Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

John Mitton aged 18 and two older men accosted a 13 year old Henry Meason, robbing him of a canvas bag full of watch parts. He was sentenced to death which was commuted to life.
Old Bailey transcript 13 Jan 1790:
WILLIAM DAMANT, ROBERT READ, and JOHN MITTON were indicted for feloniously assaulting Henry Meason on the king's highway, on the 19th of December last, and putting him in fear and danger of his life, and feloniously taking from his person, and against his will, a canvas bag, value 6 d. a base metal watch case, value 12 s. a watch spring, value 5 s. a black string, value 1 d. and divers other watch cases, springs, and movements, the property of John Wentner.
The case opened by Mr. Silvester.
(The witnesses examined separate.)
HENRY MEASON sworn.
I am a going of thirteen; I live with Mr. Wentner in the Minories, a watchmaker : I was going by my master's orders to Mr. Phillips in Cherry-tree-alley ; I was met by the three prisoners about one at noon, and two of them took the bag from me by force, they did not speak to me; and the other, the boy, got behind me, and held me fast round the shoulders, while the others took the things out of the bag, and turned it topsy turvy; and they picked the things up and put them in their pockets and ran away: Mrs. Stubbs was the first person that came to my assistance; one John Sharp gave them me to carry to Mr. Phillips: these men were not taken up till a good while after; this boy was taken directly; Mr. Matravers the constable stopped him; I am sure that was the boy: after the prisoners were taken, I saw them at Justice Blackborough's, I am sure they are the men; I am equally positive they are the two men.
MARY STUBBS sworn.
I live in Cherry-tree-alley, Golden-lane. On the 19th of December, I remember the witness Meason was at my door; we happened to go out, and we saw a little boy holding him; that is the boy, the prisoner, and the other two, they were pulling of the bag, but they ran away; there were things on the ground when I went out of the house; before I could see what they did; the child had not power to cry thieves, but he cried murder; I called to Mr. Matravers, and said here is a robbery; he got the little one, and the prisoner Milton presented me a watch case, with a string and seal, that was within ten minutes of the time as nigh as I can guess; he would have given it to the constable; but the constable ran by him and would not receive it; it was a watch case, with a string and seal; I gave it to the constable, his name is Matravers; I saw Mitton once go down our alley, never before, he gave me the watch case to give to the boy that was robbed; he said so, and he came after me to my own door, and said he, d - n it, or d - n you, (I do not know which) I will see that you give it him; and away he went.
How came you to take it? - I took it from him, and gave it to the child that very instant, within ten minutes of the robbery; the boy remained with me all the time; we took care of him, for fear the rest should be gone.
Court. At the time the prisoner Damant was holding Meason up, was the bag taken out of Meason's hand? - I do not know.
Was the things separate about, after the time you saw the prisoner Damant hold the boy in his arms, or after? - They were upon the ground when I went out.
JOSEPH WRIGHT sworn.
I saw William Damant hold Mr. Wentner's boy, till Robert Read pulled the bag from him; I am sure of it, and when he loosed the bag, he made off; I pursued after him directly, and I could not overtake either of them; I am sure Read is the man; Damant had hold of the boy, that I am sure of.
Court. What became of the bag afterwards? - I do not know.
HANNAH GROVES sworn.
I live at Cherry-tree-alley; I went to the door to see what was the matter, and the first thing I saw, was that little boy had hold of the other boy, and the other men took the bag from him; him in the blue coat, though he had a green coat on then; and the boy I know, but the other, Mitton, I cannot swear to; when they got the bag from the boy, it was thrown down in the alley, and the things were all about; him in the green coat took a watch case, and after that he turned back again to the place; the watch case was tied with a black ribband and a seal to it; then he turned back to Mary Stubbs .
Had he remained in the alley all the while? - No, he had been some distance from the place and came back again; I cannot say how far he went; I am sure he is one of the men that pulled away the bag.
JAMES HOOD sworn.
I am an apprentice to a a watch case maker; I saw the little one keep the lad, the while the other men were picking the property up; I am sure they are the same men, I knew them by sight before.
THOMAS MATRAVERS sworn.
I am a constable; I live the corner of Cherry-tree-alley, on Saturday the 19th of December, at one o'clock, I was coming home, and going to knock at my own gates; I am a cow-keeper; I heard murder cried in my alley; if it had not been murder cried, I should not have looked out; we run, and at the bottom of Anchor-street, I took Damant, and brought him back to the place where the robbery was committed: the lad said, that was the boy that held him, while the other men robbed him; the things were about; I said give them to me; there was one silver case; a young man met me; I cannot swear to him: says he, Sir, I have the property; but I could not catch the thief; I said give it to the proprietor, and he gave it to Mrs. Stubbs; it was offered me by one of the thieves that robbed him; I do not know who it was that offered it to me; afterwards I received these and all the things from Mrs. Stubbs; there was some property found in Anchor-street.
To Mrs. Stubbs. Look at that watch, is that the watch? - This is the same.
The Boy. This is the same case, the glass is broke.
Court. When did they get the bag out of your hands? - About one o'clock; Damant laid hold of my arm before they got the bag from me; then he got hold of me.
- SHARPE sworn.
I carry on the manufactory business on the part of John Wentner ; I delivered these cases to the boy to carry; these are the things I gave to Mason to carry out; they are the property of Mr. Wentner; there were a many more things in the bag; two implements to make dials.
WILLIAM BIRD sworn.
I only apprehended the prisoners Mitton and Read.
PRISONER DAMANT's DEFENCE.
My lord, I was not nigh the place; I was just come from my father's; I was coming down Golden-lane, and this man took me back to the place, to the boy, and the boy directly said, I was one.
PRISONER READ's DEFENCE.
I live in Grubb-street, and three officers came and took me out of the room; I knew no more about it than a child unborn.
PRISONER MITTON's DEFENCE.
I was coming through Cherry-tree-alley; and I saw the boy crying, and there were a parcel of watch materials laying on the ground; and two men ran away; and one of them dropped a watch case; and I picked it up and gave it to the woman, and desired her to give it to the boy that was crying.
The prisoner Mitton called three witnesses who gave him a good character.
WILLIAM DAMANT (Aged 11) ROBERT READ (Aged 19) JOHN MITTON (Aged 18)
GUILTY, Death.
The prisoner Damant was recommended to mercy by the Jury.
Court. As far as the boy's life goes, I mean to interpose, but it will be no interest to him or the publick that he should remain in this country.
Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice BULLER.
______________________
Old Bailey transcript 13 Jan 1790:
The Trials being ended, the Court proceeded to pass Sentence as follows.
Received sentence of death, (13) viz.
ANN Jackson, William North, Peter Shalley, ton, William Jones, John Durham, William Damant, Robert Read, John Mitton, William Miller, John Cummins, Asher Pollock, Mary Talbot .
______________________
Old Bailey transcript 8 Dec 1790:
Punishment: No Punishment > pardon; Transportation
William Moss , Ann Jackson (she desired her child might accompany her: the Court referred her to the Secretary of State): William North , William Damant , Robert Read , John Mitton , John Cummins , Asher Pollock , Mary Talbot , Joseph Phillips , Thomas Alexander , Henry Jones , alias Denton , James Betts , George Cooke , Thomas Dickson , Elizabeth Asker (seven years) William Slaughter , Thomas Brown, alias John Brown, alias ton , William Burbidge , Joseph Biggs, alias John Page , James Sullivan , Thomas Dunckley ,

