Stephen Tool

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 15th August 2021

Conduct Record. No; 258 Transported for “Stealing a Silk Handkerchief in a Dwelling House 1835 - Convict Muster. No; 258. Absconded - 1827 1853 - Struck off Record. Alphabetical Registers of Male Convicts. (CON23) No; 258 Height; 5 Ft 7 in Hair; Brown. Eyes; D. Grey Age; 17. Trade; Errand Boy Native Place; Surry

341

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2021

National Archives. Albion 1823. Surgeon’s Medical Journal . ADM 101/1/8B/11823 Folios 5-9: List of 200 convicts embarked on board the ship from HM hulks Leviathan and York, 8 May 1823, (names and details follow), also includes gaoler character references (not recorded below): Folio 5: Stephen Tool, aged 16, convict, trade labourer; born London, offence, stealing; date of conviction 11 September 1822, where convicted, Old Bailey.

221

D Wong on 19th June 2014

Old Bailey: STEPHEN TOOLE, Theft > burglary, 11th September 1822. STEPHEN TOOLE was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Scott, about eleven o'clock in the night of the 29th of July, at St. Margaret, Westminster, with intent to steal, and burglariously stealing eighteen handkerchiefs, value 2 l. 10 s., his property. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 16. Recommended to Mercy, by the Prosecutor and Jury, on account of good Character. Stephen was 17 on arrival, he was 5’7” tall, brown hair, dark grey eyes, scar left corner of mouth, ST MT on left arm, pricked ring finger. 14/11/1825: Hobart Town Gazette: Saturday last, a bale of slop clothing was stolen from the wharf at the Commissariat's store, to discover "which, 'we believe, a clue has already been found. On the same day, Mrs. Pearce of the Joiner’s Arms Inn, whose suspicion had been excited by hearing the voice of a man named John Turner, standing alone near a window of her house opening to the garden, as if in conversation with another, went round the house, and on looking through another window of the same room, in which the baggage of Mr. Bickford, lately arrived by the Mountaineer, had been placed, discovered his companion, named Stephen Tool, busily engaged tying up a large bundle of clothing, every trunk and package was open and his bag stuffed full o' silver spoons and other articles of plate. She immediately called Mr. Pearce, who burst open the door and had nearly secured the villain when he broke away, closely pursued along Liverpool-street, where running into a shop, under pretence to buy some article, he evaded his pursuers. He was, however, secured next day. 21/1/1826: Hobart Town Gazette:We are sorry to learn that Stephen Toole, who robbed Mr. Bickford, at Mr. Pearce's, escaped from gaol yesterday morning. We are authorised to state that a Reward of Twenty Pounds will be given for his appprehension. 28/1/1826: Stephen Toole, the thief who escaped from gaol last week, was apprehended next day 'near the Black Snake. He is now on his way to Macquarie Harbour, onboard the Waterloo. 17/3/1826: Hobart Town Gazette: Last month, Stephen Toole, William Humpage, and George Clay, 3 notorious, characters, absconded from the Penitentiary, and met a watery grave. The body of Clay was picked up some time after with some fish-hooks tied round his neck. Two others, John Allways, and Charles Bond also absconded from the main and were met by the blacks, who there show a very hostile disposition, and were put to death with spears and stones in the most barbarous manner.