Highway robbery in Mile End read this account of George Collingwood's involvement. You can forward to all other cases involving the Collingwoods up to 1908, i bet some are related ?
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Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery: Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
Related Material: Ordinary's Account, 19th December 1733
+ This is not that Jack-the-Hatter who was convicted of several Felonies in September last.
The Prisoners pray'd the Witnesses might be examin'd a-part, which the Court granted.
Samuel Maxwell . On Thursday, November 22, about five in the Evening I went with my Master, Mr. Wilmot, to the Globe at Mile-End; I expected to meet a Man with whom I had some Business to do, but he not coming, I told my Master, I thought there would be no Occasion for me to stay. My Master telling me I might do as I would, I concluded to go, but having received some Money at Stepney, I thought it would not be safe for me to venture over the Fields with it alone, and so I left 26 l. with him, and came away about six a Clock; but recollecting that I still had 7 l. 10 s. in Moidores and Silver, I put it into my Side-pocket for the better Security. Coming into White-horse-lane I was met by three Men, one of them, which I think was Baxter, pass'd me, and bid me good Night, but presently turn'd back again, when one of the others, in a red Coat, with a thick short Stick in his left Hand and a Pistol in his right, bid me deliver, and swore he had seen me put Money in my left Side-pocket; I gave him the Silver, but not the Moidores; then he demanded my Watch, I told him it was a Family-Watch, and I hop'd he would not take it from me. Why then, says he, you may keep it; go forward, and say you are well us'd. So we parted, and I return'd another Way to my Master at the Globe, and told him and Mr. Collingwood, who was with him, what had happen'd. I staid with them there about three or four Hours, and then we all three came away together. We took Links with us, and coming to the same Place where I had been robb'd, we saw two Men running towards us; For God's sake, says one of them, have a Care, Gentlemen, we are frighted out of our Wits; we met a wild Bull, and thought the Devil was coming for us. As they look'd like loose Fellows, Mr. Collingwood ask'd them if there had not been a Robbery there that Night? They said, they had not heard of any. I thought I knew them again, and taking hold of one of them, whose Name is Macdonald, I told him he was the Man that robb'd me. The other was Baxter, and him my Master and Mr. Collingwood took Care of. We carry'd them to the Sun Tavern at Stepney, where we search'd them, and found a large Fowl upon one, and two Chickens upon t'other. We provided them with separate Lodgings for that Night, - the Watch-house and the Round-house. I saw Macdonald next Morning, and then he confess'd that he was the Man who took my Money, and said, as he us'd me well in giving me my Watch again, he hop'd I would let him be an Evidence.
Thomas Wilmot . My Clerk left me and Mr. Collingwood at the Globe between five and six, in order to go home, but in a little Time he return'd again, and told us he had been robb'd; he stay'd with us till about ten, and then we went away together. In the Field we met Baxter and Macdonald running as if they were frighted out of their Wits. They said they had met a mad Bull; we charg'd them with the Robbery, and carry'd them to the Sun at Stepney - Baxter confess'd.
George Collingwood . Going over the Fields with Mr. Wilmot and his Clerk, two Fellows came running along, and crying out, Lord have Mercy upon us! - O Lord! - a mad Bull! - the Devil! - has frighted us out of our Wits. I thought they look'd like a Couple of Rogues, and the Prosecutor said, he believ'd they were the Men that robb'd him, and so we made bold to secure them both.
John Macdonald . I and the two Prisoners went out together upon the Account. We call'd at the Globe, at Mile-End, where we saw the Prosecutor taking some Money out of his Pockets, and so we went out, and watch'd him, and as he came over the Bank,
Baxter. You know what a vile Fellow you have been. You was an Evidence against Stockings, and Wi I have Witnesses to prove I was in another Place when this Robbery was committed.
Elizabeth Johnson . I lodge at Edward Rook's, and I know that the Prisoner, John Rook, was at home all Day on Thursday, the 22nd of November.
The Jury found them Guilty . Death .
Spencer Collingwood (my son)
May 26
to me
George was the brother of a John Collingwood. I'll dig out what I've got in morning. I have Johns will which mentions George and William as sons/brothers. Will check