John Mitton, transported on the ship 'Albermarle' January 1791 (Third Fleet).
Details: Sentence details: Convicted at Middlesex Gaol Delivery for a term of life.
Vessels: Active, Albermarle, Atlantic, Barrington, Britannia, Mary Ann, Matilda, Salamander and William and Mary.
Date of Departure: January 1791.

The ship Albermarle arrived in the colony 13 Oct 1791

They don't appear to have formally married. They were still using their separate surnames in the St John's baptism register when christening their estimated 4th child Keziah in 1810. No likely birth registrations either before or after that year can be found.

"...The humble petition of John Mitton Constable at Toongabbee District
Most humbly sheweth
That Your Excellency's petitioner has been upwards of eighteen years in this colony is constable for the District of Toongabbee has a wife and three children.
That in consideration of petitioners having been in the employ of Government ever since his arrival his good conduct during the above period and family his Honor the late Lieut. Governor was pleased to give petitioner a grant of fifty acres of land for tillage which was measured by the Acting Survayor [sic] in the district of Minto the deeds of which your petitioner learns is not yet been made out.
Your Excellency petitioner therefore most humble prayes that in consideration of the circumstances above mentioned Your Excellency will be graciously pleased to confirm the said grant of fifty acres of land to petitioner and your Excellency Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray.
January 28 1810"

Mitten, John, 56, absolute pardon, Albermarle, 1791, life, Protestant, settler, Airds
Mitten, Catherine, 48, free by servitude, Speedy, 1799, 7 years, Protestant
Mitten, Sarah, 22, born in the colony
Mitten, Kesiah, 18, born in the colony
Mitten, John (Jun), 15, born in the colony
Mitten, Joseph, 11, born in the colony
Mitten, William, 8, born in the colony
Mitten, Elizabeth, 4, born in the colony

Name: John Mitten
Death Date: 1853
Death Place: New South Wales
Registration Year: 1853
Registration Place: Campbelltown, New South Wales
Volume Number: V18531857 39B

John Mitton
BIRTH 10 Aug 1771
London, City of London, Greater London, England
DEATH 13 Nov 1853 (aged 82)
Campbelltown City, New South Wales, Australia
BURIAL
St Peters Anglican Church Cemetery
Campbelltown, Campbelltown City, New South Wales, Australia
MEMORIAL ID 182474549