Abraham Thompson

342

Maureen Withey on 7th August 2021

Calendar. Abraham Thompson, charged with burglary the shop of Charles North, High Town ; ... Yorkshire Gazette, 20 Mar 1824. -------------------------------------------------- In illustration of our leading article of to-day, we hasten to lay before our Readers the following account :—On Friday last, about four in the afternoon, as the wife of Mr. John Crawley, a settler of Richmond, was returning from Sydney market with a cart, containing little sundries for domestic purposes, she was accosted by three men on the Richmond-road, about 4 miles from the town of Windsor. They stopped the cart, and demanded her money--- one placed himself at the horse's head, a second stood on the side of the cart, and the third leaped into the cart, who handed out the property to him that was nearest. Mrs. Crawley had only one of her children with her at the time, a boy of years old. As soon as they rifled the cart of its contents, Mrs. C. drove off at full speed, exclaiming she would have them yet; when one of the villains replied in the usual blasphemous manner. She reached home about sun-set, and informed her husband of all the circumstances attending the robbery. Upon a conference with some of the neighbours, they agreed to go in quest of the plunderers, with Crawley, and proceeded to arm themselves accordingly. At the hour of 3 on the following morning (Saturday), Crawley, Asbury, two Australians (the young Eatons), and a black native, named Richmond, set out ; and, on their way, called on another settler, named Robert Hall, who also equipped himself with arms, and joined the party. Soon after day-break they arrived near the Chain of Ponds Creek, on the Richmond-road, and beheld advancing towards them three armed men, with bags on their backs. One was in possession of a musket and bayonet; another had a fowling-piece; and the third a pistol and sword. Believing these to be the highwaymen, from the description given by his wife, Crawley and his party determined to attack them. A short man was the foremost; Crawley advanced towards him, commanding him to stop. He still kept on his pace without speaking; on which Crawley told him that he would blow his brains out if he did not stop, at the same time cocking and presenting his pistol. The man then brought his gun to the present, and both fired together. Crawley wounded him, but the other missed. His antagonist then turned the butt end of his piece on Crawley --- broke it, and ran off. He was pursued by Crawley and one of the Eatons, but unfortunately effected his escape. During this time Hall was attacking the stoutest man, who had a musket. They were within six feet of each other, and both fired together. Hall's musket took effect, but, by a dexterous movement, escaped the contents of the other's gun, which passed over his shoulder. Hall found that he was unable to stand against the ponderous blows from the man, who repeatedly contended for the point, though dangerously wounded, and therefore retreated behind some trees. After a short interval, the attack was renewed, when Crawley came to Hall's assistance, and they fought furiously. Eaton, returning from the pursuit of the little man by this period, succeeded in aiming a full blow at the desperado with his gun-barrel, which laid him prostrate. In the mean time, Asbury and the other Eaton had been busily engaged with the third ruffian. They also both fired, and after a most desperate resistance he was compelled to yield to superior force, from wounds and loss of blood. They were then secured and bound. The whole of the property stolen from the cart on the preceding day was found, with the exception of half-a-gallon of spirits, and half-a-gallon of wine. A cart was sent for to Richmond, and the two captured prisoners with their arms and spoil, were escorted to the Court-house at Windsor, by ten in the forenoon. Crawley received a severe blow on one arm, and was covered with blood. From the examination and confession taken before the Windsor Magistracy, it appears their names are, John Lomas, by the 5th Minerva, a runaway from Mr. Hovell's farm; Abraham Thompson, by the same ship, from the store gang at Sydney; and William Leddington, by the said ship, a runaway from Hyde Park Barracks---who escaped. Lomas was not expected to survive the day; and Thompson was also severely wounded on the head and back, but is expected to recover. They were all advertised as absentees. Too much commendation cannot be offered towards Messrs. Crawley, Asbury, Eatons, &c. for their magnanimous conduct in the transaction; which, we think, will effect more execution amongst these unfortunate and hopeless gangs, than all the sentences of death that ever were or might have been passed upon them.--- It is an event of that kind which must strike terror on the bare recital; and as these villains have no idea of systematically risking their lives, we must again beg to urge the necessity of travellers carrying arms ready to pop off at an instant's warning. Sydney Gazette, 31 March 1825. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. THOMPSON, Abraham. Per "Minerva", 1824 1825 Jan 12-May 28 Convicted of stealing in a dwelling house & putting in bodily fear. On return of prisoners convicted & sentenced by the Supreme Court (Fiche 3298; X730 p.5) 1825 May 25 Sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 p.9) 1825 Jul 13 On list of convicts transported to Port Macquarie per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; crossed out (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.526-7)