ROBERTS John Arthur
| Name | John Arthur ROBERTS |
| Country Of Origin | England |
| Born | 1808 |
| Died | 1885 |
| Birth/Baptism | Born approx. 1808, Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Parents | |
| Apprenticeship | |
| Skills | Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Silversmith |
| Work Locations | Hobart |
| Street Address |
Liverpool Street, Hobart |
| Marriage/Spouse | Wife Mary and three children, London |
| Trial | 30 December 1840, Kingston upon Hull Quarter Sessions, Yorkshire |
| Sentence | Seven years transportation for fraud, obtaining money under false pretences, and practising illegally as a barrister at Hull. Held on the Justitia hulk before departing England. |
| Arrival | 21 May 1842 on the convict ship, Isabella (2) |
| Police Number | 4869 |
| Convict Assignment | 1844: Mr Robe, watchmaker, Liverpool Street, Hobart. |
| Ticket of Leave | 27 April 1847 |
| Conditional Pardon | |
| Other | 1841: According to London newspapers, it was believed John was a native of Reading, and his real name was Robinson or Robertson. The result of his trial brought more severe matters to light: ‘At the time of his apprehension, several watches, plate, and jewellery were found in the possession of the prisoner or a female with whom he cohabited. It now appears they are both implicated in circumstances connected with the murder and robbery of Mr Westwood, the watchmaker in Prince’s St, Soho, either as accessories to the crime or at least as possessors of some of the stolen property. Inspector Beresford of the metropolitan police arrived in Hull prior to the sessions. In the event of Roberts having been acquitted, was ready with a warrant to apprehend him on the above charge. His being convicted renders that proceeding unnecessary, and Inspector Beresford returned to town with some of the watches, a large case of jewellery, and several miscellaneous articles found at the lodgings of the prisoner’s late female companion. His trial occupied seven hours, in consequence of his long and irrelevant cross-examination of the witnesses and addressing the jury for nearly an hour in his assumed character of a barrister!’ One year probation: Impression Bay. |
| Death | 19 August 1885, New Town Pauper Establishment, recorded as a 77-year-old clockmaker, born in England. |
| References | |
| TAHO: CON33/1/20, CON18/1/31, CON14/1/14, RGD33/1/7 no2915 Birth 1859 [Robarts], RGD35/1/10 no2585 Death 1885. Web: Ancestry: England & Wales, Criminal Registers 1840; United Kingdom Prison Commission Records 1840; Prison Hulk Register, Justitia, 1837-1844; Founders & Survivors convict database. Bell’s New Weekly Messenger 10 January 1841 [British Newspaper Archive]; Tasmanian Times 15 August 1868. |
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