Prisoner name(s): Samuel Bunting, John Drake. Prisoner age: Samuel Bunting 18; John...

Prisoner name(s): Samuel Bunting, John Drake.

Prisoner age: Samuel Bunting 18; John Drake 17.

Court and date of trial: Norwich City Summer Assizes 1829.

Crime: Burglary; Samuel Bunting and John Drake broke into the dwelling of Samuel True and burgled his grocery shop on the night of the 22 February 1828. The items stolen were 1lb of coffee valued at 1/-, 7lb of cheese valued at 3/6d and various coins. The items amounted to either 15/- or 19/6d.

Initial sentence: [Death] commuted to transportation for life.

Gaoler's report: 'Connections and former course of life very bad. Both in prison before.'

Annotated (Outcome): Nil. In New South Wales.

Petitioner(s): Two petitions from Samuel True (prosecutor) a grocer of Rose Yard, Saint Augustine's street and of Pockthorpe, Norwich, [Norfolk]. One petition is undersigned by 58 signatures.

13 inhabitants of Norwich, [Norfolk] including Samuel True (prosecutor) on behalf of Samuel Bunting; Baron E H Alderson (Amelia Opie's cousin) of Park Crescent, [London] to Lord John Russell.

Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Both prisoners have no previous convictions; both prisoners are very young; they are from large well respected families and have aged parents; Samuel Bunting is the only son of a widow; Samuel Bunting's mother wishes to see him again before she dies; the true culprit is a convict named Seward who received the stolen property; good conduct of both prisoners in gaol; both prisoners will become useful members of society; since Samuel Bunting's transportation he has become a reformed and altered character; Samuel Bunting's employer in New South Wales, William Lawson Esquire of Macquarie plains near Bathurst, gives him an excellent character; Samuel Bunting has been sufficiently punished by 10 years transportation and has not been in trouble during this time; Samuel Bunting has a ticket of leave and is earning £30 per annum.

Other papers: A letter from Baron E H Alderson enclosing petition and asking for the case to be reviewed;

Note from Robert Peel to the Sheriff stating that the prisoners have been in gaol before.

Letter from Thomas Bignold late Undersheriff of Norwich, [Norfolk] of 4 Bridge Street, Blackfriars, [London] and apologising on behalf of J P Cocksedge Esquire the Sheriff of Norwich, [Norfolk]. Mr Cocksedge signed the petition in error; 2 letters from Amelia Opie of 33 Bruton Street,[London] on behalf of Samuel Bunting; a letter from Lord Norwich supporting Mrs Opie's letter; copy of the prisoners' commitment papers addressed to Robert Paraman the keeper of Norwich Common Gaol and signed by the Mayor Peter Finch Esquire.

A letter from Samuel Bunting in New South Wales.

Additional Information: In New South Wales (1836).