Catalogue description Prisoner name: Agnes Hunter (or Agnes Thomson). Court and date of trial: Circuit Court...

Prisoner name: Agnes Hunter (or Agnes Thomson).

Court and date of trial: Circuit Court of Justiciary, Jedburgh, 20 April 1822.

Crime: Assault - on Christian Fairbairn (a neighbour) at Kelso [Roxburghshire] on 2 January 1822 in the course of reclaiming a breakfast knife from the victim who had mistakenly taken it from the convict's child.

Initial sentence: Seven years transportation.

Annotated: 'Nil'.

Petitioner(s): Robert Hunter, the convict's husband, labourer of Kelso, Scottish Borders. The Provost, minister and three bailies of Jedburgh (known to the convict). 25 inhabitants of Kelso (neighbours of the convict). The above supported by affidavits (on one sheet) from John Ormiston (constable) and Agnes Hermiston (Agnes Ormiston) his wife and undersigned by the minister and two elders of the Parish of Kelso.

Grounds for clemency: The injury was only temporary; she was deeply sorry for the affray, which was started by the victim; she pleaded guilty but not to endangering life and was led to expect a mild sentence, or she would have pleaded 'not guilty' and relied on her witnesses to win her discharge; her previous good character.

Other papers: Doctor's certificate from James Douglas as to the nature of the victim's wound.

Additional Information: The convict gave birth in the Jedburgh Tolbooth on 12 February 1822. She has other children.