Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
John Watts was transported on the Martha, departing 18th Aug 1818 and arriving 30th Dec 1818 with 175 passengers.
410 Ton, Transported male convicts from Ireland. Register of persons on the ship are currently being listed - incomplete records to date.
Martha (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict database by Peter Mayberry. |
Claims
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Convict Notes
CARRICKFERGUS—THURSDAY, MARCH 19. . _HIGHWAY ROBBERY. . . Daniel M‘Carroll, John Watt, and James M'Kane, were indicted for the robbery of John Sheals, at Deardiville, on 14th February last. John Sheals said, his house is 3 miles from Colerain; having occasion to go to Colerain to purchase groceries, he employed the prisoner McCarroll to take him and his wife there on his car on 14th February, the market day ;he had 33£ but he received some money in Colerain, in all above 40£ which he put into a pocket-book, and that into a secret pocket inside his waistcoat ; McCarrol knew what money he had, and where be put it; they left Colerain about five … coming away he saw the prisoners Watt and M‘Kane talking to McCarrol, Watts with a stick in his hand; they are both his neighbours: McCarrol's car was loaded, and he and his wife walked before the car turned off the high road about three …. home, .and soon after, without hearing & foot or a voice, he was knocked down ... when the man who attacked him seized his thumb in his mouth, while with one hand he took hold of witness by the neckcloth to choak him, and with the other he pulled out his pocket-book ; his coat and waistcoat were buttoned ; the other man was employed in … him with a stick ; the prisoner McKane is the man who took his pocket-book, and Watt attacked his wife with the stick ; after the two men went away, his wife found a stick on the ground which he knew to be the one that he saw in Watt'’s hand in Colerain, (the stick was here shewn '} which he identified) his wife also found a piece of an old coat ; he was very much hurt, .. for some time. - o'clock ;it was moon-light ; M‘Carroll was within ... yards of him when he was attacked ; shouted to him that he was robbed ; but did not tell him that he knew who robbed him, as he believed him to be one of the party; McCarrol drove on with his car and did not offer to assist ; witness had a small bottle with whiskey carrying—it fell into the shough behind him, and on rising he found it whole and carried it home ; McCarrol drove the car to witnesses house and left the goods there ; several neighbours came to them on the road. Ann Sheals, wife to last witness, said, she was in Colerain on 14th February with ber husband, and on their return they were knocked down and robbed ; identified Watt and M Kane as the 2 men who robbed them ; Watt abused her ... she found a stick on the spot which she saw Watt have in his hand in Colerain’;(identified it) she was pulling Watt, from off her husband, when a piece of his coat was left in her hand. ... . she saw Watt's face ; told no person that day or next that she knew who had robbed them ; she told Mr. M+Naghten, when she swore the informations, but she did not then swear that she that she saw their faces, ….. that they verily believed the robbers were Watt and M‘Kane, ' and McCarrol aiding. .... The learned Judge summed the evidence, after which the Jury retired for some time, returned with a verdict, finding M‘Carrol not guilty,- Watt and McKane…. Belfast News-Letter, 20 Mar 1818.
1839 - 5 Sept. Ticket of Leave. 39/1765 Place of Trial; Antrim. March 1818. Sentence; Life; Allowed to remain in the district of Bathurst C.P. Dec 1847 -
New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 Age; 22. Offence; Highway Robbery
I AM NOT SURE WHICH JOHN WATTS THE FOLLOWING RELATES TO: Colonial Secretary Index. WATTS, John. Per "Martha", 1818 1819 Jan 4 - On list of convicts disembarked from the "Martha" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.245) 1822 - Servant to Roger Connor of Wilberforce. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3229; 4/1868 p.37) 1825 Feb 19 - On list of convicts transported to Port Macquarie per "Amity" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.506-7) --------------------------------------------------
Irish Convict database by Peter Mayberry. John Watts, age 23, per Martha (1818), tried at Antrim, 1818, Life, native of Magherafelt Derry Co., Stable boy, DOB 1795.