Born and Bred

Peter's Story

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Peter was probably born in 1820, though I have no proof of this. However I do have a record of him being baptised on the 23rd of July 1820 at St. Laurence Priory Church, Snaith in East Yorkshire. His parents were Swain Richardson and Hannah Mitchell, who were living and working in the nearby village of Cowick at the time.

Sometime before 1842, Peter had met with one Sarah Denby and had a son, whom they named "Briggs". However, they were not to marry until 1846 after Peter had completed a spell in prison.

It was in 1845 that Peter was convicted of horse stealing. The details are as follow:

"The Crown Calendar for the Yorkshire Spring Assizes holden at the Castle of York on Saturday the 6th day of March in the Eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria 1845. Peter Richardson charged for that he, on the 1st January last, at Drax, in the West Riding, did feloniously steal one mare, the property of Bevis Pulleine. Justices were Lord Beaumont and James Audus Esq."

The General Gaol Delivery 8th March 1845. Peter Richardson (age 22):

"Guilty of horse stealing, after a previous conviction of felony. To be severaily imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction at Wakefield in and for the West Riding of the said county for twelve calendar months."

After marrying Sarah in 1846, Peter appears to have stayed out of trouble for a period of time. Between 1846 and 1850 they had another three children, but times must have been hard for them because, in 1850, he was convicted again, along with two other individuals, this time for stealing six turkeys and six ducks. Once again he was found guilty and imprisoned in the Wakefield House of Correction. As this was his second offence, it was recommended that he be transported overseas. However, it appears that this was commuted to hard labour.

The Court Transcript for this latest transgression reads as follows:

Doncaster Sessions 21st October 1850

The jurors of our lady the Queen upon their oath present that James Brown late of Wakefield in the West Riding of the County of York, Labourer William Johnson late of the same place Labourer and Peter Richardson late of the same place Labourer on the third day of October in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith with force and arms at the parish of Snaith in the West Riding of the County of York six tame fowls commonly called Turkeys of the value of twenty shillings and six other tame fowls commonly called Ducks of the value of twelve shillings of the goods property and chattels of Billy Wade then and there found did then and there felonously steal take and carry away against the peace of our said Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity. And the jurors aforesaid upon their oath afterwards further present that the said James Brown William Johnson and Peter Richardson afterwards to wit on the same day and year aforesaid with force and arms at the Parish of Snaith aforesaid in the Riding aforesaid the same six tame fowls commonly called Turkeys of the value of twenty shillings and six other tame fowls commonly called Ducks of the value of twelve shillings of the goods property and chattels of the said Billy Wade then lately before felonously stolen taken and carried away then and there felonously did receive they the said James Brown William Johnson and Peter Richardson then and there well knowing the said last mentioned goods property and chattels to have been felonously stolen taken and carried away against the form of the statute in that case made and provided and against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity. And the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid further present that at the asizes and General Gaol Delivery holden at the Castle of York in and for the said County of York on the eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eith hundred and forty five the said Peter Richardson was then and there duly convicted of felony and which said conviction is still in its full force strength and effect.

Strangely enough, having avoided "forced transportation" Peter decided to emigrate. In 1855, Peter and his family (Wife Sarah and children Briggs, Enoch, Seth and Margaret), emigrated to Tasmania under the assisted immigration scheme. They travelled to Australia abord "The Champion of the Seas" and from there to Tasmania aboard "The Black Swan".

The recorded details for Peter were as follows:

Name:	Richardson, Peter
Age:	34
Religion:	Church of England
Literacy:	Read and Write
Native Place:	Yorkshire
Trade:	Farm Labourer
Sponsor:	John Mitchell
Ship:	Champion of the Seas

... and for Sarah as follows:

Name:	Richardson, Sarah
Age:	33
Religion:	Church of England
Literacy:	Read and Write
Native Place:	Yorkshire
Trade:	General Servant
Sponsor:	John Mitchell
Ship:	Champion of the Seas

Assisted immigration schemes were set up to bring people out to work in the Colony. There were recruitment drives in England to entice farm workers to come. If they signed up to come, someone in Tasmania would sponsor them (in their case this was John Mitchell) and they would be required to work for this person after arrival, for a set period, to pay back their passage.

The John Mitchell mentioned above, may have been his uncle on his mother's side. It is possible he had travelled out to Australia earlier, but I have no further information on John Mitchell or any family he may have had. If anyone has any further information, I would love to hear from you.

The remainder of Peter's life, as far as I've been able to find out, appears to have been trouble free. At least he appears to have had no further troubles with the law. Together, he and Sarah had a further three children and by all accounts led good and respectable lives. Peter died on the 29th of April 1892 in Chudleigh, Tasmania and was burried at the Chudleigh Presbyterian Cemetery on the 7th of May.