Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Hannah Atkinson
- Researcher (Jonathan price)
|
 |
Biographies
Hannah Duly was born in 1806 in Limerick, Ireland. When older, she travelled to England arriving in London where, on 18th June 1829, aged 22, she married Thomas Atkinson (22), a foot soldier in the 1st Regiment of the Second Battalion of Guards, at Lambeth St Mary. Two years later, on 1st June 1831, their daughter Isabella was baptised in the same church.
On the weekend of 10th November 1832, she began working as a cook and maidservant for the widow Mrs Elizabeth Haydon, landlady of the Flying Horse, Oxford Street. She was given a room for herself and Isabella.
On the night of 22nd December Elizabeth placed a rose-wood box containing valuables on a chest of drawers in her bedroom. The next morning, she came downstairs at about 9 o’clock, and saw Hannah at work in the kitchen. About a quarter of an hour later, Elizabeth discovered that her box was missing, and soon after that her servant was too.
Having taken the box from Elizabeth’s room, Hannah met her husband at the pub’s door and gave it to her husband who had deserted from his regiment the day before. They took the box to Hayes-buildings where Hannah’s brother lived, and broke it open.
Thomas removed the money and valuables and that evening the couple fled to Yorkshire with Isabella.
Next morning, Mrs Haydon reported the robbery to the Marlborough Street Police Office. Details of the robbery and the suspects were printed in the Police Gazette (aka Hue and Cry).
In Ripon, Samuel Winn, the Liberty Police Officer, read about the theft in the Police Gazette. Noticing that Thomas Atkinson was from Yorkshire, he made some inquires, and discovered that Atkinson’s mother lived in Roecliffe, a village near Aldborough. .
On Monday, 18th February 1833, he arrested Hannah at Beckwithshaw. On her he found a satin purse. She admitted it was Mrs. Haydon’s property, and voluntarily confessed to committing the robbery. Winn took her to Ripon’s House of Correction.
The next morning, Winn went to Atkinson’s mother’s house. He found Atkinson throwing items from an open window to some children below, and telling them to destroy them. Winn arrested Atkinson and retrieved the objects, a metal watch, a coral drop, two gold seals, and some rings from the children. Atkinson told Winn that they had been given to him by his wife, and that he had not stolen them.
In the final week of February 1833, prisoners in Ripon’s House of Correction included Elisha Sinkler, William Longthorne, William Umpleby, Thomas and Hannah Atkinson. A plan was concerted by Atkinson, with some of the other prisoners, to kill the governor, Thomas Stubbs and break out of jail. However the plot was failed when it was betrayed by Longthorne.
In the second week of April, Winn travelled with the Atkinsons in his custody back to London. Arriving on the evening of Wednesday 10th April they were taken to the Marlborough Street Police Office. The next day, at the Old Bailey, Hannah, “a young woman with an infant in her arms” and Thomas appeared before the Mr Dyer, the sitting magistrate. Mrs Haydon and Samuel Winn appeared as witnesses. The Jury returned verdicts of guilty against both. Hannah was convicted of “Larceny in a Dwelling House”, Thomas, of the lesser crime of “receiving stolen goods”.
At the Old Bailey on Thursday 23rd April, Hannah was sentenced “to transportation for the term of her natural life”, Thomas, “to transportation for the term of seven years”.
In November, Hannah and her daughter were placed on board the convict ship Numa at Woolwich. On the 6th December the vessel moved to Portsmouth ready to sail but was prevented from doing so by heavy gales. Finally on Wednesday 29th January 1834, the Numa set sail, and Hannah and daughter, along with 139 other women were transported to New South Wales.
After a voyage of six months, the Numa arrived in Sydney on Friday 13th June 1834.
Hannah remained in Australia for the rest of her life. Thomas returned to England from Bermuda in 1839.
Submitted by Researcher (Jonathan price) on 2 June 2025
|
Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/9, p.250
|
