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Note: In 1814 Thomas was on trail for Larceny at Westminster, age not mentioned but would have been about 19 years old. found not guilty.
On the 11th April 1815 he was on trail at the Old Bailey for larceny from a person. The records show age at 19 and was sentenced to 6 months. He was whipped while in goal.
In 1816 again sentenced in the Old Bailey, aged 20 for attempting to steal from a person and again sentenced to 6 months.
In 1817 again at the Old Bailey, aged 21, was charged with larceny from a person but was found not guilty. Name spelt Cassell.
In September 1817 he was tried at Clerkenwell with the conviction of attempt to commit a felony and sentenced to 6 months.
In 1818 at the Old Bailey, aged, 23, was convicted of larceny from a person and was sentenced to LIFE.
Thomas was sent out on the Baring which sailed from Downs in England on the 27th January 1819.
There is an account of this trial in the Old Bailey Sessions Papers (Q343.1/L) which states that Thomas Castle was indicted for stealing on the 7th July, one pocket book, value 2 shillings, the goods of John Austin, clerk from his person.
The description of Thomas from Records are
Convicted London Goal Delivery
When 9th September 1818
Term Life
Native Place Pendleton (maybe Pendell Hill)
Age 24
Height 5'4"
Complexion Dark ruddy
Hair Black
Eyes Dark
Left Downs, England on 27th January 1819, with 300 convicts
The Baring arrived on the 26th June 1819
It took 5 months with a hammock, blanket and a life hat (given to men)
3rd July 1819 with Baring convicts went by River to Liverpool NSW for distribution.
Did Thomas propose to ho to Ricmond NSW because his Father or Uncle James Castle came here in the first fleet and although deceased, hoped to trace him and his land?
Thomas was assigned to John Blackmore, a convict himself and aged 28. John came out on the Moley (2) in 1818 and his sentence was 7 years.
John's wife's name was Maryann aged 35 and was also a convict. She came out in 1814 and her sentence was also 7 years.
This is were the family history has been pasted down with the story of our name change.
Thomas was granted his ticket of leave on the 30th November 1831 and Elizabeth's ticket was granted on the 9th September 1842.
Now that they both had their freedom, Thomas resumed his birth name of Cassell, hence when Thomas was born he was christened CASSELL.
Draft of letter.
Sydney Archives Rocks 16th October 1995
Col Sec Letters 1832-1837
Reference no 4/2376 letter no 37/10441
in a box marked 2376- 1837- prisoners
The Humble petition of Thomas Castles to the Gov of NSW That your petitioner arrived in the colony, Ship Baring @ in June 1819. That he was tried for picking pockets, and received a sentence of life.
On arrival he was assigned to Charles Wilson 5 June 1825 after which he was assigned to J Blackmore for 5 years. who being transported was assigned to Samuel North Esq. J.P. Supt of Police at Windsor, and remained in his service until 14th June 1832, when he had a T/L and acted for some time as over sear, and is now in the service of Mr Richard Rouse of Rouse Hill, he is married, and has 2 children dependent on his exertions for support.
That you beg to state that he should have applied for a T/L according to the regulations after he had served the stipulated period of 8 years in the colony, but being in the comfortable situation at the time, did not feel the necessity for making the application. he has never been charged with the least impropriety, and has regularly attended "Musters".
Pleased to give him a Conditional Pardon
August - 1837- Rouse Hill - signed - Will Everay
References 1/ from Rouse
2/ from Police 3/ from Henry tiles (only a couple of lines)
Mr Rouse stated he had known him for 12 years, he is now in my employ, he is sober, industrious and a hard working man.
1074.
Thomas Castle was indicated for stealing on the 7th of July one pocket book, the goods of Mr John Austin, clerk, from his person.
second count assuming it to be the property of a certain person unknown.
Mr John Gough. I am a merchant and live in Bloomsbury square. On the 7th July, about half past eleven o'clock in the morning I was on Ludgate-hill, and saw the prisoner, in company with two other men, following the Rev. John Austin, who is curate of Chevelin, near Tunbridge - the prisoner was about a hundred yards behind him, the others were on each side: the prisoner came up, put his hand into Mr Austin's pocket, and pulled out a pocket book, I laid hold of him, and took the pocket book from him. The other two went away. I never lost sight of the prisoner. the Constable took him.
