Mary Baker

53

Beth Taylor on 9th November 2019

BAKER, Mary (c1793-?) (alias Catherine McCawley) Tried - 14 July 1813 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Mary first appeared before the Old Bailey Court in London in February 1813, charged (under her alias Catherine McCawley) with stealing a basket of apples belonging to Mary Ashley. As the witness did not appear in Court, Mary Baker was acquitted. She was back before the Judge in July, this time for shoplifting 10 yards of ribbon from Edward Robson’s haberdasher. Mary was found guilty and received a sentence of 7 years transportation and placed on the Broxbornebury in 1814. BC: 1793 Sentenced: 14/07/1813 Middlesex [see trial records below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 21 1813 – Trial #1 - CATHEINE M'CAWLEY, Theft > grand larceny, 17th February 1813. 338. CATHEINE M'CAWLEY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 6th of February, a basket, value 1 s. and three pecks of apples, value 6 s. the property of Mary Ashley. The prosecutrix was called, and not appearing in court, the prisoner was ACQUITTED. Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder 1813 - Trial #2 - MARY BAKER, Theft > grand larceny, 14th July 1813. 800. MARY BAKER, alias CATHERINE M'CAWLEY, was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of June, ten yards of ribbon, value 2 s. the property of Edward Robson. MARTHA ROBSON. I am the wife of Edward Robson ; I keep a haberdasher's shop. On the 9th of June the prisoner came to our shop between five and six o'clock; she asked for some narrow ribbon. I shewed her a drawer of narrow ribbon. She said none of that suited her. She asked to look at another drawer. I put in the first drawer of ribbon before I took out the other. She did not approve of any thing in the second drawer. She staid some time. I asked her if there was nothing that suited her. She said, no, she had come for another person. She was in the shop ten or fifteen minutes. I asked her if any thing had dropped. She said, no. I looked at her hand; under it I saw a piece of narrow ribbon that had been in the drawer. That ribbon is worth about two shillings. I insisted upon seeing what was in her right hand. She drew her hand off the counter, and threw the ribbon behind the counter. My husband was behind the counter; he picked it up. She then said she did not throw it down. I know her person, and always suspected her. JURY. Was the ribbon on the counter - A. Yes, I saw it between her fingers. JAMES HODGES. I was going by the door; I was called in. The prisoner was charged with stealing this new ribbon. I searched her. She had no money about her, nor no pockets on. This is the ribbon; it was delivered to me in the shop. Prosecutrix. It is my ribbon. Prisoner's Defence. On the 9th of June, about six o'clock in the evening, I went into this shop to buy a bit of narrow ribbon. After she had shewn me the second drawer, she said, is not there a piece fallen down. I said, yes. I had not meddled with the ribbons, nor had I my hands in the drawer. I had money in my bosom. GUILTY, aged 19. Transported for Seven Years. Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org ) Certificate of Freedom 542 (indent) 1814 Muster: No record found 1819, 4 Dec. - Mary Baker & Walter Preston were indicted for stealing various articles of stationery, property of the Crown, on 20 Sep last. Walter was acquitted but Mary was found guilty & sent for 12 months to Newcastle. (Source: Sydney Gazette, Saturday 04/12/1819, p3) 1820, 23 March – Mary Baker, came per Broxbornebury, was tried at the Sydney Criminal Court on 2 Dec 1819 & sentenced to 1 year at Newcastle, per ship Lady Nelson. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6007; 4/3501 p311) 1821, 15 Feb. – Mary Baker per ship Broxbornebury, was tried by Wm. Minchin Esq. in Sydney & received a term in gaol of 6 months hard labour (crime not stated). She was admitted to gaol on 15/02/1821. (Source: www.ancestry.com.au SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930. Series 2514; Item 4/6360 ; Roll 850) 1822 Muster: No record found 1823-1825 Muster: Mary BAKER, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, wife of Benjamin Clear, Sydney (alias Mary Clearey) (10830) 1828 Census: Mary BAKER, 31, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, cath, housekeeper to Peter Clay, Kent St Sydney (B0131) (Peter CLAYS (?), 41, FS, England 1810, life, prot, shoemaker, Kent St [with no other family] NSW BDM: No record of marriage or death found for Mary. From the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info