Hannah Stanley

   Cause of her death was horse-drawn vehicle accident.

  Research Notes:

Brian Kelly notes:
Hannah Stanley was born on 13 June 1788 in Deptford, Kent, England. She was involved in a court case at Kent Assizes on 27 March 1808 in Kent, England. Hannah Stanley aged 18 years and her friend Hannah Porter, aged 19 years, had the death sentence (by hanging) handed down to them along with 15 other malefactors on 30 March 1809 in Maidstone, Kent. Mr. Justice Heath handed down this sentence for stealing, in the parish of St Paul, Deptford, from their employers William and Elizabeth Dawson a goose feather bed, two pair of sheets, two blankets, three counterpanes, two gowns, four petticoats, seven pair of cotton stockings, and six pocket handkerchiefs. In the records they are described as servants-cum-slaves accused of taking and using the said items. The sentence was commuted to transportation for life to Botany Bay, NSW, Australia. Hannah left England as a convict on 23 March 1810 on the ship Canada. She arrived on 8 September 1810 in Port Jackson, Sydney, NSW. On the journey out Hannah became pregnant to a Marine Officer, John Dixon (c1784\endash ?). When they arrived in Port Jackson they split up.

Hannah received a Ticket-of-Leave, Number 146/360 dated 28 February 1811 and worked in Sydney Town until May 1814. The ticket permitted her to move around in the district of Windsor. She returned the original ticket to the authorities, mutilated and torn up. Ticket-of-Leave Number 27/563, dated 4 September 1827 was issued in lieu of the original. On it she is described as 4' 11½", fair complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.

Owing to her Life Sentence, however, she was not a free woman; she would still need to obtain permission to marry. Hannah was given permission to marry on 5 April 1814 at Windsor, NSW, and married Daniel Clarke (1786\endash 1869) on 2 May 1814 at the Old Shoe Factory in Windsor.1 She was also baptized on the same day.

Hannah died on 26 December 1854 in a horse-drawn vehicle accident at Sutton Forest, NSW, aged 66 years and was buried on 28 December 1854 in the All Saints of England Church Cemetery in Sutton Forest. The informant on the death transcription was Charles Lyons, Grandson, Terramut Bung (signed with his mark). The undertaker was William Chapman. The minister was Rev Thomas Horton of the Church of England. The witnesses were James Sheppard and Henry Dicker. There is conflicting information in that the death transcription shows burial by Minister Rev J Hassall \endash Church of England.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Newspaper Story. HANNAH STANLEY NEWSPAPER TRANSCRIPTS

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 28 March 1809:

The following prisoners were last week committed to the County gaol, at Maidstone : Isaac Shaw, for maiming Samuel Jenkins, at Woolwich ; Wm. Gates, for housebreaking, at Woolwich ; Andrew McDermott, Dennis Collins, Hannah Porter, and Hannah Stanley, for stealing various articles, in Deptford.

Kentish Gazette 31 March 1809:

KENT LENT ASSIZES ………

Yesterday afternoon about half\endash past three Mr. Justice Heath finished trying the criminal causes, and proceeded to the awful and solemn duty of passing the sentence of DEATH on the following 17 malefactors, convicted of capital offences : ………. Hannah Porter, 19 and Hannah Stanley, 18, for stealing in the parish of St. Paul, Deptford, a goose feather bed, two pair of sheets, two blankets, three counterpanes, two gowns, four petticoats, seven pair of cotton stockings, and six pocket handkerchiefs, the property of William and Elizabeth Dawson.

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 4 April 1809:

KENT LENT ASSIZES. CALENDAR OF THE PRISONERS Monday, March 27, 1809.

Hannah Porter and Hannah Stanley, for stealing a goose feather bed, two pair of sheets, &c. the property of William and Elizabeth Dawson, of Deptford \endash Guilty \endash DEATH \endash Reprieved.

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 20 February 1810:

The following female convicts were on Friday morning removed under a strong guard from his Majesty's gaol at Maidstone, to Woolwich, to be put on board the Canada transport, for New South Wales, viz, \endash Mary Davies, Jane Evans, Mary Thompson, Hannah Porter, Hannah Stanley, Sarah Watkins, and Frances Hudson.

Kentish Gazette 20 February 1810:

The following Convicts were last week removed from Maidstone gaol, to be embarked at Woolwich for New South Wales :\endash Mary Davis, Sarah Watkins, Mary Thompson, Jane Evans, Hannah Stanley, Hannah Porter, Frances Hudson.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 23 November 1833:

John Drake, Charles Drakeford, Robert Wilson, William Batchelor, and William Wallace, were indicted for a robbery in the dwelling\endash house of Daniel Clark, of Sutton Forest.

