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<div align="left">Trial<span style="font-size:12pt">: 12 December 1787 at Middlesex Sessions for stealing. Sentenced to
seven years transportation at the age of 15. For details of trial - see Ref 134
& 135.</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Imprisonment<span style="font-size:12pt">: Dec 1787, Newgate Prison, London</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Moved<span style="font-size:12pt">: Transported on the "Lady Juliana" from Plymouth on 29 Jul 1789.
Voyage took 309 days, after the ship had lain in the Thames for 6 months.
The ship went via Tenerife, St. Jogo, Rio de Janeiro and the Cape. Arrived at
Port Jackson, Australia on 3 Jun 1790.</span></div>
<div align="left">Moved to Norfolk Island aboard the <span style="font-size:12pt">"Surprize" on 1 Aug 1790 (along with
fellow inmate Wiliam Saltmarsh and others). </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Home<span style="font-size:12pt">: Vicualling Book on Norfolk Island until 31 Dec 1795, listed as receiving
rations.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="font-size:12pt">1805, 06 & 08 on Norfolk Island, listed as woman whose sentence had
expired.</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Mary Butler<span style="font-size:12pt">, aged about 14 yr., Mary {Poll} Randell {aged 26, qv} and 3other
women were tried on the 12th December 1787 Old Bailey sessions
forassaulting a man and stealing a silver watch, a silk handkerchief, 2
banknotes totaling 35 pounds and some cash. The victim, Joseph Clark,
hadwithdrawn the money from the bank to cover the cost of stock for his new
chandler's shop at the corner of Angel Gardens and Back Lane,
Shadwell,East London. He said he was carrying a cheese on his head as he
walked past a house at no. 45 Cabel st, where 5 women lodged. It was a
house of illrepute, he said, and described how 2 of them had snatched the
cheese and jostled him. The women plied him with gin and demanded that he
play cards with them, refusing to return the cheese until he gave them money
for supper and more gin. He admitted that he had already had a pint of beer
and had not called for assistance, claiming to have been afraid that if he had
forced his way out he would be robbed. Butler was then pulled him by the
hand up the stairs as Randall shoved him from behind. They then threw him
on a bed and undressed him. Eyeing his purse Poll Randall said "My dear
you seem to have a deal of many about you, you had better let me take care
of it for you".  When he refused they held his arms, took the money and watch
and ran out. The house was kept by Elizabeth {Bet} Sulley who was herself to
be sentenced to transportation in April 1788 when another teenage girl {Mary
Bateman,} robbed a man she had slept with in the house and hid a stolen
watch in Sulley's bed. four days after the tipsy shopkeeper had been robbed,
Randell and two of the other women were arrested while attending a
performance at the recently opened Royal Theatre in the East End. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Butler and the other women were arrested with the stolen handkerchief in
their possession on the same day in the City of London and sent to
Clerkenwell for committal<span style="font-size:12pt">. The court was skeptical of Clark's claim that he
had entered the house against his will and in a state of sobriety, but a witness
named Benjamin Allen, who lived in the same house claimed in court to have
seen the theft take place. Butler and Randell were convicted of stealing only,
not a capital offence of taking the money violently and sentenced to seven
years transportation. The other women were acquitted. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Butler remained in Newgate Goal until <span style="font-size:12pt">12 March 1789 when she was sent on
board the "Lady Juliana" transport which sailed from the Thames on 4th June.
