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Exeter Convicts in the First Fleet 1788

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This is a list of those who were sentenced at Exeter Assizes and were transported to Botany Bay in the First Fleet. The convoy of ships arrived at Farm Cove, Sydney on 26th January 1788 under the command of Captain Phillips, who became the first Governor General of the colony. Many of the convicts who were sentenced to death, had their sentence commuted to life (99 years) or seven years. Value is the value of the crime in pounds sterling. Most of Exeter's convicts were transported on the Charlotte, with a few on the Friendship and Scarborough..

Gandy Street born David Collins sailed with Captain Phillips to become the new colony's first Judge-Advocate. He eventually became the first Governor General of Tasmania. The skittle alley of the Ship Inn in the Strand at Topsham was formerly used as a place to hold convicts awaiting transportation to the colonies. Topsham was the main port of embarkation for convicts convicted at the Exeter Assizes.

The most celebrated case at Exeter resulting in transportation was that of Edmund Galley in 1835. Galley was semargin-right: 10px;ntenced to death for murder at Exeter Assizes, despite his so called accomplice swearing that Galley was not involved. The campaigning journalist Thomas Latimer campaigned to have Galley acquitted, but he was still transported to Australia for life. See Thomas Latimer for the full story.

FORENAME
SURNAME
DATE OF SENTENCE
CRIM1
LENGTH
VALUE
Thomas AKERS/ACRES 14 March 1785 assault and highway robbery 7 10
John ANDERSON 20 March 1786 stealing linen 7 146
Thomas BAKER 10 January 1786 unknown 7 less than £1
John BALL 20 March 1786 stealing livestock (a sheep) 7 10
Samuel BARSBY 20 March 1786 stealing material 7 40
John BASELY/BAZLEY 12 January 1785 robbery of clothing 7 15
William BOND 18 July 1785 stealing household goods 7 164
John BRADFORD 9 January 1786 stealing tallow 7 less than £1
Mary BRAUND 20 March 1786 highway robbery 7 32
William BREWER 20 March 1786 stealing livestock (a sheep) 7 20
Thomas BROWN 29 October 1783 stealing silverware 7 0
John BRYANT 14 March 1785 highway robbery 7 136
Patrick BURN 11 August 1783 highway robbery 7 49
Simon BURN 11 August 1783 highway robbery 7 39
John CARNEY 22 July 1782 burglary 7 55
William CHAAF 20 March 1786 burglary 7 225
Edward CHANIN 7 August 1786 burglary 7 21
Samuel CHINERY 7 August 1786 stealing 7 10
John CLARKE 7 August 1786 stealing livestock (two lambs) and mutton 7 14
John COFFIN 9 January 1786 stealing household goods 7 less than £1
Elizabeth COLE 20 March 1786 burglary 7 4
James CON unknown - life -
Cornelius CONELLY 7 August 1786 assault and highway robbery 7 7
James COPP 20 March 1786 stealing 11 barrels and other goods 7 65
John CREAMER 12 January 1785 not recorded 7 less than £1
John CULLYHORN/CALLAGHAN 22 July 1782 burglary 7 55
John FERGUSON 20 March 1786 stealing material 7 49
George FRY 18 March 1782 burglary 7 36
John GOULD 20 March 1786 stealing wooden barrels 7 65
John HALL 24 May 1785 stealing butter 7 less than £1
William HAMLYN/HAMLIN 12 January 1784 assault and attempted highway robbery 7 zero
John HAYDON/HADON/HAIDON 11 August 1783 highway robbery 7 39
John HERBERT 14 March 1785 assault and highway robbery 7 36
William HILT/HITT 18 July 1785 housebreaking 99 189
William HOLLAND 7 August 1786 stealing silver teaspoons and other goods 7 59
James HORTOPP 20 March 1786 burglary 7 7
Henry HUMPHREYS 20 March 1786 stealing a winch and other goods 7 86
Jeremiah HURLEY 22 July 1782 stealing clothing 7 76
William JENKINS 20 March 1786 assault with intent to rob 7 zero
James LA RUE/LARNE 12 July 1785 unknown 7 zero
Samuel LIGHTFOOT 14 March 1785 stealing clothing 7 81
James MARTIN/MARTYN 20 March 1786 stealing iron bolts 7 4
Jane MEECH/MEACH 20 March 1786 stealing iron chains 7 30
John MORTIMER 20 March 1786 stealing mutton 7 10
Noah MORTIMER 20 March 1786 stealing mutton 7 10
Stephen MULLIS/MULLOT 12 January 1785 robbery 7 15
James MURPHY 11 August 1783 assault and highway robbery 7 41
John OAKRAFT 17 March 1783 stealing clothing and money 7 80
Joseph PAGET 10 January 1786 not recorded 7 less than £1
Peter PARRIS 17 March 1783 burglary 7 115
Joshua PECK 20 March 1786 stealing 7 35
Samuel PIGOTT/PICKETT 20 March 1786 stealing material 7 40
Catherine PRIOR/FRYER 20 March 1786 highway robbery 7 32
John RICE 18 July 1785 burglary 7 19
John ROBINS 18 July 1785 stealing a silver watch 7 25
Robert RUTH 14 March 1785 assault and highway robbery 7 17
Mary SHEPHARD/HAYDON/EATON 20 March 1786 highway robbery 7 32
John SMALL 14 March 1785 assault and highway robbery 7 36
Edward SMITH 14 March 1785 burglary 7 570
John SMITH 14 March 1785 assault and highway robbery 7 10
Henry/Thomas SPARKES 18 March 1782 assault and highway robbery 7 1
Margaret STEWART/STUART 28 August 1786 stealing (shoplifting from several shops) 7 less than £1
John TRACE 20 March 1786 stealing mutton 7 7
William VICKERY 20 March 1786 stealing cash 7 120
Thomas WATSON 20 March 1786 stealing 7 62
Edward WESTLAKE 20 March 1786 stealing mutton 7 10
Richard WIDDICOMBE/WEDDICOMB 20 March 1786 stealing a winch and other goods 7 86
Richard WILLCOCKS/WILCOCKS 20 March 1786 assault with intent to rob 7 zero
John WILLIAMS 7 August 1786 stealing steel 7 19
John WOOLCOTT/WOOLCOT 18 July 1785 burglary 99 427

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