Sarah Deering

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1790 [indent] or 1793 [death] Married: Sarah Meads wed James Deering on 30/12/1810 at St Mathew Bethnal Green, London, England (Source: www.Ancestry.com England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-192, London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Matthew, Bethnal Green, Register of baptisms, P72/MTW, Item 009) Sentenced: 14/07/13 at Middlesex [see trial record below, also with Hannah BROWN] to death, commuted to transportation for life Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Silk weaver Age on Convict Indent: 23 1813 – Trial #1 HANNAH BROWN, SARAH DEERING, Theft > pocketpicking, 14th July 1813. 715. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July, four yards of muslin, value 24 Deering called four witnesses, who gave her a good character. BROWN, GUILTY - DEATH, aged 20. DEERING, NOT GUILTY. Trial #2 HANNAH BROWN, SARAH DEERING, Theft > grand larceny, Theft > grand larceny, 14th July 1813. 721. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July, a shawl, value 4 s. the property of John Bennett. BROWN, GUILTY, aged 20. DEERING, NOT GUILTY. London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. Trial #3 HANNAH BROWN, SARAH DEERING, Theft > grand larceny, Theft > grand larceny, 14th July 1813. 722. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July, a yard of lace, value 4 s. 3 d. the property of Henry Gray. Deering's Defence. I know nothing at all about it; I am innocent. BROWN, GUILTY, aged 20. DEERING, GUILTY, aged 22. Transported for Seven Years. London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1814 Muster: Sarah DEERING, Brox, con, off stores, to Mr Cooper, Sydney (6879) 1820, 3 July – Memorial to Gov Macquarie from James Deering, stating that he is a free man with a wife & 3 children, has farming knowledge & would like some land. [Signed by Rev Cowper & 50 acres written] (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Memorials Fiche 3017; 4/1823 p35) 1821, 6 Aug. – Memorial from James Deering, stating he is a fisherman by profession & would like a block of land in Sydney. [Col Sec says he is to get 80 acres & stores for 6 months! Reply dated 4 Sep 1821] (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Memorials Fiche 3036; 4/1826 No. 35) 1822 Muster: Sarah DEERING, con, Brox, 7 years, wife of J Deering, Sydney (A05621) & husband – James DEERING, FBS, Wellington, 7 years, dealer, Sydney (A05620) & children – James Jnr 7, Richard 4 & Jane 2½ , all BC 1823, 13 June - James Deering was granted a town allotment (#133) by Governor Brisbane. The land was situated in Castlereagh St., Sydney. (Source: SRNSW Registers of Land Grants & Leases, Reel 2704, 7/484) 1823, 30 June - James (as Dering) was also granted 50 acres of land (#246) by Governor Brisbane. The land was situated at Airds (Campbelltown). (Source: SRNSW Registers of Land Grants & Leases, Reel 2561, 7/449) 1823-1825 Muster: Charlotte DEARING, 2, BC, daughter of James Dearing, Sydney (18469) [No other family members listed] 1824, 20 July – James Deering, of George St, Sydney has assigned to him, Rebecca Hodges, a convict from the ship Lord Wellington. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p58) 1827, 3 March – “SHOCKING ACCIDENT – On Thursday evening, a female, named Deering, was coming out of the public house, kept by Mr Thornton, in George-street; at the door, a cart, to which a bullock was harnessed, belonging to Mr Hassall, happened to be standing at the time; and the unfortunate woman coming rather near to the animal, he struck her below the stomach, and literally stripped her open, in such a manner that the bowels actually protruded through the wound. She was immediately moved to the hospital, and little hope is, or in fact can be, entertained of her recovery. It certainly is to be lamented, that more caution is not exercised on the part of those who have the immediate conduct of those animals, when necessity obliges them to be driven through a crowded street, where so many persons unthinkingly and often unavoidably pass and repass in such close contiguity with them; for, from what we ourselves have noticed, we are surprised that we have not had frequent instances of the like distressing nature to record. In London, where bullocks are driven through the streets, it is invariably the custom to affix a round knob, prepared for the purpose, on the extremity of the horns, by which means, those that are vicious are at least hindered from goring. Such a preventative is extremely simple, and easy of attainment, and we would strongly recommend its adoption here. The unfortunate sufferer on this occasion has a young family of children, and her husband, who was some time ago a publican in Sydney, has but lately left the Colony for England. We have since heard that the poor sufferer is no more.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 03/03/1827, p3) [Note: The hotel was the Union in George St., owned by Samuel Thornton, husband of Brox. passenger Mrs Sarah Thornton] 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

