Leicester Assizes records for 1803

[jamxr]

Would assizes records show any family or birth etc dates as trying to find family of convict Thomas Pearce/Pierce bc1742 d1831
He was tried at Leicester Assizes on 23 March 1803 for 'stealing lead from different churches. Samuel Smith Esq. MP sent a Petition to Lord Pelham on Thomas's behalf on 31 March 1803 but the reply from Whitehall said that his Lordship did "not see any circumstance in the prisoner's
case that would justify him in recommending the convict to his Majesty
for any mitigation of the sentence".
Thomas was transported to Australia, NSW for 14years.  His wife Mary Ann Stuart bc1770 d1838 followed a few weeks later on another ship with maybe two children but definitely one called Maria.
Don't know where any were born only England and died NSW Australia.
I have all information available through various convict sites & message boards.

[horse000]

Hi

Source: New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834
Name: Thomas Pearce - Arrival Date: May 1804 - Vessel: Corromandle - Province: New South Wales - Place of Conviction: Leicester.

As you say Mary Ann followed with Maria. There is a tree on Anc. also a Charles b. 1804 and d. 1804. Maria said to be b. 1803 Leicestershire

I assume you mean you don't have any births for the children. Some of their offspring in NSW.
New South Wales Birth index:
V1808616 148/1808 PIERCE ELIZABETH - Parents THOMAS & MARY A
V18082087 1A/1808 PIERCE STEPHEN - (THOMAS    & MARY A)
V18123548 1A/1812 PIERCE EDGAR - (THOMAS & MARY A)
V1810615 148/1810 PIERCE STEPHEN T - (THOMAS & MARY A)

There is a death for Mary Ann (mother):
V18382436 22/1838 PEARCE MARY - AGE 42

Geoff

[horse000]

Thomas' Death could be one of these:
V18319488 2C/1831 PEARCE THOMAS - AGE 89
V18311462 15/1831 PEARCE THOMAS

Geoff

[jamxr]

Thanks Geoff.   I have the NSW info as available of film at our local library but didn't know about the Anc tree.  Will check that out next visit. 
I would like to find their marriage and Maria's birth in England.

[DCB]

Something you may have seen already.

There is a record of Thomas on the prison hulk ship Captivity, which says he was convicted for receiving rather than stealing. Also there, is James Taylor, who is mentioned with him in a brief report from the assizes in the Northampton Mercury.

The ship is mentioned in - http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=534201.0

David

[willsy]

He is mentioned in this paper

Publication:Northampton Mercury

Publication date:Saturday 26 March 1803

Thomas Pearce, convicted of stealing lead from different churches in Leicester, to be transported 14 years; and James Taylor, for similar offence, 7 years

[jamxr]

No I hadn't seen the info on the hulk ship Captivity.
I assume the Northampton Mercury is reporting the news from Leicester rather than Northampton being his usual place of residence.
Thank you DCB & Willsy.

[willsy]

I was trying to pinpoint where he lived, have snipped the cutting if you want it for your records

[jamxr]

I found the following from another website posted in Jan 2011.  So records are not online.

In any event, you may want to check out the court records for the Leicester assizes, which are at the National Archives (TNA). This research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/assizes-criminal-1559-1971.htm#19268) explains the background to the assizes, and this other one (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/assizes-key-criminal-1559-1971.htm) indicates what sources are available. None of these documents can be seen online, so you would need to have someone do the research on your behalf.