Phillis Philadelphia Pounds-Pouns (Convict)
- Born: 11 Nov 1781, Faringham, Kent England
- Christened: 11 Nov 1781
- Marriage (1): James Underwood Mistress
- Died: 26 Dec 1816 at age 35
General Notes:
Source BOOK "The Underwoods" Lock Stock & Barrel Author Liz Parkinson
Page 24
Philis/Philadelphia Pounds/Pouns
The first of James's known mistress was a convict servant girl by the name of Phillis or Philadelphia Pounds. Their relationship commenced sometime after June 1801, when she was 19 , and he was 29.
From the IGI it has been discovered that she was born at faringham, in Kent, to parents William ans Elizabeth, and was baptised as Philadelphia Pouns on the 11/11/1781. her sister, Francis, who was also transported to Australia, was baptised on the 29/9/1776. Other members of the family were:
John baptised 21/3/1784; Elizabeth baptised 9/2/1772; Lucy baptised 29/9/1776; Priscilla baptised 30/4/1774; and Richard baptised 7/1/1770.
Philadelphia and Francis Pounds were convicted at Maidstone, in Kent, for life, on the 10/3/1800.
The location of their trial, probably gave rise to the persistent error in James Underwood's place of trial being given as Maidstone, instead of Kingston, in the early musters.
The girl's indicmment stated that they, then from Lenham, committed their offence at about 1 p.m. on 28/10/1799. It also said that they 'with force and arms....feloniously did break and enter' the dwelling house of John Athawes' family when no-one was at home. they stole a 9/- pair of shoes; a gown worth
1/-; an apron worth 18d; a pair 5/- shoes; 2 aprons worth 5/-; and a 1/- wrap. They also stole food which was listed as: a loaf of bread 1/-;4lbs of mutton 1/-; 1lb cheese 6d; 4lbs bacon 2/-; and 1lb suet 6d.
Phillis and Francis were found guilty, and sentenced: 'to be hangded by the neck until she be dead'
in each case. The sentence was subsequently transmuted to transportation to Botany Bay, for 14 years. The sisters had probably stolen because of their different times, as research shown that various members of the Pouns family had been in workhouses at different times. Lenham hadprobably been theirplace of work.
Noted events in her life were:
• Convict: Feloniously did break and enter' the dwelling house of John Athawes', 10 Mar 1800.
• Killed in Action, 10 Jun 1801, Earl Cornwallis.
Phillis married James Underwood Mistress. (James Underwood was born on 14 Sep 1771 and died on 19 Feb 1844.)
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