Mary Seekins

110

Ron Garbutt on 22nd March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 March 2020), July 1822, trial of MARY SEEKINS (t18220703-28). MARY SEEKINS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 3rd July 1822. 1017. MARY SEEKINS was indicted for stealing, onthe 26th of May , at St. Mary-le-bone, four pair of stays, value 2 l. 10 s., and sixteen yards of jeau, value 30 s., the goods of Thomas William Gould , in his dwelling-house . ANN GOULD . I am the wife of Thomas William Gould . On the 25th of May, the prisoner was a charwoman in our employ. We live in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone . I was on the staircase watching her from a window, as I bad lost goods the day before; she was in the cutting room. I lost three dozen pair of stays at one time, but not on this day. I was looking through a window, and saw her open a drawer from which two pair of stays had been taken the preceding week; she shut it again without taking anything; I immediately went up to my husband, and afterwards resumed my place on the staircase, and while she left the room to go down stairs for her pail, I went and looked in the drawer, and at the top of it was a large pasteboard, which nearly covered it, and at the top of that was a few rules and the shears; I observed that there was nothing about the room. I went back to the staircase, and she returned with her pail. I missed her for some time; I could not see her for five minutes. I heard a rustling like jeans being unfolded; I went down to the back room door, and saw her at the first drawer in the foreman's room; I went in as she was shutting the drawer - I asked what she was doing; she said merely putting in some pieces of jean which laid about. I said there were none laying about a few minutes before, for I had been down there, and that she had no business at the drawer. I asked her what she had taken from it the preceding Sunday; she said nothing. I said I was satisfied of her being the thief who had taken all we had lost, it being within the time she had worked for us; she said she had touched nothing. I said there was an officer down stairs ready to take her, and left her (there was no officer) - she finished her work, and in the intermediate time Mr. Gould sent for our foreman to examine the drawers. I, Mr. Gould, and the foreman, went in to examine them. I found two pieces of jean in the drawer I saw her at; they measured four yards and a half each; I do not know where they were before. She came into my service on the 28th of February. WILLIAM DAVIS . I am shopman to Mr. Wadmore, a pawnbroker, in Tottenham-court-road. On the 4th of March the prisoner pawned four yards of jean for 5 s. - it is worth 10 s.; and on the 19th she pawned four pair of stays for 19 s. which are worth about 2 l. 10 s. On the 31st of March she pawned four yards more of jean for 7 s., worth 10 s. THOMAS CLEMENTS . I am an officer; I produce the two pieces of jean found in the drawer. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner. I leave it to the mercy of the Court. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 33. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Burrough. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18220703-28

7

Sarah Cooper on 31st May 2014

Born Mary Ryanns of London England. Parents William Ryanns and Elizabeth. Mary Ryanns married Thomas James Seeking (1788-1820) on the 8th of Nov 1807 in London England. They had 2 children together, Robert John (1815-1815) and Mary Elizabeth (1817-1900). Thomas Seekins died at sea during work as a seaman in 1820. Mary Ryanns/Seekins was convicted of stealing from her employer and sentenced to death in 1822. Due to being a mother this was reduced to life and she was sent to Australia. Daughter Mary Elizabeth was sent with her mother. On her arrival she met and married John Bradford (1795-1845) in 1824. They had 2 children together, John George (1826-?) and William (1828-1913). Mary died on the 30 Jan 1855 in Wollongong aged 71 years.