Robert Kettle

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Maureen Withey on 25th April 2022

Birth of daughter. https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD32-1-1-P049 Baptism in St Johns Launceston, 1820. Baptised 3 July 1820, born 10 May 1819, Margrette, Parents, Robert and Anne Kettle, abode, Launceston. Ceremony performed by John Youl, Chaplain. -------------------------------------------------- Death of Robert https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-30$init=RGD35-1-30P141 Robert Kettle, died 3 Sept 1861, age 78, Labourer, cause, Natural decay, informant, Richard Barker, Grandson, Pipers Lagoon. Registered 4 Sept 1861.

71

Robin Sharkey on 24th October 2016

Robert Kettle was aged 18 when he was tried for burglary at the Norfolk Assizes in August 1805 when he broke into a dwelling house and stole clothes, and was sentenced to death. The judge’s comments to him indicated this was not his first offence. The Norfolk Assizes were held at the market town of Thetford for LENT (only being transferred to Norwich in 1832) and complaints were made in the House of Commons by an MP that prisoners had to be carried the 30 miles from Norwich Gaol in an open waggon and, on arrival at Thetford, were placed in a prison, which, "if he were to describe it, would shock and offend the House” However Kettle reported in Tasmania decades later that he had been tried at Norwich. London Courier and Evening Gazette - Monday 12 August 1805 NORFOLK ASSIZES "Mary Fisher, aged 16, for breaking into the dwelling house of James Moore, labourer of Wortwell; and Robert Kettle, aged 18 for breaking into the dwelling house of John West, labourer, and stealing thereout several articles of wearing apparel. "The Judge (Grose) in passing sentence of death on these two prisoners, remarked in the most impressive manner, on the lamentable instance of early depravity they exhibited. They had both, he observed, by their crimes before subjected themselves to the dreadful sentence of the law, and had both experienced its mercy, but they had shown themselves unworthy of it, and now therefore justice and the welfare of etc country demanded the forfeit of their lives. In consideration of their youth, they have been reprieved." Saturday 26 October 1805 , Norfolk Chronicle , Norfolk, England p2 " Robert Kettle, George Cook, and Robert Hagon, were removed onboard the hulks, Woolwich, pursuant to their sentence at our last assizes, and Robert Blogg for housebreaking, received sentence of death, but were reprieved. George Cook, alias Barnes, alias Dennis, for bigamy, Rob Hagon for stealing spirits, and Elizabeth Munton for a robbery to be transported for seven years." ___________________ The Fortune departed England on 28 January 1806, in company with the Alexander (it is not easy to unravel which of these two ships these convicts arrived on) NSW - The Fortune arrived on 12 July 1806. It was reported on Robert Kettle's Tasmanian Conduct Record many years later, as follows: " Transported before [i.e. from England] for Life, at Norwich, for house breaking; served nine years and received a Conditional Pardon from Governor Macquarie, then came down here." BUT He had already been sent "down here" as a convict in 1811, then got his pardon, then in 816 returned to Port Dalrymple. 1811 Muster - Arrived per Fortune, Convict at Port Dalrymple. 1813 - Conditional Pardon: Date of Pardon: 18 May 1813; Conditional Pardon number 287 RETURN to NSW THEN - BACK to PORT DALRYMPLE 1816 - Departed per Mary, 16 Feb 1816, for Port Dalrymple Letter dated 10 February to Commissary Allan - Robert Kettle to return to Port Dalrymple; re provisions for him. 1825: In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land. List of Grants .. by Sir Thomas Brisbane remaining unclaimed - Robert Kettle - 50 acres; (per Hobart Town Gazette 26 August 1826 p 1 AND 2 Sept 1826 p.1 ) Tasmanian & Port Dalrymple Advertiser 20 April 1825 page3: Peter Lette of Launceston advising that Robert kettle and certain others would be sued at the first meeting of the Court of Requets "unless payment is made". 1827 Launceston Criminal Court - Sat 20th October 1827 Robert Kettle was found guilty of receiving stolen goods. STEALING MUTTON: 1832 - Launceston Advertiser Wed 22 Feb 1832 p 59 Supreme Court - Ninth Day, thursday - Robert Kettle stood charged with receiving. a quantity of mutton, the property of James Cox, knowing it to be stolen. Verdict - Guilty From Tasmanian Conduct Record for 1832 crime: Given 14 years on 7th February 1832. "Transported for receiving 26 lb of mutton" ."Wife Ann at Launceston VDL, 2 children with her. Married. The rest of children about Launceston. 6 children." "August 28th 1832. Hulk. Several blankets having been destroyed it is recommended that he be not removed from the Hulk Ch [chain] Gang during the whole period of his sentence unless the name of the actual destroyer is discovered." 1828 - Granted Ticket of Leave on occasion of anniversary of her Majesty's birthday [The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston) 2 June 1838 page 92] Conditional Pardon no 154 - 28th January 1842 (recorded on conduct record) Re his land grant: the land was near the South Esk River and near the road leading fro Evandale to the River Nile The Courier, Hobart 19 Feb 1844 p 4 refers to other land situated “ along land located to Robert Kettle now occupied by or belonging to John Beven and Thomas Beswick respectively”.

married Ann Byrne per Providence -originally sentenced to death but transported to Aust for life.Robert and ann marry at Port Dalrymple in 1814.6children including Mary Kettle who marries Thomas Barker and is the start of 8 generations of Barkers in Tasmania.