Thomas Till

342

Maureen Withey on 29th November 2022

TWENTY POUNDS REWARD.—Whereas, on Sunday Night last, or early on Monday Morning, the undermentioned Prisoners made their Escape from His Majesty's Gaol at Sydney, by breaking through the Wall thereof; the above Reward of Twenty Pounds will be given for the Apprehension of the said Prisoners; or a proportionate Part for any of them:— Michael Haggarty, Thomas Smith, Edward Abrey, George White, John Doyle, Thomas Rourke, commonly known as Slasher, Thomas Till, Thomas Fox, John Sears, John Carr, and Bryan Dunn. Sydney, 11 April, 1820. JOHN JAQUES, Jailor. The following have since been apprehended:— Thomas Smith, George White, Thomas Fox, John Sears, Bryan Dunn, and Thomas Rourke. Sydney Gazette, 15 Apr 1820. COURT OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.—MONDAY.— Thomas Till and Michael Haggerty, tried on a charge of stealing 17 sheep, the property of John Blaxland, Esq. Haggerty pleaded guilty ; and was repeatedly exhorted by His Honor the Judge Advocate against persisting in the plea ; in the affirmative to which he replied as often as challenged. Till pleaded not guilty ; and was acquitted upon the first count, for stealing, but found guilty upon another count, charging him with aiding, assisting, and abetting in the robbery —Both remanded for sentence. Friday. This morning the prisoners convicted on capital charges were brought before the Court to receive sentence.— These unhappy creatures were nine in number ; viz. Michael Haggerty and Thomas Till, for sheep-stealing ; … Sydney Gazette, 25 Mar 1820.

342

Maureen Withey on 26th April 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. TILL, Thomas. Per "Elizabeth", 1816 1816 Oct 11 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Elizabeth" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.183) 1817 Nov 20 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; listed as Sill (Reel 6005; 4/3497 p.145) 1818 Jun On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 p.65) 1818 Jun 9 On list of prisoners sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6006; 4/3498 p.275) 1818 Sep 10 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.38) 1820 Apr 13 Escaped awaiting transportation to Newcastle and still at large (Reel 6007; 4/3501 p.340) 1820 Apr 13 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3501 p.341) 1820 Jun 15-Aug 5 To be transported to Newcastle for 14 years. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.13) 1820 Sep 22 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.272) 1821 On list of convicts at Port Macquarie (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.346-7) 1822 Sep 23-Oct 21 Sentenced to death. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.69) 1822 Nov 8 Executed (Reel 6070; 4/1265 p.40) 1822 Dec 9 Executed member of a gang of notorious runaways & pirates from Port Macquarie. Re reward for those involved in the apprehension of the gang, recommended by the magistrates at Windsor (Reel 6053; 4/1756 pp.105-105c) ------------------------------------------------- Criminal Court. Charles Spratt, John Antonio, Henry Bridge, Daniel Clark, Felix Patshaw, Thomas Dwyer, George Hasler, and Thomas Till were indicted for stealing a whale-boat, the property of the Crown, from the Settlement of Port Macquarie ; and John Doyle, for aiding, assisting, and promoting the said felony. The prisoners had been either sent from Head-quarters to Port Macquarie, or from Hunter's River (Newcastle) to that Settlement; which fact, together with that of absconding on the night of the 25th of August, in a whale-boat, was clearly proved. In substantiation of this crime we hasten to give the evidence of the approver, Michael Doras ; who, after solemn admonition from His Honor the JUDGE ADVOCATE, proceeded to state as follows :— He said he was one of those that effected their escape from Port Macquarie in the boat ; that the design had been planned, at the instance of the prisoner Daniel Clarke, about three months before ; in whom was vested the title and authority of Captain. It was the intention of the Commander to make Cape Barren, and then to increase the size of the ship, by rising upon her. Three weeks provisions had been provided for the voyage ; and, till the evening of departure arrived, the oars, &c. were secreted on the premises of the prisoner, John Doyle. Being prepared, they put to sea, viz. the eight prisoners at the bar, Spratt, Antonio, Bridge, Clarke, Patshaw, Dywer, Hasler, and Till ; leaving, in their haste to set off, the latter prisoner Doyle behind. The number that had designed to embark upon this wretched expedition, amounted to twenty-five ; about 15 being fortunately unprepared. The sail was manufactured from a hammock and two blankets. About two in the morning the little bark got into the offing. When about 25 miles from Port Macquarie it came on to blow, and the boat was upset ; by this disaster nearly all the provisions were lost. The boat being built of light wood soon became rightened, and the voyagers put into land, where they remained till morning. They were compelled to mount the vessel upon their shoulders, and carry her for three miles along the beach, ere they could venture into the ocean again. In the evening they made the land, as the captain thought it most prudent to go coastwise. Upon this occasion, they had to cast anchor, it being impracticable to land on account of the natives, where they were confined for three days, owing to a north-west gale. After this Port Stevens was made, in which place 2 days passed away; from thence they glided by Newcastle, and reached Broken-bay in safety, nearly starved. The prisoner Till then advised, as he knew a settler of the Hawkesbury River, to make for that only haven, in order to procure provisions and other articles, to facilitate the primary object of reaching Cape Barren.— Having brought the prisoners, Doyle excepted, safe among the farm-houses upon the Banks of Hawkesbury, it is necessary to say, that some of the party became terrified with the dangers just escaped, and the privations endured, and burnt the vessel — the captain's only hope : and thus all expectation of effecting a further escape vanished. Some of the prisoners were apprehended, while others more prudently surrendered.— Notwithstanding the fact stated by the approver, and corroborated by a cloud of other testimony, two of the prisoners, viz. Dwyer and Hasler, wished to persuade the Court that they had actually walked from Port Macquarie! The whole of the above prisoners, together with a man, named John Finlay, were also charged upon a second count in the indictment, with feloniously entering the dwelling-house of Mr. Andrew Clink, settler at Portland-head, upon the 3d of September. Upon this charge all the prisoners were found Not Guilty. Upon the first count in the information, the prisoners were adjudged Guilty. Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 11 Oct 1822. ------------------------------------------------ Monday. This day, at one o'clock, the Court reassembled : and the various prisoners, who had been found Guilty during the sessions, but upon whom sentence had not been passed, were now brought up to receive judgment. Charles Spratt, John Antonio, Henry Bridge, Daniel Clark, Felix Patshaw, Thomas Dwyer, George Hasler, Thomas Till, John Doyle, and John Chaell, severally received SENTENCE of DEATH ! Sydney Gazette, 25 Oct 1822.

