Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 2 researchers who have claimed John Mawson
- Researcher (Brian Wills-Johnson)
- Researcher (5473)
|
 |
Biographies
On 1 March 1819, convicts John Mawson and Frances Johnson petitioned the Governor for permission to marry. Macquarie, eager for all those who had formed connections to contribute to the orderly future of society by marrying, assented. Frances Johnson had arrived in the Lord Melville in February 1817 with a seven-year sentence for stealing. In October 1818 she gave birth to a son, William, who was a six-month-old infant at the time of the petition, and quite possibly Mawson’s son.
Mawson had a considerable record. He was first tried at the York Castle Lent Assizes on 19 March 1814. The charge stated that John Mawson, 31, of Ripon in the West riding, bricklayer, had stolen half a bushel of wheat, four bushels of unwinnowed wheat and two barfen tops in October 1813, from a barn at Bishop Monckton. He was fined one shilling and sentenced to eight months’ hard labour.”
We can assume that John Mawson served his time, but if he was out after eight months he was back in trouble again just a few months later. On 22 February 1815 he was charged with several counts of theft and once again appeared at the York Castle Lent Assizes, this time on 11 March 1815 before justices Sir Alexander Thomson and Sir Simon Le Blanc, the latter no doubt unimpressed to see him again in the dock. James Briton Esq., who was the Mayor of Ripon, was the case justice. This time the charge read:
“John Mawson, 32, late of Ripon in the County of York, bricklayer, committed 22nd of February 1815, charged upon oath of James Rowell of Ripon aforesaid, dealer in bacon and others, with having in the night of 25th December past, or early in the morning of the 26th of the same month feloniously stolen, taken and carried away from the warehouse of the said James Rowell, situate at Ripon aforesaid, one side of bacon and eight hams, the goods and chattels of Francis Bulmer and company, of the City of York, bacon factors, of the value of four pounds and upwards.
“The said John Mawson also stands further charged upon the oath of William Burnett, overseer of the poor of the township of Aismunderby with Bondgate, in the liberty of Ripon, on suspicion of having along with one John Dunhill, on the night of Saturday 31st December, or early in the morning Sunday 1st of January last past, feloniously broken open a certain shop of the said William Burnett in Bondsgate aforesaid, and adjoining his dwelling house and stolen, taken and carried away certain goods and chattels, to wit, an oak box belonging to the township of Aismunderby with Bondgate aforesaid containing the town books and papers, and a quantity of copper monies of the value of forty shillings and upwards the goods and chattels of the said William Burnett, as overseer of the poor of the township aforesaid.”
This time, he was sentenced to transportation for seven years. He arrived on the Ocean on 30 January 1816. He was 32 in 1819 - about six years younger than Frances Johnson, if this record is accurate - but for some reason there is no record of the proposed marriage having taken place, at least so far as the usual records can help. Nonetheless Frances took his name and on 8 June 1821 Hannah Eleanor was born to John Morson (sic) and Frances Morson, and was baptised in the Church of England on 1 July.
Any hope Frances had of establishing a stable life in the colony were to be dashed, however, when disaster struck her and her young family. She was just four months pregnant with Eleanor when John Mawson died, on 19 February 1821, and was buried from St Philip’s Church two days later.
Submitted by Researcher (Brian Wills-Johnson) on 20 September 2015
|
Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/2, p.242
|