Joseph Snow. I am a constable. I took the prisoner in charge and saw Mr Gough take the pocket book out of his hand.
Prisoner I beg for mercy
Guilty Aged 23 years
Transported for life
London Jury, before Mr Common Sergeant.
1488.
Thomas Castle and Thomas Lovell were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 15th March, two hundred scarlet beans, value is the goods of a certain man, whose name to the jurors is unknown.
Benjamin Johnson on the 15th March, I was in the strand, I saw the prisoners follow a gentleman. Castle tucked up his sleeve, and took some thing out of the gentleman's pocket, a small parcel, he gave it to Lovell, Lovell put it underneath his jacket; I immediately ran after Lovell and took him, Edmonds took Castle.
Thomas Edmunds- I was with Johnson, I saw Castle tuck up his sleeve and put his hand into an elderly gentleman's pocket, and take a parcel out, I pursued Castle, and took him.
Lowell's de fence. This young man I never saw before in my life.
Castles de fence- The same.
Castle Guilty Aged 19
Lovell Guilty aged 17
Confined six months and whipped in jail.
First Middlesex Jury, before Mr Recorder.
351.
Thomas Cassell was indicted for stealing on the 24th December, one handkerchief, value 5/s the property of John Robinson from his person. The prosecutor not appearing, the prisoner was acquitted.
Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr Common Sergeant
Government and General Order
Secretary's Office 25th Nov. 1820
Civil Department
His Excellency the Governor, on the recommendation of Thomas Moore Esq. Magistrate at Liverpool, has been pleased to appoint Charles Windsor to be Constable of the District of Botany Bay, in the room of Mr William Ikin, promoted: and Anthony Saunders and Benjamin Herbert, to be Constables in the town of Liverpool, in the room of William Edwards and John Bradley, dismissed for misconduct.
His Excellency has also been pleased, on the recommendation of the Bench of Magistrates at Windsor, to make the following appointments at that place: William Fell and William Batten, to be Constables in the room of Jeremiah Butler and Thomas Castles, resigned
George Tigley to be constable, in room of James Jelly, dismissed for breaches of orders. Edward Leonard, to be constable, in room of John Lindsey, dismissed for neglect of Duty, Samuel McKeagh, to be constable, in room of Thomas Fletcher, dismissed for misconduct. and also allowed of the resignation of William Bladdy, a constable at Windsor.
By Command of his excellency
J.T.Campbell secretary.
Thomas Castle was born around 1794-1795 at Pendleton in England. In 1818 he was convicted of larceny, his occupation was listed as "Copper Plater and Illusion Printer" Thomas was transported for life, aboard the Baring, on which ship 5 Convicts lost their lives through scurvy. Five others were taken off at Hobart in a serious condition. On arriving in Sydney on June 26 1819, Thomas was soon after shipped to Parramatta and then taken to Windsor.
The 1828 census shows that Thomas was working for John Blackmore of Richmond. It was another 4 years before he received his Ticket of Leave, on June 14, 1832. By the time of the 1837 muster, Thomas was Master - Government Works, Windsor.
On April 6 1835, Thomas Married Elizabeth (Betsy) Fitch, daughter of George Fitch and Sarah (nee Still) of Stratford, Suffolk, England. On March 4 1834, Betsy and been convicted of house robbery, her second conviction, and was transported for 7 years. She arrived in Port Jackson on December 1, 1834 and was then 23 years old. Also on board was Betsy's cousin, Mary Ann Stiff, who was sent to Port Macquarie.
Betsy was listed as a Dairymaid. It is assumed she was assigned to Vinegar Hill (later Rouse Hill) area where she met Thomas. They were married in St Matthews Church of Freedom on September 1842.
Thomas died at Baulkham Hills on July 25 1864 and Betsy on March 30 1866.
They are both buried at Parramatta
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