Glasgow Court of Justiciary Records 1830's

[Tissy]

Hi All,

I'm hoping that someone can help me trace the trial records for the following two people please. They were both convicted at the Glasgow Court of Justiciary and transported to NSW, Australia.

The first was DANIEL MCLEAN who was sentenced to a term of 7 years on 7 April 1930. Daniel was transported per the "Camden" on 21 March 1831.

The second person was JANET LEITCH who was sentenced to a term of 7 years, no date of conviction shown. She was transported per the "Planter 2" which departed on 29 October 1838.

Janet & Daniel married in Sydney in 1841 and went on to live long and fruitful lives mainly here in Bega, NSW. Daniel died in 1883 and Janet in 1905.  She was reputed to have been 103 or 105 years old when she died, depending on which source you believe. According to the limited "Planter" records that I can find, she was shown as 20 years of age in 1838 so I don't think she was over the century when she died.

I'm hoping that the trial records for Janet & Daniel will give me not only the crimes that they were convicted for, but also ages and places of abode so that I can finally pinpoint their births and families.

Any help that anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated, I would dearly love to complete their story.

Cheers,
Tissy

[bullet]

I can't find Daniel Maclean as yet, but, I did find a Janet Leitch.

Search www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

AD14/38/305  Prerecognition against Janet Leitch for the crime of theft, habit and repute and previous conviction - 1838.    Servant, aged 25 years. No fixed abode.   Origin, - Glasgow, Moordock Kennedy, Balephuil, Tiree, Argylie.

JC26/1838/399  Trial papers relating to Janet Leitch. 29 September, 1838. 
Verdict - Guilty.  Sentence - 7 years transportation.
Tried at the High Court, Glasgow.  Theft from the smack called the Duncan Malcolm of Tree while it was moored at Broomielaw, Glasgow.

  You can send away for the transcripts to the National Archives of Scotland.  I had to email them with credit card details for a fifteen pound search fee (non refundable), then when they actually find the papers, they'll give you and estimate.  Mine came to sixty-five pounds!! (As mine wasn't a direct line, I didn't go ahead with it, but lost my fifteen pounds).

Hope this all helps,  - post again if I wasn't clear enough

[Tissy]

Hi Bullet,

Thank you very much for that info on Janet, it is very informative. The age shown for her differs once again, being shown as 25 would make her born c 1813. In her death notice in 1905 there is a reference to her having told a local historian that she was born in 1817. Whichever date, I don't think she was over 100 when she died and somehow, I get the feeling that she did not know exactly how old she was. Or she could have been a great storyteller.

I have the feeling that I will have to give up on the idea of tracing her family and concentrate on the achievements of her life here. Many thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Tissy

[sancti]

Glasgow Herald has a mention of the case

She stole items of apparel, she pleaded not guilty but after witnesses were called she was found guilty and as she was by habit and repute a thief she was sentenced to 7 years transportation

[sancti]

Daniel McLean was charged with having stolen a cheese from a cart in King Street. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 7 years transportation

Glasgow Herald, 9 April 1830

[Tissy]

Hi Sancti,

Thank you very much for the information on Janet's and Daniel's convictions, it fills in the gap nicely. Janet was quite an identity here in Bega, she married Daniel under the name of Jessie Leitch but was more commonly known here as "Cocky" Mc Lean as she always walked around with her pet white cockatoo perched on her shoulder. She was evidently quite a character. She may have had humble beginnings but she lead a fascinating life.
Many thanks for your help. If anyone wants to know how her story unfolded, just drop me a line and I will post it when I have written it.

Cheers,
Tissy

[historyhead]

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone can check if my information is correct regarding John Lockhart (alias John Bow/Bowes) who was convicted on the 28th December, 1832 at Strathclyde. I think the crime was "picking pockets" and he was sentenced to 14 years to Australia.

Thanks so much for your time.

Regards,

Historyhead

[MonicaL]

Hi Historyhead

The online catalogue of the National Records of Scotland is the place to check for criminal trials, see www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue. There are a couple of entries showing there for him, matching the details you have. Was he also known as James Lockhart or did he have a brother James also charged with him (using same aliases)?

This comes up on the index for one of the entries for example:

James Lockhart, alias Bowes; Bow; John Lochart, Age: 16, weaver, Address: High Street, Glasgow, with father, Origin: Native of Glasgow.

Search for a James Lockhart (specific phrase) and put in a time period to narrow down the results.

You can obtain copies of the trial papers direct from the NRS. You can make enquiries on the email at the bottom of the page regarding cost of photocopying etc.

Monica 

[historyhead]

Thanks so much for your information, interestingly he was referred to as James a couple of times in his convict life then always John when he was reporting on the gold fields in the New England area of New South Wales.

Also when I click on the link it is not working for some reason but thanks again for looking this up for me.

Have a great day.

Regards,
historyhead