Sarah Burgess

341

Maureen Withey on 9th February 2026

1817 Petition for mitigation of sentence. (Marked later C.P.) To His Excellency the Governor, General Macquarie. 1817 Petition of Sarah Burges, alias Jones, house keeper to John Russel, district Constable. Dutifully sheweth, That Petitioner was convicted at the Old Bailey June 1st 1809 for felony at the age of 19 and arrived here in the Ship Indispensible (Best, Master) a prisoner for Life , August 19 1809 and from that Period has continued Housekeeper to the said John Russel. That Petitioner was left a helpless Orphan deprived of a worthy Mother by the visiting Hand of Providence at the age of Eleven years, together with three Brothers and a Sister, Petitioner the Elder and shortly after her Mother’s Death, her Father was pressed, which threw the whole Dependence of her helpless family on Petitioner, and for their support induced her to commit an unlawful transgression on the Laws, for which Petitioner was transported to this Colony, that ...

341

Maureen Withey on 29th January 2023

NSW Convict Index. Sarah Burgess, alias Jones, per Indefatigable, 1809, Conditional Pardon, 31 Jan 1818. -------------------------------------------------- 12 Nov 1822. The humble petition of John Downing. Most respectfully showeth That Petitioner came to this Colony about four years ago in the ship General Stewart, captain Grainger, under the heavy sentence of Transportation for Life. That Petitioner has been in the service of Government until about two years ago when he was assigned to his wife, Sarah Downing, and has conducted himself with sobriety, Honesty and Industry. May it therefore please your Excellency to take Petitioner’s good Character into your consideration and be graciously pleased to grant him an Emancipation for which act of Clemency, Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. John Downing. Sydney 12 Nov 1822. --------------------------------------------------- 30 Sep 1824. On list of defaulters in payment for assigned convict tradesmen up to 30 Sep 1824 . The list shows that Sarah Downing, resident at Phillip Street, owes payment for 2 quarters for her assigned servant, John Downing, per General Stewart, a taylor. --------------------------------------------------- Sidney, October 3 1824. I hereby certify that Sarah, the wife of John Dowling, has been for the last three years subjected to frequent seizures of most severe indisposition; & has …. frequent recurrence of these seizures her constitution is so much inf…., that, in my opinion she is not capable of ….ing her own home. William Bland, Surgeon. --------------------------------------------------- 4 Oct 1824. The humble petition of Sarah Downing sheweth That Your Petitioner has been laboring under an extreme state of ill health for upwards of 2 years and a half and being deprived of the services of her husband, by reason of his being an assigned Government Servant to Mr John Woods, tailor of Hunter Street, your petitioner is reduced to great distress. Your petitioner hopes you will be humanely disposed to afford her that relief in the case which her necessities require. And petitioner will ever pray …. Petitioner begs to acknowledge contributions from the inhabitants at different periods, which have been recently withdrawn and is a stronger inducement for appealing to your humanity in her present state. --------------------------------------------------- Sarah's ill health continued and the couple separated. The following two reports in the papers: John Downing, on the complaint of not having paid a certain weekly stipend to his wife, from whom the prisoner was separated, came forward. It appeared the female, who is a remarkably delicate looking woman seemingly labouring under heavy sickness, had taken the opinion of the Bench on, a former occasion, who had ordered the prisoner to pay a certain sum weekly for the maintenance of his wife. He had neglected such order, and this was the ground of complaint. The Bench allowed him two days to make good the arrears due to complainant, and in default of payment informed the prisoner, they should deprive him of his ticket-of-leave, and return him to Government employ. The Monitor, 21 Jan 1828. -------------------------------------------------- John Downing, a prisoner of the Crown, holding a ticket-of-leave, was brought forward, on the complaint of his wife, under the following circumstances. Three years ago, the prisoner had abandoned his wife, who, not being able to maintain herself, complained to the Bench of Magistrates about six months since. After hearing the statement made to them, whereby the conduct of the prisoner appeared in an extremely unfavourable light, the Magistrates ordered that he should allow his wife a certain sum weekly, which he continued to pay for a short time and then discontinued, in consequence of which the unfortunate woman was in a state of absolute starvation. These facts were stated to the Bench on Saturday, and the prisoner ordered to attend, which order, however, he neglected to obey and was apprehended by a constable. The Bench directed that the prisoner's ticket-of-leave should be lodged in the office, and allowed him two days to pay the full amount of the arrears due to his wife, in default of which he should be returned to Government employ, which punishment, in the event of his escaping this time, would also be inflicted on the recurrence of a similar complaint. Sydney Gazette, 16 Jan 1828. -------------------------------------------------- The 1828 Census list them both separately: 1828 Census index. John Downing. Age 30 T.L. General Stewart, 1819, Life, protestant, Tailor, Timy. Arguish, King Street, Sydney. And Sarah Burgess, age 40, C.P. Indispensible 1809, Life, Catholic, House keeper, Philip St. Sydney.

