Report of James Mingay on 1 individual petition (the prisoner) and 1 collective petition...

Report of James Mingay on 1 individual petition (the prisoner) and 1 collective petition (3 people, 'commissioned for keeping the peace' from Walsingham, Godwick and Gunthorp, [Gunthorpe] Norfolk) on behalf of Robert Gunn, a servant/harvest worker, convicted at the 'last' Norfolk Assizes at Thetford, for a burglary in the house of Nicholas Savory, a farmer at Syderstone, Norfolk, and stealing a silver watch, steel chain and a key, value £3, property of Robert Nicholls, a servant to Mr Temple of Barmer, on 19 August 1794. Evidences supplied by Robert Nicholls, John Bassey, William Parsons and Edward Houghton, constable of Docking. There is a covering letter to the petition from Samuel Wegg, which mentions Mr Warner, magistrate, and a copy of part of a letter from Henry Lee Warner to Mr Wegg. Grounds for clemency: he was drunk during the time of the crime, was very sorry, no violence was used, returned the watch as soon as he was questioned, his father (a seaman) drowned when Gunn was only 2 years old depriving him of a father's influence, was apprenticed as a seamen, Mr Brown at Lynn, but this was cut short when his master died, previous good behaviour and would be better use serving on a Ship of War. Initial sentence: death, commuted to 7 years transportation. Recommendation: not given. (annotated; 'pardon on condition of enlisting in HM. Navy.' Folios 74-83. See also HO 47/18/76, folios 306-307.