Arthur Kelly

342

Maureen Withey on 20th April 2022

William Chatterton, 16, charged with feloniously entering the dwelling-house and shop of Robert Little of Longtown, and stealing therefrom various articles, Mr. L.’s property. Arthur Kelly, 18, charged with having participating in Chatterton’s alleged offence, stealing a silk handkerchief from Mr. Lt. Carlisle Patriot, 7 Aug 1824. ---------------------------------------------------- WILLIAM CHATTERTON aged 19. and ARTHUR KELLY 18, were put to the bar charged with a burglary in the dwelling house and shop of Robert Little, draper, in Longtown, on the night of the 10th of May. The prisoners pleaded not guilty a confident They are both said to be Irishmen. Mr. Aglionby and Mr. Courtenay conducted the prosecution. The prisoners had counsel. Robert Little sworn: I live at Long town, parish of Arthuret, and am a draper. On the 10th of May, I examined my shop betwixt 11 and 12, before going to bed, and left secure. About two, I was disturbed by a person who called, and in consequence of information, I examined my shop. The door was broken, and half open ; a counter was lying on the floor. A great deal of goods were lying without the door; the till was there also. Other doors had been opened, and one was left standing open. The goods outside the door consisted of three yards of blue cloth, three or four pieces of stuff, and silk and cotton shawl —all tied together in a handkerchief which was not mine. [Witness produced it.] As soon I had taken possession of the goods, I went to Curry (the person by whom I had been called), who had Chatterton in custody, having detected him coming out of the shop—when he threw away bundle of gloves, my property, taken from the premises. I now produce them. The paper in which they are has my private mark. Resides. I lost all ail my stock of silk handkerchiefs, from one to six or seven a piece. I also lost rolls of ribands, but how many I cannot tell. The prisoners declined asking any questions. Andrew Loraine. I am a shopman in Mr. Little’s service. On the night of the robbery I fastened up the shop doors and windows and left all safe. William Currie. About two in the morning of the 11th of May I was passing Mr. Little’s shop, and observed something lying at the door. I think the morning had begun to break. I observed the shop door half open, and heard stir in the shop. I then went and alarmed Mr. Little: before I got back to the shop door, met the prisoner at the corner with a bundle on his head. I took hold of him and asked where he got the parcel, he immediately dropped it. On asking him why he went into the shop, he said he was badly advised. Let go, said he. “or else I shall be hanged. I kept the parcel till I delivered it Mr. Little. George Dewars, saw the prisoners on the 10th of May near Longtown—a woman was then in company with them. They were sitting together under a hedge. Kelly denied that he ever was in Longtown till when brought there as a prisoner; but Dewars persisted in his declaration, and said he could not be deceived, as lameness had occasioned a peculiarity in his (the prisoner’s) walking, which rendered him easv to be known. Eliz. Wright -I live at Dick’s Tree, on the Langholm road from Longtown. On the afternoon of the 10th of May the two prisoners and a woman came into my house. I them so as to know them again. Chatterton impudently asked Mrs. Wright if she was not in bed with a man when he was at her house: because he was only in one house that day, and there was a woman in bed with a man. The object of this was evident. Mr. Justice Bayley. It matters not to this inquiry whether she was in bed with a man or not. Mrs. Wright, however, indignantly negatived the insinuation. She said it was not time to be in bed, and her husband was at his work within a quarter of a mile from the house. Kelly wished to be informed how she knew him. “ the visage of your face” was the answer. He persisted in saying that he never was in Longtown till he was taken there as a prisoner. Isabella Baty. On the 11th of May, Kelly came to my house at Langholm, 12 miles from Longtown, about three in the afternoon, and asked for lodgings, saying he came from Hawick, directed two persons who left on Monday, and gave me all their marks. Hawick is miles farther north. He had a red and yellow silk handkerchief about his neck, which he took off and asked me to hem for him. A young woman hemmed it for penny. Kelly then wanted me sell it for him. saying he had come a long way, and was out of money: adding that he was weary and wished to to rest. I did not sell it, but gave it to the constable. When he had been about an hour in house, I told him that robbery ... Cumberland Pacquet, 6 Sept 1824.

46

JD Stubbs on 20th April 2022

Arthur Christopher Kelly was born in 1806 in Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland to Christopher Kelly and Grace McDougall. Arthur was convicted 24 August 1824 at Carlisle, Scotland of burglary (perhaps horse or cattle theft charges also) and was sentenced to death but was commuted to life in the colony of New South Wales. He was one of only 10 Irish convicts on board the "Minstrel (2) when it finally sailed into Botany Bay on the 22 August 1825, having been at sea for 127 days. Arthur was only 19 years and described as being 5'5 1/2" tall with brown hair, blue eyes and very freckled. His occupation was given as groom (stable boy). Arthur was assigned to a clearing party and appears in the 1828 Novembers Census for New South Wales as a 23 year old Catholic Government servant employed by Dr John Dulhunty of ‘Cullen Bullen’ Parramatta, (he was assigned to both the Penrith and Parramatta areas). Arthur was granted his Ticket of Leave 29 May 1839 for the district of Evan, on recommendation of the Penrith Bench but was cancelled to his absence from the district. Upon Arthur's explanation (which was not recorded) his Ticket of Leave was reissued on 10 January 1843 for the Parramatta district. Arthur married fellow convict Margaret Abraham. Margaret Abraham was born on the 6 Jun, 1813 in Swansea West, Glamorgan, Wales. She was only 22 years old a protestant and employed as a housemaid in Swansea when she was convicted and sentenced to 14 years transportation for larceny of a man at on the 17 March 1835. She was described as being 5ft ½ of dark complexion with brown hair and eyes. TN upper right arm, blue ring fourth finger left hand. Margaret sailed on the Henry Wellesley and arrived at Botany Bay on the 7 Feb 1836. She did not receive a Ticket of Leave or Certificate of Freedom Arthur Kelly and Margaret Abraham sought the Governor's consent on 2 August 1839 to marry. They married on 26 August 1839 under the religion of Church of England at Castlereagh, Cumberland, performed by Rev Henry Fulton. Margaret was a 25 year old bond servant, while Arthur was 33 year old and had his Ticket of Leave, they both signed with their marks. Robert Thorn and Mary Thorn both from Castlereagh were the witnesses. Arthur and Margaret went on to have 8 children. Arthur Christopher Kelly died on the 18 Jul 1865 in Whyanbah, Queensland, Australia and Margaret on the 16 Jun, 1886 at Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia.