Alice Robson

53

Beth Taylor on 12th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1797 Sentenced: 29/04/1813 Northumberland April Quarter Sessions [see trial record] to 7 years transportation. April 1813 Alice Robson, late of the parish of Heddon on the Wall, in the county of Northumberland, single woman, on the 28 day of April in the 53rd year of the reign of the Sovereign Lord George the third, King of Great Britain, and so forth, with force of arms, at the parish of Stanfordham, in the said county, <steal> six yards of printed cotton, two pieces of Fustian, five yards of linen cloth, two yards of white cotton, one yard of tow cloth, one quantity of a yard of flowered muslin, three cotton handkerchiefs, two yards of brown cotton, six yards of blue and white cotton, one Waistcoat piece, one buff coloured handkerchief, two yards of cotton check, one slip of black yarn, one slip of black worsted pair of worsted stockings, one blue cotton apron, one Leno cuff border and one shawl, the goods and chattels of Leonard Dobson of Stanfordham of the value of 10 pence being then and there found did feloniously steal, take and carry away”, etc. Sentence Alice Robson, having been indicted at this Sessions for larceny and having been arraigned and pleaded guilty there to: ...... is ordered that she be transported for the term of seven years 'to such part of His Majesty’s dominions beyond seas, as His Majesty’s council shall direct' after pleading guilty. (Source: Transcription from John Sturzaker, 2003) Crime: Larceny Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 17 1819, April – “MR. W. E. LEITH TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. Your Excellency, George Town, 11th April, 1819. With extreme regret, I have to acquaint you that G. Cimitiere, Esqr., Commandant, has apprized me that he will by an early conveyance submit to you a Case, in which it seems I have undeservedly incurred his displeasure, relative to Alice, wife of Richard Blackstone, Crown Servants, who were sent down at the time the present Commandant arrived here, whom I have received into my dwelling for some short time past, in order to prevent her receiving Brutal and Fatal treatment from her assassin like Husband. I ask pardon for the liberty I am taking, and lament the necessity of the application; but it appears to be fair and incumbent that both sides of the question should be submitted to you. The enclosed Documents will shew your Excellency the manner in which this unfortunate and in many instances deserving Female Prisoner has been treated. At the time her life was actually endangered by Her Husband, as the first part of her statement will shew, application was made to me, the man Confined, but, on his promising to refrain from acts of violence in future, he was liberated at the request of his wife; in less than a week after, he attempted to put her to a violent Death; In order to prevent such a Calamity from taking place, I allowed them to live in my own premises, hoping thereby to protect her from his acts of violence; during the period they had the Commandant's permission to go to Launceston for a few days, on their way down the river, he treated her in the manner described in the latter part of her Statement, which, with the enclosed Copy of her petition, was delivered by her to the Commandant, praying for his interference in her behalf; nearly five weeks elapsed, and no investigation made; a short time after the Commandant directed me to send her to Launceston, and, having occasion to proceed there myself the day following, I placed her in the House of William Blackall an Overseer; The unfortunate Female was then ordered into Confinement, where she remained several days, but, in a week or two after, was permitted to return to this Station, being unwilling to put herself in the power of her Husband, who had repeatedly endangered her existence, applied to me for that protection, denied to her by that power, whose duty it appears to me to be to have fairly investigated the Circumstances of her Case, and then to have taken such measures, as were Calculated to place her out of danger. On the eighth of the present Month, the Commandant, being at George Town, directed me to turn the unfortunate Female out of my dwelling; on my hesitating, an order was given to the Acting Chief Constable to take her out, and Confine her in the Hospital Hut, where I understand she is to be Continued, until brought to bed. I am informed it is the Commandant's intention to send her to some distant Settlement as soon as Circumstances will permit. I have therefore to hope and implore Your Excellency will be pleased to direct that such measures will be taken, as will place her in safety, without resorting to measures of Severity on a suffering, unprotected Female Prisoner, whose only request has been, to be rendered secure from the Violence of a Brutal Husband, who still asserts he will destroy her. I have, &c., W. E. LEITH.” (Source: HRA, Series III, Vol. 3, pages 863-4) 1819, April – “Mr. WILLIAM ELLIOT LEITH, who has for some Time past acted as Superintendant and Inspector of Government Public Works. at George Town, at Port Dalrymple, having signified his Desire to relinquish that Office, he is to be removed from it accordingly. On the Arrival of Lieutenant VANDER MEULEN at that Station; and to whom Mr. LEITH hereby directed to deliver over Charge of the Public Works at George Town.” (Source: The Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter, 03/04/1819, p2) 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