Gentleman John Smith
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Gentleman John Smith was an English man who was convicted and imprisoned for theft before being transported to Australia as a convict, twice.[1] In Australia he later became a police official, serving as chief constable of Newcastle in New South Wales.[1]
He was born James sidbottom in Manchester in 1787.[2] At 20, he was arrested for stealing stocking and sentenced to seven years transportation.[2] it is not known how he travelled back to London but he is again arrested and In 1809 he took the name John Smith.[2]
Convict life
He was sent to prison hulks at Portsmouth on 18 December 1809.[2] He traveled on the ship Indian which arrived in Port Jackson on 16 December 1810.[2] On 16 December 1811 he was reported as absconding from Eber Bunker at Georges River.[2] He stole and then sold tobacco from a warehouse, but was found not guilty on the lesser charge of stealing from a warehouse.[2] In 1861, he was accused of lighting a fire to defraud Liverpool and London Fire and Life Insurance Company.[3]
He went to Newcastle for penal settlement.[2] He was sent on the Lady Nelson from Parramatta on 8 July 1815. In 1817 he was appointed Chief Constable of Newcastle.[2]