Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials

22nd April 1789

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: o17890422-1




The following Female Convicts were put to the Bar, and informed that his Majesty's Pardon was granted to them on the following Conditions, viz.

SARAH COWDEN proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3734. This set is in the group(s): MothersCD . ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. No, I will die by the laws of my country; I am innocent, and so is Sarah Storer < no role > ; the people that had the money for which I was tried, are now at their liberty, therefore I will die by the laws of my country before ever I will go abroad for my life.

MARTHA CUTLER < no role > ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. Before I will go abroad for my natural life, I will sooner die.

SARAH STORER < no role > ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. I will not accept it; I am innocent.

SARAH MILLS < no role > This name instance is in set 2659. ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. I will go to my former sentence; I had not power to speak on my trial.

Court. If you do not accept of the King's pardon now, it will be too late hereafter; you may depend upon it, that every woman who now refuses to receive the King's pardon, will be ordered for immediate execution.

Sarah Mills < no role > This name instance is in set 2659. . I would rather die than go out of my own country to be devoured by Savages.

MARY BURGESS < no role > This name instance is in set 3745. ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. I had rather go to my former sentence; I had rather die than leave my child and husband behind me; I am very willing to die; I will die before I will leave my poor child in a strange place; I am satisfied I am a dying woman, and I will go to my former sentence; I will die an innocent death; I beg pardon for making so free.

Court. It is my duty to tell you if you refuse the pardon now, it will be too late ever to expect it afterwards; consider what you are about; it is my duty to give you that notice, you certainly will be ordered immediately for execution.

Prisoner Burgess. Well, I am very glad to hear it. I do not care how soon.

JANE TYLER < no role > ;

On condition of being transported for her life.

Prisoner. My Lord, I will not accept it; I will go to my former sentence; I will die first; I think I have suffered hard enough to be in gaol three years for what I have done.

ELEANOR KIRVAN , otherwise CARAVAN proceedingsdefend ;

On condition of being transported for life.

Prisoner. I hope this honourable Court, or any of the Gentlemen in company, will not object to what I shall say; I have laidin prison three years; I do not intend to object to my sentence, but I am not in a situation to go abroad; if I was I would go; the crime deserved Death; it is an injury to community, but I never was guilty of it; I have two small children; I have no objection to confinement for life; I cannot live long.

Court. Do you refuse to accept the King's mercy on the condition that has been read to you? - I am not in a condition to go.

Court. If you do not accept it now; I have no power; if you should wish for mitigation of that sentence; but after you have accepted it you may apply further for mitigation; but if you do not accept of these terms, you stand as a person condemned to suffer Death, and will be in the situation of those who are so condemned, and will certainly be ordered for execution, and it will be too late to recal your opinion; I recommend you to accept of that favour.

Prisoner. I only refer it to Mr. Curtis, and the Gentleman who attended on the Recorder to prove my innocence; I submit to confinement, if you think proper to give me time, 'till Mr. Simpson pronounces me fit to go, but not to send me away in a day or two; I accept his Majesty's mercy on that condition.




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