Priscilla Fudge

71

Robin Sharkey on 27th December 2015

A LOVERS TALE of THEFT, CAPTURE AND ESCAPES Priscilla Fudge, aged 26, was transported for 7 years for a theft of apparel from a Mr Gerrish at Mangotsfield, a village only about 6 or 7 miles northwest of Bristol, however because it was in the County of Gloucestershire, she was tried at Gloucester Assizes. Priscilla has no record in NSW other than her indent. AS she had escaped in goal in England, perhaps she also escaped from NSW and was spirited away by sailors on "Royal Admiral" or another ship ..?? She had worked for at least a year with an accomplice, probably her lover, 24 year old Andrew Leary who was also caught and tried. They seemed to operate in the general Somerset area, in the areas around Bristol to Bath, and had been caught in the villages of Mangotsfield (north of Bristol) and Chippenham (north of Bath). Priscilla was probably quite attractive with a “very slender waist” curled brown hair, grey eyes and of middle stature. Andrew was 5’7”, pockmarked, long dark brown curled hair that hung in his eyes according to Bath Chronicle of 7 April 1791 but with fresh complexion, dark grey eyes and hair that “hung in ringlets” according to Bath Chronicle of 1 March 1792. His profession was sailor. Andrew Leary was convicted of the same theft together with Priscilla, at Gloucester Assizes in March 1792 and also got 7 years transportation. However despite all the Gloucester gaol convicts transportees being taken to Portsmouth in early May 1792 to meet the transport to take them to NSW (Bath Chronicle of 10 May 1792) Andrew Leary was not on the indent of “Royal Admiral” (nor were any of the other Glocester Assizes male convicts sent down with him to Portsmouth) and he did not turn up at all in NSW. It’s possible the men were taken into the navy there at Portsmouth instead. Priscilla and Andrew had been around a while on previous charges and both had broken from gaol. For the charge that got them convicted on 28th March 1792, they were probably locked up in February 1792 because Andrew Leary escaped from Gloucester prison on the night of February 23rd by the luck of the turnkey negligently forgetting to lock up his cell. (Bath Chronicle, 1 March 1792). But he was only free for a week, being re-taken on the evening of Friday 2nd March in Chippenham, back down near Bath (Bath Chronicle, 8 March 1792). * A year earlier in 1791 they had been caught in Bath after stealing were linen out of a garden but while Priscilla was taken by the officers of the Mayor, Andrew escaped them and avoided capture until the 1792 theft with Priscilla at Mangotsfield. (Bath Chronicle, 31 March 1791 p.3). * Priscilla was lodged in Shepton Mallett Gaol. (Bath Chronicle, 7 April 1791 p.2). * However she escaped from there - perhaps with Andrew’s help?? - in the early hours of 2nd August 1791. (Bath Chronicle, 4th & 11th August 1791 p.3). * Both avoided capture until next February 1792 and their further theft at Mangotsfield. *Priscilla sailed on “Royal Admiral” and was recorded in the indents with an alias that was obviously used in England. * However there is no further official record of her in NSW, to date. Since 80 convicts were landed sick in NSW, possibly she was one of these, and died early, unrecorded. * It's also possible that Priscilla Fudge escaped back to England on the same ship, or another since she had escaped gaol before and since her mate Andrew Leary did not come with her. * The two females travelling with her from Gloucester do have official records in NSW, however Ann Morse's early death in NSW in NSW six months after arrival IS recorded, so if Priscialla did die, hers probably would have been also. THEIR NEWSPAPER TRIAL (1) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 31 March 1791 page 3 " Yesterday was apprehended in Lady-mead, by the Mayor’s Officers, and committed to prison for examination, Priscilla Fudge, for stealing a quantity of wet linen from the garden of Capt Brereton in Trim-Street, which was found in her possession, and also two teaspoons, one marked M.A and the other C.E. were taken form her. Her examination will come on at the Guildhall tomorrow at noon, when it is hoped the person who has lost the spoons will attend. ——Andrew Leary, an old offender and supposed to be her accomplice, escaped from the officers of out of a two-pair-of-stairs window, , with the loss of the flap of his coat, and unhurt.. A silver watch, maker’s name T Edmunds, No 