Harriet Ann Horn

53

Beth Taylor on 3rd September 2019

HORNE, Harriet Ann (c1783-?) (alias Holmes) Tried - 9 March 1812 Essex Lent Assize The newspaper report stated that Harriet, aged about 26, was given a death sentence at Essex Court in 1812, after being found guilty of burglary at Hornchurch. She was charged with Edward Smith (alias Parsons) (c1776-1823), with whom Harriet was living in a defacto relationship and he received the same term. Fortunately they both had their sentences commuted to transportation for life. That year, Harriet, a servant, was first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the Emu and finally reached there in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. BC: 1783 (Indent & TOL) 1786 (1828 Census) Sentenced: 09/03/1812 Essex Lent Assize to death, commuted to transportation for life. “Edward Smith, alias Parsons & Harriot (?) Ann Horn, for burglary at Hornchurch…capitally convicted” (Source: Chelmsford Chronicle, 13/03/1812) Crime: Burglary Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent (Brox.): 28 ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 Ticket of Leave 1334; Certificate of Freedom 2637 [Note: No record found of a COF] (indent) 1814 Muster: Ann Hall (sic); Arrived per Broxbornebury, Status: C (Convict); Occupation/Residence &c, Mustered at Sydney, Wife to E Smith; Victualling: Off Stores (6977) 1819 – William Drinkwater per ship Glory, was tried by D. Wentworth Esq. in Sydney & received a term in gaol of 3 months hard labour (crime not stated). He was admitted to Sydney Gaol in 1819. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930. Series 2514; Item 4/6360 ; Roll 850) 1820 – “SYDNEY. On Monday last William Drinkwater, a prisoner, was brought before the Superintendent of Police on a charge of violently assaulting a constable (Tutty) in the execution of his duty, wresting his staff from him and breaking his left arm. The prisoner was drunk and riotous on the Saturday afternoon, and on the interference of the police, he acted in the manner related. He was sentenced to receive 100 lashes, and be worked in the gaol gang 6 months.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 19/08/1820 p3) 1821, 30 Nov. – Edward Smith writes to ask for mitigation of his sentence. He stated that he had been overseer of the Town Gang at Parra & employed by the Superintendent of Government Works for 4 years. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6052; 4/1751 pp50-52) 1822 Muster: Harriet HORNE, con, Brox, life, wife of E Smith, Sydney (A10453) & “spouse” – Edward SMITH, con, Fortune, life, govt servant to John Piggot [dealer, CF], Sydney (A19439) [William DRINKWATER, con, Glory, 7 years, govt employ, Sydney (A06180) future husband of Harriet] 1822, 9 March – Edward was the govt overseer when he was charged at the Bench of Magistrates at Parra with 3 others, with “neglecting to attend Muster on Sunday morning last”. They were all ordered to pay a fine of 5 shillings each. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3297; X643 p4B) 1822, 1-18 June – Edward Smith & Hugh Taylor were charged at the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction with receiving stolen goods. Found guilty, they were ordered to pay a fine of 5 pounds & to be imprisoned until it was paid. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6023; X820 p53) 1823, Sep. – Ann Smith [Harriet] wrote a petition to Gov Brisbane asking for a TOL. She stated that she was taken off stores in 1814 on her arrival, by her husband Edward Smith, with approval by Gov Macquarie. Edward had now been 6 years overseer of the Town gang at Parra but he had been too sick to work for 18 months & she had supported them both. She also said that she had not appeared before a Magistrate for any reason for 9 years. