St. Matthew, Bethnal-green, one gelding, price 5 l. , the property of George Jonathan Burnham . GEORGE JONATHAN BURNHAM . I am a chymist and druggist , and live at Bedford. I lost a dun-coloured gelding, thirteen hands high, off New Close, Carlington, near Bedford , on the 9th of May, or early on Wednesday morning, the 10th - I was in London at the time, and received a letter to say it was gone. I heard of it being gone on Wednesday evening the 10th, I had seen it safe on the 7th, about ten o'clock in the morning, and found it on the 16th, in possession of Shearman, in Church-street, Bethnall-green. I am sure it is mine. I know the prisoner by sight, and have seen him repeatedly at Bedford. EDMUND REEVE . I am clerk to Messrs. Pearce and Son, Surry-street, Bedford. On Tuesday, the 9th of May, about seven o'clock in the evening, I saw the horse at New Close. I knew it before. I have seen it in town since, and am sure it is the same. I do not remember having ever seen the prisoner. I missed the horse on Wednesday morning, about seven o'clock. I was in the habit of going there morning and evening, as my pony was in the same close. I found the gate taken off its hinges. I looked round to see if the horse had got out at any gap, but could not perceive it had. Bedford is fifty miles from town. JAMES SHEARMAN . I live at No. 178, Church-street, Bethnal-green. I have the horse now in my possession. I bought it of the prisoner, Sinfield, on the 10th of May, about two o'clock in the afternoon - it was tired, and very lame - it appeared to have come off a journey. I asked where he brought it from - he said from Newton, in Buckinghamshire, and that he bought it a little after Christmas; he asked seven guineas for it - I was to give him 4 l. 15 s. I asked him several times where he brought it from - he told me so many different stories, therefore I suspected him, and did not pay him. He said his name was David Toms , and that his father and uncle were farmers at Newton. I asked him to refer me to somebody in town who knew him - he said he was going to Chequer-alley, Bunhill-row, for some things his father had left there. I asked him to take me there, he said he could not, as he was in a hurry to go into the Borough. I said I would not pay him unless he went with me to Worship-street Office - he went willingly. When he got there I mentioned the circumstance to Garton and Armstrong - they detained him. The prosecutor and Reeve have seen the horse. THOMAS GARTON . I am officer of Worship-street. On the 10th of May Shearman brought the prisoner to me and Armstrong; he told me his name was David Toms , that he came from Newton, and he bought the horse at Leighton, in Buckinghamshire, about Christmas. I asked him whom he bought it of - he said he did not know the man. I then went and made enquiry in Twister's-alley, returned to him, and said your name is Sinfield, he said, it is. I then asked how many weeks it was since he bought it - he said he hardly knew. I said was it two, three, or four; he said "It is five weeks ago, and the man's name was Coster that I bought it of, and I gave him 5 l. for it; I do not know where he lives." I detained him, and advertized the horse. Prisoner's Defence (written). My Lord, and Gentlemen of the Jury - I have been completely brought into his most serious charge by my inexperience and ignorance; I was bred in Layton, in Bedfordshire, and at the age of fifteen was with my uncle, working at his business, until he was obliged to give it up. I was determined to come to London for work, and when I was within ten miles of town I saw the horse standing at the door of a public-house, and whilst I was looking at him the owner, as I supposed, came out and asked if I would purchase him? I enquired the price, and was informed it was 5 l. Thinking that it would not only help me on the road, but likewise I should make something by him on my arrival in London, I bought it. In Church-street, Bishops-gate, a person asked me if it was for sale, I answered it was, and then agreed about price, &c.; he then questioned me, and asked me to go to Worship-street to receive the money, which I did, without any hesitation, believing he was actually going to pay me the money in lieu of which I found he had brought me to the office, under the consideration of my having stolen the horse. GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 20. Recommended to Mercy by the Prosecutor. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Bayley.

116

Tony Beale on 12th October 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Granted 20/5/1848 Margaret Jackson (or Lyons) 40 Bond (life) per ship Princess Royal to marry David Sinfield 47 C.P. (life) per ship Dick Rev B Lucas Watson Penrith BDMs Marriages 219/1848 V1848219 3B SINFIELD DAVID JACKSON MARGARET MW (Penrith)

David Sinfield was 20 years old when indicted for stealing one gelding, value 5l., the property of George Burnham. 8/7/1822: Woodcutter for Govfernment House. On return of proceeding of the Bench of Magistrates, Parramatta. 24/6/1823: On list of prisoners transported to Port Macquarrl per 'sally', also listed as Singfield. 181/6/1824: On monthly statement of changes in the convicts at Rooty Hill Station; from Prisoner's Barracks Sydney; Listed as Saintfield. 16/6/1860: Died, aged 59, buried at St Mary's Penrith. David may have married Margaret Jackson, in 1848, Church of England, Penrith. As Margaret Sinfield she visited the Penrith Dispensary 4 times in 1854 and 1855 for rheumatism and dysentry and a painful leg. Margaret died in 1855 aged 57. I could find no children.