Susan Gage (alias Noon)
On the 28th April 1810 Susan Gage went into the shop of one Thomas Podd
in Colchester, claiming to work for Mrs Walker, a well-respected woman of the
town. Susan told Mr Podd that Mrs Walker would like to view some stockings. Mr Podd gave
her 17 pairs worth 10 shillings, to take on approval for Mrs Walker. Later on, Susan
returned with the stockings to the shop, saying that Mrs Walker would take them,
and to charge them to her account, which he did. Of course, Susan had never worked
for Mrs Walker, and the latter never saw the stockings.
Date Tried: 30th April 1810, Colchester Quarter Sessions
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Mary Geer
On the 4th of June, at about six in the evening, Mary Geer broke into the house
of David Baker, at Etchingham in Sussex. She helped herself to a wide range
of articles, including a mirror, a tea cup, a bedgown, six yards of linen, a
pound of pork, an apron, a fork, and four pounds of bread.
Date Tried: 28th July 1804 Sussex Assizes
Sentence: Death, later commuted to transportation for fourteen years
John Goldsmith
On 8th December 1816, at six in the evening, John Goldsmith broke into
the house of William Crowley at Lambeth. He stole a variety of clothing worth
forty shillings
Date Tried: 18th December 1826, Surrey Assizes
Sentence: Death, later commuted to transportation for life
Edward Graves
Edward Graves, a blacksmith from Swaby, pleaded guilty to proffering
a forged £5 note
Date Tried: March 1832, Lincoln Assizes
Sentence: To be transported for life
William Green
During the night of the 4th March 1797, William Green broke into the house of Robert Daniel in Stoke
Dammerell, and stole goods worth over £13
Date Tried: 20th March 1797, Devon Assizes
Sentence: Death by hanging, later commuted to 7 years transportation
Richard Hardman
Along with William Duncan and James Shaw, Richard Hardman was convicted of
assaulting and robbing James Scholfield at Birtle-cum-Bamford, near Rochdale
Date Tried: 15th November 1815, Manchester Quarter Sessions
Sentence: Death by hanging, later commuted to 7 years transportation
Richard Hardy
On the 5th September 1836, Richard Harris, along with two others, stole some bacon from the window of
Benjamin Muggeridge, a cheesemonger of Kingsford Road in London. George Kemp
was a policeman, who was on duty in Old Street Road at the time. He was watching them, and gave
chase. The other two boys escaped, but Richard was caught. The court did not believe his defence, that
the other boys stole the bacon, and gave it to him to carry. Later, his father's employer
was to appeal for clemency on Richard's behalf, offering him a job in his Cabinet Makers in
Bethnal Green Road, if his sentence was commuted. It wasn't.
Date Tried: 23rd September, Old Bailey
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Sarah Harris
On the 3rd January 1843, Sarah Harris went into Swan and Edgar in Regent's Street, and
purchased some black satin and a pair of kid gloves. During an hour-long charade, she also managed to
secrete about her person 300 yards of lace, and four other pairs of gloves, worth in
total some £45, which she neglected to pay for.
Date Tried: 30th January 1843, Old Bailey
Sentence: To be transported for fourteen years
William Harris
William Harris, a gardener from Camberwell, was convicted at the Old Bailey, on the 17th February 1820 along with
25 others, with possesion of forged bank notes, and sentenced to be
transported for 14 years. A year later, though, he absconded. On the 24th day
of July 1829 he was caught in Camberwell.
Date Tried: 20th October 1829 Surrey Assizes
Sentence: Death, later commuted to transportation for life
Richard and John Heaton
On the 21st January 1832 86 year-old John Horrox was making his way
back home to Brightmet from Bolton market, when he was set upon by three men,
including the Heaton boys. After knocking him down, they rifled his
pockets, finding 18 shillings, and carried off the contents of his basket
Date Tried: April 1832, Salford Quarter Sessions
Sentence: To be transported for fourteen years
George Hill
On the third of May 1831, George Hill, along with Simon Hill (his brother?), and
another, broke into Matthew Taverners house at Churchill in Somerset.
They stole money totalling 26 shillings.
Date Tried: 6th August 1831, Somerset assizes
Sentence: Death, commuted to transportation for life. Simon Hill was found
not guilty
Daniel Hollingsworth
Daniel was charged with having, during the night of the third of May 1826, broken into the house of Phebe Driver
at Stocking Pelham, in Hertfordshire. It was a particularly unpleasant burglary, in which the
family were threatened and terrorised by several men, one of whom was alleged to be Daniel. But
Daniel's next door neighbour testified that Daniel was at home that night, and the only 'evidence'
against him was that of one of the servants, who claimed to recognise his voice. The Jury
deliberated for a long time, before finding all the men guilty - "the
verdict was heard..with some surprise, by a very crowded court"
Date Tried: July 1826, Hertfordshire assizes
Sentence: Transportation for life.
Samuel Horn
Samuel Horn was arrested on the 23rd July 1816, and charged with stealing goods worth £39 from William Wright, a farmer from
Tasburgh. These goods included sundry promissary notes and
money, an oak box, a bond, and a small Japanese box.
Date Tried: 15th August 1816, Norfolk assizes
Sentence: Death by hanging, later commuted to 7 years transportation
William Jarvis
William Jarvis was described as "an old offender" when he stole a whip
from Stephen Bates. Mind you, it ran in the family - his brother John, at the
same sessions, was sentenced to six months in jail, for embezzling money
from his employer
Date Tried: 3rd January 1838 Sussex Quarter Sessions, Hastings
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
James Johnson
On the 4th September 1864, James Johnson did "ravish and carnally know" Elizabeth Ramsay, against her will,
in Wolverhampton. He was sentenced to 8 years penal servitude, but two
years later was amongst some of the last convicts transported to Australia.
