John Williams

53

Beth Taylor on 9th November 2019

John Williams (bc1782-?) (alias John Ambrose), Convicted: Gaol Delivery 20 Apr 1803 Middlesex [MDX ENG] 7 years; Transported per ship Fortune/Alexander, Arrived 1806 Sydney; Certificate of Freedom #1031 1803 - JOHN WILLIAMS, Theft > housebreaking, 20th April 1803. 366. JOHN WILLIAMS , alias AMBROSE , was indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Johnson , Ann his wife and Sarah Freeman being therein, about the hour of nine in the forenoon of the 24th of March , and stealing one great coat, value 10s. and a pair of gloves, value 6d. the property of the said John Johnson. JOHN JOHNSON sworn. - I live at Palmer's village, Tothill-fields ; my house was broke open on the 24th of March, while I was at breakfast; I went into my accompting-house and missed my great coat and a pair of gloves; I never saw it again till I saw it at the Police Office on Saturday the 26th; my wife and servant were in the house as well as myself at the time it was stolen; the door was not locked; he must have come in at the large gates, and gone into the accompting-house; I am sure the door was shut, but not locked. JAMES BLY sworn. - I am an officer belonging to Queen's-square. On Thursday the 24th March last, at nine o'clock, I met the prisoner with this coat under Mr. Johnson's house, going from Mr. Johnson's towards his own in Duck-lane; I suspected him, and asked him how he came by the coat; he said he bought it the day before of a Jew, and had given eight shillings for it; I felt the pockets, and asked him if there was any thing in them; he said no; I then took the gloves out, and put him into Tothill-fields bridewell; next day I heard that Mr. Johnson had lost the coat; I went to him, and he came and swore to the coat. (The coat produced and identified by the prosecutor). Prisoner's defence. I was going home, and bought the coat of a Jew, and gave eight shillings for it; going along the officer stopped me, and took me into custody, though I told him I had bought it. GUILTY, aged 20. Of stealing, but not breaking and entering. Transported for seven years. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line website www.oldbaileyonline.org) 1814 Muster: John Williams; Arrived per Fortune (2), Status: C (Convict); Occupation/Residence &c: Gaol Gang, Mustered at Parramatta; Victualling: On Stores (2811) 1815 - Elizabeth Barkworth (c1783-1859) (convict per ship Broxbornebury 1814) married John Williams by Banns at St Johns C of E, Parra on 15 July 1815 (John Williams, aged 26, Prisoner, arrived per Fortune, Abode: St Johns [Parramatta], Signed; & Elizabeth Barkworth, aged 28, Prisoner, arrived per Broxbornebury, Abode: St Johns [Parramatta], Signed X; married 15 Jul 1815, registered St Johns Church of England Parramatta by Banns by Samuel Marsden; Witness: Patrick Goughan, Signed X; Witness: Elizabeth Hobley, Signed X. Source: St John's Church of England, Parramatta NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 55-56 & V1815-1796-3A). [There does not appear to be any children born to the couple]. Before 1822 – Elizabeth Williams (nee Barkworth) left her legal husband John Williams and was living with Thomas Haynes in 1822 until her death in 1859. 1824 – John WILLIAMS alias Ambrose, received a COF on 29/09/1824. He had been tried at Middlesex GD on 20/04/1803 with a 7 year term & arrived in Sydney in 1806 on the ship Fortune (1). John was a native of Norwich, aged 42, a bricklayer, 5’4½” tall, fair ruddy complexion, brown hair & hazel eyes. In lieu of #1/1031 supposed to be stolen. (Source: SRNSW Convict Certificates of Freedom, 4/4423; Reel 601, #199/278) 1828 Census: No record found for John Williams. Death date not found in NSW records for John Williams. From the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on hookey5609@yahoo.com.au for further info