Thomas Chaseling, Convict "Royal Admiral" 1792

The parents of Thomas CHASELING are currently unknown

Thomas was tried for theft of 230 handkerchiefs at Shoreditch at the Old Bailey in 1791 and was sentenced to death which was commuted to transportation for life. He was assigned to the Woolwich hulk and then sailed in the ship 'Royal Admiral' to the colony in 1792.

Old Bailey transcript 13 Apr 1791: THOMAS CHASELAND was indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Copps, about the hour of five in the afternoon, on the 5th day of April , and stealing two hundred and thirty new silk handkerchiefs, value 40 l. his property. THOMAS COPPS sworn. I live at No. 7, Ratcliffe-row, St. Luke's, Old-street; on the 5th of this month I went out about two o'clock, I returned about five; a little girl told me that thieves were then in my house; I went in and found the prisoner in custody. ELIZABETH WYNN sworn. I was in Mr. Copps's house on the 5th of April, about five o'clock, I work there weekly; I was in the back-parlour, the things were taken from the fore parlour, I thought I heard somebody at the door, I went to the door, and found it open, I went to the front parlour, and missed a bundle of goods, I went to the door, and saw the prisoner in the field with the goods; I cried stop thief, and saw him with two bundles in the fields; the prisoner then run away, and I ran across the fields, and picked up one of the bundles, I only missed one at first; Rigbey took the prisoner in two minutes after; I do not know how he got in the house, he was out of my sight but a small space. MARY-ANN JACKSON sworn. I was in the house at the same time, in the kitchen, and heard the door opened, I just let my young mistress out, and shut the door immediately, it opens with a spring latch inside and out; I called out, who is there? nobody aNew South Walesered; I met the last witness coming from the gate, who said we had been robbed; I then went to the gate, and saw the man standing by the goods in the field, with his apron in his hand; and we both cried stop thief! I picked up one bundle, and the last witness picked up the other, and he run away; he had his apron in his hand just going to tie up the bundles in it; he was pursued and taken, and brought back to the house. There was no other person in the field but himself and us two women. EDWARD RIGBEY sworn. I am the constable; I was at work in a garden in the same field, I saw the prisoner with the two bundles, and saw him come from the house, but I did not see him come out of the house; I watched him in the field through the garden fence, but before he could tie them up, I saw and heard the girls cry out stop thief, I ran round the fence, and pulled out my staff, and took him prisoner, and took him before Mr. Justice Spiller, and he was committed. ‎(The goods produced and deposed to by Mr. Copps.)‎ I put my seal upon the bundles, which has not been opened till now. GUILTY, Death. Not of breaking and entering the house, but of stealing the goods, value above 40 s. Recommended by the Jury and prosecutor. ‎(Aged 19.)‎ Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron HOTHAM .

Supplementary material 14 Sep 1791: The following Prisoners were set to the Bar, and received the King's Pardon, on Condition of being transported to Botany Bay for Life. John Ryall, alias George King , James Sharp, Thomas Causey, Joseph Druce, William Jones, Robert Jones, James Kelly, William, alias George Warren, John Oxton, Thomas Munden, William Dyer, William Blewett, John Lock, and Ann Cane. THOMAS CHASELAND refused, and was ordered to a separate cell.

26 Oct 1791 THOMAS CHASELAND, a Capital Convict, being put to the Bar, accepted his Majesty's Pardon, on Condition of being transported for Life ..