Ann Hamilton

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

• HAMILTON, Ann (c1794-?) Tried - 7 April 1813 London (Old Bailey) Ann was charged with stealing 18 shillings from Joseph Newton, a visitor to London from the country. Taken before the Old Bailey Court in 1813, it was alleged that Ann met Mr Newton in the street and after he bought her a glass of gin, she suggested that she would like to go to bed with him. As they were walking along, discussing where to spend the night, he suddenly found all his money missing from his pocket. The police were called and although Newton had not seen or felt Ann taking his money, when she was searched the money was found. Ann then told the Court that the money was hers, given by another gentleman, but she was found guilty, aged only 19 and sentenced to 7 years transportation. She was placed on the Broxbornebury in 1814, on a journey to New South Wales. After Ann’s arrival in Sydney, she was assigned to work for a saddler, John Cruise. Ann had her freedom by April 1820, having served her full term and she would have been issued a Certificate of Freedom to prove her legal status, however the NSW State Records (Archives) does not hold a copy of the original document. In 1821 there is a record that shows Ann was working as a bonnet maker. The later fate of Ann Hamilton is not known. A record of a marriage or her death has not been discovered and it is possible that Ann left the Colony after 1821 as her sentence had expired in April 1820 and she would have been a free woman. TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1794 Sentenced: 07/04/1813 London GD [see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 20 1813 - ANN HAMILTON, Theft > pocketpicking, 7th April 1813. 374. ANN HAMILTON was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 4th of March, two dollars, value 11 s. a three-shilling bank-token, an eighteen-penny bank-token, two shillings, and one sixpence, the monies of Joseph Newton, from his person. JOSEPH NEWTON. I am a barge-man. I live at Bishop Stortford. I was walking along Cheapside, I made a slip on the side of the pavement. It was on the 4th of March, in the evening, about half past eight o'clock. The prisoner was near me; she said, countryman, do not knock me down. I said, I will not knock you down if I can help it, but I have made a little bit of a slip in walking along. She said, I believe you are a countyman by your look. I said, yes. She said, pray what countryman are you I said, I come from Ware in Hertfordshire, my native place. She said she knew some people down there. She said she lived at the back of the Mansion House; she kept a gentleman's house there, if I would walk a little way down with her to take a letter. I walked with her, and when I got into a court she said, Oh, my dear, I should like to go to bed with you all night. I said, if you want to sleep with me you must go to the Bull, at Aldgate. She said, no, I wish you would take a bed here. I said, no, you have taken my money out of my pocket. She said, if she had she would keep it. I called out, watch. The officer came and said, what is the matter. I said, this woman has robbed me of eighteen shillings. He took charge of her. I never felt her take it at all. Prisoner. Did not you give me something to drink - A. I did. I gave you a glass of gin. WILLIAM HOBBS. I am an officer. I heard the cry of, watch. I immediately ran. I saw this man hold the prisoner by her two shoulders. I asked him what was amiss. He said, that she had robbed him of eighteen shillings. He described the pieces of silver and the rest of the money that she had got in her pocket she was going to pay her rent with. I took her to the Compter. I found upon her the pieces of silver exactly as he told me. This is the money. Prisoner's Defence. What money I had was my own. It was given me by a gentleman. Prosecutor. It is the amount of my money. I cannot swear to it. I held the prisoner fast until the officer came. GUILTY, aged 19. Transported for Seven Years. London jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1814 Muster: Mary (?) HAMILTON, Brox, con, off stores, to John Cruise [came free per Boyd, saddler], Sydney (6860) 1821 – Ann HAMILTON per Brox., tried April 1813, 7 year sentence expiries 1820. Straw Bonnet maker (how disposed of), “in the Colony” (Source: www.ancestry.com New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834 for 1821, Class: HO 10; Piece: 17) 1822 Muster: Ann HAMILTON not found. NSW BDM: No marriage or death found. Jess’ Girls – SAG:  1818 – (Convict Population Muster) marr Liverpool [not found on BDM Index] 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

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 5th August 2023

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Born; 1794 Imprisoned; 1813 Tried; 7th April 1813 Tried at Old Bailey, London. Accused of pocketpicking (feloniously stealing, on the 4th of march, two dollars, value 11 s. a three-shilling bank-token, an eighteen-penny bank-token, two shillings, and one sixpence, the monies of Joseph Newton , from his person). Found guilty. Sentenced to transportation.

75

iain Frazier on 5th August 2023

Family connections for Mary Ann (Hamilton) are: HAMILTON Mary Ann (Hamilton) was tried at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 28 7 1814 after a journey of 6months on BROXBORNEBURY. She married firstly William (Stephenson his first marriage) on 6/26 12 1814 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] William (Steph/venson) son of Robert (Steph/venson) & Mary (Hill) was born on 20 7 1788 & became a private in the Royal Artillery. He was tried for receiving stolen goods at Essex Assizes, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 1 1815 after a journey of 5months on MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON; he was Protestant 5'8.5" dark ruddy complexion black hair hazel eyes. He was assigned to Sir John (Jamieson). He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 4 6 1818 & married secondly Mary (L'Andre/Landers age15) on 23 11 1818 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 17children. He obtained a land grant at Sydney & owned several Inns in Sydney. In 1828 he is recorded as a landholder at Evan. In 1839 he bought land at Crookwell & lived there breeding horses. He died on 5 3 1876 age87 father of 17known children at Goulbourn & buried at Crookwell cemetery. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Mary Ann (Hamilton) married secondly James (Cox) her second relationship) & produced 1child. She produced 1child in her lifetime. James (Cox) was tried at Northampton Assizes, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW on 7 2 1814 after a journey of 4months on GENERAL HEWITT. He had a second relationship with Elizabeth/Betty (Johnson her second relationship). He produced 3known children (all female) in his lifetime. [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.