Note
Robert was transported to Australia with his brother Cornelius.
Despite a petition by Robert James's mother-in-law, Mary Poole, Cornelius and Robert were transported to Australia upon the Bengal Merchant, a convict ship.
Petition to the Home Sectretary from Mary Poole, mother-in-law of Robert James
Reading, 9th August 1834
My Lord
I have the honor to enclose to your Lordship, a Petition signed by Mary Poole, praying for mitigation in the Punishment of Robert James,and Cornelius James. This poor woman, is wretched indeed, from the apprehension that she was perhaps a cause of the crime committed by Robert James, in consequence of a quarrel with him, which induced him to leave her Home.
The facts as stated in the Petition are true:- and if these men are transported beyond the seas; in all human probability, the wretchedness, of their families will become desperate; and the certain ruin of the whole must ensue.
I have the honor to be
My Lord
Your Lordships most obedient
Humble servant
Alfred ?
The Right Honorable
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
To the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Home Department
The Humble Petition of Mary Poole of Reading in the County of Berks, Widow. –
Shuweth (to show)
That your petitioner is the mother of the wife of Robert James who was tried with Cornelius James his Brother and both were convicted at the last general Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden at Abingdon in the said County on the first day of July 1834 or the several offences of stealing a pig the property of Job Lowley and a waggon cloth the property of John Readings, for the term of seven years for each office. The said Cornelius James hath a wife and four children the eldest of whom is eight years of age and the youngest nine months old. The said Robert James hath four children the eldest is seven years old and the youngest is five months old. The said Cornelius James and Robert James have not at any time been before charged with or tried for any offence against the Laws of their Country. And your Petitioner humbly states that the wife and children of the said Robert James, have since the unhappy circumstances been dependent upon her and she is unable to maintain them. And your Petitioner humbly states that the said Robert James, did reside in the House of your Petitioner with his wife until a few days before the committal of the Act for which he is transported. That he left the residence of your Petitioner in consequence of a misunderstanding with her, and your Petitioner cannot but fear that the said Robert James and Cornelius James were both of them driven to commit the offence in consequence of such misunderstanding – and your Petitioner is quite sure that neither of them the said Robert James or Cornelius James would otherwise have so done, their previous habits having been those of industriously labouring to support their families, and conducting themselves honestly to all men.
Your Petitioner humbly craves the merciful consideration of His Majesty’s Royal Clemency in the behalf of these unhappy men – and that your Lordship will consider the forlorn and destitute condition of their wives and Families– and the very great distress of your Petitioner – and your Petitioner humbly prays that the said Robert James and Cornelius James may not be sent out of the Country but that His Majesty will be graciously pleased to commute their dreadful sentences of Transportation for a short term of imprisonment in the Country.
And your Petitioner shall ever pray
Mary Poole
- Last updated: June 9, 2022 19:52