Class: steerage
"In 1814 while serving in the Royal navy lost a leg in action" "in New Plymouth built a raupo whare, unhappy marriage, may 24th 1842 wife through herself in the sea but was rescued, ., 30th May Pilcher committed to prison for want of bail. 26th dec arrested for attempting to burn his house down. Tried in Wellington april 1843." JST
Thomas was a "Greenwich Pensioner" and received a pension. He probably was given an artificial leg in the Greenwich Hospital.
New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 76, 21 April 1843
The prisoner Pilcher was then placed at the bar, and silence having been proclamed the Judge said " Thomas Britannicus Pilcher you have been brought before this Court on an indictment charging you with having unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a house of William Lye, with intent to injure and defraud the said William Lye : and you have been found guilty. The Jury, having regard to the distressed state of your family, have strongly recommended you to the indulgent consideration of the Court. By such a recommendation I feel myself so far bound, that I always deem it.my duty to weigh with especial care the circumstances to which my attention is so drawn, for the purpose of satisfying myself whether that recommendation can be well and safely acted upon. The crime you, have committed is df a very heinous nature a crime involving not only the utter destruction of the property of one man, but almost of necessity putting in peril (in the present state of these settlements, often in extreme peril) the property and even the lives of others. It i true that in your case there is no appearance of any deliberate forethought and set purpose to do evil ; but there is enough to shew much of that hasty and hot vindictiveness which it is one of the main objects of the criminal law to check and subdue. Still l am justified by the evidence before the Court, in believing that with the evil impulse which urged you to this grevious crime were mingled some of those natural and irrepressible (though in your case misguided) feelings which will arise in the heart of every man when he is forced to look upon the misery of those who are near and dear to him. I feel myself also justified in hoping that those very influences which have led you to crime will hereafter restrain you ? that you will not be ungrateful to the law of your country winch shows towards those who depend upon you a regard and considerateness which you have failed to show, and which, even whilst inflicting punishment upon you for your crime, seeks so to protect your neighbour" as at the same time to spare and to show mercy upon you and yours. The sentence of the court is that, you, Thomas Britannicus Pilcher, be imprisoned in the gaol of Wellington for the term ' of six calendar months, and that you be kept to hard labor.
New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 307, 16 December 1843
"Mrs. Pilcher with her three children arrived from New Plymouth on Monday last, having walked the whole distance in 12 days. She describes the Maories as having been very kind to her and her children while on the journey. They carried their blankets, and supplied them with provisions, and carried them over the various streams and rivers. We are happy to be able to report such kind acts of the natives, and especially at this moment"
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 48, 6 September 1845, Page 2
SUPREME COURT. Monday, Ist Inst.
BEFORE MR. JUSTICE CHAPMAN. The following gentlemen were sworn of the Grand Juiy : - Mr. Kelham, foreman ; Messrs. Hickson, Hunter, Rout, Loxley, Revans, Partridge, Penny, Moore, Rae 2 Donald, Northwood, Mocatta; Captains Sharp and Rhodes. Mr. Pharazyn and Captain Robinson were fined, each of them two guineas for nonattendance. Mr. Hervey was excused, being from home when the summons was served, and not having returned since. True bills were found against - James N orton, Joseph Burnett, and William Fletcher, for larceny. William Kenny, for do. William M'Clutchie, George Hempleman, and John Gifford, for a riot and assault. Thomas Pilcher, for larceny.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 62, 13 December 1845, Page 3
And same case
Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 40, 3 December 1845, Page 3
SUPREME COURT.
Before his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman.
This Court was opened with the usual forms on Monday. The calendar was rather a heavy one, there being 11 prisoners for trial- however, not one of this number can be reckoned as belonging to the emigrants who originally came out and settled in this place. The following prisoners were found guilty and received sentences :- Thomas Pilcher was tried and found guilty of receiving stolen property. Also found guilty of stealing a waistcoat, the property of Mr. Watson. Sentence -seven years transportation.
Note: Not absolutely sure this is Thomas Britannicus PILCHER but quite likely.
This Thomas was transported to the Australian penal colonies on the Bandicoot KRHA
Searching on Trove, Thomas Pilcher served his sentence in Tasmania - which is a problem because their BDM indexes are not available online. But there are newspaper entries? copies attached.
August 1849 - granted ticket-of-leave (near bottom of first column)
August 1851 - conditional pardon approved (third page, near bottom of second column) STHE
By 1863 Thomas back in London and destitute and in and out of Workhouses until his death in 1879. Thomas Britannicus Pilcher had person sources.
8 He was baptized on 10 July 1799 in Rye, SSX, ENG.
4 He was a seaman, Royal Navy in 1814. He immigrated to ENG to NZ on the Timandra arriving New Plymouth, NZ 23/2/1842, on 2 November 1841.
2 He was a Baker in 1842.
2 He emigrated from Wellington to Tasmania penal colony on the Bandicoot in 1846 transported for 7 years.
9,10