Thomas Sharp Burkitt

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 12th March 2021

New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Burials, 1835 Name; Thomas Burkett Abode; Parramatta When buried; 27 Oct 1836 Age; 26 years Ship’s Name; ------------- Quality or profession. Prisoners Hospital Convict Death Register; 2 entries 1. Thomas Burkett. Ship; England. Age; 41 [1795]. Date; 22 Oct 1836. Parramatta Hospital. Ship; England. Capt Jevesy. 28th Reg. 2. Thomas Burkett; Ship; England. Age; 34. Date; 25 Oct 1836. Hospital Paramatta. M Anderson, Surgeon

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 12th March 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship; Indent No; 40 Name; S Thos. Burkett. Age; 21 Protestant, Single Native Place; London Trade or calling; Clerk & servant Trial where & Date; Privately stealing - London - 28 Oct 1825 Sentence; 7 years Height; 5 ft. 1 1/4 in Eyes; Hazel Hair; Lt. Brown Completion; Fresh freckled Remarks; DIED; in Hospital at Parramatta. 25 October 1836.

23

Mary Felgate on 25th April 2019

Thomas Sharp Burkitt was born at Hoxton Square, London, on the 14th October, and baptised at home on the 18th November 1804, the 5th of 8 children born to William Burkitt, a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange, and Christian Burkitt, (Nee Sharp). His mother's family were Muslin Manufacturers of the firm Brown, Sharp & Company of Paisley and London. Thomas's father a died a Bankrupt in Tobago, West Indies, when Thomas was 10 years old. Thomas came from 2 respectable families, but none the less, for no known reason, in 1825 he stole clothing from a lodging house in which he had stayed in London. OLD BAILEY TRIAL RECORDS No. 1690. THOMAS SHARP BURKETT (sic) was indicted for stealing, on the 27th of September , a crape scarf, value 30 s.; a lace veil, value 20 s.; two pairs of trowsers, value 20 s., and a handkerchief, value 20 s , the goods of William Elliott . MR. ROBERTS conducted the prosecution. ISABELLA ELLIOTT . I am the wife of William Elliott, an innkeeper of Bishopsgate-street ; the prisoner came to our house on the night of the 27th of September, and asked for lodgings; he had a coat and a dressing-case in his hand, and a porter with him carrying a trunk; he said he had lived in Spitalfields, but had lately been in the country, and was going to Hertfordshire the next day; he slept there that night; he came down in the morning: he said he had slept too late, and should go by the afternoon's coach; he then went out, and did not return; the next day I wanted some articles out of the drawers in the room where he had slept, and then missed these articles; I afterwards had the prisoner's trunk opened, which had remained in my house; I found some of my articles there; I gave an account of this to the officer, and described his person and name, which was on some of his things, he was apprehended, and this handkerchief found in his hat. JAMES LATTER . I live with Alexander Purse ; he is a pawnbroker in London-wall; I have two pairs of trousers which were pawned by the prisoner on the 28th of September; I am positive of his person. CHARLES WORLY . I am a pawnbroker; I have a scarf and a lace veil, pawned by the prisoner on the 28th of September; I put several questions to him, and am positive of his person. WILLIAM COX . I am a constable; I received information, and took the prisoner; I found a handkerchief in his hat, which he said belonged to Mr. Elliott. (Property produced and sworn to.) GUILTY . Aged 21. Transported for Seven Years . EXTRACT FROM "THE TIMES". London, Saturday 29th October, 1825. OLD BAILEY NEW COURT, Friday October 28th (Before Mr Sergeant Arabin and a Middlesex Jury) "Thomas Sharpe Burkitt was indicted for stealing various articles of wearing apparel, the property of William Elliott. From the evidence it appeared that a short time back the prisoner, in the dress of a person who had just ended a journey, and followed by a porter, carrying a portmanteau, came to the prosecutor's house (an eating-house in Bishopsgate street,) and took breakfast, dinner, and tea there. He likewise slept in the house, and after breakfasting in the morning, went out, saying he would return in the evening and take away his portmanteau, and pay his bill. He, however, did not make his appearance in the evening, and the prosecutor then discovered that the prisoner had taken from a chest of drawers in the room in which he slept, various articles of female dress. It was proved that the prisoner had pledged some of the stolen property at different pawnbrokers". The Jury found him Guilty. The Court observed that the prisoner's relations were very respectable; to prevent them from being further disgraced by the prisoner, the sentence upon him would be transportation for life. No other case of any interest occurred up to 3 o'clock, when the Court adjourned to five, for the London Jury cases." (The above report is at variance with the sentence recorded in the Old Bailey Trial Record) Thomas's Gaol Report states he reads and writes well, and is a Clerk. He was aged 21 and unmarried. It states his behavior was "Of depraved habits". The "Ganymede" Hulk Report says he was "Orderly here". Thomas was transported on the"England 1" which sailed on the 6th May 1826 from Downs, London. The voyage took 135 days, arriving in Sydney 18th September 1826. The Surgeon's Report of the Transport "England 1" also records Thomas as orderly. There was some unruly behaviour by some prisoners, only minor ailments and no deaths on board. The Convict Indent records no former convictions. He was 5ft. 1 inch tall. Fresh & freckled complexion. Brown hair & hazel eyes. Had a scar on the right eyebrow and a scar on the right side of his head.. We do not know to whom Thomas was assigned on arrival in Sydney. We do know Thomas absconded from his allotted place of servitude at Patrick Plains and was convicted as a Runaway by McIntyre at or from Patrick Plains on the 12th November 1827 for which he received 40 days. Thomas was then ordered to Iron Gang 28 situated at Wallis Plains, (present day Maitland), Hunters River on the Gt. North Rd. He was still on Iron Gang 28 when the Census was taken in November 1828. Thomas was granted his Certificate of Freedom on the 14th November 1832. Thomas had 3 years of freedom during which time he worked for Solicitor Mr Norton for 16 months. Thomas was then employed as a Collecting Clerk for Mr. Thomas Thompson, a Butcher, of Market Street, Sydney. Only 4 days after commencing work there Thomas was sent out to collect money owed by customers. The amount was just over £6, which he then "lost". Thomas was afraid to go back to Mr. Thompson without the money and when he was late for work next day Mr. Thompson went to the Police. Thomas was tried for embezzlement in the Quarter Sessions Court on the 12th December 1835. In spite of a good character reference from Mr Norton, whom it was revealed he had known in England, and who had obtained a passage back there for Thomas, he was found Guilty and sentenced to 12 calendar months on an Iron Gang. Thomas did not serve out his sentence. He died at Parramatta Hospital on the 25th October the following year and was buried at St. John's Cemetery, Parramatta, on the 27th October 1836 aged 32. Thomas Burkitt was recorded as "late of the Female Factory hospital" when his death was entered in the Convict Death Register in 1836. No marriage has been found for him.