Ann Kennington

71

Robin Sharkey on 3rd December 2016

ANN KENNINGTON was transported on “Canada” for 7 years arriving in 1810. She was tried at the Old Bailey with Matilda Dyer for assaulting Benjamin Burd on the street and putting him in fear and stealing a number of bank notes off him. Between Surry St and Temple bar from between 11pm and half-past twelve, he was “knocked downing hustled”. His evidence was that he was “so much stunned at the time” that he couldn’t tell who it was but he thought it was women. Reported at Old Bailey trials on line - Matter no. 6566 of 20 Sept 1809 [ https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18090920-28-defend254&div=t18090920-28#highlight ] Ann Kennington made her living by selling fish and fruit (evidence given in the trial). She was known in her local community as an honest person - to a publican who was her neighbour, to a painter and glazier who bought her wares. Mr Burd was a purser in the navy. On 3rd August 1809 he’d been in town (London city) on business and at 4pm had gone to a banking house to receive some bank notes. Then he dined with his brother at 5pm and afterwards went to a coffeehouse in Norfolk Court off Surry Street, where he checked and counted his notes, taking them out of his pocket. It’s hinted at in the evidence that a Mrs Pike of the coffee house had something to do with the offence against him - she had been “taken up” and a 20 pound note from him stopped by the bank. Perhaps she had worked in together with Ann Kennington and Matilda Dyer and told them that this man had notes on him - the other two women assaulted him in the same street as the coffee house. Because he had collected the notes from the bank that afternoon, he had good knowledge of exactly what notes he had on him. He got the bank to put a stop on all the notes the next day. Mrs Pike had been taken up” by the officers and Ann Kennington appeared as a witness against her. Pike had acknowledged to the magistrate that she had given a 50 l. note. It seems Mrs Pike was “ discharged that night in consequence of Mr. Pollard [publican] stating that he did not believe she committed the felony …” [per evidence of John Vicker, Worship St officer] Ann and Matilda started getting rid of the notes. The publican named John Pollard gave evidence that he knew both Ann and Matilda very well because they were both neighbours [to him]. He claimed in evidence that “I never knew a dishonest act of them ever since I knew them” and so he had no hesitation in giving Matilda change for a 10l note the next day. Ann asked a man named William Alders, a painter and glazier, to change one of the notes for her - a £50 bank note.When he said no she offered him a shilling to do so, at the bank. He asked her how she had got it - it was a large amount of money for her - and she told him ‘by honesty’. So Mr Alders wrote his name on it and went with it to the bank, where of course it was picked up b the clerk as a stopped note. This was her undoing. Ann Kennington called three character witnesses and Matilda Dyer one. Both were found guilty and sentenced to death. Obviously both were reprieved - to transportation for life Their ages were recorded on the Old Bailey reports as being 37 for Kennington and 33 for Dyer, but this is not consistent with later statement of ages in NSW. Far more likely they were 27 and 23 respectively. Ann being recorded in 1828 as being 40 and in 1831 as being born in 1789 (i.e. 42) would have been about 20 or 21 in 1809. IN NSW The women were tried on 20 September 1809.They both departed England on “Canada” six months later in March 1810. 1814 - Ann Kennington Mustered at Sydney, Off stores. Single. By 1818 Ann had taken up with Matthew Sheridan, aged about 51 years, an Irish emancipated convict (7-yrs )who’d arrived in 1803 on “Rolla”. He had become free by early 1809. They stayed together. In 1818 Matthew sought, and obtained permission to marry Ann, but they didn’t marry then. Again, in 1825, permission was sought to marry - recorded as Ann Kennington, ship “Canada” - but they did not do so for another two years. Finally 11 June 1827 - MARRIED - registered Christ Church Church of England Castlereagh by Henry Fulton. Ann and Matthew were both of the Castelreagh parish. Witnesses were John and Hannah Crowley. Everybody made their marks in the register book. 1822 as “Cannenton” wife of Matthew Sheridan, residence Windsor. Claimed she was under 7 yr sentences and now Free by Servitude (not true, she was still under a Life sentence). Matthew rented land at Windsor and 15 acres cleared with 15 hogs and 40 bushels of maize. 1825 name written as “Kinnagan”, similarly claiming to be Fby S under a 7 yr sentence, Housekeeper to Mr Sheridan at Evan 1828 Census - Ann “Sherridain" Age: 40, Protestant, Arrived per Canada 1811, Life, Ticket of Leave; Householder: Matthew Sherradain; Residence: Regent Ville. Matthew had 18 acres, all cleared and cultivated (no stock) and was a Catholic farmer aged 60 years. they had a convict servant, Patrick Donagh, aged 23 arrived that year on “Marquis of Hastings”. CATTLE STEALING, 1831 In 1831, Matthew and Ann blotted their good record with a charge of stealing cattle, together with a man named James Taylor. They were put in gaol in early May 1831. But by the time the August sittings o the Criminal Court ended, they had still not received a “Notice of Trial’. Their lawyer, Mr Therry, sought to have them discharged because not having received such a notice they were entitled to have been discharged on the last day of the court Session. 1831 Gaol Entrance Information: Recorded entering Sydney Gaol in early 1831: ANN SHERIDAN born 1789 (i.e. then aged 42) and 5ft 1 &1/2 inches, slender, ruddy complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. JOHN SHERIDAN Description: 5ft 5&1/2” tall, slender, swarthy, brown hair and grey eyes Born 1771, (meaning 60 in 1831, however would be 63 based on being 60 in 1828) Sydney Gaol 2nd June 1831 Now Free, arrived per “Rolla” , entered 2nd June by T E Wright Esq J.P. Charge: Cattle stealing or receiving. For trial 27th August. DISCHARGED. [John Taylor per “England”, their co-accused, was born 1795 (age 36) 5ft 4, stout, with fair complexion, lt brown hair and dark eyes] Sydney Gazette 18 August 1831 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17. "Mr Therry, at the sitting of the Court this morning, applied for the discharge of Matthew Sheridan and wife, and James Taylor who had been confined in jail on a charge of felony from the early part of the month of May, and who were entitled to be discharged on the Last day of the last session. "Nevertheless they were still confined in jail; had received no notice of trial, and, he believed, would receive no notice of trial, as he was assured that no prosecution could be sustained on the depositions taken against them. "Mr. Justice Stephen asked the Acting Attorney General, Mr. Moore, if there was any objection to the application. If the men were entitled to their discharge on the last day of the Iast session he wished to know why they might not be discharged now”! Mr. Moore said he would inquire into the case, and the Court directed Mr. Therry to mention the case to the Court on Saturday next. TICKET of LEAVE 1839 - Ticket of Leave Number: 39/0987. Allowed to remain in the District of Penrith; Reference: SRNSW 4/4129; Reel 933