Isabella Kirk

341

Maureen Withey on 15th October 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 15 October 2022), January 1827, trial of ISABELLA KIRK ELIZABETH DRISCOLL (t18270111-73). ISABELLA KIRK, ELIZABETH DRISCOLL, Theft > stealing from master, Theft > receiving, 11th January 1827. 350. ISABELLA KIRK was indicted for stealing, on the 5th of January , 1 watch, value 15s., and 2 silver spoons, value 10s. , the goods of Robert Roberts , her master ; and ELIZABETH DRISCOLL was indicted for feloniously receiving the same, knowing them to have been stolen . ROBERT ROBERTS . I am a clerk in the Excise-office , and live in Armitage-place - Kirk had been in my service five or six weeks. On the 2d of January she came into the parlour, while I was at tea, and said she was going to get some milk for Mr. Gilbert, who has my first floor - she was gone some time - my wife went down, and missed a tea-spoon - I then went, and missed a tablespoon and a shawl - on the Friday following, Kirk came and gave herself up - I was sent for, and found her at my house - she acknowledged she had stolen the spoons and a watch, and said the duplicates were at Driscoll's; she said that Driscoll had prompted her to do it; my wife is not here. FRANCES WILD . I live with Mr. Gilbert. I went to Driscoll's on Friday, the 5th of January; I asked if she knew a person of the name of Isabella Kirk; she said she did not know any such person, or any thing of such a person - her husband then came in, and said there was a duplicate belonging to such a person, and he reached a parcel of duplicates - Mr. Driscoll looked at them, and gave me the duplicate of the watch; I asked if she had any more, and whether she would give them to me; she said she had not; but told me to call again in half an hour, as her husband would not look at her with any countenance again for having them. I went again, and she gave me a duplicate of a table-spoon; she offered me another of a spoon and a gown of Isabella Kirk's, and said she would give me that, if I would promise to give her the gown which Kirk had got on; but I could not promise that; she said Kirk had left them with her, saying she had left her place and taken no wages, and that her brother Thomas had given her these things, to make a little money of. SAMUEL JAMES WOOD . I am a pawnbroker. I have a table-spoon pawned by Driscoll for 4s., on the 2d of January - she said it was not for herself; I had known her some time. EDWARD BULLWORTHY . I am a pawnbroker. I have a watch pawned by Driscoll on the 3d of January, and a spoon by her son Jeremiah Driscoll on the same day - I was at breakfast when she brought the watch - my young man came to me, and asked if I could lend 10s. on it to Driscoll - I told him to ask if it was her own property; I looked through the window and saw that it was her. ANDREW LLOYD . I am an officer of Hatton-garden. I took the two prisoners on the 5th of January - I found Driscoll at her own house - her husband appears like a tradesman; I told her I wanted her on suspicion of being concerned with Kirk in a robbery - I found a duplicate of a spoon and a gown in a little brass pepper-box over her mantel-piece - I got the other two duplicates from the servant.(Property produced and sworn to.) KIRK'S Defence. I took the things from my master's, I asked Driscoll to pawn them and make me a little money, and to keep the duplicates for me - she did not know they were stolen. DRISCOLL'S Defence. I am quite innocent of any guilty knowledge - she came to me in distress, and asked me to pawn them for her - Wild asked if Kirk was at my house, not whether I knew her. COURT to FRANCES WILD. Q. Did the Magistrate ask you respecting Driscoll's knowing Kirk? A. I do not recollect that he did; but I am quite sure she denied knowing her, and took her oath to it several times - I went to her by the desire of Mr. Roberts - I found her at her house, No. 3, School-house-yard - I said, "Do you know such a person as Bella Kirk ?" she said, No; I had a direction on a bit of paper, which Kirk had written for me;I said, "Look at that;" and she replied, "I can't read;" I said Bella Kirk had written that, and asked if she knew such a person; she said, "No; I have not room here for my own family;" I am sure I did not ask if Kirk was there; because she was at Mr. Roberts'. KIRK - GUILTY . Aged 22. DRISCOLL - GUILTY . Aged 34. Transported for Seven Years . -------------------------------------------------- National Archives - Criminal Petitions. HO 17/30/1621827 Feb Prisoner name(s): Elizabeth Driscoll. Prisoner occupation: Washerwoman. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey January Sessions 1827. Crime: Receiving stolen goods from Isabella Kirk one watch and two silver spoons value 25 shillings, property of Robert Roberts. Initial sentence: Seven years transportation. Gaoler's report: Not known here. Annotated (Outcome): Penitentiary. Petitioner(s): Prisoner 17 people of Clerkenwell. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Prisoner a married woman with 4 children; husband Jeremiah an iron founder; honest and hardworking; pawned goods for Kirk not having any idea they were stolen; excellent conduct in prison. Other papers: 'A respectable banker' to the Lord Mayor supporting petition. A letter from Robert Williams supporting Driscoll's case. Additional Information: In Newgate Gaol; Kirk also convicted and in Newgate.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 11th March 2021

1831 - 1 Mar. Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, Liverpool St Luke No; 218 Name; Isabella Harris Abode; Lower Minto When Buried; 1 March 1831 Age; 28 Ships Name; Harmony Quality or profession; By whom the Ceremony was performed; Robert Cartwright

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 29th December 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship: Harmony No; 5 Name; Isabella Kirk. Age; 22 [1804/5] Read & writes. Single, Native County; London Trade; House maid Offence; Robbing mistress Trial; London - 18 Jan 1827 - 7 years Height; 4 ft. 8 1/4 Complexion; Fair pock pitted Hair; Brown Eyes; Brown Assigned; W Blaxland, Newington Additional Remarks; DIED; at Liverpool 1 March 1831 New South Wales, Australia, Convict Applications for the Publication of Banns, Date; April 1830. Name: Isabella Kirk. Age: 24 [1806] Spinster. Ship; Harmony 1827. Bond. Spouse Name: James Harris. 44. [1786] Bachelor. Ship; Shipley 2. 1818. Free. Application Place: St Luke's Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia Australia, Marriage Index, Name: Isabella Kirk & Spouse Name: James Harris Marriage Date: 1830. Marriage Place: New South Wales Registration Place: Liverpool, New South Wales. Registration Year: 1830. Volume Number: V B New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879 Name: Isabella Kirk Age: 28 [1803] Date of Death: 1 Mar 1831 District: Liverpool ----------------------

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd July 2019

1828 Census NSW at Government Factory, Parramatta. Isab.Kirk, age 27, Harmony 1827, 7 yrs, religion- p.