John Baker

At Norwich, John Baker, aged 20, was tried tor violently and ravishing Ann Peterson, the wife of Mr. Benjamin Pererson, of Kirfted, farmer. It appeared from Mrs. P's. evidence, that on the of April last, as she was returning home from Norwich market she was met the prisoner in the place called Long Close-lane, not far from her own house that he put down his bundle which he had under his arm, and her with violence, threw her on the on shrieking out. He put his hand over her mouth, and said that if she did not lay still he would instantly kill her—and that, after ineffectual struggle on her part, committed the crime for which he was indicted—he then asked her whether she was married or single, what her name was, where she lived, and whether she knew him, and then walked off. Mrs. P. with difficulty reached her own house, being much bruised on the back. Mr. Peterson, being informed by his servant of what had happened (for Mrs. P. was too ill to inform him of it herself) pursued the villain, and on the following he was apprehended in Hempshall Woods. The witnesses in favour of the prisoner were his mother, and J. Middleton, a cotton weaver, who lives in Norwich, and who married Mrs. Baker's niece- they deposed, that some time after the prisoner was committed, they went to Mrs. Peterson's house for the purpose of inducing her not to prosecute their relation- that Mrs. P. received them very civilly, and, in the course of the conversation, Mrs. P told the witnesses, that had the prisoner taken her into a private corner, she should not have thought soa much about -and that with respect to making it up, she would agree to any thing her husband might determine upon-. these two witnesses also swore, that when they applied to Mr. Peterson for the same purpose, he told them he had entered into a recognizance of 501. to prosecute, and he therefore could not think of being the injured man, and all that money out of pocket besides Mr. and Mrs. P. positively denied having made up of any use expressions-on the contrary Mrs. P. said, she always told them it was never her wish to make it up; and Mr. P. also swore, that whenever they applied to him, he told them, that if they could even raise the money to do away the recognizance, he could not, nor would not compromise the business. The learned Judge summed up the evidence, relating every circumstance which could operate in favour of the prisoner. The Jury, after some consideration, found the prisoner Guilty, but earnestly recommended him to mercy. His Lordship said but for their humane interposition, his duty would have required him to pass the severest sentence of the law upon the prisoner; he owed it to every husband, every wife, every father, and every daughter, that such a violator of the happiness and honour of a virtuous woman and of her family, that that sentence should have been put into execution he was, however, now relieved from that painful duty, and he was happy to inform the prisoner that his life would be spared, for which he was indebted to a merciful Jury; but that he should order him to be transported from this country for ever. Sentence of Death was then passed upon him proforma. Oxford Journal 16 Aug 1800. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. BAKER, John. Per "Glatton", 1803. 1816 Aug 7 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.89) 1818 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3183; 4/1854 p.11) 1823 Sep 22-Oct 15 Sentenced to death; commuted to transportation to Port Macquarie. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.107) 1823 Nov 10 Tried in Sydney. Sentence commuted to transportation to Port Macquarie (Reel 6070; 4/1265 pp.11-2) 1823 Nov 12 Capital sentence commuted (Reel 6069; 4/1817 p.28) 1823 Nov 26 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally"; not conveyed per "Sally" but per "Lady Nelson" on 17 Dec 1823 (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.92, 452-3) 1824 May 31 Transported to Newcastle & not accounted for in Returns for settlement & not in last general Muster; emancipated from Newcastle, since tried by Criminal Court & now at Port Macquarie (Reel 6068; 4/1811 p.120) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Criminal Court. THURSDAY. John Baker was indicted for feloniously entering the dwelling house of Robert Boulton, and putting the inmates in bodily fear. Guilty—remanded. Sydney Gazette, 2 Oct 1823. Criminal Court. WEDNESDAY.—This forenoon all the prisoners who had been convicted and remanded during the sessions, were now brought up for the judgement of the Court. DEATH.— John Baker, ... The Sessions have terminated. Sydney Gazette, 16 Oct 1823. --------------------------------------------------------------------- List of 33 prisoners transported to Port Macquarie on board Sally, dated 26 Nov 1823, Sydney. They did not proceed per Sally, but were forwarded per ship Lady Nelson, 17 Dec 1823. John Baker, tried Crim Court, Sydney, Oct & Nov 1823, Life sentence in double irons. Trade, Brick. Per Glatton. Original conviction: at Norwich, 6 Aug 1800, Life.