Frances Levens

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 3rd December 2020

New South Wales Certificate of Freedom. [NRS 12208] Register of Certificate of Freedoms No; 92/724. Ticket of Leave 1814. 5 September 1814. Sydney Name; Frances Levens Ship and arrival year; Wanstead - 1813 Description and Remarks; Native County; Kent Trade; Mantua Maker Age; 31 years [1783] Height; 5 ft. Complexion; Fair Ruddy Hair; Light Brown Eyes; Dark Hazel Additional Remarks; Tried at Kent. April 1813. Sentence; Life

71

Robin Sharkey on 1st October 2018

NEWSPAPER REPORT OF CRIME at KENT: Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 23 March 1813, Page 2, (Col 4) “KENT ASSIZES, MAIDSTONE, Friday March 19, Crown side. “Frances Levens, and Elizabeth Beckwith were indicted under a late Act of Parliament, for feloniously aiding a prisoner of war named SOVEN CHRISTIANSON, to make his escape from His Majesty’s ship ‘Bahama’ at Chatham, in which he was confined on the 15th of February last. These are the first prisoners tried on the statute in question on this Circuit. It appeared in evidence that the prisoners attempted to effect their purpose by providing the witness Christianson, who was a native of Denmark, with female attire, which he first used on board the ship to prevent suspicion, in acting a female character in a play got up amongst his fellow prisoners. The next morning however he was smuggled on shore by the prisoners, in the milk-boat. He was soon after missed, and retaken in a public hose at Chatham. The prisoners were found guilty and sentenced to be transported for life.” same newspaper, page 4, col 4: ‘KENT LENT ASSIZES "The Assizes for this county terminated at a late hour on Saturday evening, when twenty-four prisoners received sentence of death, seven only of whom were left for execution. Below we have given the calendar of the whole, and in the preceding page, a detail of the most important trials. “Frances Levens, 30, and Elizabeth Beckwith, 42, for aiding and assisting (in company with AnnHoney and John Brock, acquitted, and Ann Brock discharged by proclamation), SOVEN CHRISTIANSON, an alien enemy and prisoner of war, to escape from His Majesty’s ship ‘Bahama’, to be transported for life.”

71

Robin Sharkey on 1st October 2018

Prisoner name: Frances Levins (or Frances Levens or Francis Levins or Francis Levens). She was the wife of Mr Levins who was the boatswain on board 'Bahama' convict hulk at Chatham [Kent]). Transported to New South Wales in 1813 for aiding the escape of a prisoner-of-war being kept on the "Bahama" convict hulk in 1813. Tried: 15 Mar 1813, at Kent Sentence: Life, Embarked from: England; Arrived per Wanstead 9 Jan 1814, Age: 31; Trade or Calling: Mantua maker; Sent to Factory at Parramatta on arrival. 1814 Muster - Ticket of Leave Number 724; 14/0092 Mustered at Sydney, Off stores. A petition sent on her behalf by her parents, Thomas and Mary Moore, in 1822 - nine years after her 1813 trial - explained her circumstances, and resulted in her getting an absolute pardon. Court and date of trial: Kent Lent Assizes 1813. Crime: Aiding the escape of a prisoner-of-war, namely Soron Chrisenden (or Sven Chrisenden) a Danish man from the Bahama in 1813. Initial sentence: Transportation Annotated (Outcome): 'To be recommended to the Governor of New South Wales'. Letter to Mr Willmott 11 January 1822. Petitioner(s): Thomas Moore and Mary Moore, prisoner's parents. John Godfrey, a store-keeper of Benfleet [Essex] known to the convict's parents. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): She was not bribed but was drawn into the offence out of pity and compassion for the escapee; her sincere repentance and a desire to return to her family and friends who are respectable. Additional Information: Wife of Mr Levins, boatswain on board Bahama convict hulk at Chatham [Kent]). Transported to New South Wales in 1813. _________________ 1822 Colonial Secretary's Correspondence Petition Letter of 28 January 1823 . Servant to James Erskine, Lieutenant Governor. Recommended by James Erskine for emancipation or pardon. James Erskine, Lt Governor, letter dated 28 January 1823 to His Excellency the Governor: "In a personal conversation I had the honor to hold a few days ago with Your Excellency - I took the liberty of recommending a woman in my Service to Your Excellency's xx consideration, as an exemplary Character (?) for sobriety, integrity and honesty & in short every way & everything that I can do for her. She has been in my service since her arrival in the colony (as Dairy Woman??) & had charge of my house in the country. I have promised her to intervene with Your Excellency in your behalf & I therefore hope as a particular favour conferred on myself you will be pleased to bestow on her an emancipation or conditional pardon I am particularly anxious to carry this request into effect before I leave the Colony which will be early in the next month." 12 February 1823 - Letter from the Colonial Secretary, Goulburn to the Bench of Magistrates at Liverpool suggesting that if the character of Frances Levens, the wife of Charles Seaton a sawyer, be good then he would be glad to see her at his office at Sydney whenever it may be convenient for her. DEATH: Francis Seaton, Free; Abode: Liverpool, Died 8 Jul 1823 Aged: 41, Cause: Dropsy; Buried 9 Jul 1823