Oh my life is so bleak!

"Death!...Death!...Death!" the words of Chief Justice Warren rang in Joe Hollinshead's head every night as he tried to go to sleep. "Oh my life is so bleak. What have I done? Why did I do it? Poor Jane and the little ones, Tom, he will be OK he'll be seven soon and it won't be long and he can bring some bread to the table. The little lasses though, they are so little, little Jane not yet even one year. Oh so bleak." These are Joseph Hollinshead's private thoughts.

"Just what was I thinking, yes she was a beauty, what a prize! It would be alright. Who could have known of my exploit. How did they know where to pursue me and that I would still have her with me, and so far away. Someone must have watched my every move. It was to be my secret and no one was to know. No one needed to know. Who was watching my every move? Poor Jane needing to know of such a folly, such an indiscretion. Oh the suffering, oh the humiliation."

"That Joe Steele, he didn't care much for her, leaving her so, anyone could have her. and I was such a fool. Just a few pounds that's all and not even yet in my hand. Halifax is such a distance and to be caught up with the very next day. Oh how bleak is my life. The sentence is DEATH!"

"I sit here, cold and miserable, waiting my fate. Mercy they said, give him mercy. That Bloody Justice Warren, "you mean by recommending the prisoner to mercy, that his life should be spared." He said. And then "but that he should be transported." And then "the sentence is Death". Sentenced to death. Oh "I shall take care that your recommendation shall be forwarded to the proper quarter". Oh what a bleakness. I wonder if anyone at the proper quarter has any mercy in them."

"HOLLINSHEAD" a gruff voice shouted and all the prisoners in the cell stir a little. Joe gives a shudder. The gaol keeper's voice is not the most welcome one. Again "HOLLINSHEAD" a pause and then "The King's spared you, mercy has been granted. Transportation beyond the seas, fourteen years. That's your fate Joseph Hollinshead!"

It is the late spring of 1829 and Joseph Hollinshead has spent a miserable month in the gaol at the Castle of Chester. While waiting to hear his fate, Joe has gotten to know a few of his cell mates in this cold and miserable place. Even though it is late spring the thick stone walls do not allow in much warmth and these miserable days are only surpassed by the even more miserable nights and Joe has just learned that he is to be transported to the Colony of New South Wales for a term of 14 years an unknown and uncertain future. "Woe is me."

"Cheer up Joe, ain't so bad, at least they aren't going to hang you by the neck until you are good and dead." says young Bill Goulding "Just a sailing ship journey to the other side of the world."... "Heard that folks like us mostly survive, only the old fellas don't make it. I'll be with you most likely"

"Bloody comfort that is" muttered Joe under his breath, and then "but what will happen to the wife and kids?" "Ya shouda thought of that afore you theived that 'orse Joe!" came a rather snide remark. "lucky yore neck not goin' to be stretched!" "a 'orse that's always a hanging" came another " 'ow come you get mercy, know some of the Jury did ya! Young Bill 'ere, he only theived a sheep and he's goin to New South Wales. Didn't even get to eat it."

Joe decides not to answer he had hoped that his life would be spared but had not really thought of what transportation would mean. Now the thought of 100 days or so at sea being transported to a colony that he had only heard bad about was starting to sink in. Later that evening an older prisoner came and sat beside Joe and quietly said "You know Joe, You can put in a petition with a plea for clemency. If you can get yore wife to write a real nice letter sayin how much she needs you and your plea is written in the most humble way they might just let you stay here."

"Shew jeez I might just do that." Says Joe and then thought "After what she said when I seen her after they seized me, will she write in my support. You'd think that I was caught with Joe Steele's wife not his mare. Anyway it is worth a try" Joe thanked his more experienced fellow prisoner. And spent the next few hours thinking of what to write.

Joe called on all his schooling for words and talked again with Tom Jones, his older cellmate. "well he said, it must be sent to the George y'know." "The King!" Yes His Royal Majesty King George and it must be real humble and use all big words and say how sorry and regretful and how you will never do such a thing again and all that." Well Joe has had enough schooling that he can write. "Ask the gaol keeper for a slate tomorrow and you can get on with it."

Joe gets a slate the very next day and starts "Dear King, I am your most humble Joseph Hollinshead. I have been accused of stealing a horse and you spared my life for which I am most humbly grateful. I have a wife Jane and four young children and if I am to be transported I don't know what will become of them..."

Tom sidles up and asks Joe to read out what he has written. "No Joe Much more humble and much more formal." Joe looks a bit puzzled, he knows nothing more formal or humble. Over the next few days Joe and the old man spend many hours together and finally they are ready to write the petition of plea for clemency.

"The Kings Most Excellent Majesty"

The petition and supplication of Joseph Hollinshead

late of Macclesfield in the County of Chester, but now a

Convict in your Majesty's Gaol at the Castle of Chester

Most humbly Sheweth,

That Your Majesty's unhappy Petitioner having contrary to the examples of his Parentage with Relations of good character and Respectability been evilly excited to violate the laws of his Country was to his great shame and anguish of mind at the Assizes of the County of Chester in the month of April last before Your Majesty's Justices there presiding found guilty of stealing a horse the property of his prosecutor and was sentenced to fourteen years transportation beyond the seas leaving Your Majesty's Petitioner (however unworthy) that blessing in a British Constitution namely a hope in Your Majesty's royal clemency.

That Your Majesty's unhappy Petitioner..."

The plea went on...

"... and that Your Majesty with the distinguished virtue of your exalted character will graciously condescend to order your unhappy subject and petitioner's sentence to be in part remitted, that he may be restored to the comforts of life and to his disconsolate wife and family, and may become a loyal and dutiful Subject to the best of Sovereigns and Your Majesty's humble Subject and petitioner with sensations not to be expressed will, as in duty bound Ever pray to

Joseph Hollinshead"

A few days later Joe's wife Jane came for her permitted visit. "Jane my dear wife, I have been spared. Mercy has been granted to me and I will not be put to death after all." Jane was all bemused she had thought it her last visit. Joe went on "I am to be transported beyond the seas for 14 years but there is still hope that the King may remit my sentence and I will eventually be restored to a comfortable life with you."

Jane was struggling to understand when Joe handed her the letter asking her to be so kind as to write a letter supporting the petition. "Hand it yourself to the King's Messenger." When Jane left the prison she was pondering her task with bewilderment.

"Sir,

Enclosed I send a petition in favour of Joseph Hollinshead My Husband who was convicted last Assizes on a charge of Horse Stealing which I shall be grateful to you if you will present to His Majesty on his behalf. I shall feel truly grateful if you can be of any service to him in getting even part of his sentence remitted.

I beg to transcribe myself

Your very humble Sev't

Jane Hollinshead

James Street

Macclesfield 29 May 1829

On 27 May Joe Hollinshead along with 9 other convicts are transferred to the prison Hulk "York" at Portsmouth in preparation for transportation. On 15 August he was transferred to the ship Sarah.

Now on 29 August 1829, the convict ship Sarah is raising sail in the Thames estuary with the prospect of a one hundred day journey to a place beyond the seas New South Wales.

"Oh my life is so bleak, if only I could have my time over, oh what a fool I am. Be humble to the King, Your gracious Majesty, your most loyal and humble servant. A bloody lot of good all that done."

Joseph Hollinshead for Horse Stealing, William Goulding for Sheep Stealing and Thomas Jones for Sacrilege all being transported for 14 years along with 197 other convicts for their various offenses contemplate their future life as the "Sarah" moves slowly down the Thames on the outgoing tide.

Lindsay Threadgate November 2013