Northumberland

Transported for Life: Northumberland to Queensland

by

On the 28th May 1831 a chilling notice appeared in the Newcastle Courant. It read:

“Whereas the Public Bridges in the County of Northumberland have been of late much injured and rendered dangerous by Persons maliciously throwing down the Battlements thereof, (particularly Alnwick Bridges,) the Magistrates, in Order to caution persons from committing such Offences give this public Notice, that by the 7th and 8th George the 4th, Chap 30, any Person who shall unlawfully and maliciously pull down or destroy any Public Bridge, or do any injury with intent to render such Bridge, or any Part thereof, dangerous or impassable, shall be Guilty of Felony and subject to Transportation for Life. And the Magistrates give this further Notice, that they will prosecute to the utmost Extent any Person committing these malicious Offences.”

Robert Thorp’s chilling order, plastered on walls across the county.

The notice was given across the county by order of Robert Thorp, Clerk of the Peace.

This order was originally passed on May 17th 1831 – ten days after John Thompson and Samuel Pringle had ‘wilfully’ destroyed a part of the battlements on Alnwick Bridge. The two men were convicted ‘full damages and costs’ for their destructive crime, and the threat of transportation hung above them. It seems highly unlikely that Samuel was sent away; as a man by the same name was still living in Fenkle-Street, Alnwick in 1839. Interestingly a John Thompson, aged 24, was transported to Sydney, Australia on a hulk called Georgina in 1831. He was sentenced to 7 and a half years; a substantially shorter sentence then the life promised by Robert Thorp.

Transportation was used by  Britain’s law-keepers during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as an alternative to imprisonment or hanging. Originally served to those who had committed serious felonies, transportation was also rolled out to political criminals (rioters) and thieves. Transportation to Australia first began in 1787, it provided a cheaper penal solution then imprisonment and also benefited the state by supporting the establishment of colonial outposts.  Prisoners traveled to their new lives on huge hulk ships where the conditions were, unsurprisingly, terrible. Disease often broke out on-board, with cholera and typhoid being the most common, and many died before reaching their destination, often weakened by a four to six month long journey.

In the same year that Robert Thorp’s bloodcurdling notice was posted in the Newcastle Courant transportation was being used to punish other convicted Northumbrian criminals. Amongst whom were:

John Fletcher: found guilty of stealing 5lbs of mutton belonging to George Stevenson of Cramlington. He was sentenced to 7 years transportation.

George Turnbull: charged with stealing a ‘great coat’ belonging to James Tate of Alnwick. Mr Tate had hung his coat up to dry when it went missing, he later found it in the prisoner’s home. The prisoner claimed he had bought it the day before for 6s, but the jury found him guilty of theft. He was then sentenced to 7 years transportation but, as a repeat offender, a second charge of theft added another 7 years to his sentence.

William Kennedy and Peter O’Hara: convicted to life transportation for stabbing and cutting “officers of excise” (men who inspect customs and duties.)

 

We would like to thank the volunteer who carefully transcribed documents relating to the case of Thompson and Pringle.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography:

Victorian Crime and Punishment: 19th Century, Transportation (http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice/section2196-transportation.html)

Puzzling Photographs

by

A group of mysterious nineteenth-century photographs were recently discovered within the Dickson, Archer and Thorp collection. They were found alongside a bundle of envelopes and a copper plate, both embossed with the letters J D C P. Following extensive research these mysterious initials are believed to have belonged to John de Camborne Paynter.

Born in 1845, John had previously resided at Clarence House, Penzance before moving to Belvedere Terrace, Alnwick. He worked as a solicitor’s clerk and, although widowed early in life, had two sons, Captain John de Camborne Stackhouse Paynter and Major William Patterson Paynter. For around twenty-five years he sat as Secretary of Alnmouth’s golf club and also acted as the churchwarden for St Paul’s, Alnwick. Upon his death he left a large sum of £23,658 to be divided between his children. He also made provision in his will for his long-term servant Jane Charters by ensuring a £50 annuity and furnished cottage.

Who the sitters were remains a mystery. Were these pictures the creative product of Mr J de C Paynter, whose name was found on both the envelope and copper plate? Or do these photographs depict Paynter’s own family members? Alternatively they may have been examples provided to Paynter by professional photographers, with the view for possible commissions.

The following images show the sides of the engraved copper plate, found alongside the pictures (REF: NRO 11343/B/DAT):

 

 

 

The mysterious pictures (REF: NRO 11343/B/DAT); 

 

A reverse side for one of the images, listing the details of the studio from which it originated. (REF: NRO 11343/B/DAT):

 

If anyone has any information regarding the production or identification of these images please contact us.

