Rushen's at the Old Bailey
This page details those who broke the law! Old Bailey Proceedings. Sir John Williams, Session I, 10th December 1735.
Benjamin Rushin was indicted for stealing a pair of Men's Pumps, value 10d, the Goods of Ralphh Aldersly. Verdict: Part Guilty: theft under 1s. Punishment: Transportation.
Old Bailey Proceedings. Sir William Calvert, Session VI, 5th July 1749.
Jane Rushing late of St. Martin's in the Fields, spinster, was indicted for stealing one cambrick hood, value 5s., one pair of cambrick ruffles laced, value 3s., three cotton curtains, value 3s., two linen shifts, value 5s. and other things the goods of William Dukey on the 11th April. 16th February 1787 Old Bailey Session Papers.
John Sturt, servant to Lord Southampton
versus William Kimpton, William Marsh and
Richard Rushen
Sheep stealing at Highgate.
Thirteen sheep, the property of the Honourable Charles Fitzroy, commonly called Lord
Southampton, stolen on Thursday 8th February. Monday 12th, thirteen sheep in possession of George Carter,
butcher in St. Georges Market. Examination by Judge Samson Wright on 16th February established value of sheep at £7 sold by Rushen to James Gifford butcher of Rotherhithe.
Transaction took place at Groom Man public house, Muzzle Hill. Richard Rushen living with Robert Jordan, farmer at Finchley. Remanded to the next General Sessins at
County of the Session House on Clerkenwell Green. The session was held in April 1790 but the records have not survived.
14th April 1790 Old Bailey Proceedings.
Richard Rushen
Indictment 97, from New Prison for stealing one ewe lamb, value one shilling, the property of Joseph Ekins. Sold the lamb to John Wells for a shilling and a share of a pint of beer in the parish of Finchley.
Prisoner lodged in Hornsey at John Burrs. Tried by the First Middlesex jury at the Old Bailey before Mr Recorder, 7 years transportation.
Transported with the Third Fleet on board 'Active', John Mitchinson the master. 'Active', 300 tons, had been built at Shoreham in 1764.
Sailed from Portsmouth on 27th March 1791 with 175 convicts, all male. Escorting the fleet and acting as storeship was HMS Gorgon, on which at a later date another Rushen was to serve as a Marine.
Arrived Port Jackson after 183 days on 26th September 1791. Twenty one died at sea, reported that prisoners grossly underfed.
On the 9th June 1792 fine weather was reported and also the burial of William Russion, a convict, at St. Johns, Paramatta. It is believed that it was Richard who
was buried this day as there were no other Rushen's aboard the ships of the three fleets which had arrived in Australia by this time.
William Dukey depos'd he found some of the goods upon the prisoner and some in pawn where she directed him to go and that the prisoner declared they were his goods.
Verdict: Guilty of Felony: Punishment: Transportation for 7 Years.
