Sarah Baker

53

Beth Taylor on 30th September 2019

BAKER, Sarah (c1796-?) Tried - 16 Sept 1812 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Sarah was only 16 years-old when she was charged with stealing two brooches, a ring, an umbrella, a pair of shoes and £13 belonging to Thomas Mason of 51 Great Portman Street, Mary-le-bone in London. Sarah had been employed as Mr Mason’s servant for only 3 weeks in 1812 when she left suddenly early one morning and he found his cupboard had been forcibly opened and his things were missing. Mr Mason said at Sarah’s trial: “she had been insolent some days before, and on the Friday, I told her she should go when her month was up.” Sarah was found by her employer “on the top of the coach at Aldgate; she was going into the country” and taken to the Old Bailey Court. Some of the stolen articles were found on her and Sarah said to the Judge: “I would wish to have the property I am going to suffer for.” She received a sentence of 7 years transportation. Sarah was first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the Emu and finally reached Sydney in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. BC: 1796 Sentenced: 14/09/1812 Middlesex [see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing to the value of 39 shillings only Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent (Broxbornebury): 18 1812 - SARAH BAKER, Theft > theft from a specified place, 16th September 1812. 649. SARAH BAKER was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of August, in the dwelling house of Thomas Masson, two broaches, value 2 s. a ring, value 5 s. an umbrella, value 3 s. a pair of shoes, value 3 s. three one pound bank notes, and a ten pound banknote, the property of Thomas Masson. THOMAS MASSON. I live at 51, Great Portman-street, in the parish of Mary-le-bone. I am the housekeeper there. The prisoner lived in my service three weeks all but two days; she left my house on Sunday morning, the 9th of August, about half after six in the morning, as near as I can guess. Q. Did you know, before hand, of her intention of going - A. She had been insolent some days before, and on the Friday, I told her she should go when her month was up. I did not know of her going on that day. I missed her on the 9th of August, about half past seven; and about 11 o'clock the same day, I missed a ten pound note, and I think three one pound notes, from the cabinet in the parlour, out of my pocketbook. Q. Was your pocket-book gone, or only the notes - A. Only the notes; the cabinet was usually kept locked; I had unlocked it two or three times in the morning, before I missed it. After I missed the notes, I saw some little splinters; then I saw that the lock had been forced, and shoved back again. I went for an officer. Q. Did you afterwards take the prisoner - A. I did. I found her on the top of the coach at Aldgate; she was going into the country, I told her that she must come down. She delivered up to Mr. Jackson the two broaches and the ring. I asked her for the notes; she delivered me a one pound note; she said she had not got the ten pound note; she had not taken the ten pound note, it was a five pound note. Q. Was there any five pound note in your pocketbook - A. No. I am certain of that. Q. When had you last seen that property - A. Between four and six o'clock on the Saturday. We got a coach and took her to Bowstreet. I asked her how she came to do it; she said she did not know. She said she had laid out four pounds, and had got one-pound out of the five pound note, at Monmouth-street; she passed it for a five pound note. That person is not here. The broach and ring were in the cabinet. I had not seen them for a week or ten days. I am not positive of seeing them in the course of the week. Q. Therefore, whether they were in the cabinet on the Saturday night, or whether they had been taken before, you cannot say - A. I cannot, and the great coat was certainly taken before the Saturday; she had a great coat, and this umbrella was with her on the coach. I had seen the umbrella on the Saturday night. I have got the broach and ring here, the ring is marked S. M. that is my wife's initials. I know the broach and ring to be my wife's. Q. Had you a character with her - A. No, I had not. THOMAS JACKSON. I was with Mr. Masson, I asked the prisoner about the broach and how she came to take them; she said she did not know; she said she got the place open with an old knife. She gave up to me the broach and the ring and a one pound note; she said she had not a ten pound note, it was a five, she gave it to a woman in Monmouth-street that she had bought some gowns of. THOMAS LIMBRICK. I am one of the patrols of Bow-street. I apprehended the prisoner. Prisoner's Defence. I would wish to have the property I am going to suffer for. GUILTY, aged 16, Of stealing to the value of 39 s. only. Transported for Seven Years. Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Bailey. (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org) ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 Certificate of Freedom 2292 (indent) 1814 Muster: Sarah BAKER, Broxbornebury, con, on stores, factory, Parra (3296) 1815, 25 March – Sarah Baker per Broxbornebury, has permission from the Governor to marry William Wile/Mile/Nile, came per Hillsboro 2, at Windsor, by Rev Cartwright. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6004; 4/3493 p501) [no record found of this marriage] 1819, 3 May – Sarah Baker, prisoner, has permission to marry James Bevin/Byrne, prisoner per Chapman, by Rev Fulton. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6006; 4/3500 p100) 1819, 26 May – Sarah Baker, still a prisoner, was convicted by D’Arcy Wentworth Esq on 25 May 1819 & sentenced for 1 year to Newcastle per ship Elizabeth Henrietta. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6006; 4/3500 p125) [Crime not stated. How did she marry in September this year if she was at Newcastle?] 1819, 31 August – Sarah Baker, convict per Broxbornebury, was at Newcastle & appeared on a list of prisoners who were claiming their original sentence had expired. She had been sentenced in London in Sep. 1812 with a 7 year term. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6006; 4/3500 p.235) 1819 - Sarah Baker married James Byrne at St Philips C of E Sydney on 25 Sep 1819. (V1819-2421-3A) [Note: James Byrne (or Burne) (c1798-1838) arr Sydney on the ship Chapman I from Ireland on the 26 July 1817. He had been tried at the City of Dublin on 17 Dec 1816 & received a 7 year sentence. He was a native of Wexford, aged 19 (bc 1798), 5’4” tall, with fair complexion, brown hair & hazel eyes, occupation carpenter’s apprentice.] 1822 Muster: Sarah BAKER, Broxbornebury, FBS, 7 years, Parra (A00712) James BYRNE, Chapman, con, 7 years, General Hospital, Parra (A03026) 1823-1825 Muster: Sarah BAKER, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, wife of James Burn (?), Sydney (11082) & husband - James BYRNE, FS, Chapman 1817, 7 years, carpenter, Liverpool (14328) 1823 – James BURNE received his COF dated 18/12/1823. “Lame of left foot” #56/1695. 1828 Census: Sarah BYRNE, 31, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, cath, (B3770) wife to – James BYRNE, 31, FS, Chapman I 1817, 7 years, cath, publican Gloucester St Sydney *(B3769) [also owned 30 cattle] 1828 to 1841 - BYRNE James Publican Gloucester St. 1828 BYRNE James Publican 10 Gloucester St. 1830 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Cambridge St. 1831 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Cambridge St. 1832 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Cambridge St. 1833 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick / New St Patrick Gloucester St. 1834 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Gloucester St. 1835 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Gloucester St. 1836 BYRNE James Publican St Patrick Cambridge St. 1837 BYRNE Sarah Publican St Patrick Sydney / Gloucester St. 1838 BYRNE Sarah Publican St Patrick Gloucester St. 1839 BYRNE Sarah Publican Globe Castlereagh St. 1839 BYRNE Sarah Publican St Patrick Sydney 1840 BYRNE Sarah Publican St Patrick Sydney 1841 (Source: Earliest Pubs in Sydney (CBD) 1788 to 1848: Index to Sources & Listed by Name of Publican & Pub, Vol. 1 (2010), by Elizabeth Hook) 1838 - James Byrne aged 40 died in Sydney on 04/02/1838 (V1838-3065-22) “DEATH. On Sunday last, the 4th instant, Mr James Byrne, Publican, Gloucester-street, after a long and painful illness — regretted by a numerous circle of friends.” (Source: The Australian, 09/02/1838, p3) 1846 – “TO LET, that old established Public House, formerly known by the sign of Saint Patrick, and kept by Mrs. Sarah Byrne for many years. This house is situated in Gloucester- treet, Sydney, and commands a good run of business, and is at present known as the sign of the Punch Bowl Inn. The only reason that the present proprietor ascribes for leaving, is on account of his family's ill health. For particulars apply to Mr. A. Finn on the premises, from 8 to 10 in the morning. ANTHONY FINN.” (Source: SMH, 15/04/1846, p4) Date of death for Sarah Byrne (or Burne), nee Baker not known. Notes 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

53

Beth Taylor on 31st July 2019

Sarah was only 16 years-old when she was charged with stealing two brooches, a ring, an umbrella, a pair of shoes and £13 belonging to Thomas Mason of 51 Great Portman Street, Mary-le-bone in London. Sarah had been employed as Mr Mason’s servant for only 3 weeks in 1812 when she left suddenly early one morning and he found his cupboard had been forcibly opened and his things were missing. Mr Mason said at Sarah’s trial: “she had been insolent some days before, and on the Friday, I told her she should go when her month was up.” Sarah was found by her employer “on the top of the coach at Aldgate; she was going into the country” and taken to the Old Bailey Court. Some of the stolen articles were found on her and Sarah said to the Judge: “I would wish to have the property I am going to suffer for.” She received a sentence of 7 years transportation.