638 London, with two metal keys, and a steel chain, was taken from him." (2) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 07 April 1791 Page 1, column 4: " ESCAPED FROM JUSTICE? ANDREW LEARY, a man about 24 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches high, long dark brown curled hair hanging over his eyes, pockmarked, with a blue coat, the flaps torn off, striped cotton waistcoat and corduroy breeches. " The said Leary is charged with diverse felonies committed in this City. [Bath] He was seen few days side int he wood near Inglishcombe. A reward of FIFTEEN GUINEAS upon his conviction has been offered by Edward Brereton Esq, Mr Charles gunning, and the Bath Guardian Society.” Page 3, column 2 "BATH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6th "This day buy virtue of the a warrant from John Horton Esq, mayor of this city Priscilla Fudge was committed to Shepton Mallet gaol for stealing 7 sheets and 10 shifts, the property of Capt. Brereton and 3 shirts the property of Jane Gardiner." (3) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 04, and 11th, August 1791 " A PRISONER BROKE OUT OF SHEPTON-MALLET GAOL, About two o’clock in the Morning of 2d of August inst. PRISCILLA FUDGE, charged with stealing linen out of the Garden of Edward Brereton, of Bath, Esq " She is of middle stature, and very slender in the waist, a fresh complexion, grey eyes, light-brown curled hair, now of her arms marked with gunpowder, and is about 26 years of age. Had on a linen gown with a straw coloured ground and running-pattern, blue petticoat, leather flippers, white cotton stockings, a black silk hat with no ribbon on it, and is supposed to be gone to Bristol, where her Mother resides. ——Whoever apprehends her, or causes her to be apprehended, and lodged in one of His Majesty’s gaols, shall receive TEN GUINEAS reward, of …………….H. SHROLL, Keeper." (4) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 01 March 1792 “GLOCESTER CASTLE Feb 24 “AN ESCAPE “WHEREAS ANDREW LEARY of the Parish of St Phillip and St Jacob in Bristol, a most notorious offender, escaped from Prison last night by the negligence of the Turnkey not locking up his cell: Whosoever will secure the Said Andrew Leary in any of his Majesty’s gaols, shall receive Five Guineas reward. " The said Andrew Leary is about 5 feet 7 inches high, stout made, fresh complexion, dark grey eyes, light brown curled hair hanging in long ringlets, and profession, a seaman, He had not he Gaol Livery, which is a mixed blue jacket, with a scarlet capulet, and trousers with scarlet waistband, and a round Dutch cap, a pair of brown corduroy breeches under the trousers; he had with him a pair of new doe-skin breeches, and a light-coloured coat with white metal buttons, and had on a two-linked fetter on his right leg, Any smith or other person to whom he may apply for assistance to cut off his fetter, will be rewarded for giving information. IT IS SUPPOSED HE IS GONE TOWARDS CHIPPENHAM." (5) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 08 March 1792 page 3 " Friday evening, Andrew Leary, advertised in our last, as having made his escape from Glocester Prison, was taken back by the High Constable of Chippenham, where he was apprehended on Thursday. He had in his pockets three new shoes, which he had just stolen from a shop-window at Chippenham." INDENT - records Priscilla as being convicted at Glocester Assizes on 28th March 1792 (6) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 05 April 1792 page 2 " At Glocester Assizes, Christopher Rochford and John Hughes for highway robberis on Durdham -Down near Brstol, … Sentence of Transportation for seven years was passed upon George Parker for stealing geese from mr baylis of Stapleton; Andrew Leary and Priscilla Fudge for stealing apparel from Mr Gerrish of Mangotsfield, Thomas Freeman, John Williams, Rob Cheshire, Jos Jones, Sarah Smith and Wm Robins, for sundry thefts." (Mangotsfield is in South Gloucestershire near Bristol) (7) Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 10 May 1792 page 3 " Last week, the convicts in Glocester Gaol sentenced to transportation, were conducted by the Governor of the prison to Portsmouth, and there embarked for Botany bay. __ the males are Andrew Leary, John Williams, Joseph Jones, Robert Cheshire, Thomas Freeman, Samuel Pitt, Thomas Curtis, James Weston, George Parker, John Tugwell, and Wm Robins, The females were Ann Morse, Priscilla Fudge, Sarah Smith."