Catalogue description Report of John Silvester, Recorder of London on 3 individual petitions (the prisoner;...

Report of John Silvester, Recorder of London on 3 individual petitions (the prisoner; John Brady; William Starkey) on behalf of William Chapman convicted (with Joseph Hempstead and Joseph Hudson) at the 'last' Middlesex [Quarter?] Sessions held at the Old Bailey for receiving stolen stationery, value £4 9s 6d, property of Joseph Nowill and Joseph Burch, wholesale stationers in Jewry Street, Aldgate on 14 January 1817. Evidences supplied by Joseph Nowill, stationer; Joseph Martin, police officer and James Tate, wool-stapler. The goods were stolen by Hempstead and Hudson) There are character references from: Mr Brady of Fenchurch Street, City of London and Mr Starkey, stationer of Newgate Street, London. Grounds for clemency: the prisoner is of previous good character, has a wife and two young children, wishes to be imprisoned in Westminster Penitentiary and not be transported, here he will be able to hear news of his distressed wife and infant children. Initial sentence: 14 years transportation. Recommendation: 14 years imprisonment in the penitentiary. Annotated: 'To be transported for 7 years'. Folios 86-93.