1825 Trial Papers For Transported Convict Help

[Flickgirl]

Hi Everyone,

I'm searching for the trial details of a Glasgow woman named Isabella Lionel Provern who was tried at the Glasgow Court of Justiciary on 1st May 1825 and sentenced to 7 yrs transportation to Australia on the Midas which departed 22 Jul 1825.
 
On most Australian documents that I've seen relating to her she calls herself Lionel Provern and her crime is given as "obtaining money under false pretenses."  There is also mention of the fact she had a 5-year-old child who was left behind in Glasgow with its grandmother.

I've searched the NAS Catalogue and can't find anything for an Isabel(la) or Lionel Provern but I have found two Precognitions that might pertain to her especially an 1825 one for an Isabel Provan tried for the crime of falsehood, fraud and wilful imposition.  The Isabel from this case was the daughter of Alexander Provan, weaver, Long Govan, Aged 28, servant, Address: No fixed abode.  I've found an Isobel Provan born 01 May 1794 in Barony to Alexander Provan and Christian Black who may fit this.

There is also a Precognition against an Isobel Provan of Glasgow for the crime of theft, falsehood and fraud dated 1824.  I'm assuming that the dates given on the files are the years the trials took place and if so then the 1825 one is probably my best bet.

I just wanted to ask on here in case someone can see something I've missed as I don't want to order the wrong file.

Thanks for any help.

Regards

Flickgirl

[ev]

hi 

had a look at NAS
there is a precognition and also a trial for isabel provan in 1825
trial dated 26th april 1825
verdict guilty , sentence 7 years transportation

it certainly looks a good match , can't see anything else

ev

[RJ_Paton]

I would agree that the 1825 entry, especially as it refers to 7 years transportation, is your best bet for further details.

However, I wonder if the 1824 entry may also refer to her and may have counted as a previous conviction which led to the sentence of transportation - if so the 1825 papers should mention or have reference to previous incidents.

[Flickgirl]

Hi Falkyrn and Ev,

Thanks for the help and confirming my suspicions about the 1825 records.

That's a good point that the 1824 trial may pertain to her as well; I hadn't thought of that.

Can I ask how you found the information about the trial papers Ev?  All I found was the precognition and that doesn't say anything about the date of the trial or the sentence.  It would be good to know how to search that out for future reference.

Regards

Flickgirl

[ev]

all i did was click on the blue reference number JC26/1825/121 after searching
for isabel provan

ev

[Flickgirl]

Hi ev,

Thanks for that; I tried it again and it came up this time but there was no sign of it the other couple of times I searched.  Very strange! 

Regards

Flickgirl

[leighton]

Hello Flickgirl

I also have trial papers spread over a two year period.

The accused was bailed to appear for trial in Aberdeen in 1835. However, he failed to appear and was outlawed and "put to the horn".

He was eventually apprehended and the trial went ahead almost exactly a year later in 1836. Hence the second batch of papers.

The charge against him was "assault to the effusion of blood and danger of life". He was found guilty and got three months imprisonment. Your seven years transportation sentence seems very severe.

leighton

[RJ_Paton]

Hello Flickgirl

I also have trial papers spread over a two year period.

The accused was bailed to appear for trial in Aberdeen in 1835. However, he failed to appear and was outlawed and "put to the horn".

He was eventually apprehended and the trial went ahead almost exactly a year later in 1836. Hence the second batch of papers.

The charge against him was "assault to the effusion of blood and danger of life". He was found guilty and got three months imprisonment. Your seven years transportation sentence seems very severe.

leighton

Although a sentence of 7 yrs transportation seems harsh in our eyes you must remember that we are dealing with a society here where property was valued over the lives or well being of certain sections of that society which was very strictly split along so called class lines.
A charge of "assault to the effusion of blood and danger of life" although sounding pretty severe could mean anything from a punch causing a bloody nose to a much more serious assault. Given that the resulting sentence was only 3 months in jail it is likely that the victim came from the same social strata as the assailant for if he had the temerity to assault one of his so called betters it is, I believe, highly likely that a sentence of transportation would have been considered very light.

[lesleyandrobert]

Hi, have just found your letters on Rootschat and wondering if anyone still researching Isabella Lionel Provern.
Thanks, coffee girl