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petition Fiche 3235; 4/1870 p61) 1823-1825 Muster - Harriet HORNE, TL, Brox, life, wife of E Smith, Sydney (25578) & spouse – Edward SMITH, FS, Fortune 1813, 7 years, employed by Mr Bland, Sydney (40555) [William DRINKWATER, FS, Glory 1818, 7 years, labourer, Sydney (19239) future spouse] 1824 - “The case of Ann Horne is far more typical. She had been charged & convicted in her native Essex with Edward Smith, her “husband”. Both were found guilty of “Burglary in the dwelling house of William Garrett & stealing goods valued at 15 pounds”. Sentenced to death, reprieved & then transported to NSW for life, they were assigned together & lived in Parramatta until the death of Edward Smith some 8 years after their arrival. Ann Horne’s colonial employer gave her the following testimonial: “I have found her to be uniformly honest, sober & very industrious having supported her sick husband Edward Smith (deceased) during his indisposition of 18 months & defrayed the cost of a genteel funeral.” The life of assigned servant Ann Horne did not resemble the expected pattern of debauchery, licentiousness & infamous conduct assumed to be characteristic of the convict women.” (Source: “Women of Botany Bay”, by Portia Robinson, pp220 & 355 [SRNSW Ann Horne/Holmes, petition re Ticket-of-Leave, 13 Sep 1824, CSIL 4/1716, No. 1334]) 1824, 23 Sep. - Harriet Ann Horne, alias Holmes, per ship Brox, tried at Essex Assize on 9 March 1812, life term, native of London, a servant, born 1783, 5’3” tall, sallow complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes. Date of ticket – 23 Sep 1824 in the district of Sydney. “Given under the circumstance of her having left England in the “Emu”. (SRNSW Convict Tickets of Leave, Reel 890; Number 400/1334) 1825, 7 March – Harriet Ann Horne, free, asked permission to marry William Drinkwater, in Sydney, by Rev Richard Hill. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6014; 4/3513 p569) 1827, Jan – “Sydney Quarter Sessions. THIRD DAY, THURSDAY, Jan. 18th. -W. Newman was indicted for an assault on the person of William Drinkwater, on the first day of Jan. last. Pleaded Guilty ; to be imprisoned for one month and kept to hard labour.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 19/01/1827, p3) 1827, 20 Nov. – William Drinkwater of 4 Clarence St., Sydney, was a witness of the marriage of Thomas Etchells and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, at St James Church, Sydney. (Source: St James' Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 61-62) 1828 Census: Ann DRINKWATER, 45, TL, Brox, life, prot, (D1602) wife to – William DRINKWATER, 40, FS, Glory 1818, 7 years, prot, baker, Kent St, Sydney (D1601) John SNOWDEN, at William Drinkwater, Kent St. (S1968) [Note: No other details of John, such as age] 1832 - Ann SNOWDEN per Broxbornebury, died 1832, aged 48, date of burial 26/05/1832, Sydney, Rev R Hill. (Source: SRNSW New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879) [Note: the only clue is in the 1828 Census where a John Snowden (no info on his age or ship of arrival) is listed as living with Harriet & William Drinkwater) NSW BDM: 1) Edward Smith, convict aged 54, died 10/11/1823, registered at St Philips. Edward Smith, Convict; Died 10 Nov 1823 [Sydney] Aged: 54; Buried 11 Nov 1823 [Sydney]; Registered at St Philip's Church of England Sydney, Arrived per Fortune (2) (V1823-5924-2B & 862-8 & St Philip's Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Burials; ML ref: Reel SAG 90; Vol Entry# 962) 2) Harriet A Horne marr William Drinkwater, free, at St James, Sydney 23/05/1825. William Drinkwater, aged 29, Bachelor, Free by Servitude, arrived per Glory, Abode: of the parish [St James, Sydney], Baker, Signed; & Harriet Ann Horn, aged 42, Widow, arrived per Broxbornebury, Abode: of the parish [St James, Sydney] Signed; married 23 May 1825, registered St James Church of England Sydney by Banns by Richard Hill; Witness: John Moore, Signed X; Witness: Sarah Moore, Signed X (V1825-28-149 & St James' Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 61-62) 3) William Drinkwater, aged 30 (?), baker died in Nov 1828 & buried 10 Nov., registered at St Philips. (V1828-8174-2C & Reel SAG 90; Vol Entry# 339) 4) Harriet/Ann Drinkwater (nee Horne) died 1832? [as Ann SNOWDEN, above?] 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