Rachael Aarons

75

iain Frazier on 19th June 2025

Family connections for Rachael (Aarons) are: SCHLESINGER/AARONS Rachal/ael (Schlesinger/Schlazenger) was born about 1787/91 possibly in Hamboro/burgh Prussia. She married Joseph (Aarons) in England & produced 8children. She was tried with her husband for stealing, on 6 9 1821, woollen cloth of James (Blakesley) & William (Lester) at Old Bailey on 12 9 1821 (quick justice), sentenced to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & Newgate prison. She was soon Pardoned-possibly because of her young family &/or diminished responsibility. On 21 10 1822 she was tried (an attempt to follow her husband free of charge?) for stealing sarsnet dresses etc of William & Joseph (Kaye) and silk handkerchiefs of Richard (Potter) jnr at Lancaster General Quarter Session of the Peace Manchester, held (with 2of her children) at Lancaster Castle, House of Correction at Preston, Salford and Liverpool, found guilty & arrived in NSW (or perhaps in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) initially) as a convict with her children on 1 10 1823 after a voyage of 4months on MARY; she was Jewish 5'3" fresh pockpitted complexion brown hair hazel eyes could read & write & also listed as single shopkeeper from Hamboro. On 25 4 1824 she petitioned for her husband to be assigned to her. She was issued her Ticket of Leave before 1828. She is recorded with her family in 1828 with Ticket of Leave at George St Sydney. On 26 2 1849 she is described as Prussian when tried at Darlinghurst Gaol for stealing money, for which she was acquitted on 28 3 1849. She died in July 1865 age75 at 472 Elizabeth Street South. [Some details taken from this Website] Joseph (Aarons) was born about 1791 possibly in Prussia & became a dealer. He was tried with his wife for stealing, on 6 9 1821, woollen cloth of James (Blakesley) & William (Lester) at Old Bailey (he may have needed an interpreter) on 12 9 1821 (quick justice), sentenced to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & on hulks & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 3 1823 after a voyage of 5months on PRINCESS ROYAL; he was Jewish/Israelite. He was recorded as a farmer in 1822. On 25 4 1824 his wife petitioned for him to be assigned to her. He carried on as a dealer & in February 1828 he auctioned a large quantity of cloth & goods he had caused to be received by ship, perhaps from London. He is recorded with his family in 1828 with Ticket of Leave at George St Sydney. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 14 1 1829 when his shop was at George St, which was subject to a theft perhaps by William (Price). He died in 1865 age about75. [Some details taken from this Website] References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Family History Group of Bathurst Inc.'Bathurst Pioneers-Register of Pioneer Families Of Bathurst NSW And District <1900'

48

Naomi Parsons on 11th March 2023

For reasons unknown, Rachel was pardoned for her role in the 1821 fabric theft in London (London, England, Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853, piece 29:1822), husband Joseph remained on the hulks. She then travelled north and by 21st October 1822, now at Manchester, was found guilty at the Lancaster Quarter Sessions held at Salford, of stealing '5 sarsnet dresses and other articles the property of William & Joseph Kaye and 60 silk handkerchiefs, the property of Richard Potter jnr. (A liberate of all such persons in the Castle of Lancaster in the House of Correction at Preston, Salford and Liverpool as were bought before the Court or have taken their trials at the General Quarter Session of the Peace, begun and holden at Lancaster, 9 January 1821). She was then taken to Lancaster Castle to await transportation and was described (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951- Lancaster Gaol- Register of Crown Cases-1820-26) thus "says she was born at Hamburgh, 33 years of age, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, pitted with smallpox, husband transported at London, has two children here. 17th May 1823, put onboard the ship Mary at Woolwich".

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 7th January 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship; Mary - 1824 No; 16 Name; Rachel Aarons Age; 33. [1791] Read & writes. Single, Native County; Hamboro' Trade; Shop keeper Height; 5 ft. 3 inches Complexion; Fresh pock pitted Hair; Brown Eyes; Hazel

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 7th January 2021

1849 - 26 Feb. Gaol Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia Description and Entrance Book. No; 245. Rachael Aarons. Native Place Prussia. Jewish. Trial acquitted 28 March 1849 The Sydney Morning Herald Sat 17 Mar 1849. Page 2. SYDNEY COURT OF QUARTER WEDNESDAY. Before the CHAIRMAN and W. MOIR, Esq. Rachael Aarons, indicted for stealing a £1 note, and Charles Barker, indicted for stealing wearing apparel, were each acquitted and dis- charged.

