James Bailey

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 1st July 2026

The following are sentences of the prisoners who have so long infested Soham and neighbouring villages:—William Day, sentence death. Thomas Isaacson, George Isaacson, James Bailey, William West, Edward Isaacson, Henry Attlesey, John Attlesey, William Worlledge, William Arnold, Samuel Wright the elder, Samuel Wright the younger, and John Thurston, to be transported seven years. .. Cambridge Chronicle, 17 Aug 1821. There are 41 prisoners for trial, a number totally unprecedented in the criminal records of this county. It is, however, some consolation to ... offences do not appear to have been marked by any peculiar acts of atrocity. The following is a list of the prisoners :— Thomas Isaacson and George Isaacson, for stealing great coat at Soham, and on several other charges; James Bailey, for stealing corn; William West, Edward Isaacson, and Samuel Darnell, for stealing geese, and numerous other charges; John Isaacson, for stealing flour; Henry Attlesey for stealing turkies; ..John Attlesey and William Worlledge, for stealing turkies, &c.; William Arnold, for stealing barley; ... Cambridge Chronicle, 3 Aug 1821. The following is an account of the trials of the gang at the late assizes held for this county George Isaacson, Edward Isaacson, Wm. Worlledge, Richard Cater, James Bailey, Henry Bailey, and William Arnold, were severally indicted for stealing, in April 1819, Snailwell in this county, bushels of barley, the property of Mr. Charles Filbey, and acquitted. George Isaacson was next tried on an indictment which charged him with stealing, January 1819, at Exning, 50 stone weight of meal, the property of John Last.— Guilty. Thomas Isaacson (the father of George & Edward Isaacson) was next tried on indictment which charged him with stealing, March last, quantity fowls, the property of Benjamin of Soham. Guilty. George Isaacson and Edward Isaacson were next tried on an indictment which charged them with stealing two sacks of malt, the property of Mr. John Dobede, of Soham, and acquitted. Edward Isaacson, Wm. West, and James Bailey were next tried on indictment which charged them with stealing a quantity of fowls, the property of Mr. John Banyard, of Soham. appeared that the prisoners entered prosecutor's fowl-house by means of picklock keys.— Guilty. Richard Cater and William Webb were next tried on an indictment which charged them with stealing a quantity of fowls, the property of Mr. Richard Freeman, of Soham.— Guilty. William Worlledge was next tried on an indictment which charged him with stealing a quantity of beans, barley, oats, and bran, mixed together, the property of Mr. Joseph Slack, of Wicken.— Guilty. Geo. Isaacson, Edward Isaacson, Wm. Worlledge, William West, Henry Attlesey, and John Attlesey were next tried on an indictment which charged them with stealing five turkies and various articles, the property of Mr. William Westrope, of Freckenham, in the month of February last. It appeared evidence that in consequence of various robberies committed at Fordham (a village adjoining to Soham,) the farmers set persons to watch, and the prisoners were seen to go through Fordham between eleven and twelve o'clock at night. Some of the property stolen from Mr. Westrope was afterwards (in consequence of a discovery made John Lord, an accomplice) found in the prisoners' houses.— All guilty. John Isaacson and William West were tried on a charge of stealing seven pigs at Moulton, the property of Messrs. Fletcher and King, and acquitted. ... Cambridge Chronicle, 24 Aug 1821.

Level 108

Nell Murphy on 28th April 2018

James BAILEY was convicted at Cambridge, England on 6 Aug 1821 for grand larceny. 7 yr transportation sentence. Gaol Report: "very indifferent". Hulk Report: "orderly". Sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia per the ship 'Phoenix' arriving 1822. Married man - wife & 3 children at native place of residence, Cambridge, England. Father at Cambridge. VDL: Assigned to work service in the Colony. By 1828 had received his Ticket of Leave. 18 July 1828: Absent without a pass and having neglected to attend Muster and Church Service. Admonished. 1832: charged with assault but case dismissed.