There seems little doubt that she had been working as a very young
prostitute. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">About two months after landing a Sydney Cove<span style="font-size:12pt">, Butler was sent with agroup
of convicts to Norfolk Island, arriving 7th August 1791. The First Fleet convict
William Saltmarsh {b.1770 Surrey} was sent to the Island at the same time, in
July 1791 he was cultivating a small piece of land at the Island's main
settlement, Sydney Town, living with one other person{who may well have
been Butler}. In time under major Ross's plan to make as many of them as
possible to become self-supporting. Still subject to convict discipline,
Saltmarsh was ordered 100 lashes and sent to the goalgang for theft in April
1792. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">A month later<span style="font-size:12pt">, with his sentenced expired, he left the Island for India,he never
returned. Butler was pregnant and bore his child, William,shortly after his
departure {the child was entered on victualling records on 12 August}. She
afterwards lived with a James Jordan {Queen 1791, tried Dublin}. She bore
him at least five children. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">In <span style="font-size:12pt">1806 Jordan was recorded as a pilot on the Island, Mary Butler was
admitted to Norfolk Island hospital several times during 1811-1812 suffering
from a condition called Sang Effus. She appears to have died on the Island
before her husband sailed for Port Dalrymple, Van Diemens land with their
children on board the "Minstrel" in February 1813. He settled on land at
Norfolk Plains and his burial in February 1840 was registered at Christ's
Church Longford. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Trial Transcript for Mary Butler </div>
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</div>
<div align="left"><span style="font-size:12pt">21. MARY RANDALL, MARY BUTLER, ANNE CLARKE, ANNE WILSON,
and MARYREADING, were indicated for feloniously assaulting Joseph
Clarke, in the dwelling house of Joseph Rider, on the 10th day of November
last, and putting him in fear and danger of his life, and feloniously taking from
his person, and against his will, a silver watch, value 4 , a silk handkerchief,
value 2 shillings, a guinea, a half guinea, and eleven shillings, one bank note
of 20 pounds and one bank note of 15 pounds, his property. </span></div>
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<div align="left">JOSEPH CLARK sworn </div>
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<div align="left">I keep a chandlers shop<span style="font-size:12pt">, No. 19, the corner of Angle-gardens, Back
lane,Shadewell I was robbed on the 10th of November last, between the
hours of eight and nine in the evening, at No. 45, Cable Street a private
house of bad repute; I do not know any further, but I was dragged in by two
people; I was going home; I had been at the bank to receive some money. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Had you been drinking any where<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I had drunk one pot of beer with my two brothers in the forenoon<span style="font-size:12pt">.? </span></div>
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<div align="left">Had you drunk any more that day<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">No not to my knowledge<span style="font-size:12pt">, I was in Cable Street when I was then assaulted;
that was on my way home from the bank; I had half a cheese upon my head,I
was looking in the window of No. 45, I had no particular reason for looking,
and the prisoners Ann Clarke and Mary Reading came first to the door; I
never saw them before in my life, to my knowledge, they came behind me,
and took hold of my hand that was upon the cheese, and forced me into the
house, No. 45; they both seized me and forced me in; they said I should go
in; I said I would not go in, by any means; I said I wanted to go home. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Could not you have disengaged yourself if you had a mind<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I had property about me and cheese on my head<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">What<span style="font-size:12pt">! they forced you in against your will? </span></div>
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<div align="left">They did<span style="font-size:12pt">.? </span></div>
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<div align="left">You absolutely refused to go<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
<div align="left">I Did<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you call for any assistance<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">No<span style="font-size:12pt">, I did not.? </span></div>
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<div align="left">How came you not to do that<span style="font-size:12pt">? You were not under any great apprehension </span></div>
<div align="left">what they would do to you<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
<div align="left">No Sir<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you make all the resistance you could<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I did<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">What sort of resistance was it<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I tried to keep out as well as I could<span style="font-size:12pt">, with the cheese on my head. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you struggle with them as hard as you could struggle<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">Yes I did<span style="font-size:12pt">, and they forced me against my will into the front room, on the
ground floor, next to the street; I could not have got away without leaving my
property. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">There is a good many people passing up and down<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I am quite a stranger to the place<span style="font-size:12pt">; I have not taken a shop there above a
week; there were some people passing when they got me into the room; Ann
Clark yanked the cheese off my head; she came behind me, and pushed it
into a chest, by the bedside; says she, you shall stay all night; no says I, I will
not; then she shoved me to Mary Butler, who was sitting by the fire, and said I
should send for something to drink; and I gave a shilling, and she brought me
half a pint of gin. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Then you had no objection to all of that<span style="font-size:12pt">.? </span></div>
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<div align="left">We drank the gin among us<span style="font-size:12pt">; Ann Clark came to me, and said I must play two