341

Maureen Withey on 14th March 2020

Sarah Deering was tried on the same day, on two charges at the Old Bailey, both with Hannah Brown, regarding crimes which occurred on the same day. In the first case she was found not guilty, but was sfound guilty in the second incident. In each case, Hannah Brown claimed that Sarah was innocent. Both girls transported on Broxbournebury. -------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 14 March 2020), July 1813, trial of HANNAH BROWN SARAH DEERING (t18130714-29). HANNAH BROWN, SARAH DEERING, Theft > pocketpicking, 14th July 1813. 715. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July , four yards of muslin, value 24 s. the property of Thomas Sonby , privately in his shop . THOMAS SONBY . Q. I believe you did not know the prisoner until the officers took them; after they had taken them was there any muslin produced to you - A. Yes, which was my property. THOMAS WHITLOW . I am shopman to Mr. Sonby. On Monday the 5th of July, about two o'clock, the prisoners came into Mr. Sonby's shop; they asked for Japan muslin; I shewed them some sprigged muslin; they said it was too dear. They did not buy any. They went away. Q. Did you miss any thing - A. I did not. About five o'clock, Read, the officer, came; he produced some muslin. I knew it belonged to my master. I sent for Mr. Sonby from the next door immediately. I had seen the piece of muslin in the shop three hours before the prisoners came in. Q. to Prosecutor. The piece of muslin that was brought back by Read, was it yours - A. Yes, it was. I had seen it the evening before. My house is in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn. WILLIAM READ . I am an officer. I took the prisoners into custody. This piece of sprigged muslin I found in the bundle that was delivered up to me by Mr. Bennett, where they had committed another robbery, in the city. Mr. Bennett, when he deliveredit up to me, said they dropped it. This is the muslin that I shewed to Mr. Sonby. MR. BENNETT. I am a linen-draper. The prisoners came into my shop, both of them, on the 5th of July, about four o'clock; they asked me for some muslins; I shewed them some; they purchased a quarter of a yard of muslin. Soon after the prisoners were gone I was called down; there was a shawl missing. I overtook the prisoners about three hundred, yards from my shop; I brought them back again. Hannah Brown dropped from under her shawl a bundle; she dropped it on my foot just as I got them back again. This is the bundle that she dropped. I sent for an officer immediately. Prosecutor. This piece of sprigged muslin I can positively say is my property, by the private mark, and by the peculiar pattern. It is worth about twenty-four shillings. Brown's Defence. It was given me. The other prisoner is innocent of it. Deering's Defence. I am as innocent of it as the child in my arms. I always worked hard for my living. Deering called four witnesses, who gave her a good character. BROWN, GUILTY - DEATH , aged 20. DEERING, NOT GUILTY . [ The prisoner, Brown, was recommended to mercy by the Jury, on account of the smallness of the property .] Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Gibbs. ------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 14 March 2020), July 1813, trial of HANNAH BROWN SARAH DEERING (t18130714-35). HANNAH BROWN, SARAH DEERING, Theft > grand larceny, Theft > grand larceny, 14th July 1813. 721. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July , a shawl, value 4 s. the property of John Bennett . JOHN BENNETT . I am a linen-draper , Lower Holborn . On the 5th of July the two prisoner's came together to my shop, they asked to look at some sprigged muslin; my wife served them. Q. Were you by at the time - A. No, I was not; nothing was missed until after the prisoners went out; in about two minutes after they were gone a shawl was said to be missing, that was on a stool in the shop. I had seen it not ten minutes before the prisoners came in. I followed the prisoners, and asked them to walk back with me; they came back; I charged them with having taken a shawl, and as soon as they came into the shop Hannah Brown dropped a bundle from under her shawl, as soon as she entered the shop. I picked up the bundle and gave her in charge of a constable. The shawl was in that bundle; it lay on the top of every thing else. The stool was by the other counter, not the counter where my wife was serving. Nothing was found on the other prisoner. The shawl is worth four shillings. WILLIAM READ . The prisoners were delivered to me, and the shawl. This is the shawl. Prosecutor. I know it is my shawl BROWN, GUILTY , aged 20. DEERING, NOT GUILTY . London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. ---------------------------------------------------- 722. HANNAH BROWN and SARAH DEERING were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July , a yard of lace, value 4 s. 3 d. the property of Henry Gray . HENRY GRAY . I am a laceman , 22, Lower Holborn . On the 5th of July, the two prisoners came into my shop together; one of them asked to look at some lace; my lad attended them. I did not missthe lace until Read, from Hatton Garden office, brought the lace. I saw both of them look at the lace; they were close to each other; they were in the shop about ten minutes; they bought nothing. It was between six and seven when Read brought the lace; I knewit tomine by the marks; I know I never sold it, and I am quite certain the prisoners bought nothing at my shop; I never saw them before. The lace has never been in wear; it is worth four shillings and three-pence. I am certain it is my lace; there are figures on it the hand writing of my servant. WILLIAM READ . I was sent for to take charge of this woman and the bundle; directly I untied the bundle the lace was on the top; I asked them how they came by the bundle; Brown said in the hearing of Deering, it was given to them. Q. What did the bundle contain - A. A piece of muslin, and articles of haberdashery; they were not articles that had ever been in wear. Brown's Defence. The bundle was given to me by a person that ran away from me. The person at the bar is innocent of every thing as a child unborn. Deering's Defence. I know nothing at all about it; I am innocent. BROWN, GUILTY , aged 20. DEERING, GUILTY , aged 22. Transported for Seven Years . London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. ----------------------------------------------------