Thomas Clarkson - A COLONIAL SENTENCE
Financial matters were not the only problem the
Clarksons were to cope
with that year. Catherine Clarkson, of whom little has been heard
during all these events, found herself before the courts on 25 July
1821, to answer a charge of receiving stolen goods.(23)
Margaret Roche, the wife of Edward Roche (of Thomas'
Macquarie Street
residence in 1817) had stolen wearing apparel from the home of Henry
Kitchen, and had passed these on to Catherine. Both were found guilty
and were served a sentence of 5 years transportation. A recommendation
of mercy was entered up for Catherine.(24)
It has been difficult to establish beyond a shadow
of a doubt, whether
Catherine actually served any of her sentence at the Coal River, as has
been suggested. (A complaint against her son in law Michael Cook in
later years by Robert Townson stated he believed she had served time
there).(25)
The fact that Margaret Roche actually went, is
established through a
petition from her husband, Edward, in 1825, pleading for a mitigation
of her sentence, of which she had now served 4 years. Edward claimed to
be suffering from a debilitating disease.(26)
An official had added these interesting comments to
the
document
Margaret
Roche co-habits with W. Clarkson of Hunter Street… supported
and co-habits at Newcastle with another man... has one child with her,
one at the orphan school and has had another at Newcastle.
The writer of the comments signed his name but it
was too difficult to
discern it.(27)
In November Maj-Gen Thos. Brisbane arrived in Port
Jackson and on the 1 December he assumed office as Governor of NSW.
Page last updated - 7 July
2006