Robert Gunn

74

iain Frazier on 21st May 2026

Family connections for Robert (Gunn) are: GUNN Robert (Gunn) son of John (Gunn) was born about 1796 & became an apprentice shoemaker & painter. He was a gardener of Milton Dykes when tried w/1other for 6robberies with violence during Edinburgh Hogmanay Riots on 31 12 1812 at Edinburgh Court of Justiciary Scotland on 30 3 1812, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 6 1813 after a voyage of 7.5months on FORTUNE. He was a servant of Joseph (Ward) of Airds in 1818. He sought a Ticket of Leave in 1818. He was a shoemakerof for Mr (Duckson?) in Sydney in May 1820 when he was convicted of getting drunk & stealing tea sugar wine etc of his master, sentenced on 20 5 1820 to deprivation of his Ticket of Leave & to 2years-being transported on 3 6 1820 to Newcastle on HMS LADY NELSON. He sought emancipation in 1822. He was an emancipist when he marred firstly with permission Susannah (Benton age16) on 6 7 1825 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He was issued his Absolute Pardon on 15 5 1827.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Susannah (Benton) was born on 15 3 1809 & baptised on 27 1 1811 age22m at St Johns CofE Parramatta. Details of Susannah (Benton)s family are given in entry for Thomas (Benton ALBERMARLE 1791) on this Website. .. >>>Robert (Gunn) married secondly Eleanor/Ellen (Smith her first marriage) with permission on 9 12 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. Eleanor (Smith) was born in Monaghan Ireland in about 1809 & became a general/country servant. She was tried for stealing a watch at Tyrone Ireland, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 4 1829 after a voyage of 4months on EDWARD; she was 4'11" fresh complexion black hair brown eyes. She had a second relationship with Gervas (Gleadall) in 1832. Her Certificate of Freedom was issued on 20 10 1834 She died about 1866 age about57. [Some details taken from this Website] Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

341

Maureen Withey on 28th January 2026

1/1/1818 The Petition of Robert Gunn. Addressed to the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie. The Humble petition of Robert Gunn. Most humbly sheweth, That Petitioner arrived in this Colony in the Ship Fortune 2nd in the year 1813 under sentence of Transportation for Life. That Petitioner since his arrival in this county has been employed in the service of Mr Joseph Ward of the district of Airds and has hitherto borne an unblemished character having conducted himself with the greatest propriety and will ever study to preserve the Character of an Honest industrious and steady man. Petitioner therefore pray your Excellency will be pleased with the Humanity so frequently displayed by your Excellency to objects in Petitioner’s circumstances to grant him a Ticket of Leave or such other indulgence as may in your Excellency’s wisdom and Benevolence seem meet. And petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray. I believe the petitioner to be a steady and industrious man. (signed) ? Moore (?) (Not very legible) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 9 April 1825. Letter from The Colonial Secretary to Darcy Wentworth, Supt of Police. Sydney. I have the honor of submitting to your attention the enclosed copy of a Certificate given by the Assistant Superintendent of Police to the Convict names in the margin (Robert Gunn), who, while in the service of Mr Duckson (?) in May 1820 having been convicted of getting drunk, and robbing his Master of Tea, sugar, wine (?) and other things, was sentenced to be deprived of his Ticket of Leave and to be banished to Newcastle for two years. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, F. Goulburn.

341

Maureen Withey on 28th January 2026

Colonial Secretary Papers. 3 June 1820. On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" Robert Gunn, Sentenced by Wm. Minchin, Esq, Sydney, 20 May 1820, Two years sentence to Newcastle. Shoemaker. Came by Ship Fortune, Original Conviction, Edinburgh, 31 Mar 1812, Life. ------------------------------------------------------------ 1822. Petition for Mitigation of Sentence. Addressed to the Governor, Thomas Brisbane. The Petition of Robert Gunn. Your humbel Pettioner arived in this Colernary in the year 1813, Ship Fortune, the 2, which I have conducted my self During the time I heaave not been tried at No Criminal Court of this Countrey was tried at Edinburgh in the year 1812, Prisoner for Life your pettioner Robert Gunn hopes that your Excellency will be pleased for to Grant a Manasapiton or Such Indulgences as your Excellency Pleasure will be pleased for to Give As in Diutey bound Will Ever Pray (Spelling and punctuation as in original)

341

Maureen Withey on 28th January 2026

https://www.oldscottish.com/convict-records-6.html Old Scottish Genealogy and Family History, Database of Scottish Court records relating to Australian convicts.  Robert Gunn, Gardener, formerly apprentice shoemaker and painter Milton Dykes, Edinburgh. Son of John Gunn. Tried Edinburgh, 31 Mar 1812, Transportation - Life. Per Fortune, November 1812, to New South Wales. ------------------------------------------------------------ National Archive. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/10/3 1825 Mar 25; 1826 July 12 Prisoner name: Robert Gunn. Court and date of trial: Edinburgh 31 March 1812. Crime: Robbery and rioting on 1 January 1811. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Annotated: The Governor to be at liberty to grant freedom to Gunn, if he has behaved so as to merit it. Petitioner(s): The convict; three petitions from John Gunn, the prisoner's father with a note from Walter Buchanan as to the parents' good character; S Boyle supporting the father's petition. Grounds for clemency: Others have obtained their freedom after seven years, the prisoner has served 12 years; he has served in the colony as confidential servant to John Piper, JP and naval officer; elderly parents; convict's mother distressed at having lost a son in India. Correspondence: Letter from Richard Darling stating that Gunn does not deserve mercy as he has committed robbery and breach of trust in the colony. Letter from Mr Hay enclosing the above.

221

D Wong on 8th January 2020

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).

44

John McGowan on 25th October 2013

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