Ann Rogers

53

Beth Taylor on 24th September 2019

ROGERS, Ann (c1797-?) Tried - 1 July 1812 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Ann was aged 15 when she appeared before the Old Bailey Court, London with a friend Jane Jones. They were both charged with breaking and entering a public-house in Manchester Square, London during the night and were caught red-handed with food, kitchen utensils and a wooden drawer containing coins to the value of just over £5. They were taken to the watch-house and two weeks later appeared before the Judge. Jane and Ann’s defence was: “we were in great distress” and Ann called three witnesses who gave good character references, however they were both sentenced to death, because of the large amount of money they had taken. The girls were reprieved from the hangman because of their youth and they were transported for life. Jane and Ann were first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the ship Emu and finally reached Sydney in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. BC: 1797 Sentenced: 01/07/1812 Middlesex [see trial record below with Jane JONES] to transportation for life ALSO ON SHIP EMU in 1812 Crime: Burglary Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent (Brox.): 18 1812, 1 July - ANN ROGERS, JANE JONES, Theft > burglary, 1st July 1812. 575. ANN ROGERS and JANE JONES were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James Caperton, about the hour of one, in the night of the 16th of May, and stealing therein four loaves of bread, value 5 s. five eggs, value 3 d. a saucepan and cover, value 2 s. a pound weight of butter, value 1 s. 6 d. half a pound weight of cheese, value 5 d. two knives, value 6 d. two forks, value 6 d. two plates, value 2 d. a basin, value 2 d. a spoon, value 1 s. a tinder-box, value 6 d. a wooden drawer, value 1 s. one hundred and forty penny pieces, two thousand one hundred and twenty-four halfpence, and four hundred and sixty-three farthings, the property of James Caperton . JAMES CAPERTON. I am a publican. I live in Charles-street, Manchester-square, in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone. I am the housekeeper. Q. Did you make the house fast - A. I did not; it was fast to the best of my opinion. The house was broken open through a window. I went to bed about half past twelve. I did not get up before seven, on the Sunday morning. The maid-servant discovered the robbery. She found the bar-door open. She was alarmed. She came and apprized me of it. I came down stairs, and found the till was missing out of the bar. When I came I found the till was gone. THOMAS BELLAMY. I am beadle of St Giles's in the Fields. Going from the watchhouse, about fifteen minutes after five o'clock in the morning, in company with Mr. Brown, I saw these two girls in possession of something. I asked them, where they were going: they said, to number seven, Grafton-street, Tottenham-court-road. I asked them, where they came from. They said, one of their mothers kept a chandler's shop, close to Monmouth-street; but could not tell the name of the street where the mother lived; but they were going to number seven, Grafton-street. They had a fowl; I asked them, where they got that fowl from: she said, her mother had bought that fowl in Leadenhall-market the night before. I put my hand upon it, and found it quite warm, as if recently killed. I gave it into the hands of Mr. Brown, that he might feel it was quite warm. I told them, they must go down to the watchhouse, and if I found what they said was correct, they might proceed on their journey, and every thing would be returned to them; but I doubted it. While I was speaking to Mr. Brown, he lifted a check apron off the till; and he said, you don't see what is here. I looked in the till, and I took them down to the watchhouse. I believe there was in the till five pounds ten shillings in copper penny-pieces, halfpence and farthings. The chief part of them is here. All the things they had with them is mentioned in the indictment. JOHN BROWN. I am constable of St. Giles's. I know nothing more than what Bellamy has stated. JOHN BAXTER. I am the watchhouse-keeper. I have the property. I produce it. These things were brought in with the women about a quarter past five o'clock. They confessed, that they got in at the window, and