343

Maureen Withey on 12th August 2020

One of Rachael's children, Elizabeth, aged 8 months, died on the voyage on the Ship Mary: Surgeon’s Journal on Mary. Elizabeth Arrons Æt. 8 months Child of one of the Convicts, at Sea July 12th 1823 . Has been delicate from its birth, and in a very bad state when it came on board, her bowels being always very irregular, she declined daily and is now very emaciated. She got three months suck, and has been very badly taken care of. ... …. Died July 19th 1823 The Surgeon’s general remarks: The young Children however suffered much, out of 28 embarked six poor creatures fell Sacrifices to the iniquity of their Mothers. Their death may be readily accounted for in the deprivation of their natural nourishment; four of them being very young, and in a very bad state of health when they came on board, to add to which, they were bereaved of their natural Food by their mothers losing their milk very soon after they embarked and no appropriate Substitute being on board, Their Bowels either from deficiency of good or the use of improper food (or probably both) became deranged, and every means that could be devised of restoring them to a healthy state were had recourse to, but everyone proved equally unsuccessful. https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/SurgeonsJournal_MaryIII_1823.pdf

343

Maureen Withey on 12th August 2020

NSW 1828 Census Index. (Nov 1828) Joseph Aarons, age 38, T.L. Prince Regent, 1822, life, Jew, dealers at George Street, Sydney. Rachael Arrons, age 36, T.L. Mary 1822, 7 years, jew. Rachael, junior, age 13, came free. Rosanna, 10, came free, Ann, 9, came free, Joseph 7, came free, Sarah, 4, born in Colony. Rebecca 1, born in colony.

