in September 1841 "and had Sentence of Transportation passed upon him for the same". The Pardon is countersigned by Edward Deas THOMSON. Lees, one of 11 children, had been born at Sydney in December 1815; he died at Walgett in August 1876. Following the granting of his Free Pardon he married Clara MORRIS (in May 1851) at Balladoran, near Dubbo. They had 10 children. $2,000–2,500 356 JAMES KING STOLE MY PANTS: Arriving in Van Diemen’s Land aboard "Layton" in 1839 following his conviction for stealing a table and being sentenced to 7 years Transportation, James King does not seem to have been able to stay out of trouble: 3 mss pages dated 9 May 1844 in which the sworn statements of Constable Joseph Brown and one Daniel O’Neil are recorded. They recount the details of King’s unlawful removal of a pair of trousers and a moleskin jacket from the clothes line belonging to Mr George Hawkings, for whom O’Neil worked. $200–300 ❖ 357 STEALING FROMYOUR "MATES" AT PORT ARTHUR in 1844: John Patching, a prisoner at Port Arthur in 1844 is accused by three of his co-convicts of stealing money and a leather money bag from one of them, Joseph Gardiner.Ten mss pages recounting the sworn statements of Patching and the three accusers: Gardiner, John Stockie(?) and WilliamTaylor. A fascinating insight into life and struggles within the confines of Port Arthur. John Patching arrived aboard "Gilmore" in March 1832; transported for 14 years following his conviction at Middlesex. He continued to have problems, in 1832 refusing to work unless he was issued with more clothing; in 1836 solitary confinement for uniform issues; in 1838 charged with stealing clothing and shortly afterwards being sentenced to 3 years hard labour in chains.The present event took place shortly after his release from that period in chains. Joseph Gardiner had arrived in January 1838 aboard "Royal Sovereign"; transported for Life at the Central Criminal Court. Following a later altercation with a fellow prisoner he was found guilty of murder (at Port Arthur); brought to trial in June 1845 and sentenced to death. $400–600 358 A FREE PARDON FOR WILLIAM LACKEY: November 1844 Free Pardon on vellum, issued in favour of William Lackey, an Irish convict who had arrived at Sydney Cove aboard "Sir Godfrey Webster" in 1826, aged 22. He had been sentenced to Transportation for Life at Roscommon in 1825. He had been found guilty of manslaughter. The Freemans Journal, of 15 March 1825 & 12 July 1825 reported "Thomas Goold, a watchman of Athlone along with four other watchmen, Robert Browne (the commander of the party), Patrick O’Neill, William Lackey and William Galvin were involved in an riot/fight between the Country People and Towns People which resulted in the death, by stabbing, of one of the townspeople, a man whose surname was Conner. O’Neill was found guilty of murder (death sentence later commuted) the others were found guilty of manslaughter at the Roscommon Assizes on 17 Mar 1825 and transported for Life. Lackey was later tried in the Supreme Court, Sydney and convicted of stealing (October 11th 1844); followed soon after, on November 12th 1844 by the present Free Pardon signed by the Governor George Gipps and counter-signed by E. Deas Thomson. With the original seal of the Colony still attached. $1,000–1,250 359 A TICKET-OF-LEAVE FOR MYLES KEENAN: December 1844 ticket-of-leave issued to Miles [Myles] Keenan, permitting him to travel from Fingal Police Station to Campbell Town Police Station, a distance of approximately 60kms. Keenan’s physical description is noted on the reverse, as are his age, his trade ("labourer") and the ship he arrived in. Keenan had arrived in Van Diemen’s Land aboard "Coromandel" in October 1838; having been convicted of stealing at Lancaster and sentenced to be transported for 10 years. At that time he was described as a gardener. Despite several episodes of misconduct and various punishments, he was granted his Certificate of Freedom in April 1848, having avoided "extra time" for his misdemeanours. $500–750 358 359 357 53