Joseph Ward

Level 338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 9th December 2024

** Ship; SCARBOROUGH. Convict Indents. ** dd noted in column next to his name - could indicate he died date unknown Trial; 9 September 1787 in the Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 Name Joseph Ward Death Date 1790 Death Place Sydney, New South Wales Registration Date 1790 Registration Place Sydney, Australia Volume Number V1790240 4

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 9th May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 09 May 2020), July 1787, trial of JOSEPH WARD (t17870711-54). JOSEPH WARD, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 11th July 1787. 612. JOSEPH WARD was indicted for feloniously assaulting Richard Hamlin , on the king's highway, on the 9th day of July , and putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and feloniously taking from his person, and against his will, two guineas, and two half guineas, his property . RICHARD HAMLIN sworn. I am a victualler in St. Martin's Lane, No. 49, I was robbed on the 9th of July, about a quarter after one, on Hillingdon common , which is on the Uxbridge road; I saw the prisoner, I thought him to be a shepherd, or farmer; he was among a flock of sheep; I was on horse-back; the prisoner was without boots, mounted on a bald faced horse; he came nearer and nearer towards me; I was walking my horse very gently, and I looked back and saw the man behind me; I knew his face, he lived near me some time; I little thought of being robbed; it did not strike me at the time where I had seen him, but I knew his face perfectly well; presently I saw a pistol clapped to me; the prisoner said your money; I was very much surprized at being robbed at that time of day; there was a gentleman's carriage not three hundred yards off; says I, you do not mean to rob me, do you? I was not frightened at all; yes, says he, your money in a moment, and he held up the pistol; I told him I had very little money, I had been seeing a friend in the country, and did not carry much money, but if he must have it, I would give it him; I had two guineas, and two half guineas in my pocket; I thought I would divide the spoil with him, and Igave him one guinea and one half guinea; he said you have more money than this, and I said I had not; he said you are a liar, for I heard it chink in your pocket; that he might to be sure, because I heard it chink myself; he said, give me all you have; then I gave him the other guinea and a half, and as soon as he received the other guinea and a half, he turned his horse, and went to the common again; the horse was a small horse, about fourteen hands high, very remarkable, white face, two white feet behind, and lame; I then had some little hesitation in my mind what to do; I was better mounted than him a good deal; I thought I would pursue him; I stood consulting about three or four minutes, and I pursued him, and when I got off the heath, there were four or five roads; I pursued him in the wrong road, I almost killed my horse; the prisoner went to the further part of the heath, where there are roads to Drayton, and one to the Bath road; I left particular information of him, I said I should know him again among a thousand men; I then pursued him till about five; I found I had totally lost him; I got into the Bath road, there I was informed by the stage he was gone to Bath; I went to town, and laid an information before Sir Sampson, and that night he was taken; I saw him at Sir Sampson Wright's the next day. When you saw him at Sir Sampson's, did you see him in company with other people? - There were five and himself brought in a coach to the door, and the moment I went to the door and saw him, I knew him, and said he was the man; he was dressed as he is now; I believe he had the same coat on when he robbed me, but his hair was not tied. How long might the time be that you saw him on the heath? - The moment I came on the heath I saw this man among some sheep; I suppose he was twenty minutes in my sight; the heath is a mile long, and he did not rob me till he got almost to the end of it; he had a round hat on; I saw two guineas, and two half guineas at the office, but I could not swear to them. Mr. Knowlys, Prisoner's Counsel. The time the prisoner was doing this fact, could not be more than three or four minutes? - I should suppose not. As to the other time, it was when you saw him at a great distance? - I suppose when I saw him first he was a quarter of a mile from me. Now I take it for granted, that when you was at Sir Sampson Wright's, they told you they believed your man was in custody? - Yes. Therefore you expected to see some man that might be like your man? - Yes, if I were put in a room with a thousand men I could find him out. Did you take any particular notice of his dress? - Not much, I know he had nankeen breeches on, and white stockings. JAMES JACQUES sworn. I am a groom to the duke of Northumberland; I was at Mr. Wheeler's, on the 9th of July, the Monday, I had information that a man had been robbed; Mr. Wheeler keeps the Coach and Horses the other side of Brentford; when I had the information, I pursued him to town; I saw him just by the four mile stone on this side Turnham-green, rather of this side the four mile stone. How was the man dressed? - In a round hat, and a greenish coat, without boots, and with white stockings; I kept behind, and pursued him into London; the horse was a little bay horse with two white heels behind, and a whitish bald face; he went into Mr. Jacob's yard, Portland-street, to get off his horse. What condition was the horse in, was he fresh? - No, he seemed to me to be tired; he was going away, and I asked him where he lived; he told me No. 5, Ogle-court; as soon as he told me he set off running; he got off his horse in the yard and left it; he ran away, I called stop thief; he was stopped, and I took him; hewas never out of my sight; he ran against another man, and they tumbled down together, and I caught hold of him directly. What time was this when you first saw him? - It was between eight and nine; when I first saw him it was between seven and eight. THOMAS DALTON sworn. I am an officer of Litchfield-street; I was in Portland-street, going down, when the prisoner was in custody of the last witness; he had not been searched; I went to No. 5, in Ogle-street, and I found he did lodge there; he said himself that he lodged there; in searching the lodgings I found nothing material; I searched the prisoner, and I found nothing upon him, but a purse and some money. Mr. Knowlys. You are an officer? - Yes. You have attended here several times? - Yes. You know as well as I do, that hearsay evidence is no evidence? - Yes. You know what reward there is in this case? - Sir, certainly, as well as a Counsel knows his fee. JAMES FINN sworn. I am a servant to Mr. Jacobs of Portland-street; the prisoner at the bar came to me on the 9th of July, between nine and ten in the morning, to hire a horse to go to Mitcha, and he returned between eight and nine into the yard. What horse did he take with him? - A bay horse with a bald face, and two white hind legs: Do you know what business he follows? - No. THOMAS LEE sworn. I am a constable; I was with Dalton, and seeing a mob of people I went down; they said they had a highwayman; I went in and we searched him; I believe there was money and the purse, and these spurs; they have not been in my custody. Prisoner. I leave it to my Counsel. Mr. Knowlys. I have a good many witnesses to his character. The prisoner called four witnesses, who all gave him a good character, and said he was a butcher in Oxford-market. GUILTY , Death . He was humbly recommended to mercy by the prosecutor. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. ROSE. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. HO 47/9/12 1789 June 24 Letter from James Adair, Recorder of London, enclosing reports on 36 convicts. Adair also states that he has just resigned ('the Court of Aldermen having this day accepted my resignation'). The letter is a response to a letter to Adair, Recorder of London, from Whitehall urgently requesting reports in response to 36 petitions [wanting] on behalf of 33 convicts tried at the Old Bailey. Some of the report requests had 'been made upwards of a year ago, no answer has been made to any of them'. The judge lists A. nos. 1 to 13 to be recommended for mercy, and B. 1-23 [HO 47/3/13] were spoken of as not recommended to mercy [however, some appear to have successful on earlier occasions: see B. 14, 15 and 18]. 14. Joseph Ward, convicted at July sessions in 1787, for a highway robbery on Richard Hamlin and stealing 3 guineas. Grounds for clemency: prisoner had been armed with pistols but was not violent and an earlier report had resulted in his life being spared. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: transportation for life.