|
|
Facts and Events
Reuben Dean was born on 16th September 1814 and baptised two months later at Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire, son of a straw plaiter called Elizabeth Dean, formerly Hobbs, and her husband James Dean, a labourer.
In May 1836 Reuben was convicted of poaching and trespass. The conviction does not appear to have deterred him, and he was convicted of the same offences again in February 1837, and again in June 1837.
In October 1837 a woman called Ann Rogers had a baby called Sally at Great Gaddesden, and Reuben was named as the girl's father. Sadly baby Sally died early in 1838, and it is not clear what became of Ann Rogers afterwards.
Reuben's father died in 1840.
In May 1842, Reuben was again convicted of poaching and trespass.
On 29th September 1845, aged 31, Reuben married Mary Ann Hobbs at Great Gaddesden. They had a daughter called Eliza the following year, but she died as a baby. In 1847 they had a son called Thomas.
In November 1848 Reuben was arrested for stealing 120 yards of straw plait from a Thomas Tyler. He was tried at the Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions in January 1849, where he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to seven years' transportation. He was initially held at Bedford Jail, where his records describe him as being 5 feet 4½ inches tall, with red hair and grey eyes, a fresh complexion, and stout. In August 1849 he was transferred to Millbank Prison in Westminster to await transportation.
On 14th March 1851 Reuben was put on the ship "Pyrenees" with 294 other convicts. They sailed for 106 days around the world, reaching Western Australia on 28th June 1851.
Back in England, Reuben's wife Mary set up home with a man called James Moss, having children with him from 1851 onwards and eventually marrying him in 1860, presumably relying on the convention that after seven years with no contact she could consider herself a widow.
Reuben appears to have served out his sentence in Western Australia. Once he had served his sentence he became a farmer at Dardanup, near Bunbury. He appears to have died there in 1864, aged 49. Back in England, his mother survived him.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baptisms register, in Church of England. Great Gaddesden Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
| BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Great Gaddesden in the County of Hertford in the Year 1814 | | No. | When Baptized | Child's Christian Name | Parent's Name | Abode | Quality, Trade, or Profession | By whom the Ceremony was performed | | Christian | Surname | | 69 | November 6th | Reuben son of | James and Elisabeth | Deane
born Sept[embe]r 16th | G[reat] Gaddesden | Laborer | J.B. Bingham |
- Crime & Punishment (1746-2015), in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire Names Online.
Reuben Dean / 17 May 1836 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Poaching / Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions / conviction / QSCB/1 (Page 88)
Reuben Dean / 17 May 1836 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Trespass / Hertfordshire Petty Sessions / summary conviction / HSC/1836/274
Reuben Dean / 21 Feb 1837 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Poaching / Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions / conviction / QSCB/1 (Page 106)
Reuben Dean / 21 Feb 1837 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Trespass / Hertfordshire Petty Sessions / summary conviction / HSC/1837/126
Reuben Dean / 23 Jun 1837 / Hemel Hempstead / defendant / Poaching / Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions / conviction / QSCB/1 (Page 109)
Reuben Dean / 23 Jun 1837 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Trespass / Hertfordshire Petty Sessions / summary conviction / HSC/1837/219
Reuben Dean / 25 May 1842 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Poaching / Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions / conviction / QSCB/1 (Page 184)
Reuben Dean / 25 May 1842 / Great Gaddesden / defendant / Trespass / Hertfordshire summary convictions / summary conviction / HSC/1842/75
- Bucks Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
Page 3, 6 Jan 1849.
BEDFORDSHIRE GENERAL QUARTER SESSIONS...
THE TRIAL OF PRISONERS...
STEALING PLAIT. Reuben Dean, of Humbershoe, charged with stealing six score yards of straw plait, the property of Thomas Tyler. Pleaded guilty. Transported for 7 years.
- Bedfordshire Record Office. Bedfordshire Gaol Register. (Bedford).
Name: Reuben Dean
Committal Year: 1848
Age: 36 [1811/12]
Height: 5 feet 4½ inches
Hair: Red
Eyes: Grey
Complexion: Fresh
Identifying features: Stout, 2 scars on the forefinger of the left hand on the right
Education: Neither
Offence: Examination Stealing Straw plait
Committed by: Rev. Miles Bland DD and Rev. W. McDonall
Comments on Committal: Received 6th Nov. fully committed 13th Nov. 1848
Trial session: Epiphany 1849
Sentence: 7 Years Transportation
How disposed: Removed to Millbank 8 Aug 1849
- Convict Records, accessed 29 Mar 2020.
Name: Reuben Dean
Bedfordshire Bedford Quarter Sessions
Sentence: 7 years
Ship
Pyrenees
Departure date: 14 Mar 1851
Arrival date: 28 Jun 1851
Place of arrival: Western Australia
Passenger manifest: Travelled with 294 other convicts
- Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930 (State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth)
128/40 - 43.
Personal and other Description of Men belonging to the Convict Department, Western Australia, per Ship "Pyrenees."
No. 643 / Ruben Dean / 38 / 5'4" / Sandy / Light blue / Round / Fresh / Stout / None [distinguishing features] / Labourer / married / 1 child
- ↑ Deaths index, in Western Australia. Civil Registration.
d. Reuben DEAN, 1864, Registration Number 2547
- West Australia Times (Perth, Western Australia)
Page 2, 25 Aug 1864.
ALL Parties indebted to the estate of the late Reuben Dean, of Didnup, farmer, deceased are requested to make payment of said debts on or before the 10th day of September next; and all claimants under this estate to make such claims on or before the above date.
JOSEPH WITHERS,
JOHN SAMPSON,
Administrators for the Estate.
Bunbury, August 25, 1864.
|
|
