Peter Pirie

341

Maureen Withey on 20th January 2021

Scotland. John, or John Hepburn Plrir, or Perry, Peter Pirie, or Perry, and Thomas Pirie, or Perry, were then placed at the bar, charged with two separate acts of housebreaking and theft, &ct. With breaking into the premises of William Mackinnan and Co, iron and brass founders, Windy Wynd, on the 14th November 1829, and stealing therefrom several tin dish covers, a zinc dish cover, two brass pump valves, two tiles, an oil flask, a set of brass fire irons, a steel bow saw, and a variety of other goods; and 2d, on the 12th December, into the house of Harry Grassie, at Holburn, the road leading from Union Grove to the Deeside turnpike road, and stealing from a desk several bills and promissory notes to a great amount, £9 in bank notes, a policy of insurance, several pocket books, and various papers. John Pirie was also charged with being habit and repute a thief. A special defence was given in for the prisonners, and was read. About 24 witnesses were examined for the Crown. Four criminal officers from Glasgow proved John Pirie to be a common thief. The Advocate-Depute addressed the Jury for the Crown; and Mr Neaves, in addressing them for the prisonners, attempted to show that the Crown evidence was too weak to warrant a conviction even its own grounds, much less when opposed to such evidence as he had laid before them for the prisonners. The Lord Justice Clerk summed very minutely, and in an address of three hours and a quarter, laid the evidence in a most distinct manner before the Jury, were retired, and were ordered bring in their verdict on Tuesday at eleven o’clock. Tuesday, April. The Court met at 11 o’clock when the Jury gave in their verdict in the case of the Piries, all in one voice finding the prisoner John Pirie Guilty on the first charge libelled; the said charge Not Proven against Peter and Thomas Pirie; and on the second Charge, finding all the prisoners Guilty. The Lord Justice Clerk complimented the Jury on the accuracy of the terms in which their verdict was expressed, and stated the entire concurrence of the Court with respect to its finding. The prisoners were then remanded to prison; Inverness Courier, 28 April 1830. ----------------------------------------------------- Hulk Records – Woolwich. HO-9-4 5 page 11/51. Received 12 May 1830 John Hepburn Pirie or Perry Age 78, Theft by Housebreaking, Tried Aberdeen, 20 April 1830, Life, transported 30 June 1830. Peter Pirie or Perry Age 19, Theft by Housebreaking, Tried Aberdeen, 20 April 1830, 7 years, transported 30 June 1830. Thomas Pirie or Perry Age 17, Theft by Housebreaking, Tried Aberdeen, 20 April 1830, 7 years, transported 30 June 1830. ---------------------------------------------------- Peter Perry. Ship: Burrell 1830 Date: 1837, Place: Maitland Source: GRC. Details: Age 24. Assigned to Patrick Walsh Mallon Peter Perry (Perie), Ship: Burrell 1830 Date: 1830 Source: Convict Indent. State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Item: [4/4016]; Microfiche: 677 Details: Peter Perry, age 22. Weaver from Glasgow. Tried at Aberdeen 20 April 1830. Sentenced to 7 years transportation for house breaking. Place of assignment on arrival not recorded. Special order. Note - brother of Thomas Perry age 17 who arrived on the same vessel.