James Stacey

51

Chris Ison on 28th November 2024

Extract from The Sydney Gazette Sat 30 Dec 1820 Page 3. On the night of the 25th, or early on the morning of the 26th. instant, 13 male prisoners effected their escape from the harbour in a whale-boat, which appears to have been taken from Cockle Bay. … Their names appear in the usual public advertisement of absentees. Extract from Sydney Gazette, Sat 27 Jan 1821, p. 3. PRINCIPAL SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, Sydney, 16th Dec. 1820. THE under-mentioned Prisoners [thirteen in total] having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificates, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in apprehending and lodging them in Custody. … Names and Descriptions of Prisoners of the Crown, supposed to have made their Escape from the Colony in an open Boat, on the Night of the 25th or early on the morning of the 26th Instant: - … James Stacey, aged 32, waterman, native of Surry, 5 ft. 1 1/2 in. high, dark ruddy complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, came per ship Atlas, in 1816; lately ran from Newcastle with a boat, and was chased into Rush-cutting Bay by the boats of that settlement. … [There is no record of the boat or the bolters ever being found, believed to have perished at sea.]

341

Maureen Withey on 10th August 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 10 August 2021), February 1815, trial of JAMES STACEY (t18150215-19). JAMES STACEY, Theft > animal theft, 15th February 1815. 286. JAMES STACEY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 2nd of February , a mare value 30 l. the property of Thomas Studwick . SECOND COUNT. For like offence, stating the mare to be the property of other persons. SOLOMAN STUDWICK. Q. Your father had a mare in his stable on the night of the 2nd of February - A. Yes a black mare, she was safe in the stable, I saw her about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 2nd of February. she was coming home from plough, she was a plough-mare. My father's name is Thomas Studwick , he lives at Capel near Dorking in Surry . We missed the mare, between four and five o'clock in the morning, the mare was kept in my father's stable; I went to the stable between four and five in the morning the mare was gone, the stable door was shut and latched; I am sure the mare was in the stable. COURT. What sort of a mare was she - A. A black mare with a star in her forehead, and the near hind foot white, she was about three years of age, she was worth thirty pounds to any person. Q. Have you seen her again - A. Yes, I saw her again in the same stable, to which she was brought back, and I saw her in London; I came up the same day, and saw her the next day in London. Q. Whereabouts in London - A. I saw her in Smithfield, I saw the mare after the prisoner was taken in custody. JAMES COLLISON . Q. Do you know the prosecutor Studwick the father of the lad - A. Yes, I know the mare; I live at Capel, near to Mr, Thomas Studwick I was sent to London to find the mare on Friday, it was the morning the mare was missed; Ifound her in the afternoon; I enquired on the road, I came by intelligence to Town, I came to Smithfield about three o'clock in the afternoon I think, I cannot say exactly, it was a market day for horses; I saw her in Smithfield, and saw the prisoner, he is the man; I saw the mare I know her well; I asked the prisoner what he would sell her for, he had got her in his hand; he asked me seventeen pounds, I asked him where he brought it from, he told me he brought it from Capel; I told him he had taken it from a farmer of the name of Thomas Studwick ; he said he was to have eighteen pounds for her, he had her of a gentleman, he was to have a pound for himself I sent for a constable, and secured him. I knew the mare well, I knew her from a foal. I am a blacksmith, I was the first that ever shod her; I am certain it is Thomas Studwick 's mare, I am certain the prisoner is the man. Prisoner. I told him the mare came from Capel, that I had the mare to walk up and down the market. Collinson. He said he had the mare from Capel, he told me he should be a sufferer by the mare, then after a little bit he told me he was leading it for a gentleman, I told him the gentleman would come forward and own the mare no doubt, he then discribed the dress of the gentleman. CHARLES PHILLIPHS . I assisted in apprehending the prisoner, the mare was there also; I sent an officer to go and lock the mare up, the mare was delivered to the owner. COURT, Q. to Collison. What do you think was the worth of that mare - A. The mare is worth thirty pounds to any farmer; the mare is now at Capel, at the prosecutors own farm, where she was foaled. Prisoner's Defence, I was hired that morning to lead the mare up and down the market, when this man came and took me in posession. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 27. London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. STACEY, James. Per "Atlas", 1816. 1816 Jul 29 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Atlas" to be forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.76) 1819 Apr 19 On list of prisoners sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6006; 4/3500 p.87) PRINCIPAL SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, Sydney, 24th June, 1820. THE under-mentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificate's, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in apprehending and lodging them in Custody. James Mullins, per Ship Grenada, seaman, aged 28 years, 5 feet 4 inches high, dark eyes, black hair, ruddy complexion; a native of Belfast.— John Briggs, per Ship Baring, 1st, aged 50. — James Woodley, per Ship Lord Eldon, aged 22. —William Harper, per Ship Indefatigable, 2d, aged 30, bargeman ; tried in Kent, August 1813.— James Stacey, per Ship Atlas, aged 31.— John Brown, per Ship Gambier, 2d, aged 32.— Piratically taking a Boat at Newcastle, with which they were chased into Rush Cutting Bay. Sydney Gazette, 24 Jun 1820.