Hannah Clark said, I am the wife of Daniel Clark ; I live nine miles beyond Bong Bong at Sutton Forest; I know only two of the prisoners at the bar; five men came to my house on Sunday morning, the 16th of October last; I was milking that morning some distance from the house ; I sent my little boy, who was with me to see what they wanted ; the boy, however, did not return ; afterwards two of the men came into the yard where I was, and asked me if I had any fire\endash arms in the house? the prisoner Drake then put his hand into my bosom, saying that it was the place were women generally kept their money ; I told him I had but three\endash halfpence; he then tried to take the ring off my finger, and desired me to measure out the milk to them; I gave them all the milk, asking them not to do me any harm ; one of the men held a stick over my head which alarmed me a great deal ; they were there a quarter of an hour, consequently I had a good opportunity of seeing their persons. William Clarke said, I am nearly 9 years of age; I know two of the prisoners; I saw them at my father's house one Sunday morning; there were three others with them ; I was with my mother ; she was milking at the time; she sent me down to the house to see what they wanted ; they told me they wanted something to eat ; one of the prisoners took me in his arms, and put me under my mother's bed; they then took a variety of things, and put them into a bag ; one of them held a stick over my head; he did not hurt me, only frightened me ; they were in the house about an hour, and then went into the yard to my mother; after they went away they returned into the hollow from which they came.

John Hinton said, I am in the mounted police stationed at Bong Bong; I apprehended the five prisoners; I found some things upon them which I now produce.

Hannah Clark being recalled, identified a razor and some other things as being her husband's property.

The Judge then summed up the evidence for the jury, who returned a verdict of Guilty of larceny against John Drake, William Batchelor, and Charles Drakeford; the prisoners Wallis and Wilson were acquitted.

The Australian Monday 25 November 1833:

Law Intelligence. SUPREME COURT\emdash CROWN SIDE. FRIDAY.\emdash Before Mr. Justice Burton, and a Civil Jury.

John Drake, Charles Drakeford, William Batchelor, William Wallace, and Robert Wilson, were indicted for a robbery at the dwelling house of Daniel Clark at Sutton Forest, and stealing therefrom various articles of wearing apparel, and other properly belonging to the prosecutor. A female in the service of the prosecutor, identified a razor, and other things found on one of the prisoners as the property of her master. The jury found Drake, Batchelor, and Drakeford guilty of Larceny, and acquitted Wallace and Wilson.
The Sydney Herald Monday 2 December 1833:

LAW INTELLIGENCE. SUPREME COURT \endash CRIMINAL SIDE. FRIDAY. \endash Before Judge Burton, and a Civil Jury. John Drake, Charles Drakeford, Robert Wilson, William Wallace, and William Batchelor, stood indicted for felony ; by force of arms putting in bodily fear one William Clarke, and stealing from the dwelling\endash house of Daniel Clarke, sundry articles, his property, at Sutton Forest, on the 9th day of October last.

Hannah Clarke, wife of Daniel Clarke, stated that she lived at Sutton Forest, about nine miles from Bong Bong, and had a house there ; she was in the yard milking about nine o'clock in the morning, of the 8th of October last, when her son William Clarke, who is between eight and nine years of age, ran to her and said, there are five men of the gang going to the house ; she desired him to go to the house and see what they wanted ; the men kept him there, and she still remained milking ; she did not go to the house ; they were there about an hour, when they came to the yard, and two of them, (Drake and Batchelor,) came up to her, and asked her for the fire arms ; she told them she had none ; they then asked her for her money; she said she had only three\endash half\endash pence, which was no good to them ; one of the prisoners (Drake) then put his hand in her bosom, saying, that was the place where women kept their money ; he found none there ; the other man (Batchelor) wanted to take the ring off her finger, and held her hand for that purpose, but did not take it ; both these men held sticks over her head, but did not ill\endash use her ; she told them to take the milk, but on turning round, found they had already done so ; there were three other men outside the yard, but she could not identify them; one of the men threw me a piece of calico which they had taken from the house ; they then all went away ; she was positive as to her recollection of two of the men, but did not see the faces of the other three ; on returning to the house, she found it in a bad state, and missed two papers of needles, one ounce of pins, one pound and a half of tobacco, one pound and a half of tea, some thread, soap, bread, a pair of fustian trousers, and a broad belt with four buckles, all of which were in the house when she left it to go into the yard ; she saw the belt and trousers at Bong Bong, four or five days after the robbery ; the prisoners were not dressed then as they are now.

The prisoners put no questions to witness.