games of cards with her, and I did; we played two games at all fours; then she
persuaded me to send for another half pint of gin, which I did; then as soon
as I had drunk the gin, I felt very sick; then Mary Randall said, my dear, you
seem very sick; I would have you send for something for supper, and
something to drink, and to go to bed; I said I only wanted my cheese and to
go home; Mary Randall said; I should not have my property, till I sent for
something to drink, and for something for supper; well, says I,if I cannot get it
with out sending for something,here take a guinea, and bring me the change;
she said she would; so whenI gave her a guinea, she brought me nineteen
shillings back; half a guinea in gold, and eight shillings and five pence in
silver; and she said, I should go up stairs, then Mary Butler shoved me
behind. up two pairs of stairs. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">All meer force<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">Yes<span style="font-size:12pt">, all against my will. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">You could not resist at all<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">I had a suspicion I was in a bad house<span style="font-size:12pt">, and I though if I could get away
quietly, it would be better, as I had some property about me; then whent hey
forced me up stairs, Mary Randall shoved me on the bed, and she said; my
dear, let me undress you, and you shall have your supper in bed,no says I,
pray do not use me ill, for I must go home; then she said; you must go into
bed, then you shall have your supper, till you get into bed; she took and
forced my coat off, my hat, my shoes, and my handkerchiefs; she threw me
on the bed, and I expected nothing but my life was in danger, and I cried out,
for God's sake, do not use me, when she took my cloths off, Mary Reading
brings up a bit of beef on a plate, with out anything else, says I, could now,
here is your supper; if I am to have mysupper, let me have it, then Mary
Reading went out of the room and returned with the other drink, that Mary
Randall persuaded to send for,that was more gin, and I drank another glass,
then this Mary Randall says to me, my dear, you seem to have a deal of
property about you, because I had a 20 bank note, and a 15 bank note in a
canvas bag in my pocket, and she saw it stick out, and she desired I would let
her take care of it for me, no says I, what occasion have I to let you take care
of my money; I am capable though of taking care of it says she, what, you will
not let me have it? No, says I, I will not; then says she, I will have it, then Mary
Butler took my hands and put them behind me, I was afraid to make any
resistance, or else I could have done it; Mary Reading took the 20 pound
bank note, and the 15 pound bank note out of my left hand breeches pocket,
and a guinea and half and eleven shillings out of my right hand breeches
pocket, and a silver watch out of my fob; and as soon as ever Mary Randall
had got my property, she run down stairs, and I took my coat in my right
hand, and run after her; I pursued her to the sign of the Green man and I
went into the house, and the landlord came and said, you dog, what do you
want? I told him; says he, you dog , you do not look to be worth forty
farthings, instead of forty pounds; and he shoved me into the kennel; I have
nothing more to say; I never heard anything of the notes; but on Tuesday
when Mary Butler, and Ann Clark were taken, I was at the Kings Arms
opposite to Guildhall; and I said I will take my oath to the handkerchief, there
is a hole in it, and the man took her, pointed out the handkerchief, there is a
hole in it, and the man took her,pointed out the handkerchief, and said, what
a new handkerchief, with a hole in it.? </span></div>
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<div align="left">BENJAMIN ALLEN sworn </div>
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<div align="left">I am a baker<span style="font-size:12pt">; on the 10th of last month about half after ten at night I heard a
young man speak very low, I lodge in the two pair of stairs forward, joining the
room where the robbery was done, which was the two pair of stairs
backwards; I got out of bed and looked through the keyhole of the window
and I saw Mary Randall stripping the prosecutor. I heard him say, do not use
me ill, then he got up, and there was some meat brought in on a plate; and I
saw Mary Butler take hold of his hands, and put them behind him, and the tall
one sifted his breeches pockets, and put the money and the papers together,
to take care of for him; and then she rushed out of the room; and then the
prosecutor took his coat, and made his way after her and I heard him cry,
murder and thieves; I heard nothing till next morning of what was lost; but the
maid came up on soon after which was the prisoner Reading; and I swore by
a heavy oath, that they would not have had any of the bit, if it had not been
for her, she came up and locked the door, after the robbery was done. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">How long have you lodged at this house<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">About a month<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">How long had the prisoners lodged there<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">All the time<span style="font-size:12pt">, and a long time before me, I believe, I lived in the sameman's
rents, but I did not think the house was to bad till I came to it, a poor man
cannot always get a lodging where he wills. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">Prisoner Randall<span style="font-size:12pt">, How could he see through the crack of the door; and if he
knew this man was going to be robbed, why did not he come into his
assistance, I saw it through a hole I could put my thumb through; thereare two
holes, I should have got knocked on the head if I had gone up. </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">How long did you stay in the home after this supposed robbery<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I lodge in the house now<span style="font-size:12pt">, the women have not been there since. </span></div>
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<div align="left">JOHN BURGESTON sworn </div>
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<div align="left">On the <span style="font-size:12pt">14th of November I was in the 1st gallery at the Royal Theatre; and
information came to me that Mary Randall, had robbed a young fellow of
some money and a watch; I went immediately to the left hand of the gallery,
and there I saw Randall; and Ann Wilson, and Mary Reading; I went and
touched Ann Wilson on the shoulder, and asked her, if her name was not Poll
