1832? – Estimated year of birth.
1841 – David Cartman, aged 7, is living with his father Richard, an agricultural labourer aged 35, his mother Ann, aged 55, his brothers Albert and Reuben, aged 10 and 5, and his 1-year old sister, Harriet. They live on the moor at Saxilby, Lincolnshire.
1855 – 2nd August – David Cartman steals a horse from West Common, the property of Charles Rumble, before stealing a saddle and bridle from his employer; both of which he tried to sell.
1855 – 9th August – David is committed to Lincoln Gaol.
1855 – 9th August – Extract from the Nottinghamshire Guardian – At the Newark Fair on Thursday last, a man was apprehended by police-constable Baker on suspicion of having stolen a horse, which he had been offering for sale in the fair at a price considerably below the real value of the animal. He had previously given the name of David Carter, but on being apprehended he stated his name was John Driggins, and that he resided at Carlton, near Nottingham. In consequence of the contradictory statements made by the man he was taken to gaol to afford time to institute enquiries. During the afternoon of the same day Superintendent Stephen Hardcastle, of the Lincoln police, arrived at Newark in search of a saddle and bridle which had that morning been stolen. The saddle and bridle found in possession of the prisoner were shown to him, and he at once identified them as the property he was in search of. The prisoner was handed over to him and on the following morning he was taken to Lincoln for examination. It turns out that the prisoner’s real name is David Cartman, and that the horse was stolen from Mr C. Rumble, while grazing on Lincoln Common. The saddle and bridle were the property of Mr. Drury, of Saxilby with whom the prisoner had lived as farm servant. He was taken before the Lincoln magistrates on Saturday, but was remanded to Thursday next to allow time to mature the evidence.
1855 – 10th August – Extract from the Lincolnshire Chronicle- A man, named David Cartman, late in the service of Mr. Drury, of Saxilby, was brought before J. Snow and T. Wetherell, Esqs., at the Lincoln police-court, on Saturday last, charged with stealing from the West Common a grey mare, the property of Mr. Charles Rumble, butcher, of Lincoln. It appears that the prisoner, after stealing the mare, took it to Saxilby, and there stole a saddle and bridle belonging to Mr. Drury. He then rode the animal to Newark fair, and offered it for sale, and while so doing his conduct excited much suspicion that the police, who had received information of the robbery, questioned him as to the possession of the mare, and his answers being very vague and unsatisfactory he was taken into custody. Prisoner first said the mare was his own, and that he had brought her from Nottingham; then that he had brought her from Carlton, and afterwards that he got her from off Lincoln Common. He made an attempt to escape from the officer, but did not succeed, and both he and the mare were taken to Lincoln, where the animal was identified as Mr. Rumble’s property. While in the lock-up he attempted to break out of his cell, but, failing to accomplish that object, he tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with his neckerchief. Luckily it gave way, and the noise he made in falling caused Mr. Ashton, police-inspector, to go into the cell, when the above discovery was made, and strict watch kept upon him. He made no defence to the charge, but a remand being necessary for the production of further evidence, the magistrates adjourned the case until yesterday (Thursday).
1855 – 13th October – David Cartman, a 23-year-old farm servant, was sentenced at the City of Lincoln Michaelmas Sessions, to 4 years in Prison for stealing a horse.
1855 – 19th October – Extract from the Lincolnshire Chronicle – David Cartman, 23, was charged with stealing a mare from the West Common, on the of 2nd August, the property Chas. Rumble.—Mr. Adams conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Flowers.—The prisoner rode the mare through the Collingham gate on the Midland line, and was apprehended at Newark with the mare in his possession.— Mr. Flowers set up that a man treated the prisoner with some rum, and got him to ride the mare to Newark, and that the man bolted directly when he saw the police-officer apprehend the prisoner.—Guilty: four years’ penal servitude.
1856 – 4th January – David Cartman transferred to Millbank Prison, his prisoner number is 1789. He is described as having imperfect reading and writing, good behaviour despite a note in the Governor’s Journal, and is the last prisoner selected to go to Pentonville.
1856 – 23rd May – Removed from Millbank Prison and transferred to Pentonville. He is given the prisoner number 6760 and is described as exhibiting good behaviour.
1857 – 6th April – Received at Portland Prison and given new prisoner number, 6942. He is described as having no previous convictions, that his master gave him a good character reference, he is in good health and his next of kin is his father and living at Saxilby near Lincoln.
1859 – 3rd May – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 31.
He is described as having a sallow complexion with brown hair and hazel eyes and his height is 5’6 1/2. He is noted as stopping when he walks and being a Protestant. In terms of identifiable marks, a scar on his left eyelid amidst the eyelashes.
1859 – 12th October – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.
1860? – Estimated year David marries Martha Lyon.
1861? – Estimated year of birth for daughter Mary Ann Cartman.
1861 – David Cartman, aged 27, is working as an agricultural labourer and living with his wife Martha, aged 26, and their daughter Mary aged 2 months. They live in Saxilby, Lincolnshire.
1871 – David Cartman, aged 37, is working as a stone mason and living with his wife Martha, aged 36, and their daughters Mary, aged 10, and Susannah aged 6. They live in Whiston, Lincolnshire.