Robert Jackson

343

Maureen Withey on 22nd April 2026

Tried at the Old Bailey, 12 January 1826. 339. ROBERT JACKSON was indicted for stealing, on the 19th of December , 18 shirts, value 2l.; 1 coat, value 2l.; 4 silver spoons, value 1l.; 6 pairs of trousers, value 1l., and four handkerchiefs, value 10s. , the goods of Richard Boys . RICHARD BOYS. I am fourth officer of the Prince Regent East Indiaman . I came to England in June, and when I left the ship I packed up all my articles in my chest, which I locked - it contained eighteen shirts, a coat, four silver spoons, some trousers, and a silk handkerchief - it was taken to my lodgings, at No. 13, Norfolk-street, Strand - Mr. Frampton lodged there likewise, and he sent down my chest to his ship by mistake in November last - a witness stopped it at the Dock-gate, and took charge of it; I have seen two silver spoons which I know were mine, and were locked up in my chest last June. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. Q. Did you see the chest at the Docks? A. No. I am certain these spoons were in the chest before it left my house, I do not know the prisoner; it is usual for masters to give boys old clothes or money when ships are discharged, but not spoons. JOHN GRUNDY . I am a ship-joiner, and live at Gravesend; I have premises at Blackwall. I was there in November last - I saw a chest which was detained by a Revenue officer - it was taken to my warehouse in Cotton-street, Poplar , On Tuesday morning, the 19th of December, I went into the warehouse, and saw a silk stock lying outside the door; I went into the house and inquired of the servant if she had taken these things; she said, No. I then went into the warehouse, and found the chest had been broken open; I found a night cap, a sock, and some books, which I showed to Mr. Boys on Tuesday evening last; I then went round to different pawnbrokers to give them notice. GEORGE MARSHALL . I live at No. 61, Cannon-street-and am a silversmith. On the 19th of December the prisoner brought these two spoons to sell; he said the mate of a ship gave them to him for carrying a chest up to the Saracen's-head, and he had had them six months; he came a second time in about half an hour, and I detained him - the officer came and took him. JAMES JEFFRIES . I am a police constable. I went to Marshall's on the 19th of December, with Maston, an officer - the prisoner was there, and these spoons before him, which he said the mate of a ship had given him for carrying his chest. ROBERT MASTON . I am a Thames police-officer, and was with Jeffries. I saw two men standing at a post - as soon as they saw me they went off; I left the prisoner in custody of Jeffries, and pursued them - they were taken, but said they did not know the prisoner, and they were discharged. I found these three handkerchiefs in the prisoner's hat.(Property produced and sworn to). GUILTY . Aged 17. Transported for Seven Years . Hulk Records. HO-9-4-4. Page 18 Justitia Hulk Received 2 February 1826. Robert Jackson, age 17, Stg 2 silver spoons. Tried at Middlesex Sess, 15 Jan 1826, 7 years, Transported 26 July 1826.

221

D Wong on 3rd August 2014

This is taken from the Ross Beattie's Kirkham Genealogy Page: Robert Kirkham, was supposedly born in Poplar, London, on 26 June 1808, son of ROBERT and SARAH KIRKHAM, and Christened the same day at Saint Dunstan's, Stepney. His death certificate notes his parents, apparently in error, as ROBERT and ANN. Robert was convicted at Middlesex Gaol Delivery on 12 January 1826 for stealing spoons, sentenced to seven years and transported to Sydney NSW aboard the Speke on 5 August 1826. KIRKHAM, Robert - born 26 June, 1808 Poplar Mews,BLACKWALL ENGLAND; arrived 26 November, 1826 aboard "SPEKE II" The Convict Indent states he was 17 years of age and could read and write. He was a single male protestant. His occupation was that of Errand Boy and he was tried in London on the 2nd January 1826. He received a sentence of 7 years for stealing spoons. Native place Poplar. He had a ruddy and freckled complexion. he had dark brown hair and eyes and was 5 feet nothing and ¾. He had a scar of the bridge of his nose.. The 1828 NSW Census shows Robert Jackson [Speke, 1826] at Patrick Plains, a Stonemason aged 19. assigned to James Bowman. Robert Jackson, transported in the Speke (1826), received a Certificate of Freedom on 19 January 1833. As Robert Jackson, bachelor stonemason of Chippendale, Sydney, Robert and (Nancy) Anne Smith were married on 27 January 1840 in S Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Sydney. Ann Smith born circa 1821, hailed from Surrey, England. Known children of Robert and Nancy Kirkham, baptised at [Christ Church] S Lawrence Church of England, Sydney, were: • ROBERT HENRY KIRKHAM (born December 1840, christened 24 January 1841; died 29 October 1913, Sydney; married Eliza Allum in Sydney on 11 January 1862 [Dr Donald H Kirkham is a great-grandson of the Robert H Kirkham]), • MARIA KIRKHAM (born May 1843, Chippendale NSW, died 1881 at Newtown, Sydney; married Henry Talbott at the Glebe, Sydney, in 1864), • ELIZA KIRKHAM (born November 1845, christened January 1846; ied 1921 at Enmore, Sydney; married Charles Whately at Newtown, Sydney, in 1873; four known children), • JOHN THOMAS KIRKHAM (born August 1848, christened October 1848, died 18 November 1875; married Elizabeth Fitzsimmons in 1870 at Darlinghurst, Sydney) and • GEORGE KIRKHAM (born December 1852, christened January 1853; died 23 February 1863, Chippendale, Sydney). When Robert Henry Kirkham was born, his father was residing in Goulburn Street Sydney. When the later children were born, their father was residing at Chippendale, maintaining his occupation as a stonemason. Ann (Nancy) Jackson née Smith died in 1853 at Chippendale NSW. Robert Kirkham – whose parents are mistakenly listed in the deaths index as Robert and Ann – died at Chippendale 12 March 1860. Dr Kirkham says Robert willed property to his daughters Maria and Eliza. This land (west of Yarnold Street, Chippendale) was sold on 6 May 1867 by Henry Tablot (Freeholder), Maria Talbot (formerly Kirkham) and Eliza Kirkham, all of Chippendale, to widow Eliza Thompson, for £93. Another descendant is Ian Kirkham of 15 Holden Avenue, Epping NSW (October 2002).

106

Carol Axton-Thompson on 3rd August 2014

Tony - the official records are under the name "Jackson". Please provide source data that his proper name was "Kirkham". What name was he convicted under?

2

Tony Kirkham on 3rd August 2014

Used the alias Jackson but was Robert Kirkham. Became a Stonemason after serving his time of 7 years.