Catalogue description Prisoner name: Thomas Brumby. Prisoner age: 55. Prisoner occupation: Formerly a...

Prisoner name: Thomas Brumby.

Prisoner age: 55.

Prisoner occupation: Formerly a merchant. Postmaster of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Court and date of trial: Lincolnshire Lent Assizes, Lincoln, March 1834.

Crime: Secreting a letter whilst postmaster of Gainsborough and stealing therefrom one £5 Sittingburn Bank note, the property of Mrs White.

Initial sentence: Death recorded and commuted to two years imprisonment.

Gaoler's report: 'has conducted himself in the most correct and proper manner and hath given very great satisfaction to all'.

Annotated: 'At present only two months - Nil'.

Petitioner(s): Thomas Brumby (the convict). Five Justices of the Peace for Lindsey, Lincolnshire. The Reverend George Beckett (Vicar of [Gainsborough]) undersigned by 39 inhabitants of Gainsborough. The Reverend George Beckett undersigned by six parish officers and 103 other inhabitants of Gainsborough. The Reverend George Beckett. C A W Pelham (convict's MP). John Tidd (known to the convict many years). Page Cartledge (Mayor of Gainsborough) with 139 inhabitants' names underwritten. Robert Swan (known to the convict).

Grounds for clemency: He temporarily took the money in order to make up an amount due to the General Post Office; previously of the highest integrity, having been regularly in charge of letters enclosing money to a high value without any complaint or irregularity; the jury recommended him to mercy; many respectable witnesses spoke for him at his trial; he suffers from a fistula and is in great pain; he has served 14 months and his health will be further impaired if he serves his full term; he has a wife and five children dependent upon him for support.

Other papers: A character signed by 47 inhabitants of Gainsborough. Surgeons report by [George Martin] and Henry George confirming the presence of a fistula but that his general health has improved since he was committed and that he is as likely to live as any other prisoner. A second report by these surgeons recommending [his discharge]. Letter from C A W Pelham MP transmitting a petition to the Home Department.

Additional Information: Remanded in Lincoln Castle gaol and then committed to the Lincolnshire House of Correction at Kirton in Lindsey, where he was received on 28 April 1834. The secreted letter was subsequently received by the addressee but the enclosed bank note, although of the same value, was issued by a different bank.