John Drew (bef. 1786)

Born before 14 Jul 1786 in Llanbadarn-fawr, Radnorshire, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Unknown) Drew — married about 1812 in Radnorshire, Wales [uncertain]

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Ballard [send private message]

Biography

Baptism

Date : 14 Jul 1786

Place: Llanbadarn Fawr, Radnorshire, Wales

John son of John & Keziah Drew^[1]

Marriage

Date : Before 1812

Place: Unknown

Arraignment

Date : 29 August 1837

Place: Chester Spring Assizes, Chester, Cheshire, England

APPREHENSION OF A HORSE STEALER --- On Saturday last {26 August 1837} Mr. Hill, the Superintendent of the Chester Police, conveyed a man named John Drew, alias Thos. Bachelor, before Colonel Ince, a county magistrate, on a charge of horse stealing. It appears that the prisoner offered the horse in question on sale to a Mr. Oulton, near Tarporley, who suspecting it was not honestly obtained, detained the man, and Mr. Hill was afterwards communicated with on the subject, when he soon found the horse to answer the description given in the Hue and Cry, of one stolen from the premises of the Rev. D. Winstone, Vicarage, Leintwardine, in Herefordshire, on the 19th ult. but three days before that on which it was offered to Mr. Oulton. Mr. Hill in consequence wrote to Mr. Winstone, and that gentleman came to Chester on the receipt of Mr. Hill's letter, identified the horse as his property, and also the prisoner as the man whom he had seen about three months ago near his house; the Rev. gentleman had known the prisoner before, for seven years ago he lived as a farm servant in his neighbourhood; and when he left the county he stated that he was setting out for America, but it is supposed that he has since been traversing the county with stolen horses. We are informed that with the horse in question, so thoroughly acquainted is he with the country, he had not passed through a single turnpike, and thus eluded pursuit. He was fully committed to our county gaol for trial at the next assizes.^[2]

Trial

Date : 31 March 1838

Place: Chester Spring Assizes, Chester, Cheshire, England

John Drew, was next indicted for stealing a gelding on the 19th of August last, the property of Rev. David Whinstone, of Leintwardine, in Shropshire. The prosecutor stated, that the horse in question was in his possession on the 19th of August last. On that day he delivered i to his servant, to take to grass. A boy named Harris, deposed that he received the horse from his master, and placed it in the field. On the next morning, he had occasion to go to the field, but found the horse was missing. Previous to this time he had frequently seen the prisoner , who was working as an harvest labourer, in the neighbourhood, On one occasion prisoner had asked him if the horse was a good one, and witness replied it was not such a good one as some people had, but that it suited his master's purpose very well. -- Mr. Houghton, a butcher and farmer stated, that he lived near Tarporley. On the 22nd instant prisoner came into his yard leading a horse, and enquired the road to Runcorn. Witness then said he wanted a horse for a friend, and asked Drew whether the one he had with him was to be disposed of. Prisoner replied, he would sell it for £16. but Mr. Houghton told him that he could not have been at any market lately. or he would not have asked such an enormous price, for the horse was not worth half that sum. After some further conversation, it was arranged that prisoner should pay £7 for it, but witness's suspicions being created, he took him to the Bell and Lion public-house Tarporley, and having sent for a police officer, he was given into custody. Prisoner then said he had bought the horse from a person named William Jones, of Llansaintffraid. and had lately sold three others, but on being searched only two guineas was found in his pockets. Prisoner was then taken to prison, and the horse having been shown to Mr. Whinstone, that gentleman recognised it as the one he had lost. -- The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to 10 years transportation.^[3][4]

Hulk

Date : April 1838

Place: Justitia, Woolwich, Kent, England

John Drew; aged 51; Horse Stealing; tried at Chester 31 March 1838; sentenced 10 years; married; read & write; Agricultural Labourer; Not Known to Gaoler; sent to NSW 19 July 1838^[5]

Transportation

Embarkation Date : 8 August 1838

Embarkation Port : Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Ship : Earl Grey 2

Destination: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Arrival Date : 21 November 1838

Second convict voyage under the command of James Talbert and surgeon Alex Nisbet. Carried 290 male convicts of whom two died en route.^[6]

John Drew was a convict after the Third Fleet.

Bequest

Date : 4 May 1839

Testator: John Drew his father

First I give Devise and Bequeath to my son John Drew all that messuage Tenement and Lands called Woodhouse situate in the Parish of Llanbadarnvaure in the County of Radnor and after his decease I give and Bequeath the said Messuage Tenement and Lands called Woodhouses to my Grandson Thomas Drew and his heirs and assigns for ever.

Certificate of Freedom

Date : 9 June 1849

Place: Port McQuarie, New South Wales, Australia

John Drew, aged 53, Farmer/Shepherd born in Radnorshire. Transported aboard the Earl Grey 2 to New South Wales.^[7]

Sources

• WikiTree profile Drew-277 created through the import of FULL.GED on Jul 10, 2011 by Paul Ballard. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Paul and others.

1. ↑ Llanbadarn Fawr Parish Register
2. ↑ Chester Courant 1 September 1837
3. ↑ Chester Courant 10 April 1838
4. ↑ England & Wales Criminal Register Class: HO 27; Piece: 74; Page: 336
5. ↑ Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books; Class: HO9; Piece: 13
6. ↑ Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Grey_(1835_ship)
7. ↑ New South Wales Archive TL 43/2849