Date Tried: December 1865, Staffordshire Assizes
Sentence: Eight years' penal servitude
Benjamin Joyce
On the 7th June 1834, James Augustus Whiskard left two pairs of shoes, worth 11 shillings, on
the doorstep of his house in Bishopsgate Street. His servant saw them there. No-one saw them being taken, but a
little later Police Constable Richard Jones bumped into 12 year-old
Benjamin Joyce in Shoreditch, just a five minute walk away. Benjamin
was carrying a bundle, and was with another boy, who ran away. The
policeman asked Benjamin what he had, to which he replied "Nothing".
The Constable found the shoes, which Benjamin then said the other boy
had given them to him to carry.
Date Tried: 4th July 1834, Old Bailey
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
John Kidd
On the evening of 15th August 1828, a horse (a brown gelding, about 10 years old, and 15 hands high)
was stolen from Mr Bird Porter in Wimpole. At about midnight, John Kidd
was seen riding it through the toll at Wimpole. Next morning, at about nine, he
tried to sell it at Thetford, first asking 25 guineas, but eventually
settling for £15. The buyer was suspicious about whether the horse was really
Kidd's, and the latter was arrested. He was held at Thetford town gaol,
until Mr Porter arrived, and identified the horse as being his
Date Tried: 24th March 1829, Cambridgeshire Assizes
Sentence: Death, later commuted to transportation
John Levett
On the 17th June 1845, John Levett, a coach guard, was entrusted to deliver £25 on
behalf of Henry Cloake. The money never arrived, and John Levett, who had hitherto
been in financial difficulty, was suddenly able to clear his debts with local
pubs and buy new clothes.
Date Tried: 30th June 1845, Sussex Quarter Sessions, Lewes
Sentence: To be transported for ten years
George Lewis
On the 13th of October 1797, George Lewis stole several handkerchiefs
from Jane Bailey in Ewell, Surrey
Date Tried: 15th January 1798 Surrey Quarter Sessions, Newington
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Thomas Lovell
On the 27th of February 1816, at about 4.30 in the afternoon, John Parcell watched as
Thomas Lovell stole a handkerchief from the pocket of a passer-by. Parcell gave chase, capturing
Lovell in Wood Street, and held him until a policeman arrived.
Date Tried: 8th April 1816, Old Bailey
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Mary Lounds/Loungs/Lownes
On the 21st of February 1835, James Garton was having a drink
in The Talbot Inn, in Kidderminster. About eight or nine o'clock,
he met Mary Lownes, and spent some time in her company. Then he
discovered her hand in his pocket, and his watch missing. She ran off, and he gave chase, catching her.
The watch was found in the doorway of The Talbot Inn. Five years earlier,
Simon Jennings had also lost his watch to Mary, for which she had
served one months' hard labour
Date Tried: Feburary 1835, Worcester Quarter Sessions
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Harriet Manners
Harriet Manners was 15, and had only been working as a servant in her new job
for a few weeks, when she she stole and wore some her mistress's
clothes. At the sessions, her trial was brought forward, and as a result,
several people, including her previous employer, who were to testify to her good character were unable
to do so.
Date Tried: 18th December 1830. Sussex Quarter Sessions, Lewes
Sentence: Transportation for life
Charles Martin
Charles Martin waylaid Richard Coster on an open space near the highway at Newington, on the
25th March 1818, and stole his watch, worth £4, and various other items
Date Tried: 30th March 1818, Surrey Assizes
Sentence: Death, commuted to Transportation for life
Joseph Maund
Joseph Maund stole a silver watch, and seal, from John Jeffrey
Date Tried: 16th January 1789 Salop Quarter Sessions, Shrewsbury
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
John Melling
William Cox was the landlord of the Golden Lion pub in Wallgate, Wigan in 1839. At 11 o'clock
at night on the 3rd April, he was working in his cellar when John Melling came in, grabbed a
bottle of brandy, and ran off. Cox gave chase up Bay Horse Yard, and was joined by two or three
policemen. Melling dropped the brandy and was cornered and apprehended
Date Tried: 29th April 1839, Wigan Quarter Sessions
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
John Monnox
On the 26th February 1828, some copper scales were stolen from John Carwell in Birmingham.
A month later, a kettle was stolen from Thomas Thackway. When, on the 9th of April, a
policeman searched John Monnox's house, he found these and other stolen items. Monnox was not
at home at the time, but the policeman found him in the local pub, and asked how the things
got there. Monnox said he knew nothing about them, which the Jury did not believe, and he
was convicted of receiving stolen goods.
Date Tried: April 1828, Warwick Quarter Sessions
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
John Morgan
On the 8th June 1835, at a little after noon, Henry Huskinson watched
as John Morgan went into Mrs Penny's shop in Porter Street, Soho.
Morgan picked up some fire tools, and ran off. Huskinson gave chase,
but lost sight of him in Princes Court. Six days later, Morgan was arrested
in a shop in Queen Street, Seven Dials
Date Tried: 29th June 1835, Middlesex Sessions, Clerkenwell
Sentence: To be transported for seven years
Thomas Myers
On the 18th May 1816, Robert Adamson was in Newgate Street, at about midday, on
way from the West End to the City of London. He felt his pocket
being picked, and turned round to see his
silk handkerchief drop from the hand of Thomas Myers. Myers' accomplice, an
eleven year-old boy called David Benjamin picked up the handkerchief and tried to
hide it under his coat.
Date Tried: 29th May 1816, Old Bailey
Sentence: To be transported for seven years (David Benjamin was whipped and returned to his father)