staid in there until three o'clock, and went out at the back. Rogers got up, by the help of the other. When she got up to the window, she put the side of the shutter down; opened the window, and put her hand in it, and helped the other up. It is in consequence of their confession that we found out from where it was lost. We examined the premises where they got in. The window goes into a mews. The window is five feet from the ground; but there is a dunghill under it. They got in there. I never saw them before. The bread and cheese, I gave them myself at the watchhouse, to eat. Prosecutor. I lost a fowl, and the fowl the prisoners had was mine; and that is my till; the saucepan, I believe, is mine; the till I can positively swear to. I do not know exactly the quantity of copper there was in the till. Barter. There were twelve shillings in penny-pieces, four pounds and odd, in halfpence, and nine shillings and odd in farthings. Roger's Defence. We were in great distress. Jones's Defence. The same. Rogers called three witnesses, who gave her a good character. ROGERS, GUILTY, DEATH, aged 15. JONES, GUILTY, DEATH, aged 17. [The prisoner were recommended to mercy by the Jury and the prosecutor, on account of their youth and good characters.] (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org) 1814 Muster: Ann ROGERS, con, Broxbornebury, off stores, servant to James Badgery, Parramatta (3252) 1817, 7 April - Ann Rogers (per ship Broxbornebury) asked for permission to marry Maurice (?) Murray (per ship Wellington (?) at Parra by Rev Marsden. Both were prisoners. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6005; 4/3496 pp118-9) 1817 - Ann Rodgers (?) married Morrice (?) Murray on 30 April 1817 at St Johns C of E, Parra. Morrice Murray, aged 24, Prisoner, arrived per Guildford, Abode: Parramatta, Signed; & Anne Rodgers, aged 20, arrived per Broxbornebury, Abode: Parramatta, Signed X; married 30 Apr 1817, registered St Johns Church of England Parramatta by Banns by Samuel Marsden; Witness: Richard[?] Buckley, Signed X; Witness: Leticia Wright, Signed X. (Source: St John's Church of England, Parramatta NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 55-56 & V1817-2035-3A) Children born to Morris/Maurice and Ann Murray: 1. Elizabeth MURRAY born c1823 Sydney (baptized 1823 at St Marys RC, Sydney. V1823- 404-125), died ? 2. Mary Ann MURRAY born c1825 Sydney (baptized 1825 & 1826 at St Marys RC, Sydney Also - Mary Ann Murray, daughter of Maurice Murray, & Ann Rogers Baptised 26 Dec 1825 Sydney [NSW AUS], Registered at St Mary's Roman Catholic Sydney, [NSW AUS]; Sponsor David Lee; Sponsor Amelia Tyrrell formerly Major (convict per Broxbornebury), Additional Information: [Sponsor] Amelia Tyrrell olim [formerly] Major. Source: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Baptisms; ML ref: Reel SAG 7 & V1825-688-125 & V1826-536-127 & 556-128), marr 1) 1845 Bringelly to Joseph Bott/Nott, marr 2) 1865 Sydney to Joseph Coombes, died c1904 Muswellbrook 1822 Muster: Ann ROGERS, con, Broxbornebury, life, govt servant to Murray at Windsor (A18207) plus 1 child & spouse - Michael (?) MURRAY, TL, Guildford, life, shoemaker, Windsor (A15511) 1823, 17 Sept. - Ann Rogers was assigned to work for Maurice (?) Murray, in Clarence St, Sydney [her husband!]. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3291; 4/4570D p106) 1823-1825 Muster: Ann ROGERS, con, Broxbornebury, wife of Mr Murray, Sydney (38603) & spouse - Morris MURRAY, TL, Guildford 1812, life, shoemaker, Sydney (34174) & child - Elizabeth MURRAY, aged 4½, BC, daughter of Morris 1828 Census: Ann MURRAY, aged 29, GS, Broxbornebury, life, cath, (M3647) & spouse - Morris MURRAY, aged 36, TL, Guildford 1812, cath, shoemaker, Kissing Point (M3636) & children - Elizabeth, aged 8 & Mary Ann aged 5 - both BC 1835 – Anne ROGERS received a Conditional Pardon on 21/11/1835 #557. Described as: arr per ship Broxbornebury. 1814, tried Middlesex Gaol Delivery 1812, life sentence for “housebreaking”, native of London, born 1796, 5’ tall, “ruddy and a little pock-pitted” complexion, dark brown hair, and “chestnut” eyes. (Source: SRNSW Convict Pardons, Reel 774, 4/4429, p7 also Reel 776, 4/4434, p119) NSW BDM: No record found for the deaths of Ann or her husband Morris/Maurice 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