Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org,)
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t17911026-32?text=Benjamin%20Carver
BENJAMIN CARVER was indicted for feloniously assaulting Thomas Knowles, D. D. on the King's highway, on the 16th of September 1791.
Court record: Mrs. SARAH UNDERWOOD sworn.
I was in the chaise with Dr. Knowles, my father, when he was robbed; the first notice I took of the prisoner, was his presenting a loaded pistol, and demanding my father's money, and said distress had brought him to do it; my father offered him one guinea, and asked him if that would do; he said it would not; he rapped at the shutter three times with a very bright new pistol to appearance; upon that my mother let down the blind, and my father gave him a guinea; he said he demanded the money; he said distress had brought him to do it; upon which my father offered him a guinea; says he, will that do for you? no, says he, it will not do, for distress has brought me to it, and I must have the other; my father gave him the two guineas and the purse, and desired he might have the purse back again, which he had; and my mother gave him a purse, which I did myself; he never offered to rob me; I could not help looking stedfastly at him the whole time, I could not help it; he had a blue great coat on; and his person, and every thing, has been in my mind ever since, and I could describe the person of him in my sleep; he had a blue great coat, and a dirty-coloured silk handkerchief round his neck, like that one I have seen him pull out just now; he was three, four, or five minutes with us; my father talked to him, and parleyed with him in that manner.
Dr. THOMAS KNOWLES sworn.
I was robbed the 16th of September; I was going towards Finchley church, on a Friday, in the parish of Finchley , between three and five, I suppose it might be about four; I was in a post-chaise; my wife and daughter were with me; we were stopped by the prisoner; I did not know him before; I met him just before, on the other side of the great road; I took notice of him as a suspicious person; soon after, he followed the chaise, and called to the servant to stop; the sun shone bright; the green blinds were up; I saw him before through the front glass; on letting down the blinds, he presented a pistol towards Mrs. Knowles, and demanded our money; I gave him a purse with two guineas, which he took out, and returned the purse; Mrs. Knowles gave him a small purse, which was found on him when he was taken; this lasted but a very few minutes; he said he would not ask for our watches, but touched his hat, and went off; he behaved civilly, not one bad word; I believe he was taken directly, in Barnet; I saw him about an hour after; I was agitated, and I could not recollect him; but presently after I could describe his dress exactly; he had a blue great-coat on when he robbed me (and so he was taken), a linen waistcoat, I remember the sprig of it particularly, with little sprigs at the edges; I particularly wondered he should have a great coat on, it was a very hot day.