341

Maureen Withey on 29th January 2023

Colonial Secretary Index. BURGESS, Sarah (Per "Indispensible", 1809) see also DOWNING, Sarah BURGESS, Sarah. Per "Indispensible", 1809 1817 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3175; 4/1850 pp.44-44b) 1821 Aug 6,7 Re permission to marry John Downing at Sydney (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.209) 1825 Jan 27 Re admission to the General Hospital (Reel 6014; 4/3513 p.333) 1825 Oct 18,27 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3244; 4/1873 pp.26-26c) DOWNING, Sarah. Per "Indispensible", 1809 as Sarah Burgess (which see also) 1822 Nov 12 Petition for mitigation of sentence by her husband John having been in her service for two years (Fiche 3216; 4/1865 p.26) 1822 Dec 18-1823 Jan 1 Michael Brown tried by Court of Criminal Jurisdiction for stealing from Downing (Reel 6023; X820 p.73) 1823 Jun 30, Sep 30 Of Phillip Street. On list of persons to whom convict mechanics have been assigned (Fiche 3296; X53 p.73) 1824 Jan 5 To be received into the General Hospital (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.118) 1824 Apr 3-1825 Jan 27 Re admission to the General Hospital Reel 6012, 4/3510 p.616; Reel 6014, 4/3513 p.333 & 4/3514 p.488) 1824 Apr 13 Of Pitt Street. On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3291; 4/4570D p.107) 1824 Apr 28 Of York Street. On list of individuals to whom bonded mechanics have been assigned (Fiche 3293; 5/3821.1 p.8) 1824 May 15 Husband John assigned to her. On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.32) 1824 Jun Petition for mitigation of sentence on behalf of her husband John. Includes extract of their marriage certificate (Fiche 3240; 4/1872 pp.38-38d) 1824 Jun 9 Her letter requesting that her husband receive a ticket of leave referred to the Acting Chief Engineer, Major Ovens (Reel 6013; 4/3511 p.405) 1824 c.Jul Of Phillip Street. On account of rents received for assigned convict tradesmen for the three quarters ending 30 Jun 1824 (Reel 6061; 4/1779 p.173b) 1824 Oct 3 William Bland, surgeon, attesting to her indisposition (Reel 6061; 4/1780 p.302) 1824 Oct 4 Extremely ill and seeks indulgence (Reel 6061; 4/1780 p.303) 1824 Oct 8 On list of defaulters in payment for assigned convict tradesmen up to 30 Sep 1824 (Fiche 3293; 5/3821.1 p.2) 1825 Wishing to be excused payment of the fee for husband John (Reel 6064; 4/1789 p.86)

