8 individual petitions (2 from the prisoner, 5 from Elizabeth Hutchings, the prisoner's...

8 individual petitions (2 from the prisoner, 5 from Elizabeth Hutchings, the prisoner's wife and 1 from William Hutchings, the prisoner's son) and 5 collective petitions (37 tradesmen of Bicester [Oxfordshire] and Oxford, 179 inhabitants, 24 freemen of Woodstock [Oxfordshire], 20 Freemen of Oxford and 30 people) on behalf of Edmund Hutchings, blacksmith, convicted at the Oxford Lent Assizes in March 1834 for stabbing with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to George Cooper, labourer 'some days after Christmas 1833'. There are also four letters accompanying the petitions. Details of case provided in letter from [C Sanderson]. Grounds for clemency: already spent 8 years on prison ship awaiting transportation, good conduct on board ship, told by previous Home Secretary if conduct was good he would 'probably regain his liberty', wife and 12 children dependent on parish relief, drunk at time of attack which was not premeditated, prosecutor attacked prisoner first with a stake, the prisoner's wife and son witnessed the attack but were not called to give evidence at the trial, the victim has since recovered from attack, repentant. Initial sentence: death commuted to life transportation. Gaoler's report: eighth application; conduct good on board Leviathan. Annotated: free pardon 23 May 1842. AT 24