Baynham Helps

343

Maureen Withey on 26th April 2019

Prisoner name(s): Baynham Helps. Prisoner details: Seaman. Court and date of trial: [Court and date not stated]. Crime: Stealing a watch. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Petitioner(s): Baynham Helps, the prisoner. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The prisoner was an innocent victim of the thief who escaped; this is his first offence; he has a wife to support. Date 1827. Source:National Archives, Ref:HO 17/25/179 Wilts Lent Assizes The business of these Assizes commenced on Monday last, at Salisbury. Mr Justice Gazelee presided on the Crown side, and Mr Justice Bosanquet at Nisi Prius. There were only eight cases entered for the Law side, while the prisoners on the Calendar amounted to 136! Crown court Beynham Helps was put to the bar, charged with returning from transportation before the time (14 years) to which he had been sentenced had expired. In his defence, he said that he wanted to see his wife and children; that he had been twice to India since his return, and had led an industrious life. The judge said that sentence of death must be passed upon him; but that he would certainly recommend him to the consideration of his Majesty. Hampshire Advertiser, 13 March 1830 Conduct Report 1168 Helps Baynham. Clyde, 18th Dec 1830, Wilts 6 March 1830, Life Transported for being at large before the Expiration of ?? for which he had been ?? “Gaol Report” Transportation Hulk Report “Ord ?? stated this offence ??? Transportation… Tried before for a robbery on the Thames …Tried at Maidstone the first time, this time at Salisbury. Wife Mary Ann Helps at Chippenham near Bath. Source: Tasmanian Records Somersetshire Escaped Convict On Tuesday evening last, information was given to Hawkins and Hall, two mayor’s officers of this city, that a man of the name of Baynham Helps, alias William Holliday, had been seen drinking in a public house in Bath, and was supposed to have gone to London, he being an escaped convict from New South Wales, since the year 182? was, as by a letter from the Secretary State’s office, convicted at the Kent winter Assizes in and sentenced to transportation for life. – Much credit is due to the two officers in pursuing the prisoner in a post chaise from Bath to Chippenham, and thence to the Black Dog, near Calne, Wilts, where he was apprehended about nine o’clock on Wednesday morning. The convict, who is a very powerful man, dressed as a sailor, in company with two women and another man, made great resistance, but was ultimately secured, put into a chaise, and brought back to this city, from whence he will shortly removed to Maidstone, take his trial. Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 17 September 1829. Last week a man named Baynham Helps, alias Wm. Holiday, convicted in Kent winter assizes in 1827, and sentenced to be transported for life, but who had escaped from New South Wales, was apprehended at the Black dog near Calne by Hawkins and Hall, two of the Mayor’s officers of this city after severe struggle. The man had been seen drinking in this town and was pursued by the officers who had gained information of his route. He was brought to this city, whence he will be removed to Maidstone to take his trial. Bath Chronicle Thurs 17 Sept 1829 Committed by the Mayor. Baynham Helps, for stealing wearing-apparel from the lodgings of Jos. Sheppard, in bridewell-lane. Bath Chronicle, Thurs 29 Nov 1821 Police Office Jan 27, 1831. The undermentioned prisoners having absconded from their places of residence, all constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost exertions to apprehend and lodge them in safe custody. P.A. MULGRAVE, Chief Police Magistrate. Absconded 1168 Baynham Helps, 5 feet 4, black hair, brown eyes, age 32, a farmer’s labourer, tried at Wilts in March, 1830, sentence life, per Clyde, native of Lorwich, Orkneys, arms hairy. Absconded from the Public Works, New-Town, 22nd of Jan 1831. Reward £2. Hobart Town Courier Sat 29 Jan 1831