341

Maureen Withey on 29th January 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 29 January 2023), June 1808, trial of SARAH BURGESS , alias JONES HANNAH GAGAN (t18080601-57). SARAH BURGESS, HANNAH GAGAN, Theft > shoplifting, 1st June 1808. 421. SARAH BURGESS , alias JONES , and HANNAH GAGAN were indicted for feloniously stealing on the 29th of April , twenty four yards of printed cambric, value 2 l. and fourteen yards of printed cotton, value 14 s. the property of Samuel Hoskins , privately in his shop . SAMUEL HOSKINS. I live at 222, Shadwell High street, in the parish of St. Paul, Shadwel , I am a linen draper . I can only speak to the property. ROBERT GREATHEAD . Q. You are shopman to Mr. Hoskins. - A. Yes. On the 29th of April, between six and seven o'clock, the two prisoners came into the shop together, they said they wanted a gown. Gagan had a brown great coat on and the other had a cloak on. The first thing that I shewed them was twenty four yards of buff printed cambric, they both made answer that they did not like a buff colour. I left it on the counter and proceeded to shew them many more; I found a great difficulty in finding one to please them, but at last after giving a great deal of trouble they fixed upon one pattern; they did not want to take the gown with them but to pay three shillings on account, and laid the gown by till the rest should be duly paid. Q. What was it to come to - A. Seven yards at one shilling, and ten pence a yard; the next morning I missed this twenty four yards of buff printed cambric; we were shutting up the shop when they came in, and we had no person in after them nor the next morning; there were some customers in at the same time, people that we knew very well; they left before they went; one of them lived with us, and the other is a responsible tradesman. Q. What time did you miss it the next morning - A. Between seven and eight o'clock. Q. Did you ever find the things again - A. They have owned to it, but we have never found it; about that day three weeks, the prisoner Gagan came in, she wanted a piece of cotton for a frock; I knew her again. I took the identical pattern which they had laid by; I asked her if she and another person had not laid that by, leaving three shillings on account; she said that Burgess did, she added that she had not spoke to her for a fortnight. I saw that she was affected; I told her that evening they were there I missed this twenty four yards of printed cambric; I told her I had given a description of both the persons that they might be apprehended in case I might be out of the way; that I was very glad I had the opportunity of apprehending her myself; I should send for an officer and have her taken in custody; the officer was sent for, and before he came she confessed to me that she did not steal this but the other prisoner Burgess stole it; that she did not know that she stole it till she crossed the street, and that she shewed it to her, and when she saw if she advised Burgess to take it back again. Burgess told her to mind her own business; when the officer came she gave information where Burgess was to be found, but it was not a true one. Q. You never found the piece have you - A. We found fourteen yards more which they stole the same evening, it is in the court now. The prisoner Burgess before the magistrate convicted the other of stealing one gown on her back, and one in pawn which we have brought forward. Q. Who was the other person in the shop - A. The boy which we have not brought here. Burgess. The print that he had at the pawnbrokers, which is seven yards, I bought on Ludgate hill; I told him that I had a ticket that I had lost, and when he saw that seven yards, he said it was his property. RBOERT BROWN. On the 20th of May, I was sent for to Mr. Hoskins to take a woman into custody; I found Gagan in the shop, he said that was the woman I was to take in custody; I asked her where she lived, she said in Bell court, Bell alley, Golden lane; Mr. Greathead said there was another woman concerned in the robbery; she told me if I would go to the corner of Long alley, at a pawnbrokers, I should find a person of the name of Burgess; we could find no such person there, she misled us; I received information from a woman in Bell court, that Burgess was at the George, in Compton street, Clerkenwell, there I found her; we then proceeded to a pawnbrokers on Snow hill. I searched her at the public house, and found some duplicates; we could find no property of Mr. Hoskins, we took them before the magistrate. Gagan acknowledged that she was there, that Burgess had taken the piece of print; she went across the way, she immediately asked her what she had got there, and desired her to take it back; Burgess told her to mind her own business; we had a hard matter to keep Burgess quite till Gagan was done; the magistrate asked Burgess what she had to say, she said that good for nothing hussey has told against me; that night she stole fourteen yards of print out of the shop; that gown on her back is part of it; and the other part is in pawn for seven shillings at the pawnbrokers Wellclose square. I will go and shew you where it is; accordingly I went there with Burgess, and there we found seven yards of print pledged for seven shillings; we could trace nothing of the twenty four yards. Burgess said she believed the other must have lost it. Q. When Gagan accused Burgess with stealing the twenty four yards, did she deny it - A. She said that Gagan stole it. Q. When Burgess said that Gagan stole the fourteen yards, what did Gagan say to that - A. She did not deny it. Burgess. I told him I had one ticket which I had lost. I shewed him where it was in pledge, seven yards for seven shillings. JAMES DALEY. I am a pawnbroker, No. 5, Shipalley, Well close square. Q. What is your master's name - A. Gideon Grisdall . The prisoners both came together; I took it in pledge on the 29th of April; seven yards of print for seven shillings, in the name of Mary Jones ; I am sure these are the two women; I gave them a duplicate. Gagan's Defence. I bought the gown on Ludgate hill, I gave eighteen pence a yard for it; he asked me whether I had not a gown put by, he said did I not take a piece of cotton; he said if I would only own to taking of the cotton he would take four shillings a week for it; I told him I could do no such thing, I never had it. Greathead. I know the pattern very well; there were exactly fourteen yards of it; I am sure it was our own cotton, they had divided it exactly; we went immediately and saw the cotton was gone; they had tore the fag end off. Burgess's Defence. I bought that cotton and gave eighteen pence a yard for it on Ludgate hill; this young woman bought a gown about a fortnight before, she gave me a pattern when I bought mine; I pledged it on purpose to pay off another; and when I saw another that I liked better, I paid three shillings off it. He told me he kept them in general six months; I told him I should fetch it between this and Whitsuntide. Q.(to Greathead.) What is the worth of the cotton - A. About two shillings and two pence a yard. BURGESS, GUILTY, DEATH , aged 20. GAGAN, GUILTY, DEATH , aged 20. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder.