| Name: | Robert Gunn |
| Aliases: | none |
| Gender: | m |
| Date of Birth: | 1796 |
| Occupation: | Shoemaker |
| Date of Death: | - |
| Age: | - |
Life Span
Male median life span was 53 years*
* Median life span based on contributions
Sentence Severity
Sentenced to Life
| Crime: | Robbery with violence |
| Convicted at: | Edinburgh Court of Justiciary |
| Sentence term: | Life |
| Ship: | Fortune |
| Departure date: | November, 1812 |
| Arrival date: | 11th June, 1813 |
| Place of arrival | New South Wales |
| Passenger manifest | Travelled with 199 other convicts |
| Primary source: | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 90 |
| Source description: | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project. |
John McGowan on 25th October, 2013 wrote:
On 31 March 1812, subject Robert Gunn along with Alexander MacDonald alias White, appeared at Edinburgh High Court on a libel for six assault and robberies (no detail) committed during the Edinburgh Hogmanay Riots, 1811/1812. Both pled guilty and both transportation for life. See Edinburgh Evening Courant (No.15,727) dated 2 April 1812, p 3; and McGowan, John (2013) A New Civic Order: The contribution of the City of Edinburgh police, 1805-1812, p 271, p 285 and p 314
D Wong on 8th January, 2020 wrote:
9/12/1812 Perthshire Courier, Scotland:
EDINBURGH, MARCH 30
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.
Tuesday last week came the trial of Robert Gunn and Alexander Macdonald alias White. To the relevancy of the indictment, which charged them with six difference acts of robbery, committed on the streets of this city on the night of the 31st December or morning of the 1st January, no objections were made, and the prisoners having pleaded guilty, and subscribed a judicial declaration of their guilt, in presence of the Court and jury, the Solicitor General, in a short address, in which he stated, that it appearing the prisoners were not leaders, but the led, in the late disgraceful outrages, and as he trusted enough had been done int he way of example, restricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment.
The jury were then enclosed, and shortly after returned their verdict, all in one voice finding the panels guilty on their own confession.
The Lord Justice Clerk addressed the prisoners at considerable length on the enormity of those crimes which had brought them to the unhappy situation in which they then stood, and sentenced them to be transported beyond the seas for life, under the usual certification.
In delivering their opinions upon this case, where, three of the persons were robbed were also knocked down, their Lordships observed, that, though his Majesty’s Advocate, in the exercise of his discretionary power, might deem it necessary to restrict the libel to an arbitrary punishment, it was in the power of the Court, and its determination in future, in any case where wanton or excessive cruelty appeared, besides the sentence of transportation, to inflict an exemplary corporal punishment.
Colonial Secretary Index:
GUNN, Robert. Per “Fortune”, 1813
1818: Servant of Joseph Ward of Airds. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3186; 4/1855 p.115)
1820 Jun 3: On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per “Lady Nelson” (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.55)
1822: Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3218; 4/1865 p.94)
1825 Apr 9: Re conviction and sentence of (Reel 6014; 4/3514 p.43)
1825 Jun 27, Jul 6: Re permission to marry at Castlereagh (Reel 6014; 4/3514 p.586)
15/5/1827: Absolute Pardon.
1825: Married Susannah Benton (born in colony).
1829: Married Eleanor/Ellen Smith (Edward 1829) at Sydney.
No date of death found for Robert Gunn.
C1832: Eleanor had a relationship with Gervas Gleadall (Indefatigable 1815).
John McGowan on 25th October, 2013 made the following changes:
gender, crime
D Wong on 8th January, 2020 made the following changes:
date of birth: 1796 (prev. 0000), occupation
This record was discovered and printed on ConvictRecords.com.au
