Prisoners, undated but believed to be 1808 (HO 13/18 folios 299-300)
Transcript
Extract from the Home Office Criminal Entry Books. These books record details of pardons and reprieves. This volume covers 1806 to 1808 (HO 13/18, folios 291-292)
| I do hereby Certify that the following Convicts Pardoned on Condition of serving in the Army Abroad, were not delivered on Board the Grace Transport, on the 19th March 1808 for the reasons specified opposite each Convicts Name. [Signed] George Meed |
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|---|---|---|
| Name | From what Gaol | Reasons assigned for not going |
| Retribution [name of prison hulk] | ||
| Charles Ballanger | Gloucester | Thought it best to decline, having served nearly half his time |
| David Arthur | Brecon | David Arthur Brecon Very desirous of going, but incapable by sickness |
| Edward Larkin | Maidstone | Edward Larkin Maidstone Persuaded by his friends to decline, they having some hope of obtaining his Pardon |
| William White | York | Received a hurt in his leg & was objected to, but willing to go |
| William Goddard Colls | Newgate | Persuaded by his friends to decline they being in hope of doing something better for him |
| James Bowler | Do | Has a wife & 4 children in the Parish of Limehouse, who have promised him to obtain his pardon if he will decline the Army |
| Thomas Mopps | Do | Declined having served 4 ½ years of his term (being for 7 Years) |
| Joseph Anderson | Do | Declined, his term being so near expired, having only 2 ½ years to serve |
| James Bedwin | Oxford | His health being impaired, became subject to fits |
| John Boydell | Liverpool | Declined, his term being within 2 years expired |
| Prudentia [name of prison hulk] | ||
| Matthew Whitney | Hereford | Dead |
| James McCall | Newgate | Willing to go but is now sick at the Hospital |
| James Maslin | Do | Do |
| Matthew Merritt | Reading | Do |
| John Fenner | Maidstone | Declined, having served great part of his time |
| John Pryor | Hertford | Declined, having served nearly 5 Years |
| William Porter | Newgate | Persuaded by his friends to decline |
| James Walker | Surrey | Not willing to go (no particular reason) |
| Thomas Hovell | Norfolk | Dead |
| William Davis | Hereford | Has a wife & 4 children & the Parish persuaded him not to go, but is still willing if called for |
| John Smith | Chelmsford | Not willing to go for fear of disobliging his friends |
Notes
1. This extract sheds more light on the reasons behind refusing the offer of a pardon, including the role of petitioning and the degree of optimism that prisoners had of securing either a full or conditional pardon. It is also interesting that many of the prisoners expected to serve out their sentences on the prison hulks, which were intended to be short term transitory points of detention whilst transportation to the Southern Hemisphere was arranged.