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Penny-Lyn Beale on 22nd August 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Copies of Letters Sent Outside The Colony, "Foreign", 1814-1856 Page 346 Name; Thomas Till Ship: Elizabeth No; 52 Where and by whom convicted. Sydney Criminal Court Sentence: 14 years Date of Conviction; 15 June 1820 Noted against his name; Ran with a Boat, tried by Criminal Court per same & executed 8 Nov 1822 ------------------------------------ Old Bailey Proceedings Online Born; 1791 Imprisoned; 1815 Tried: 5 April 1815 Transported; May 1816 April 1815, trial of THOMAS TILL THOMAS TILL, Theft > grand larceny, 5th April 1815. 554. THOMAS TILL was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 2nd of April , nine shirts, value 2 l. 10 s. three waistcoats, value 2 l. 10 s. a shirt, value 4 s. a pair of shoes, value 7 s. two handkerchiefs, value 7 s. a bank dollar, value 5 s. 6 d. the property of Richard Brisson ; a jacket, value 6 d. a handkerchief, value 1 s. and a bag, value 6 d. the property of Joseph Perrin . RICHARD BRISSON . I am a seaman , and the prisoner had been a seaman in the same ship also. I missed my things on Monday, the 2nd of April, my chest was brought on Sunday, and broken open on Sunday night. The prisoner was discharged from the ship on the Thursday before the Sunday; he had no business on board on that Sunday. ROBERT MARSHALL . I am a publican, I keep the Yorkshire Grey, Mint-street, in the Borough. On the 2nd of April, about ten o'clock at night, the prisoner called at my house, he asked me if I could give him a nights lodging; I told him no. He then asked me to take charge of his bag of clothes, and to lock them up; I took the bag. I after wards delivered the bag to May, the officer, at Union Hall. On Tuesday morning, Partridge, the officer, of Shadwell Office, came, and asked me if I had got any thing of a man of the name of Till; I told him I had delivered the bag to Mr. May. JOHN PATRIDGE . I called at the Yorkshire Grey, I there heard the prisoner was in the custody of May; the clothes I have got here were upon him, and the clothes in the bag, are the property that he had stolen. I produce them. Brisson. They are all my property. GUILTY , aged 24. Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.

80

Ann Marie Gould on 27th April 2020

8 November 1822 – Hanged at Sydney for stealing a boat at Port Macquarie