Ann Smith

343

Maureen Withey on 25th July 2024

NOTE. THERE ARE 3 WOMEN NAMED ANN SMITH ON THIS SHIP.

343

Maureen Withey on 25th July 2024

Tried at the Old Bailey, 29 Oct 1829. 1964. ANN SMITH and CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL were indicted for stealing, on the 22nd of September , 1 jacket, value 6d.; 1 pair of trousers, value 3s.; 1 waistcoat, value 3s.; 2 stockings, value 3d.; 2 ozs. weight of tobacco, value 7d.; 1 pair of drawers, value 6d.; 1 shilling, and 10 penny-pieces, the property of George Wilkinson ; and 1 hammock, value 4s. , the goods of Thomas Smith Cockburn . GEORGE WILKINSON. I am a sailor . I know the two prisoners; I saw them on the 22d of September, at twelve o'clock at night, in New Gravel-lane , together, and one of them asked me to go with her - I went with one and Cockburn went with the other - we went to the same house; I was up stairs with Smith, and he was down stairs - I undressed, and laid my clothes in a chair with some tobacco, a pair of drawers, and 1s. 10d. in money; I did not go to sleep - Smith blew out the light and went down stairs - I got up and called the watchman, he came, and the clothes were gone; I saw her again in about an hour at the watch-house; my clothes are here. THOMAS SMITH COCKBURN. I was with Wilkinson, and went to the same house with Campbell; I had a hammock with me which I laid on a chair - Smith is the woman that Wilkinson went with. GEORGE DEVERELL . I am a watch-house-keeper. Smith and Campbell were brought to the watch-house with this bundle - Smith was very much alarmed, and said, "Do forgive me, and I will tell you all about it;" I sent the watchman to find where they took them from, and while he was gone, Smith said she took them from a sailor in Bluegate-fields; the witnesses then came, and I opened the lock-up place for them to see the prisoners - I saw this bundle lay by the side of Smith; I said, "What is that? I thought I searched you;" she said, "Yes; but I had these on;" it was these trousers. THOMAS BIRD . I am a watchman. I saw the two prisoners soon after two o'clock that morning; Smith had something bulky - I asked what she had got, she made no reply; I took her by the arm and asked her again - she then said she took them from a man who had been ill-using her; I took them to the watch-house, and then went to No. 2, Bluegate-fields, where I found Wilkinson, with his shirt and a pair of canvas drawers on.(Property produced and sworn to.) SMITH - GUILTY . Aged 17. Transported for Seven Years . CAMPBELL - NOT GUILTY . ------------------------------------------------------------------ ADM 101/64/51829-1830 Medical and surgical journal of His Majesty's convict Ship Roslin Castle for 12 December 1829 to 15 July 1830 by William C Watt MD, Surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed on a voyage from England to Sydney, New South Wales. Folio 2: Ann Smith, aged 17, venereal [disease], 17 February to 18 April, cured. Folios 3-6: Ann Smith, aged 17, Convict; disease or hurt, venereal [disease]. Put on sick list, 17 February 1830, in the Downs. Discharged cured, 18 April 1830. 'An unfortunate girl of the town of a scrofulous habit and exceedingly slovenly whose constitution appears much broken form the disorderly life which she has led and has suffered severely from an attack of syphilis'. She had been treated by Surgeon W. Box at Newgate Prison and was embarked as healthy. Folios 18-19: Surgeon's general remarks. The convicts were very healthy during the voyage. However, many were received in a very unhealthy state, having in some cases travelled more than 150 miles from country gaols, on the outside of coaches during very severe weather in January and February. They had been heavily ironed for the journey and suffered chilblains and in one case even frostbite. Their health was restored before departure. The ship was leaky and so the bedding was almost constantly wet. The ship broached on one occasion and shipped a lot of water into the prison, creating a great deal of panic. On other occasions a lamp burst nearly starting a fire and the ship was dismasted on the 3rd of June. However, the prisoners were kept healthy by constant attention to their comforts and cleanliness and a system of 'police regulation' the Surgeon detailed in a previous journal. All prisoners were landed in 'the most vigorous state of health and spirits' with one exception, who was sent to the hospital. Signed, William C Watt MD, Surgeon and superintendent.