Margaret Cunningham

53

Beth Taylor on 25th October 2019

CUNNINGHAM, Margaret (c1766-?) (Mrs, maiden name unknown) Tried - 21 March 1812 Lancaster Lent Assize Margaret was sentenced at Lancaster Assize Court in 1812 for uttering forged Bank of England notes. She had entered Mr Quirk’s pawn-broker in Bridgewater St., Liverpool and made an offer to buy two blankets and a man’s coat. She had been a housekeeper and gave her address as Blundell Street and it was said that she was married to Nicholas Cunningham (?-?). At the conclusion of the trial “the Judge was pleased to reprieve the whole of those condemned before he left the town.” Margaret’s death sentence was commuted to transportation for life to New South Wales. The gaoler was given instructions to provide the female prisoners from Lancaster extra clothing for the journey, such as shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs, shifts and a jacket. Margaret was first placed on the ship Emu & finally reached there in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. She was one of the oldest convict women, then aged about 48. BC: 1766 Sentenced: 21/03/1812 at Lancaster Assize [see trial record from newspaper], sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life “Lancaster Lent Assize. Our Assizes did not conclude, at the Crown side, till yesterday morning, when the Hon. Baron Thomson passed the awful sentence of death on six prisoners, viz. Charles Sefton (aged 27), convicted last Assize for burglary; Margaret Cunningham (35) and Martha Entwisle (42) for uttering forged Bank notes; Marg. Cloyd (50) for sacrilege; and James Robinson (19) and Edmund Chadwick alias Barrow (25) for stealing cows. The following are the sentences of the other prisoners. Bella Janson (37) and Ann Lord (32) for robbing bleaching grounds; Thomas Rawstone (38) for having forged notes in his possession; and Mary Gleaves (35) for receiving stolen goods – fourteen years transportation….Jane White (28)…Daniel McLeece (54) for divers felonies, Seven years transportation….Thomas Gleaves (29) for manslaughter. Fined 1s and one months imprisonment…The Judge was pleased to reprieve the whole of those condemned before he left the town.” (Source: Lancaster Gazette, 04/04/1812, p3 & Supplement, 02/05/1812) Crime: Uttering a forged bank note (Source: HO 27 Criminal Register Index 1805-1816 Lancashire, Vol. 23, by Stuart Tamblin, CDROM) ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 1812 - “Whitehall, 24 Sept. 1812 Sir, The Ship Emu which is appointed to convey Convicts to New South Wales, is lying at Woolwich in readiness to receive the Female Convicts named in the Margin; I am therefore to signify to you His Royal Highness the Prince Regent’s Pleasure in the Name and on Behalf of His Majesty that you do, on or before the 2 Oct. next, cause such Convicts to be removed from the Gaol at Lancaster on board that Ship, if their Heath should be such as to allow of heir Sentences being carried into Execution; and that each Convict be cleanly and properly cloathed (sic), as also provided with the additional Articles of Wearing Apparel under mentioned, and accompanied with a Surgeon’s Certificate of their being free from any infectious Sistemper, and in other Respects in a good State of Health, otherwise they will not be received on board, but will be returned to the Person who brings them. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, [Lord] Sidmouth One spare Jacket or Gown One spare Petticoat Two spare Shifts Two spare Handkerchiefs Two spare Pare of Stockings One spare pair of Shoes Isabella Anderson Ann Best Alice Tomlinson Margaret Procter Jane White Martha Entwistle Mary Cunningham Ann Lord Bella Janson Mary Gleaves Recd. from Thos. Bunce (?) Keeper of HM Gaol Lancaster, the 10 Convicts who are mentioned in the Margin. John Brown” (Source: Copy of document from Lancaster Castle Archive # TRAN/25) Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Age on Convict Indent (Broxbornebury): 48 Ticket of Leave 1035 (indent) 1814 Muster: Margaret CUNNINGHAM, Broxbornebury, con, on stores, FF, Parra (3305) 1818, 26 Jan. & 2 Feb. – Margaret Cunningham petitioned the Gov for permission to marry prisoner, William Henson (or Steenson/Stinson) (c1771-?), came by ship Archduke Charles. The letter was written by Rev Cartwright. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters sent Reel 6006; 4/3498 p25) 1818 - No record found for the marriage of Margaret Cunningham and William Stenson in 1818. [Note: there was a Margaret Cayton (sic) wed James Stinson at St Johns Church Parra in 1819. This man was also a convict on the Archduke Charles, however had a life term and was from County Tyrone Ireland & bc1790. He died at Richmond in 1863. The bride had arr per ship Canada] 1820 - William Stinson, of Parramatta wrote a Memorial to the Gov asking for land (40 acres was written). He stated that his term had expired, he had previously worked for 2 years for the Henry Fulton JP & was now a servant to Sir John Jamison [also travelled on the Broxbornebury]. