John Welsh

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Maureen Withey on 15th November 2025

Nottingham Assizes.  All the prisoners sentenced to death were reprieved before the Judge left the town. … John Gibson, aged 21, and Richard Cobb, aged 28, for burglariously breaking open the dwelling-house of Geo. Nicholson, in Newark, on the ? of August last, and stealing sundry wearing apparel and money, the property of Wm. Nicholson, Gilbert Johnson, & Geo. Nicholson. —Gibson pleaded guilty, Cobb acquitted. The said John Gibson, John Welsh, aged 25, and Jas. Mackenzie, aged 24, for burglariously breaking into the dwelling-house of Stephen Robinson, West Bridgford, and stealing a cloak, table cloth, and other articles- All condemned ... Stamford Mercury, 23 March 1821.

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Maureen Withey on 26th October 2022

NOTTINGHAM ASSIZES. All the Prisoners sentenced to Death were reprieved. ... John Welsh and Jas. Mackenzie, for house breaking— Death. ... Northampton Mercury, 31 March 1821.

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Maureen Withey on 26th October 2022

NSW Convict Index. John Welsh, per Minerva, 1821, Ticket of Leave, No 42/1767. District, Port Macquarie; Tried, Notts. Ass.

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Maureen Withey on 26th October 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. WELSH, John alias CARTWRIGHT. Per "Minerva", 1821 1823 Jul 15 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.58, 414-5) ----------------------------------------------- 1823 Jul 15 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally" John Welsh, alias Cartwright, convicted by Wm. Cox, Esq. at Windsor, 21 June 1823, remainder of orig. sentence, trade, Mariner. Minerva (4), Native place, Nottingham, tried 16 Mar 1821, Life. Ran & sent to Moreton Bay per Amity 30 Aug 1824. -------------------------------------------------- Moreton Bay Convict Register. John Welsh, per Minerva, tried at Nottingham, 16 Mar 1821, Life, trade, Seaman. Volunteer 12 Sept 1826, Remainder of original sentence. Run 23 October 1825. Description: John Welsh, age 28, Native place, Nottingham, 5ft 2. ruddy comp, brown hair, hazle eyes, English religion. -------------------------------------------------- (Names in Margin: Wm. Smith; Thos. Mills; Jno. Longbottom; John Walsh) Port Macquarie, 18 Nov 1825. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that four Crown Prisoners (as per margin) arrived here this morning who state themselves to be deserters from the Settlement at Moreton Bay. They assert that they have been five weeks on the journey which they made nearly the whole way with in a few miles of the sea beach, they mention they crossed two very large rivers, besides many smaller ones; and some very large plains many miles in length, thus they give an account of their excursion however my opinion is that they have made their escape in a boat, I have therefore sent a Clark? Constable with a soldier as far to the north as Trial? Bay in hopes of being able to secure the boat if they have made their escape in the manner I suppose. I am glad in taking this opportunity of informing you for the information of His Excellency, that bush ranging at this station has entirely ceased the few who have absented themselves, to avoid work, being generally apprehended in a few days lurking, about to the northwest of the Settlement. From the Commandant, Port Macquarie to the Hon Sec. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that, since my writing to you on the 18th inst, respecting the four deserters at Moreton Bay, one of them, John Longbottom, has given a testimony that they seized the Barge at that settlement, having previous to their effecting this, committed a murder and used other violence. For the particulars of the transaction, I beg to refer you to the accompanying depositions which I have taken the liberty of enclosing to you, and request you will be kind enough to have forwarded to His Majesty’s Attorney General. I have thought it advisable to retain these men here until I receive instructions on that head. From the Commandant to Colonial Secretary. Deposition of Francis Bodenham. Taken before Captain Gillian, Commandant at Port Macquarie, 23 November 1825. Francis Bodenham, Gaoler at Port Macquarie being duly sworn, saith that on Sunday evening last I received an order from the Commandant to confirm the four deserters from Moreton Bay in separate cells, which in consequence accordingly did, - About eight o’clock the same evening one of them, John Longbottom knocked at his cell door and desired the watchman to acquaint me he wished to see me. - I immediately went to him, and he said, he suspected that this companions had been saying something about the circumstances of his escape, and that he might as well tell the whole himself. - He then said, he was one of five who belong to the Shingle Splitters at Moreton Bay, who had made an agreement with four of the crew of the Barge to make their escape. That they had secreted a part of their provisions and given a false information of their having been stolen by the Blacks, on which account they received from the Commandant more provisions, and a Soldier and two constables to protect them. - On a day appointed, the Barge came down to the Shingle Splitters with four of the crew, and a stock keeper found in the boat, whom they had rushed and whose musket they had taken from him, - as they drew near they gave a signal to the shore that everything was prepared, - upon this, he and the rest of the five at the Shingle Splitters, before the soldier and the constables knew what was the matter, seized the muskets belonging to them there, while the others immediately jumped on shore bringing the stock keeper with them. - They took possession of three muskets and a Bayonet that were on shore without striking a blow. - after this they knocked down the two constables and the soldier, and beat them until they could not stand, the soldier particularly, whose head was cut in a dreadful manner. - They then tied the whole of them to separate trees, the soldier, the two constables, stockman, overseer