Betsey Percy

343

Maureen Withey on 21st April 2020

ROYAL CORNWALL GAZETTE, 25 MARCH 1842 – CORNWALL LENT ASSIZES – Unexpected pressure of business at Devon Assizes delayed the Judges of the Western Circuit till Tuesday morning; consequently, the Cornwall Assizes, which had been appointed to commence on that morning, was postponed until Wednesday, March 23. CROWN COURT, Wednesday, March 23 – About ten o’clock this morning , Mr Justice Coleridge took his seat in the Crown Court, where the business was very light, there being only five cases for trial. The High Sheriff appeared in Court without any official, or Court costume whatever. TRIALS OF PRISONERS – Robert Percy (44), and Betsy Percy (49), brother and sister, were charged with having stolen one ewe sheep, the property of Nicholas Langman, a farmer of Lawhitton. Mr Greenwood conducted the prosecution; Mr Pattison was the attorney. The prisoners were undefended. Nicholas Langman, the prosecutor, stated that he was a farmer living at Lawhitton. Just before Christmas day last, he had 19 fat ewes and wethers in two adjacent fields by the road side leading from Launceston to Callington. He saw them all there on Friday the 24th of December. On Christmas morning, about 8 o’clock, he missed one; and at the same time he found in the corner of his field adjoining the turnpike road, about three or four yards from the gate, an earthenware oven. The cover of the oven was not there. In the oven was a little barley straw. He observed that a narrow cart had passed by the gate, along the road, and had been stopped, apparently, a little way from the gate in the road. The cart had gone close to the hedge of the field. There was, in the road, the appearance of some barley straw of the same kind as that found in the oven. Witness’s sheep had previously been feeding on turnips. They had turnips on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the 25th, witness went with the constables first to Mrs Russell’s (Mrs Russell was the name by which the female prisoner was known. She had been indicted as Betsy Russell; but on being arraigned, she said she had never been married and chose to be called Percy.) They there found first, a leg of mutton, which had been dressed, and partly eaten. It had not the appearance of having been slaughtered by a butcher. They then found a shoulder of mutton, in a very dirty state, and very badly managed, and some mutton fat melted down in a little stane. Witness afterwards went to the male prisoner’s house. He found traces of a very small cart, close to his door, and saw the cart itself in an adjoining field belonging to the prisoner. There was some wool about the cart, as there was also about a small rope in the cart. On going to Robert Percy’s a second time, he found in a chamber of the house, covered with straw, a cover of an oven. Prudence Carwithen, who served in the shop of her mother, at Launceston, proved having sold, on the day before Christmas Day, an earthenware oven to Robert Percy, which he took away in a small donkey cart. Betsy Percy came with him to the shop with the cart to take away the oven. This was about five or six o’clock in the evening. The oven which the witness had sold was of the same sort and size now produced in Court. Thomas Dawe, was on the road leading from Callington to Launceston, on the evening of the 24th December. He met Percy and Betsy Russell. They had a donkey cart, with some straw or hay in it. This was about half-past seven in the evening, about 3 miles from Launceston. Joanna Mills, whose husband keeps the Sportsman’s Arms, on the road between Launceston and Callington, witness also keeping a shop there, deposed to the female prisoner coming to the shop about 8 o’clock in the evening before Christmas Day, for seven pounds of salt and half lb. of candles. She said she must make haste on, because Robert had gone on before. John Brooming, a policeman, on the day after Christmas day went with Higgs, another policeman, and Mr Langman, to Mrs Russell’s. Robert Percy was there. Witness found a boiled leg of mutton on a dresser, and a shoulder not dressed; both of which, Betsy Russell said she had bought of a butcher in Launceston. Witness found also some saucers with mutton fat run down in them, and some cold mutton pies. He asked Betsy Russell if she had seen a donkey cart on the Friday evening between Launceston and Callington. She answered no. Witness afterwards went to Percy’s house, and found the greater part of the carcase of a sheep in salt. The mutton was never cut up by a butcher. Witness also found a knife and a carpenter’s axe, both of which had blood and grease upon them. Witness found some feet deep in a pit, the contents of the stomach of a sheep in which he found grass and turnips very fresh. William Bray Lyne, butcher of Launceston, proved that the meat had not been cut up by a butcher, and also it had been cut up while the sheep was warm, contrary to the practice of butchers. Witness also produced parts of bones found in the two houses of the prisoners, and which were found to correspond exactly. Samuel Rolls Parson, magistrate’s clerk at Launceston, proved the statement made by the prisoner before the magistrates, and which was put in and read. It stated that the sheep was his own property; that he killed it himself, as was his usual custom; and that he generally killed a sheep at Christmas. Betsy Percy, in her defence, said that she had fed the sheep herself hundreds of times, for her brother, with barley meal. Verdict – Guilty. Sentence on each prisoner – 15 years transportation. -------------------------------------------------- Cornwall Assizes. —R. Percy, 41, and Betsy Percy, 49, brother and sister, were charged with having stolen one ewe sheep, the property of Nicholas Langman, a farmer, of Lawhitton, and each prisoner sentenced to 15 years' transportation. Sherborne Mercury, 4 April 1842. Betsey’s brother Robert Percy was transported to VDL on the Susan, arriving 21 April 1842.

343

Maureen Withey on 21st April 2020

Cornwall Chronicle, 7 Oct 1843. In accordance with the Act or Council 6th Victoria, No. 18, I hereby give notice that His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor has been pleased to approve of the solemnization of matrimony between the undermentioned parties: James King, free, and Betsy Pearce, per Royal Admiral, in assigned service. Circular Head. --------------------------------------------------- Marriage Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-4p118j2k 1844 Marriages in the District of Oatlands. Married at Circular Head, January 15th 1844, James King, age 39, farmer, James King, Widower, his mark, and Betsy Percy, age 40, Domestic servant, Betsy King, widow, her mark X. Married in the parish church, witnessed by James Green and Elizabeth Green. -------------------------------------------------- It is hereby notified to the under-mentioned individuals, that it is the intention of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to recommend them to the gracious consideration of her Majesty the Queen for conditional pardons: Betsy Percy, Royal Admiral. Launceston Examiner, 12 Feb 1848. -------------------------------------------------- Conditional Pardons Granted. Betsy Percy- Royal Admiral. The Britannia and Trades Advocate (Hobart) 18 April 1850.