343

Maureen Withey on 24th February 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 24 February 2020), September 1821, trial of JOSEPH AARONS RACHEL AARONS (t18210912-78). JOSEPH AARONS, RACHEL AARONS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 12th September 1821. 1123. JOSEPH AARONS and RACHEL AARONS were indicted for stealing, on the 6th of September , eighteen yards of woollen cloth, value 18 l., the goods of James Blakesley and William Lester , privately, in their warehouse . MR. BRODRICK conducted the prosecution. MR. WILLIAM LESTER . I am in partnership with John Blakesley ; we are Blackwell-hall factors , and live in Basinghall-street - I saw the female prisoner go out of the warehouse and brought back by the porter, and heard the cloth fall from her. HARRY KENDAL . I am clerk to the prosecutors. On the 4th of September, the prisoners came together to the warehouse, about five o'clock in the afternoon, and asked to see some blue cloth - I shewed them two pieces; the man enquired the price, and said he should buy for money, he spoke English, and understood me; I think the woman understood very little English - he bought nothing that night, but went away, saying, he should call next morning, but did not - on Thursday morning, a little past nine o'clock, when I got to the warehouse, I found them both there, they had been looking at cloth; when I went in, the man asked me to shew him some black cloth, and said, he had had the rheumatism, which was the reason he had not been on Wednesday - I shewed him some, he wishedfor patterns of the blue which he had seen that morning - I went into the back warehouse to get them; on my return, the woman was gone, he remained for the patterns - he said he would come again in fifteen or twenty minutes, and pay for what he wanted, not having then fixed on any thing, I had left the female standing within six yards of the door - there was a quantity of cloths in the warehouse when I left her - while I was speaking to the man, she was brought back (before he had quitted the door), by Stevens - the cloth was nearly covered by her gown - by her side, she had a large shawl also, which seemed to hide it, she appeared pregnant; immediately on her coming inside the warehouse, I saw the cloth drop from her, it was eighteen yards and a quarter of blue cloth - we are the manufacturers of it; seventeen yards and a half would be the payable length - I saw it on the previous evening in the back warehouse; where they had been looking at cloth - Stebbing was with them when I came. The cloth had not been sold. Q. Did you observe the man do any thing when she was brought in - A. He appeared angry, patted her on the bonnet, and said, "What did you do this for?" An apron was found in the warehouse. I did not see her take any thing. Cross-examined by MR. ANDREWS. Q. Is this a warehouse for retail business - A. No, wholesale; we sell goods there - each piece is kept separate. The porter sleeps up stairs, and lives there. There is always somebody there to show goods. JOHN STEBBING . I am employed in the prosecutors' warehouse; I was there on the 6th of September; the prisoners came in together about nine o'clock, the man apologised for not coming before, saying he had the rheumatism in his leg; he asked to see some blue cloth - which I showed him; Kendal came in just as they were going away; he was then shewed black cloth. The woman was then standing in the front of the warehouse, against the door - she appeared pregnant. I took the counting-house stool down for her to sit on, if she was disposed. I believe she did not sit down. There was a number of pieces of cloth, standing on their ends on the ground; Kendal went back to cut patterns, while he was gone I was in the front warehouse - the man opened the door for the woman to go out, and shut it after her. Stevens brought her back. I did not see her take anything, nor had I any suspicion - there is a yard which they must cross from the warehouse and on the left hand is the carpet warehouse, the door of which they would pass. When she was brought back I saw the cloth drop from her; it appeared suspended from her right side; but when she got in it dropped upon the warehouse floor. The male prisoner slapped her bonnet, and said, "What did you do that for?" He did not ask for any thing after he let her out. Kendall was gone for the patterns, only he and I were in the warehouse. Cross-examined by MR. LAW. Q. Her being pregnant prevented your suspicions - A. Yes; the man slightly slapped her bonnet, and said, in an angry tone, "What did you do that for?" He stood at her side. MR. BRODRICK. Q. Did you observe her when she moved to go to the door - A. The man stood behind her - I was behind him, within five yards of him. He opened the door and shut it after her. JOHN STEVENS . I am porter to the prosecutors. My suspicions were excited by something before; and on Thursday I saw the prisoner come in, and heard the door open, and saw the woman go out by herself - I was in the carpet warehouse in the passage; she came along close by the door - I ran to the window, looked at her, and thought she looked rather more bulky on her right side than when she came in - I went up to her, and hit my left hand against the cloth, and said. "You have got it, have you, and I have got you" - she sighed, I took her back, it dropped from her - I produce it, having kept it ever since. THOMAS LAUCHLAND . I am in the service of the prosecutors. I found an apron among some cloths where I had seen the prisoners walking, in the front warehouse - I found it directly she was taken; it does not belong to the warehouse. MR. LESTER. The cloth is ours, and contains eighteen yards and a quarter. We charge it at seventeen yards; it cost us upwards of 16 l., as the manufacturers. Cross-examined. Q. What is the cost price - A. As near as I can guess, 16 l. odd shillings. We do not expose goods for sale; our names are on the door, and woollen warehouse - our chief trade is on commission; we never sell less than an end. JOSEPH AARON 'S Defence. (Through an interpreter.) What my wife did, I know nothing about. I am a merchant ; the prosecutors did not see my wife take it no more than I did - I gave her two slaps on the bonnet for doing it. RACHAEL AARON 'S Defence. What I did, was unknown to my husband. JOSEPH AARONS - GUILTY Aged 34. RACHAEL AARONS - GUILTY Aged 30. Of stealing under the value of 15 l. Transported for Life . London Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. AARONS, Rachel. Per "Mary", 1823 1824 Apr 25 - Petition to have her husband Joseph assigned to her (Reel 6061; 4/1779 p.36). Reply, 6 May (Reel 6013; 4/3511 p.174) 1824 Dec 11 - On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.3) ----------------------------------------------------- Certificate of Freedom obtained. Mary (3), Rachael, the wife of Joseph Aarons. Sydney Monitor, 17 Nov 1830. -------------------------------------------------- AARONS.—At her residence, 472 Elizabeth-street South, Rachel, relict of the late Joseph Aarons, senior, and mother of Mrs. Knapp, Elizabeth-street North, and grandmother of Edward Knapp, surveyor. The Empire (Sydney), 31 July 1866. FUNERAL.-The Funeral of the Mrs. JOSEPH AARONS will move from her late residence, 472, Elizabeth-street South, at 4 o'clock, THIS AFTERNOON. Sydney Morning Herald, 25 July 1866.