1834 R. Southey Doctor I. 159 Of what use a story may be even in the most serious debates may be seen from the circulation of old Joes in Parliament.

1882 Athenæum 9 Sept. 337/2 Such venerable Joes as the ‘Lapsus linguæ’ story.

1844 ‘C. Selby’ London by Night (1886) ii. i. 9/1 Jack. Who's to pay? Ned. Whichever you please. Jack. Oh! in that case you may as well settle it. Ned. Not for Joseph! You asked me to tea.

c1867 in J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley Slang (1896) IV. 76/2 Not for Joe...Not for Joseph, if he knows it.

1928 J. Galsworthy Swan Song ii. xiii. 219 Not if he knew it—not for Joe.

1855 W. Howitt Land, Labour & Gold I. xxii. 400 The well-known cry of ‘Joe! Joe!’..which means..one of the myrmidons of Charley Joe, as they familiarly style Mr. [Charles Joseph] La Trobe [Governor of Victoria].

1855 C. R. Thatcher in Stewart & Keesing Old Bush Songs (1957) 111 Should a body ‘Joe’ a body For having on a hat?

1861 T. McCombie Austral. Sketches 135 To ‘Joey’ or ‘Joe’ a person on the diggings, or anywhere else in Australia, is grossly to insult and ridicule him.

1862 E. Hodder Mem. N.Z. Life 188 As [the diggers] descried us approaching on the rocks, a simultaneous cry of ‘Joe! Joe!’ was raised. This is a popular cry on the New Zealand diggings and is used to hail any ‘new chums’ who may appear. It had its origin at the Australian diggings, where licenses were granted to all who held claims... When the police came upon the ground, to inspect licences, the cry of ‘Joe!’ was raised.

1871 C. L. Money Knocking about in N.Z. vii. 103 The word ‘Joe’ expresses derision usually bestowed on new chums on the diggings, or any man acting, or dressing, or speaking in any way considered as outré by the diggers themselves.

1871 C. L. Money Knocking about in N.Z. vii. 103 Among the first to ‘Joe’ me at the beginning.

1917 H. H. Richardson Fortunes Richard Mahony I. i. i. 11 An odd figure..crying at the top of her voice: ‘Joe, boys!—Joe, Joe, Joey!’

1789 G. Parker Life's Painter xii. 96 What..should not be found in every common jest book, or a Joe Miller, page 14.

1829 W. Scott Antiquary (new ed.) II. xviii. 237 A fool and his money are soon parted, nephew—there is a Joe Miller for your Joe Manton.

1870 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (ed. 18) p. xxx Many of the anecdotes are mere Joe Millers.

1882 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) Joe-Millerism.

1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 123/1 Joe, an imaginary person, nobody, as Who do those things belong to? Joe.

1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands viii. 92 Why, man, it's meat 'n' beer t' them Joes what go in fer bringin' ther wanderers 'ome.

1932 Amer. Speech June 333 Joe, term used to designate anyone whose real name is unknown. When used with a place or profession ‘Joe’ indicates a perfect example of the type connected with that place or profession.

1945 ‘A. Boucher’ in M. Gordon & G. Gordon Pride of Felons (1964) 80 The customers are mostly elderly Italian businessmen who are good Joes.

1947 Amer. Speech 22 55/1 Joe, name given by the natives [in the Pacific] to any American.

1952 S. Selvon Brighter Sun iv. 55 In Trinidad... All Americans..are known as ‘Joes’.

1957 J. Osborne Entertainer viii. 71 While everyone else is sitting on their hands you're the Joe at the back cheering.

1962 ‘E. Lacy’ Freeloaders vii. 133 Way I see it, Gil is an American... We joes have to stick together.

1969 M. Pugh Last Place Left xvi. 110 A few of his men were Irish moleskin joes from the hydro-electric operation.

1972 J. Burmeister Running Scared xii. 169 Be a good Joe and take the pills. Please.

1973 Publishers Weekly 26 Mar. 65/2 The average Joe probably thinks that cyclists..are eccentric folk.

1932 Amer. Speech June 333 ‘Joe College’ is a perfect specimen of the college man. Often used with ‘himself’.

1964 Amer. Speech 39 193 The net effect of the publications on college slang has been to encourage the image of perky Joe College.

1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 41 Joe Soap, the ‘dumb’ or not so intelligent members of the forces. The men who are ‘over-willing’ and therefore the usual ‘stooges’.

1966 ‘L. Lane’ ABZ of Scouse 56 Joe Soap, whozit, whatzisname. When asked by the police to account for the possession of a stolen article the answer often is I got guv it by Joe Soap.

1968 ‘B. Mather’ Springers xi. 111 I sat there like Joe Soap on guard; feeling guilty if I dozed off.

1969 Guardian 31 Mar. 15/8 Socialists have become..over-eager to find out what Joe Soap is doing in order to tell him not to do it.

1972 J. Brown Chancer ix. 118 Who do you think I am, moosh? Joe Soap?