Martha Williams

71

Robin Sharkey on 10th February 2026

Martha committed her crime of stealing on Monday 23 December 1822. She was caught in the act by the shopkeeper. She would then have been taken to the cells at Hatton Garden Police Station, and appeared for the first time before the magistrates, to be charged. She appeared before them a final time on the following Saturday when evidence was taken more fully and the decision made as to whether she should be committed to stand trial. The charge and evidence given at this appearance at Hatton Garden was reported in a London newspaper. The report of her later trial at Hatton Garden Police Office was not written up in the Proceedings of the Old Bailey (not all trials were). Morning Chronicle, Monday Dec 30 1822, ‘Police’ "Hatton Garden – Saturday [December 28 1822] "Martha Williams was brought up in the custody of William Read, Jun, for final examination, charged with stealing 12 yards of cotton print out of the shop of Mr John Sparrow Bannister, linen draper, in Warner St, Coldbath fields. It appeared from the evidence of William Carey, the shop man, that between three and four o’clock in the afternoon of the preceding Monday [i.e.23 December], the prisoner, in company with two other women, came into Mr Bannister’s shop and desired to look at some shawls. He shewed them several but none would please them, and one of the women desired him to shew her one she saw in the window. He went to the window for that purpose, in doing which he observed the prisoner take something off the counter and conceal it in her bosom under her cloak; they left the shop without buying anything; he followed and brought the prisoner back, and charged her with the robbery, but she denied it. He proceeded to search her; she resisted and began to shuffle about and let the piece of print fall on the floor; she then threw herself on her knees and begged for mercy; she had only twopence halfpenny in money about her. Witness detained her until an officer came, to whom she was given in custody. The prisoner was committed to Newgate for trial. Martha was then sent to Newgate Prison. She did not have to wait long for trial, appearing in the Old Bailey sessions for Wednesday 15 January (1823). The same witnesses would have appeared again to prove the charge. Its unlikely Martha would have been represented by a lawyer. She was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation. Ship’s Indent: Martha Williams, arrived per ship ‘Mary’ at Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land, on 18 Oct 1823. Tried 15 January 1823 at the Gaol Delivery for Middlesex, Sentence: 7 years. ***************************************

343

Maureen Withey on 11th February 2023

See Conduct record. Written very faintly: Transported for stealing 12 yards printed cotton. Gaol report, Good, fined before on the Town.

343

Maureen Withey on 5th February 2023

Tasmanian Records. Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON40-1-9P245 46. Martha Williams, tried at Old Bailey, Jan 1823, 7 years. See record for details.

343

Maureen Withey on 8th January 2020

RUNAWAY NOTICE. POLICE OFFICE, HOBART TOWN, June 10, 1825. Martha Williams (46), 5ft. 1in. dark brown hair, brown eyes, 23 years of age, a servant, tried at Middlesex Jan. 1823, sentence 7 years, arrived in this Colony per Mary 1823, native place Whitechapel, much pockpitted, absconded from the service of T. G. Gellibrand, Esq. June 8, 1825.-£2 Reward.