Eleanor Craddock

221

D Wong on 22nd March 2020

https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/petitions/EleanorCraddock_Hope.pdf Petitions of Thomas and Eleanor Craddock. After being sentenced to transportation, convicts could petition the Government for a reprieve. Irish Transportation Record, Eleanor Craddock & Thomas Craddock CRF 1842 C15 Film 46 Stamped Chief Secretary’s Office Dublin 42 MAR 2 Mr Connors written up the side Whitehall 28 Feby 1842 Sir, I am directed by Secretary Sir James Graham to transmit to you, the enclosed papers on behalf of Thomas Craddock – a Convict under Sentence of Fourteen Years Transportation in Galway Gaol:- and I am to request you to submit the same to the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and acquaint the applicant with the result thereof.- I am Sir Your most obedient Humble Secretary [JM Phillips?] E. Lucas Esq etc etc etc ***** I Certify I have known Thomas Craddock many years in the Parish and Consider him a sober honest and a Very industrious Man, given under my hand this 4th day of January 1842 Ed Duffy P.P. of [Tohina?] ***** I Certify I have known Thomas Craddock of Ballynahinch for many years that he has lived very convenient to my Residence that he has been occasionally in my employment that I always found him a strictly Honest Correct and Industrious man. That with the greatest degree of Astonishment and doubt I have heard of the charge lately brought against him and for which he now lies in Gaol under Sentence of Transportation as he is one of the last men I would consider Guilty of such an offence – that under all the circumstances that I have Heard I think fair and reasonable grounds exist for a memorial in his behalf to the Lord Lieutenant for a Mitigation of his Sentence Given under my Hand at [B ] [......] Jany 17th 1842 John [Connolly?] ***** Most Noble Queen of England Victoria and [best?] of Governments, Inclosed is the affe of a young little Girl that was seduced to swear against my Husband falsely and under such falsehood he is now in Galway Gaol for fourteen years transportation from me and my lovg Family on false swearing but the Prosecutor swears now she wronged my husband Thos. Craddock Most Noble Queen and English Government I Enclose ye, the affts Sworn And in Honour to God order my Husband out of Gaol as he is Innocent, the High Constable Joins me in certifying the facts, which is Francis Davis Esqre Hamstead I pray a letter to Poor Memorialist Directed to Mrs Thos Craddock Kilconnel Post Office County of Galway Ireland 17th Feby 1842 I also enclose the Characters of John Connolly Esqre and of my Parish Priest I have the Honour Most Noble Queen to remain your obedient servt Mary Craddock To the Most Noble Queen of England and its Liberties White Hall London Mrs Mary Craddock Pardon for her Husband Febry 1842 Home Office ***** County of Galway to with } By two of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for Said County - - - [Whereas?]Mary Ward of Cloonkeen in the Barony of Clonmacnowen in Said County age in or about fifteen years came before us this Day and maketh her Solemn oath on the Holy evangelist and saith she has got a remorse of Conscience from falsely Prosecuting Thomas Craddock of the Parish of Fenora [Kilfenora] in the barony of Kilconnel and Said County at the last General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held in December 1841 at Loughrea in Said County and on such false prosecution purporting to have robed her grand Father Laurence Ward of fifteen pounds sterling then and there said Thos Craddock was found Guilty and sentenced fourteen years transportation and so was a woman called Elenor Craddock under same Charge = Prosecutor Mary Ward first swears, that Elenor Craddock now in the County Galway Gaol is Guilty of Robbing her grand father Laurence Ward, that Thomas Craddock is Innocent and had neither act part or knowledge of said Robbery and Prosecutor xxxxxx Declares it was Elenor Craddock caused her to Prosecute the Innocent Thos. Craddock he being snug thinking he might pay the money sooner than stand his trial prosecutor further swears, she is not able to walk from the Remorse upon her from falsely Prosecuting said Thomas Craddock. - Taken and sworn before us two of her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for said County 6th day of February 1842. Cole Dillan [.] JP. For said County Martin Kirwan J.P. for said County Truly read and fairly explained to Deponent Mary Ward x (her mark) ***** Eleanor and Thomas Craddock Receiving stolen money [..] Transportn Commute Thomas Craddocks sentence to 3 years imprisonment Signature 1842 1. Mr Freeman ansd 11th/42 11. Order prepared – do Another application annexed 2 Aug /42 3 rd Aug 1842 Gaoler informd do The law to make its course Rev Ewd Daffy wrote the meml. Of 20 July last, the [...] from him which as forwarded to the Lord Lieutt was [probably?] a forgery? ...... 23 Septr 1842 I think there should not be any further mitigation of the Prisoners sentences I.G.A. Gaoler informd do 24th AWL This case has been twice under consideration and no grounds are stated for a further mitigation of the sentence that [...] [...] before the Lord Lieutenant & [..] E. Langdon Signature 22 [....] 42 ***** Stamped Chief Secretary’s Office 42 MAR ? Mr Connors written up the side. [........] 6 March 1842 Sir, I accordance with your desire, communed to me in your letter of the 4th of March, I have the honor to acquaint for his Excellency’s information, with the particulars of Thomas Craddock’s case. Eleanor Craddock & Thomas Craddock were indicted for receiving £10, a purse & [some?] wearing apparel knowing them to be stolen. The first witness was Margaret Ward, who swore that she & her husband had by care & industry saved a sum of 27L in sovereigns & guineas, & that she kept in a box in her house, under lock & key. That the only [.....] were herself & her husband, & a little girl her grand daughter, Mary Ward. That Mary Ward gave her back 5 Sovs. & 5 [shillings?] Mary Ward was next examined (10 or 11 years of age). Her evidence was, that she became intimate with the prisoner Eleanor who told her to insult her grandmother & grandfather & make them dislike her. That they had a pair of scissors attached to the key of the box, where the money was. That the prisoner Eleanor made her believe that if she Mary could get the money out of the box, the prisoner would go with her to America & that she & her brother to freedom?]