Randall; she said no; that I knew her very well, and her name was not Poll
Randall; I had seen Poll Randall; before at the counter; I went out of the
gallery, and went up again; she had moved from the left hand side to the right
hand side; the prisoner Reading got up and went out of the gallery; I touched
Mary Randall, and she told me she would not to till the performance was over;
I took them into custody; she was then carried before the magistrate, who
committed her to the Towergoal; on the Friday following I carried them up to
Hick's Hall, and they were committed. </span></div>
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<div align="left">WILLIAM FORSYTH sworn </div>
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<div align="left">I am Constable<span style="font-size:12pt">; on the 14th November, Mary Butler and Ann Clark were
brought before the Lord Mayor; when the Lord Mayor found the robbery had
been committed in the county, he ordered them to be taken to a magistrate in
the outparts; then the prosecutor said, that is my handkerchief on Mary
Butler's neck; he said there was a little hole in it; I took them to Clerkenwell;
and they were taken before a magistrate and committed. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you observe Butler do anything about the handkerchief<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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</div>
<div align="left">No<span style="font-size:12pt">; there was a person did, but I did not; it has been in my possession ever
since. </span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="font-size:12pt">{The handkerchief produced and deposed} </span></div>
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<div align="left">Prosecutor<span style="font-size:12pt">, It was before I claimed the handkerchief she tore the hole in it; it
was Samuel! Samuel's that pointed out the hole after I had mentioned it; says
he, what, a new hole in a new handkerchief; my brother William Clarke and
Benjamin Clarke were present. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Prisoner Butler<span style="font-size:12pt">, Please to ask the gentleman whether he was not in liquor
when he first came into the house? </span></div>
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<div align="left">When the Land Lord threw me in the kennel<span style="font-size:12pt">, I was in liquor, but I was very
sensible what I was about. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Where had you spent your time from the time you received this money to this
time<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">I received it between twelve and one as near as I can guess<span style="font-size:12pt">; I went round to
every body I had any business with, to order in things for the shop and upon
accounts of losing this money, I was obliged to disallow it. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you pay any money in the course of that time<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">No<span style="font-size:12pt">; I did not. </span></div>
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<div align="left">WILLIAM CLARKE sworn </div>
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<div align="left">I am brother to the prosecutor<span style="font-size:12pt">; I went with him, on the 10th of November,to
the bank; he fold out half a hundred in the three per cent consols. Mr. Davis in
Bishopgate-street was his broker; he gave him a cheque on a banker in
Lombard-street for the money; Messrs Stone and Co. Were the bankers; I
saw a person who received it, and who gave him a 20 pound and 15 pound
bank notes, at the King's head, near Lombard-street. </span></div>
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<div align="left">PRISONER RANDALL<span style="font-size:12pt">'s DEFENSE </span></div>
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<div align="left">I have nothing to say<span style="font-size:12pt">, I was not at home at the time. </span></div>
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<div align="left">PRISONER BUTLER<span style="font-size:12pt">'s DEFENSE </span></div>
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<div align="left">He went along with another woman after he left me<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">PRISONER CLARK<span style="font-size:12pt">'s DEFENSE </span></div>
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<div align="left">I was sitting in this lower room<span style="font-size:12pt">, and this man came in and gave Mary Butler
his handkerchief, he said he had no money; then there came in two strange
women, and he took a liking to the tallest, and went up stairs with her; I do not
know who they were, he came down stairs and said he was robbed; and he
said he would swear to the first he could catch. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Prosecutor<span style="font-size:12pt">. I did not say so. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Court to Prosecutor<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Did you see Wilson there<span style="font-size:12pt">? </span></div>
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<div align="left">No<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Court<span style="font-size:12pt">. Then I shall not call on her for her defense. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Prisoner Randall<span style="font-size:12pt">. My witnesses are not come yet. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Prisoner Butler<span style="font-size:12pt">'s - witnesses called but none answered. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Mary Randall<span style="font-size:12pt">; Guilty </span></div>
<div align="left">Mary Butler<span style="font-size:12pt">; Guilty </span></div>
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<div align="left">Of Stealing the money and notes<span style="font-size:12pt">, but not violently. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Transported for Seven Years<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Ann Clark<span style="font-size:12pt">, Not Guilty </span></div>
<div align="left">Ann Wilson<span style="font-size:12pt">, Not Guilty </span></div>
<div align="left">Mary Reading<span style="font-size:12pt">, Not Guilty </span></div>
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<div align="left">Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr<span style="font-size:12pt">. Fuslica Heath. </span></div>
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<div align="left">Mary was also married first to William Saltmarsh on Norfolk Island<span style="font-size:12pt">. </span></div>
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