The boy William Clarke, was then put in the box, when His Honor took great pains to ascertain from him if he knew the nature of an oath. The boy replied, I say my prayers at night ; I do not know my catechism ; I do not know the meaning of an oath; I think God would punish me if I told an untruth ; bad people go to hell ; where good people go I do not know ; God is said to be in the sky ; I cannot read or write, but I can say my A, B, C ; I think God would punish me if I swear wrong. His Honor told the Jury that he thought the boy had sufficient understanding to take the oath, which he did accordingly, repeating the usual words distinctly after His Honor's dictation. The boy then proceeded to give his evidence audibly. That is my mother (pointing to Hannah Clarke) ; Daniel Clarke is my father ; I am going on for nine years old ; I see two of the men that came to the house ; I know that man, and that man, (looking at two of the prisoners ; he was here given the Crier's wand, went down through the body of the Court, and touched with it two of the prisoners, Drake and Batchelor.) They are the same two that came down with three more over the hollow and into the house, on Sunday the 13th of October; there were five men altogether ; they told me to go to mother for something to eat ; as I was going to mother one took me in his arms, and put me on mother's bed ; that man (Drake); he told me to find fire arms, balls, and mother's money ; I saw them take pins, needles, and bread ; they took powder, balls, and duck\endash shot, and a pair of trousers belonging to another man, named Ben, up the country, a pair of trousers like\endash (looking at the gentlemen in the body of the Court) I do not see any on like them here ; they took a belt and three razors, and put them in a bag ; one man kept watch outside ; those two were inside ; the second man (Batchelor) shook a stick over my head ; he did not
hurt me, he frightened me ; I do not know the others ; I did not see them much ; the two I know that shook their sticks over me ; they stayed in the house about an hour ; they went up the same hollow as they came ; they went to mother, and told me to stop in the house ; I have not seen any of the things since ; I was much frightened, but did not cry ; I saw all they did.

In answer to a question put by the prisoner Drake, the boy said mother did not tell me to say the bed ; the bed was in the bed\endash room ; my father told me it was on the 13th of October ; it was on a Sunday morning.

John Hinton, one of the mounted police at Bong Bong, apprehended all the prisoners on the 14th October; he found some clothes on them, principally on their backs ; he took from them two small bags, but could not say correctly from which of the prisoners ; he took also one razor, (property produced. Hannah Clarke knew the razor ; it was taken from her house.

The gaol\endash keeper at Bong Bong said the trousers were taken off the prisoner Charles Drakeford, and the belt he got from a man named Lears, who was in custody on a charge of cattle stealing. Hannah Clarke said, I know that belt ; I saw it on the second man (Batchelor) in the yard; the trousers I know, but they have been altered ; they belonged to Benjamin Cartwright, who is up the country ; I am certain they are both the same.

Thomas Lear examined. \endash I was confined in gaol with the prisoners on the 15th October; we were all in the same cell ; I know that belt ; I found it hid between two slabs ; it was not given to me by anybody ; two others went in with me.

John Hinton. \endash I apprehended all the prisoners at the bar, about twenty miles from Mr. Clarke's house, about two o'clock on the Monday ; they had no arms ; they had all sticks ; I was alone ; they surrendered immediately.

The prisoners offered nothing in their defence.

His Honor in summing up, observed that this was the natural consequence of prisoners being at large ; they were compelled to rob for their subsistence ; if they would perform their duties under sentence, they might look forward to their release, and we should all suffer less pain than they now impose on us, and on themselves. There must be bodily fear from violence to substantiate the capital charge. There appeared to be no violence, except frightening the boy by shaking the sticks over him. There were only two of the prisoners identified by Mrs. Clarke, and her son; but the gaoler had found the trousers on Drakeford. The Jury would weigh the matter dispassionately, and come to their decision accordingly. If they felt any doubt, to give the prisoners the benefit of it.

The Jury pronounced John Drake, William Batchelor, and Charles Drakeford, Guilty of Larceny\endash Robert Wilson, and William Wallow, Not Guilty.

• fact. Hannah Stanley (Convict) 1 2 SmartMatches Birth: 13 Jun 1788 in Deptford, Kent, England, United Kingdom Death: 26 Dec 1854 in Sutton Forest, Camden County, New South Wales, Australia Sex: F Father: Mother: 1 Changed: 21 Jul 2004 12:31 Spouses & Children Daniel Clarke (Husband) b. 1786 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England Marriage: 2 May 1814 in Windsor, Cumberland County, New South Wales, Australia 21 Jul 2004 12:31 Children: Elizabeth Clarke b. 6 Jul 1822 in South Creek, Cumberland County, New South Wales, Australia

Hannah married Daniel Clarke, son of Robert Clarke and Mary Ann, on 2 May 1814 in St Matthews C of E, Windsor, Sydney, NSW Australia. (Daniel Clarke was born circa 1786 in Bristol, Gloucestershire England, died on 18 Jan 1869 in “Terramut Bung”, Sutton Forest, NSW Australia and was buried in All Saints C of E, Sutton Forest, NSW Australia ²⁰³.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• note. ²⁰³ Brian Kelly notes:
Hannah and Daniel's Marriage Certificate gives their place of marriage as St Matthews, Windsor, NSW. The marriage occurred on 2 May 1814, but St Matthew's Church (now St Matthews Anglican Church) had its cornerstone laid by Governor Macquarie in October 1817. The church was consecrated in December 1822 with Samuel Marsden conducting the opening service. Therefore, the marriage could not have taken place there. Extensive research by descendants of Hannah indicates that it took place in the Old Shoe Factory in Windsor.

Hannah had a relationship with John Dixon. (John Dixon was born circa 1780.)