. Thomas and Mary Ward would all live together there. That induced greater representations. Mary Ward stole the keys from her grandmother, and the prisoner Eleanor to whom they were given went to [Balunach?] (Ballynahinch?) to a pawn broker, to endeavour to process a key to match the key of the box, that she returned, & said she failed, and that Eleanor, then sent Mary Ward to borrow the scissors to which the key was attached, that old Thos Ward having lent the scissors, Eleanor had a false key made from the one attached to them, which she afterwards gave to Mary Ward, who took the money out of the box, and gave some of the money to Eleanor for herself and [......] for the prisoner Thomas, who was to [....] it until all went to America, & then use it on their general account. That 1 sovereign was to be given to a person by the name of [Crampwell?]. That the prisoner Eleanor then induced her Mary to abscond with her to the County of Tipperary. That Eleanor bought some things for Mary Ward, which were of low value. That she returned with Eleanor afterwards to Galway, & that as the prisoner Eleanor came near a deep bog hole on the verge of which was a turf stack She began to open the end of the stack next to bog hole & cried out that [..] was rotted, & asked the child to assist her, that Mary Ward became [frightened?] and came away - and it appeared to her that the fear was not without grounds, as I have like doubt that the object was to murder the child. [Crampwell?/Crasswell?] to whom the sovereign was given told Ward & his wife which led to the discovery. Thomas Wards house was searched by the police. In the box some sovereigns Mary Craddocks clothes, & a purse which she identified as Eleanors found in it.- Thomas Craddock said the box was his. Crampwell was also examined, also swore that Eleanor said to him, if her admitted the receipt of the sovereign the girl would be transported. This witness duly corroborated Mary Ward, whose evidence was given in a manner strongly to impress the conviction of its truth. [from? [the?] whole of the case altho I think Thomas the memorialist was involved in the transaction after it became highly criminal, I do not think he was engaged in its original arrangement. and as the principal Eleanor has been sentenced also to 14 years Transportation I think the ends of justice would be answered by commuting Thomas sentence to such period of imprisonment his country may approve of. I have the honor to be your obedient servant Wm Dean Freeman ***** [Hoarny?] near Killconnell 20th July 1842 Your Excellency Earl De Gray Lord Lieutenant Governor and General Governor of Ireland With the Highest Respect and very Humble Submission I beg leave to address your Excellency under a grievious(sic) circumstance in the Matter of one of my Parishioners by name Thos Craddock, that I am acquainted with sine my appointment as Parish Priest these several years Back – He had been charged for Robbery tryed at Loughrea Quarter Sessions found guilty. He and Eleanor Craddock sentenced fourteen years Transportation I understand Memorials were sent to your Excellency respecting his Innocence which caused him not to be transported but three years Imprisonment in Galway Gaol. I pledge Myself to your Excellency as a Clergyman that Thos. Craddock was not concerned in the Robbery Quite Innocent of it, He is a quite honest man striving to support a long helpless family with his Horse and Cart. It was Eleanor Craddock and the Prosecutor that committed the robbery and very justly Eleanor was Transported. In charity and in the Eyes of God to do justice I take the Liberty of applying to your Excellency Praying youe Excellency will order the Lord and Judge of Assizes now to be at Galway to Liberate Innocent Thos Craddock, and let him home to his long helpless Family and for same I shall for ever Pray with due respect and Submission. I have the Honour tobe and the Honour to remain the Humble and very obedt Servt of your Excellency Edwd Duffy P.P. [Hoarny?] Sent by ......... Wheatley to the ....... Office Received at Dublin Sept 17/42 Signature Killconnel County of Galway Ireland 10th September 1842 Most Noble Victoria Queen of England Ireland and Scotland, Best of Gentry Magistrates and Clergymen has applied to the English and Irish Government for to take my Husband Thos Craddock out of Galway Gaol that is confined there for three years Imprisonment since October 1841. The whole Country at large Knows he is Innocent, which made respectable persons seek for his Discharge. The English Government wrote over that it Belonged to the Irish Government who were applied to and as making no answer. I am his poor Wife with Eight children has now the Honour to apply to our Noble Queen Victoria seeking to release My Husband – And May the Lord of Glory protect Prince Albert for her and Her young Prince of Wales. Which shall Always be the constant prayer of the very Humble Servt of Noble Victoria = who is Honoria Craddock ***** Honoria Craddock Sept 10 42 Release of husband From Galway Jail. Eleanor Craddock was born C1792 and listed as 50 years old on arrival. Occupation: House and Kitchen servant. Place of Birth: Co. Galway. Eleanor was 4'11½" tall, brown complexion, dark brown hair, grey eyes, mole on left shoulder. Single, a widow with 2 children. 5/7/1843: Permission to marry William Jex (Argyle 1831) No registration found. 2/12/1845: TOL 31/3/1846: Permission to marry Richard Barnett (free) {the only candidate arrived per Woodford 1828} both residing in Green Ponds. 27/4/1846: Married at the Parish Church, Brighton, Tas. Richard was listed as 29, a labourer and Eleanor was listed as Ellen Cradock, aged 37?? (there's a lot of discrepancies on her age, dates of 1792 and 1798 have been listed) a widow holding a TOL. Richard was born C1808 so he would have been about 38 when married. Richard died 20/7/1900 aged 84 at the New Town Charitable Institution. 1/5/1847: Recommended for a CP. 4/7/1848: CP approved. 3/3/1883: Ellen Barnett died at Green Ponds, aged 85, of Diarrhoea - labourers wife - Richard Barnett was the informant and made his mark.