Prisoner name: Joseph Parfitt. Prisoner age: 35. Prisoner occupation: Servant or...

Prisoner name: Joseph Parfitt.

Prisoner age: 35.

Prisoner occupation: Servant or commercial traveller.

Court and date of trial: Surrey Special Assizes December 1827 held at Kingston.

Crime: Embezzlement of £8 from his employers Messrs Muskett and Co of Snows Fields, Southwark, Surrey.

Initial sentence: 14 years' transportation.

Gaoler's report: Character from gaol - not known.

Annotated: Not to be transported, this case to be reconsidered at some future period at end of a year (April 1828). Free pardon prepared 25 May 1829.

Petitioner(s): Seven people including five MPs and the prosecutors. Churchwardens and 19 people of Dunkerton, Somerset. Three petitions from Henry Smith of Bath [Somerset] who submitted the first petition. Mr Baron Reynolds of Southwark, employer. Sarah Parfitt, the convict's sister.

Grounds for clemency: Respectable and extensive family from Wiltshire and Somerset; he has a wife and five children; he was often insolvent with inadequate expenses; good character; wife struggling and distressed trying to look after her family.

Other papers: Mrs Parfitt's declaration that her husband's prosecutor told her that he had punished her husband for joining Reynold's and Fraser's House. Letter from George Muskett respecting Parfitt's bond with two sureties. Letter from Mr Muskett to William James proving the fact he is taking security for Parfitt's money transactions. Letter to Mr Parfitt from Reynolds and Fraser offering to restore him to his situation as commercial traveller if his sentence is remitted. Reynolds and Fraser's letter to Mr James offering to restore Joseph Parfitt to his situation in case of a remission of his sentence, and impugning the motives of his prosecution. Certificate of good conduct from William James, of Wells. Certificate of good conduct from Mary Ann Williams, his first employer of Bath. Certificate of good conduct from Edward Watts, wine merchant. Character reference from William Lax of West Horrington. Letter from William James (father-in-law) of West Horrington, Somerset, stating Parfitt's good character and the prosecutor's motive was revenge. Certificate of Parfitt's good character from William Cottle, of Bath. Certificate of good character for seven years from Mr J Pontin, coachmaker of Hungerford, Berkshire. Certificate of good character from Moses Goold and 65 inhabitants of Wiltshire. Letter from Mr Goold of Swindon as to Parfitt's good character and forwarding the above letter. Certificate of good character in favour of Parfitt signed by five people of Taunton Somerset. Character reference from George Tucker and William Tucker of Southgate Street. Testimonial from Robert Shiercliffe Walker as to his excellent character and conduct. Testimonial of Mr B Weaver, Overseer of Dunkerton [Somerset] as to Parfitt's character from his childhood. Testimonial of Parfitt's character from Mr Samuel Adams, coachmaker of Bath. Character reference from Mr William Evans of Bristol as to Parfitt's good character. Letter from George Muskett stating that 'there is not an extenuating feature in this man's case.' Alfred Muskett asking to be considered with prisoner's petition. A note (unsigned) that Parfitt deserves mercy if Reynolds will take him on again. Letter from Baron Reynolds stating that he cannot immediately give Parfitt his job back as Fraser has died.

Additional Information: Held on board the York hulk.