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Memorials: Fiche 3032; 4/1825B No. 716, pp737-40) 1822 – Margaret petitioned for mitigation of her sentence. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions: Fiche 3215; 4/1864 p141) [Note: There is no record of a pardon for Margaret] 1822 Muster: Margaret CUNNINGHAM, TL, Broxbornebury, life, Parra (A05170) 1823-1825 Muster: Margaret CUNNINGHAM, TL, Broxbornebury, life, resident Parra (17734) William STEENSON (sic), FS, Archduke Charles 1813, 7 years, landholder, Parramatta (41757) 1827 – William STEENSON (sic), near the Turnpike, Parramatta, advertised for the return of his horse and offered a reward of ?8. (Source: The Australian, 05/12/1827, p4) 1828 Census: Margaret STENSON, aged 40, FS (?), Broxbornebury 1814, 14 years, prot (S2375) & spouse – William STENSON, aged 57, FS, Archduke Charles 1811 (should be 1813), 7 years, prot, settler, Parra *(S2374 - 40 acres total; 30 acres cleared, 18 acres cultivated & 13 cattle. Also 2 servants) [Note: Also a James STINSON came per Archduke Charles 1813, a farmer at North Richmond. This person was sometimes known as “William James”. This man’s wife was also a Margaret & arr per ship Canada in 1817] 1832 – William James STINSON, per ship Archduke Charles, was admitted to Sydney Gaol for an unspecified offence. His description was: born 1786, 5’4½” tall, fresh complexion, grey hair and grey eyes. [Note: This was NOT the spouse of Margaret Cunningham] (Source: www.ancestry.com.au SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2517; Item: 4/6297; Roll: 855) 1837, 14 Feb. – “Thomas Barnes alias M'Donald stood indicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of William Craig at North Richmond, on the 9th of December last, and William Stenson was indicted as an accessory before the fact. Guilty. Remanded.” (Source: Sydney Monitor, 13/02/1837, p3)…also “We understand that William Stinson, who was convicted of being an accessory before the fact, to a burglary at North Richmond, on the 9th of December last, on the evidence of a man who gave two distinct and opposite statements in the Court, and for which the Judge committed him to take his trial — will be recommended to His Excellency for a free pardon.” (Source: The Australian, 14/02/1837, p2) 1837, 13 March – “Stinson, who was convicted last sessions of being accessory to a burglary, solely on the evidence of an approver named Yates, who has since been committed for perjury, has received a free pardon at the instance of Mr Justice Burton, who tried him.” (Source: Sydney Herald, 13/03/1837, p3) 1839, 31 May – “TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT, Or Let, A FARM, at Banks' Town, near Saltpan Creek, (about twelve miles from Sydney); a Grant, by his Excellency Governor Macquarie, unto William Steenson, of Forty Acres. Thirty Acres are in cultivation, and produced last year the best wheat crop in the neighbourhood. Particulars may be known by application to Mr. Le Burn, Hope and Anchor near the old Toll Gate Sydney or to William Steenson, the Principal on the Premises. N. B.-A good House and Barn erected thereon, with a good Gardens containing a number of choice Fruit Trees.” [Note: Land was granted by Macquarie on 31/03/1821. Source: Sydney Gazette, 24/12/1826, p4] (Source: Sydney Monitor, 31/05/1836, p1) 1846, 2 April – “COMMITAL FOR CATTLE STEALING.--William James Stinson, and his son James Stinson, of the Kurrajong, were brought before the sitting magistrates, J L. Scorville and L. Dr Whittaker, Esqrs , on Tuesday last, charged with stealing a cow, the property of H. Gibbs, of Kurrajong. The cow it appeared had been running at Belmont, was in good order, and some days ago was missed ; enquiries were made, and from information received, a search warrant was granted for the elder Stinson's premises, when the lost cow's hide was found secreted in his barn, but the brand had been purposely defaced by fresh branding. The hide was positively sworn to as belonging to Gibbs lost cow, and the elder Stinson was committed, but J. Stinson discharged. Mr. Johnston defended the prisoner. No bail was allowed.” [Note: This was NOT the spouse of Margaret Cunningham] (Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 02/04/1846, p3) It is not known when Margaret Stinson nee Cunningham died nor her “spouse” William Stinson. 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