and Hutkeeper, and afterwards went to the boat and made the best of their way down the river, and on making the sea stood along the coast to the southward for three days, when they wrecked their boat in endeavouring to put in to obtain some water, and saved nothing from her but two muskets and a bayonet which were hidden at Point Plomer, where he could find them. - On receiving this information I (the Gaoler) went and reported it to the Principal Superintendent, but at ten o’clock the same night, Longbottom, again sent for me, and told me he had not said what was exactly right, and that he must tell it for he could not rest until he had done so. - He now said that the soldier was murdered, that a man whom they call Mills formerly Coxswain of the barge was the man who killed him; that he did it with a Bayonet, that the soldier, who was lying on the ground from his severe beating begged for his Life, but Mills with a horrid oath swore he never liked a red jacket in his life, and that he would now have his revenge on him, and that he gave him a stab in the breast which killed him instantly. (signed) Francis Bodenham. Sworn before me this 23 day of November 1825. (signed) M. Gillian. -------------------------------------------------- 23 Nov 1825. Runaway from Moreton Bay. Deposition of John Longbottom re escape and drowning. Account of John Longbottom. About five days before I made my escape from the settlement at Moreton Bay, myself, and John Walsh, Thomas Mills, William Smith, Lewis Lazarus, Robert Nixon, Thomas Donelly, Edward McGra and John Price, prisoners there, made an agreement to desert from it together; and on the Tuesday following, the Barge left the Camp to go down the river to the Shingle Splitters; on the way three of her crew, Lazarus, Donelly and McGra, seized a stockman, McWade, who was minding Government cattle there about a mile below the settlement, forced him into the Bush and brought him to the Shingle splitters, where I and Smith were waiting for them as had been agreed upon; when the boat came there the crew gave Smith and myself a signal that all was right. At this time the muskets of the soldier and two constables stationed at the Shingle splitters were outside leaning against the hut; the soldier and one constable lying down in the hut and the other constable outside; Smith and myself seized two of the muskets (standing guard over the other) cocked them at the soldier and constables, and threatened to shoot them if they offered any resistance; at the same moment the others jumped out of the Barge, and the whole of them, Walsh, Mills, Lazarus, Nixon, Donelly, McGra and Price came up to the hut, dragged the soldier out, and began to beat him and the two constables, and desired me to stand by and watch the overseer and the hutkeeper did not go away to give the alarm to the settlement, they said they would not hurt them, they would injure none but the soldier and the constables, who they most severely beat and kicked. After this, Mills said, “ I never liked a red coat (meaning the soldier) in my life, I’ll run the bayonet through him – which he instantly did, through the lower part of his breasts, and killed him on the spot. The soldier at this time was lying on his back from the severe beating ha as well as the constables had received with sticks and the butt ends of the muskets; and when Mills stabbed him, Smith said, “that’s right”. After this we tied all the others to separate trees, - the overseer, the hutkeeper, McWade, and the two constables. Mills took the Bayonet from Stanley the overseer, who had it given to him by ? for his protection against the blacks. The party that came down in the Barge, had a musket, they took from McWade, the Stockman; and we had altogether now, four muskets and two Bayonets; the soldier’s Musket and bayonet, the two constables muskets, McWade’s musket and the other Bayonet before mentioned. After we had tied them to the trees, we took all the Provisions we could find, and the whole nine of us got into the Boat and made the best of our way to the sea, which we reached the same evening. We kept at sea until the Saturday following, pulling and sailing, to the southward in sight of the land, under the direction of Mills who had charge of the Boat; the wind then blew so strongly from the eastward that we were afraid we should not be able to live at sea; in consequence of which we were obliged to beach her; in an attempt to do this she was dashed to pieces by a very heavy surf that was rolling in; and five persons, Lazarus, Nixon, Donelly, McGra and Price were drowned in endeavouring to make the shore; and our Provisions, the sails and everything outside was lost, excepting the two muskets and the Bayonets which are now produced to the court. We now made the best of our way to the Southward, and arrived here on Thursday last, six days after the loss of the Boat. When we came in sight of the Settlement, Mills said we had better come into it and give ourselves up; for it was probable that we should not be sent to Sydney by the first vessel, but ordered to work with the Gaol Gang from which we might be able to escape again. Mills was coxswain of the Barge a considerable time before he ran away. Of the nine that deserted from the Settlement, and myself and another (Smith) to the Shingle Splitters station. My reason for giving this information is, that I could not rest until I had done so; The other prisoners do not know I have made this confession. The Gaoler was the first person I told this to. Question by the Court – You have said you seized the muskets that were leaning outside a hut together; do you know how it was that the soldiers and Constables’ muskets were allowed to be so left there? - Answer by the Prisoner, The military and prisoners all live in one hut together; the muskets are generally left outside in the day time; The prisoners were in the habit of taking them for their amusement when they chose. The soldier, the constables and the working hands of the Gang, all sleep in one hut at the Shingle splitters. John Longbottom, X his mark. Sworn before me this 23 day of Nov 1825. ---------------------------------------------------