Ann Lummes

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

• LUMMES (or Lomas), Ann (c1778-1814) Tried - 15 Sept 1813 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Ann was aged about 35 when she was taken before the Old Bailey in London, indicted for stealing a watch. George Saul said he was drunk when he met Ann in the street and she physically dragged him to her room in a house in Essex Street. After George undressed, protesting the whole time, he stated that Ann then pushed him onto the bed, grabbed his silver watch and ran from the room. Fifteen minutes later while George was planning his next move, the door flew open and a man entered; shouting and knocking George down. When George came to his feet he attacked the man, scratching his face. There was more fighting between the two, until George was made unconscious and awoke the next morning laying in the passage of the house. He reported the incident to the Police, who later arrested Ann Lummes and William Davis, alias Perkins. George Saul was not certain that William was the same man that had attacked him, but he was sure that Ann had stolen his watch. This was later found at the pawnbrokers. Ann’s defence was that she knew nothing about the watch and that George had been mistaken in recognising her. The Judge found Ann guilty and sentenced her to transportation for life. William Davis was found not guilty. Ann was placed on the Broxbornebury in 1814 on its voyage to the Colony of New South Wales and near the end of the journey she died and was buried at sea on Friday the 8th of July, from dysentery, brought on by scurvy. Ann Lummes would have been aged 36. Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info

41

Roger Churm on 21st April 2019

Old Bailey Proceedings September 1813 Trial of Ann Lummes William Davis 909.Ann Lummes,was indicted for feloniously stealing,on the 27th of June,a watch,value 2.1 the property of George Saul,from his person.And William Davis alias Perkins,from feloniously receiving,on the same day,the said goods,he knowing it to be stolen. GEORGE SAUL.I am a Greenwich pensioner ,and work in the Dock-yard.On the 27th of June,about half after ten at night.I fell in company with the prisoner in Whitechapel;I had to see an aquatintance in Spitalfields;I fell in company with the prisoner at the corner of Essex street,Whitechapel;I asked her the way to Execution dock,I wanted to go to Deptford;I thought I could cross from Execution dock to Deptford.I was the worse for liquor.She said it was late.I had better come and get a bed;I said I would rather go home.She catches me by the breast,she said come along,go to bed,you cannot get home.I went upstairs with her into a room in Essex street;she called a man to bring a candy;I did not like the room.I said I would not sleep there,she shoved my down,and said I must strip and go to bed;she pushed me down on the bed;she pulled my watch out of my fob;she ran out of the room with my watch,and shut the door.It was a silver watch. Q. Have you ever seen the watch since-A Yes;at the pawnbrokers I gave five guineas for it;I had it three years;it is worth 2 guineas.I remained in the room about a quarter of an hour;being a stranger I did not know what to do,and then a man shoved the door open,and muttered some words in a threating tone of voice;he collared me,and knocked me down;I got up and struck him,and scratched his face;he did not say what he was.When I scratched his face,he knocked me down again,and when I was getting up,he shoved me out of the room;my hat fell off;he took it up and looked at it,and threw it out of the room after me. Q. Have you seen him since- A. No.He followed me into the passage,and struck me;this room was up two pairs of stairs.A man opened the door in his shirt,with a candle in his hand;the man left me alone,and went to him,he called him Jack;he said see the way this fellow has left my face,shewing his face then;I saw his face thei,it was all over blood. Q. Was that man the prisoner at the bar- A.He was about the size of him,I cannot swear to the man,Jack shut the door,and he knocked me down again in the passage,and there I laid till day light. Q. Did the last blow deprive you of your senses - A.Yes,entirely;I lay in a gore of blood until the morning;I couldn't not see out of my eyes;when I got up I went into the opposite room to where I had been robbed;I told a woman and a man how I had been robbed;they directed me to go to Lambeth street office.I went to the office;I described the woman to Dalton.the officer,and the prisoner,the woman was brought to the office;I knew her again.I told the officer I was quite sure she was the woman that robbed me of my watch,and I now say on oath,she is the woman. EBENEZER DALTON. I am an officer.In Monday,the 28th of June,in the morning,I was at the Flying Horse,next to the office in Lambeth street;Saul came and said he was robbed of a watch and a few shillings,and from his description of the woman who had beaten him;I apprehended the woman prisoner.The prosecutor gave a description of the man who had beaten him.I apprehended the man.The prosecutor said he could not swear to him ,he was like him. THOMAS BATEMAN.I am a servant to Deer and Lions,Pawnbrokers.Three Colt street,Limehouse.I produce a watch pawned there;I was in the shop when it was pled;Francis Lion took it in pledge.I have no knowledge whatever of the prisoner.This is the watch. Prosecutor.I am quite sure it is my watch,that the woman prisoner took from me. LUMMES Defence I know nothing above the watch.The man must be mistaken in the person he has sworn to. LUMMES,GUILTY,aged 35 Transported for Life. DAVIS,NOT GUILTY. Second Middlesex Jury,before MR Common Serjeant