Charles Law

71

Robin Sharkey on 22nd September 2015

Charles Law age 25 was married, no children, when he was convicted at the quarter sessions at Wakefield (in West Yorkshire) on 15 January 1829. Crime: shoplifting. 14 yrs transportation, per “Norfolk“(2) Trade: Slater 5ft 9 ruddy/freckled, Brown hair hazel eyes. nose inclined to the right. No prior convictions On arrival - Sent to the Public Works Department His brother Joseph Law, 25, was tried at Doncaster, 20 miles away on same day, and sent on the same ship with 14 years for poaching pheasants. Report of his trial Leeds Patriot and Yorkshire Advertiser, Sat 17 January 1829 page 3: “Charles Law, George Jarvis, and William Harrison were indicted for stealing two hammers the property of Thomas Dove. Mr Taylor stated the case for the prosecution. The shop of the prosecutor, who is a blacksmith in Thornes Lane near Wakefield, was locked by him on the evening of the 28th of Oct last, and the hammers in question were then safe. The prisoners being seen strolling about in a suspicious manner near the premises of Mr Fernandes, corn factors in Kirkgate, Wakefield, were challenged by two watchmen, when they commenced an attack upon them, and two of them, Jarvis and Harrison, escaped. “Law however was taken, and a hammer, whcihw as identified by the prosecutor, taken from him. The other two were apprehended in Sheffield where, in their defence, they said they had spent the night of the robbery. GUILTY. All the prisoners were proved to have been twice previously convicted and the court, in passing sentence upon the prisoners said, they well knew that the robbery for which they were tried was only a secondary affair to assist in their attempt upon the premises of Mr Fernandes, where they doubtless expected a more valuable booty. They were part of a most desperate gang, of which it was highly necessary to rid that part of the country, and the court accordingly sentenced them to be transported for 14 years. * 1839 Ticket of Leave T/L for Bathurst 19 feb 1839 (his brother was at Port Macquarie) Tkt of Leave altered to Port Macq per letter of 17 June 1839 * Brother Joseph died on 25/9/1842 in hospital at Port Macquarie. * No further record found of Charles.