Letter from convict Thomas Baker addressed to Lord Sydney, Secretary of State

MLMSS 12205

fonds

9 May 1787

9682613

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript

Thomas Baker was found guilty on 10 January 1786 at the Exeter Quarter Sessions in Devon, England, of a felony. Sentenced to 7 years transportation he was initially sent to the Dunkirk prison hulk at Plymouth. On 11 March 1787 he was moved to the convict transport Charlotte. He arrived in Sydney, New South Wales in January 1788 aboard the Charlotte as part of the First Fleet. Thomas died from scurvy within a few months of arriving in Sydney. He was buried at an unknown location in Sydney Cove on 13 September 1788.

References:
Library acquisition file
'Baker, Thomas (c. 1763–1788)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/baker-thomas-30048/text37285 (Accessed 12 September 2024)

Lord Sydney was an English politician who, as the British Home Secretary, was responsible for the plan to establish a penal settlement at Botany Bay. He appointed Arthur Phillip, who named Sydney Cove in his honour on 26 January 1788.

Douglas Stewart purchased the letter from Peter Arnold, sold as part of the Korju collection of Australiana, in 2023

Manuscript letter in ink on laid paper, one page quarto folded, with attached address panel and red wax seal. Dated at 'Newgate, 9th May 1787' and signed Thomas Baker, with address to Right Honble. Lord Sydney, Secretary of State.

The letter refers to an earlier letter dated 2nd of May seeking a response regarding a petition that had been presented to Lord Sydney's office by Thomas Baker's wife for mitigation of Baker's sentence. The petition was signed by “a great number of very respectable persons such as the Minister, Church Wardens, Common Council Men and other very respectable persons”. The petition was unsuccessful, Baker sailed on the First Fleet convict transport Charlotte on 11 March 1787. He died 8 months later in the colony. His crime, the cause of his death, and his place of burial are unknown.

Transcription:
‘My Lord,
On the 2d. of this Month a Petition was presented to your Lordship subscribed by a great number of very respectable persons such as the Minister, Church Wardens, Common Council Men and other very respectable persons praying a mitigation of my sentence, which was delivered into your Lordship’s Office by my Wife who brings you this and I hope your Lordship will consider it, but am much afraid that we shall soon go off and shall be very happy if your Lordship will condescend to give her an answer.
I am, My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient and obliged humble servant
Thos. Baker.‘

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Written in an unknown hand for Thomas Baker, probably prepared on behalf of him by the local clergy or similar.