John Jacobs (c. 1766–?)
John Jacobs (c.1766- ), Samuel Selshire, and Richard McDonald were sentenced to death on 25 February 1784 at the Old Bailey, London, for highway robbery. They were found with two guns, and a stolen watch and 4 shillings. McDonald was hanged; the sentences of Jacobs and Seleshire were commuted to 7 years transportation on 12 April 1784. They were sent to the Censor hulk in September 1784 and embarked on the Scarborough for New South Wales in February 1787, arriving in the colony in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.
Jacobs left New South Wales on the Kitty in June 1793 and was one of the ex-convict seamen reported on board when the ship called at Cork in February 1794 en route to England.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 190
Additional Resources
- proceedings of trial, Old Bailey, London, 25 February 1784 (pdf)
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Selshire, Samuel (criminal associate)
Citation details
'Jacobs, John (c. 1766–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/jacobs-john-31344/text38743, accessed 14 September 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
c. 1766
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.
Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Key Places
Convict Record
Crime: highway robbery
Sentence: death
Commuted To: 7 years
Court: Old Bailey, London
Trial Date: 25 February 1784
(1784)
Post-transportation
Left the colony: Yes