A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12, part 3

 Transcription of A Battle against the odds, chapter 12, part 3

More About John 

 
Remarkable and interesting facts about John emerge from perusal of the records. He could read and write and he was a Catholic both rare at that time and place. He was 5 ft. 8 ins, In height, dark sallow complexion, dark brown hair and dark eyes. Another description said his eyes were black.

Another Newgate Inmate

 
William Cobbett, the great reformer, who was later a member of Parliament and a force in the introduction of the 1838 Reform Bills has been a prisoner in Newgate shortly before John Smith. Cobbett was an admirer of the farmers and farm labourers, especially in Essex. Coincidentally one of the judges who sentenced Cobbett, Lord Ellenborough Chief Justice of England, was the same judge who heard John's case and passed sentence of death upon him for attempting to steal a mirror valued 4 Pounds. If John had not heard of Cobbett before he most certainly would have heard some talk about him in the nine months or so he waited in Newgate (2 months awaiting execution and seven months awaiting transportation.

The late Mary Gwyther (nee Smith) a descendent of Robert Smith (b.c 1837) lived most of her early life in Nelson. <NB my note Mary Gwyther was a daughter of Thomas Smith, first son of Robert and Cecilia Hession) Although we had not mentioned Cobbett to her she told us she remembered "old folks" saying that "old John Smith used to read books by William Corbett (sic) " . She also said this caused concern as they believed John would be in the trouble if the authorities found out although it is doubtful anyone after the 1830s regarded Cobbett as subversive. However, in Australia at that time there could have been a real danger for a "ticket of leave" man caught reading such books.
Incidentally Robert was the last of John and Mary's children to die. He lived in a neat cottage at Blind Road, Nelson and it was Robert who rode on horseback to fetch a priest for his dying father in 1866. Although not academically qualified he was "a recognised authority on matters veterinary".

Transcription of A Battle against the odds, to be continued