Charles Blake Skerrett

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Maureen Withey on 9th February 2022

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/5/531835 Mar; 1836 Jan Prisoner name: Charles Blake Skerrett (or Charles Blake Skerritt). Prisoner age: 19 (or 21). Court and date of trial: Old Bailey November Sessions 1835. Crime: Stealing in a dwelling house. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Gaoler's report: Character not known, married, one child. Annotated: Nil. Petitioner(s): Six people from London. Grounds for clemency: Earlier fall from his horse has caused mental problems; tried to commit suicide in prison; previous good character; he has an infant and pregnant wife; has respectable family connections in Ireland; his wife and family are in great distress. Other papers: Letter from [G Burke] to Skerrett about the difficulty of giving testimony on the prisoner's behalf as he is in opposition to the government. Letter from William B Mitchell, resident medical officer at At Bridget Hospital, Dublin [Ireland], mentioning the fall from the horse as the cause of the prisoner's suicidal behaviour. Covering letter from Ian Daly of Brighton [Sussex]. Additional Information: Prisoner embarked on Elphinstone for Van Dieman's Land.

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Pam Townsend on 18th August 2019

In 1835 Charles Blake Skerrett was convicted of theft at the Bath Hotel in Piccadilly London. He was tried at the Central Criminal Court in London on 26th November 1835 where he was indicted for stealing a case containing a gold watch and chain as well as two combs and scent bottles and a piece of lace as well as other articles valued at 100 pounds. These were the property of Thomas Tunstall Gilbert in the dwelling house of Joseph Mansell Groom. He also stole a coat which was the property of Leeds Paine. The fact of the case were published at length in The Times on 31st October 1835. At the end of the trial Charles declined to offer any defence and no witnesses were called as to his character. Charles was sentenced to transportation for life and he then spent time in prison prior to his departure to Australia aboard 'Elphinstone' on 30 January 1836. He arrived in Van Diemans Land on 24 May 1836. Reports stated that he was "uniformly good and useful as a teacher and in the boy's ward". At the time of the trial Charles wife Maria and her daughter Catherine was living with her parents and was pregnant with a second daughter Margaret Julia who was born on 23 May 1836. On 1 June 1837 Maria and her two daughters departed from London aboard the 'Andromena' arriving in Tamania on 14th November 18237. Whilst in Tasmania committed several offences which incurred severe penalties. He finally received his ticket of leave on 18 November 1842 and his conditional pardon in October 1846. Charles and Maria had 5 more children whilst in Tasmania namely Jane (1839-1881) James (1842-1894) Mary (1845-1929) Emily (1847-1904) and a stillborn twin (1847). The family left Tasmania in 1847 and spent 2 years in Victoria before moving to Port Macquarie NSW where two more daughters were born namely Elizabeth (1850-1912) and Matilda (1852-1933). On 5th April 1855 Charles was tried before Sir Alfred Stephen for cattle stealing. The charge came from Miss Isabella Mary Kelly who was a prominent pioneer of the Manning River area. Charles pleaded innocence however was convicted and sentenced to 10 years hard labour on the rods. he spent 4 years at Cockatoo Island until a Bill of Sale signed by Miss Kelly was discovered and he was released with a full pardon. In an amazing twist Miss Kelly was charged with perjury and fined 100 pounds and incarcerated in Darlinghurst prison. An enquiry was held and the signature was found to be questionable which led to her release. At some stage after this Charles and Maria moved to Wynyard Square Sydney where he died on 20 December 1893. He is buried at Rookwood cemetery alongside Maria who died two years earlier.

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Pam Townsend on 26th February 2016

husband of Maria (nee Abrams or Abrahams)

Married Maria Abrahams (1834 - Dublin)