 

 

 

Alnmouth Indenture, 1798

by

Signed Sealed Delivered by the within named John Yelloly being first duty stamped in the presence of us

A. Mitchell

J. Poivell

Signed Sealed and delivered by the within named

William Robson, Richard Robson, James Elder, Luke Mattison and Robert Robson being first duty stamped in the presence of us

Margaret Collingwood

William Chambers

This Indenture made the fourteenth day of September in the thirty eighth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight between John Yelloly of Chatham Barracks in the County of Kent Doctor in Physic and son and heir at law and also administration  of the goods and Chattels of June Yelloly of Alnwick in the County of Northumberland widow deceased William Robson late of Dunstonhill in the said County of Northumberland but now of Milfield in the same County Innkeeper    Richard Robson of Humbleton buildings in the said County of Northumberland Farmer     James Elder of Alnwick in the said County of Northumberland Grocer Luke Mattison of the same place Hardwareman and Robert Robson late of Belford but now in Alemouth in the said County of Northumberland yeoman of the one part and William Annett of Alemouth aforesaid on the other part Witnesseth that for an din consideration of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of Great Britian to the said John Yelloly by William Robson  Richard Robson  James Elder  Luke Mattison and Robert Robson in hand well and truly paid by the  William Annett as on before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge they the said John Yelloly  William Robson  Richard Robson  James Elder  Luke Mattison  and Robert Robson have and each of them Hath bargained and sold and by these presents Do and each of them Doth Bargain and the said William Annett his Executors Administrators and Assigns All that piece and parcel of Ground in length Eleven yards from South to North with apputances situate lying and being in Alemouth in the said County of Northumberland on the East side of the said Town Boundering on the other piece of Ground lately belonging to William Coulter and now Ralph Annett on or towards the South a piece of Ground formerly belonging to Edward Gallon or John Watson and now to the said Edward Gallon on or towards the North a  place called Holme or Howle Kiln on or towards the East and the Kings High Street on or towards the West and also all those Freehold (    ) Burgages Granaries or Tenements gardens and Common of Pastures there unto belonging with the appurtances situate standing lying and being in Alemouth aforesaid in the said County of Northumberland which said (   ) Burgages or tenements and premises were formerly in the possession of William Reavelley his tenants undertenants or assigns late of Richard Robson deceased and lately in the possession Tenure or occupation of Thomas Adams and George Richardson William Stephenson and others as tenants thereof and now of _____________________________as tenants thereof to and under the said William Robson and Robert Robson and are boundered by a lane called the Middle Lane on or towards the North by a ridge or piece of Ground belonging to Edward Gallon Esquire on the South by the Kings High Street on the West and Alemouth Common on the east And also that Maltkiln or Maltsteep and other conveniences and appurtances there unto belonging situate standing and being in Alemouth aforesaid boundered by a piece of Ground formerly belonging to Michael Coulter and now Ralph Annett on or towards the South by a piece of ground belonging to Edward Gallon Esquire and towards the North by a place called Holme or Holme Kiln towards the East by a piece of Ground formerly belonging to the said Richard Robson deceased now to the said William Robson and Robert Robson on towards the West and by the other the Right (  ) and bounds formerly in the possession of John Grey a bankrupt late of the said Richard Robson deceased afterwards in the possession Tenure or occupation of Thomas Annett Tenant and William Watson and Tenants thereof and now of Thomas Annett Tenant to and under the said William Robson and Robert Robson And also all and singular other Messuages Burgages   or Granaries Tenements Maltkiln or Malt steeps and part and part share and shares of Messuages Burgages Granaries or Tenements of him the said Richard Robson deceased and now of them the said William Robson and Robert Robson situate and standing lying and being in Alemouth aforesaid in the Parish of Lesbury in the County of Northumberland Together with all and singular houses outhouses Edifices Granaries Maltkilns Maltsteeps Buildings Barns Byars Stables yards Backsides (scites) of old buildings Garths Gardens Orchards Lofts Crofts lands arable  and not arable Meadows pastures headings Commons and common of pasture (   ) Moors Marshes Heathes waste grounds warrens Woods Underwoods and tress Piscaries fishings and fishing places Ways Watercourses and watering Places Paths Passages Easements Priviledges Liberties profits Commodities Advantages Emoluments Herediments and Appurtances whatsoever to the said premises and to every or any of them belonging or in any wise appertaining on to or times herefore demised letter held used occupied possessed or enjoyed or accepted reputed taken or known to be as part parcel or member thereof one of any part thereof respectively and the reversion or reversions remainder and remainders rent issues and profits thereof and of every part and parcel thereof

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD this said part and parcel of Ground Messuages Burgages Granaries Gardens Maltkilns Tenements Here and all and singular other the premises therein before by these presents Bargained and sold or intended so to be with their and every of there appurtances unto the said William Annett his Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day next before the day of the date of these presents for and during and unto the full end and term of one whole year from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended yielding and paying therefore unto the said John Yellowly William Robson Richard Robson John Elder Luke Mattisson Robert Robson there Heirs and Assigns the rent of one peppercorn on the last day of the said term if the same shall be lawfully demanded to the intent and purpose that the virtue of these presents and by force of the statute made from transferring of use into possession he the said William Annett maybe in the actual possession of the said piece and parcel of Ground Messuages Burgages Granaries gardens Maltkilns Tenements Herediaments and all and singular other the premises herein before by these presents Bargained and sold or intended so to be with their and every of their appurtances and may hereby be enabled to accept and take a grant and Release of the reversion and Inheritance thereof to him and his Heirs to for and upon such cases ends intents and purposes as by an Indenture to bear date of these presents shall be mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same In Witness where of the said Parties to these presents have here unto set their Hands and Seals the day and year first above written.

Signatures and Seals of

John Yellowly

William Robson

Richard Robson

James Elder

Luke Mattisson

Robert Robson

 

We would like to thank the volunteer who carefully transcribed and researched these documents. This particular item comes from a very rich sub-collection within the larger Dickson, Archer and Thorp collection, giving us a fascinating view of a bygone time.

 

+ More