Person Page - 3908

Appointment With The Hangman
Thomas Sackett's Narrow Escape
Thomas Baker Sackett, son of Thomas Sackett and Rachel Baker, was born in Essex, England^G, about 1796.¹ He died aged 41 in New South Wales, Australia^G, in 1837.^2,3 He married at Rivenhall, Essex^G, on 16 March 1819, Ann Sutton, daughter of a substantial farmer.⁴ Ann was born about 1796.⁵ She died aged 26 and was buried at St Mary's Church, Whitechapel, Middlesex^G, on 14 November 1822.⁶
     Upon leaving school Thomas became an apprentice butcher in London's East End. At age 21, having inherited £3,000 from his grandfather, he took a farm near Billericay but, despite investing half his fortune in improvements, the venture failed. In 1822 he returned to his former trade, setting up shop as a butcher in London's Whitechapel district, but he shortly suffered a further blow with the death of his wife in November of that year. The butchery business was also to fail and much of the remainder of his inheritance was spent before Thomas gave up the shop in January 1827, working then on a casual basis for other butchers.
     Whether Thomas's fall was through his own incompetence or genuine bad luck we cannot know. Evidence was given of his honesty, industriousness, and sobriety. But it was said, too, that it was his wife who had held him in check and that, following her death, "he vainly sought for consolation in the wild and wicked haunts of desperate characters."
     The offence of which Thomas was found guilty was that he, with others, had robbed a bank clerk of bills of exchange worth some £1,200. The clerk, who had been walking in the street towards Bell Alley in the City of London, was hustled violently by the robbers but was not harmed physically. Thomas was the only man caught, perhaps because he stood out from the crowd as "a very tall, powerful, man, wearing unusually large boots and a yellow handkerchief." When searched he was found to have about £3 in silver but none of the missing property. Thomas's protestation that he was an innocent passer-by was to no avail. It was reported, when sentence of death was passed, that Thomas heard it "with the most perfect indifference"—it must surely also be possible that he was totally stunned by an outcome he had not expected.
     The respite of Thomas's death sentence to transportation followed petitions to the King from a number of tradesmen of London and Essex, including Thomas's butcher master, from his member of parliament, from the mayor, four magistrates, and two aldermen of Colchester, from the victim himself, and from Thomas's two brothers-in-law. At first, the King's Council, meeting on 16 November, denied the petition with the ominous words, "let the law take its course", but after further representations, a respite was granted on the afternoon of 21 November, just hours before the hanging was due to take place at 8 o'clock the following morning.
     Thomas was transferred to a prison hulk in Portsmouth harbour and, in March 1828, sailed on the convict ship Phoenix, arriving at Port Jackson (now Sydney), New South Wales, in July. Upon arrival, he would have been put in irons and set to work on some public project before being assigned as a labourer to a free settler. He absconded in 1832 but was caught and most likely flogged and put to work in a chain gang. Some years later he was granted a ticket-of-leave but he was not to enjoy his freedom for long. Having survived the harsh conditions for nine years he died aged 41 in 1837.^{7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16}

Catherine Owen, daughter of Henry Owen and Catharine Ann Sackett, was born in New York State^G about 1846.^1,2
     In 1850 Catherine was living in New York City^G in the household of her parents Henry and Catherine, and was recorded in the census as Catherine Owen, aged four and born in New York.³
     In 1860 she was living in New York City^G in the household of her parents Henry and Catherine, and was recorded as Kate Owen, aged 14.⁴

Rebecca Owen, daughter of Henry Owen and Catharine Ann Sackett, was born in New York State^G about 1856.^1,2
     In 1860 Rebecca was living in New York City^G in the household of her parents Henry and Catherine, and was recorded in the census as Rebecca Owen, aged four and born in New York.³

Catherine McDonald Bates, daughter of James McDonald Bates and Maria Holly Sackett, was born in New York State^G on 24 September 1843.^1,2 She died aged 61 in July 1905.¹
     In 1850 Catherine was living in Bedford, Westchester County, New York State^G, in the household of her parents James and Maria, and was recorded in the census as Catherine Bates, aged six and born in New York.³
     In 1860 she was living in Bedford^G in the household of her parents James and Maria, and was recorded as Cathn Bates, aged 17.⁴
     In 1870 she was living in Bedford^G in the household of her parents James and Maria, and was recorded as Carrie Bates, aged 24.⁵
     In 1880 she was living in Bedford^G in the household of her mother Maria, and was recorded as Catharine McD Bates, aged 36.⁶

William Henry Bates, son of James McDonald Bates and Maria Holly Sackett, was born in New York State^G on 3 October 1847.^1,2
     In 1850 William was living in Bedford, Westchester County, New York State^G, in the household of his parents James and Maria, and was recorded in the census as William H Bates, aged two and born in New York.³
     In 1860 he was living in Bedford^G in the household of his parents James and Maria, and was recorded as Wm H Bates, aged 13.⁴
     In 1880 he was living in Bedford^G in the household of his mother Maria, and was recorded as William H Bates, aged 32.⁵

James McDonald Bates, son of James McDonald Bates and Maria Holly Sackett, was born in New York State^G on 15 May 1850.^1,2
     In 1850 James was living in Bedford, Westchester County, New York State^G, in the household of his parents James and Maria, and was recorded in the census as James Bates, aged one month and born in New York.³
     In 1860 he was living in Bedford^G in the household of his parents James and Maria, and was recorded as James M Bates Jr, aged ten.⁴
     In 1880 he was living in Bedford^G in the household of his mother Maria, and was recorded as James McD Bates, an insurance broker, aged 30.⁵

Augusta Rebecca Bates, daughter of James McDonald Bates and Maria Holly Sackett, was born in New York State^G on 12 January 1854.^1,2 She married on 23 September 1880, James S Day, son of Thomas Day and Margaret Batersby.¹
     In 1860 Augusta was living in Bedford, Westchester County, New York State^G, in the household of her parents James and Maria, and was recorded in the census as Augusta Bates, aged seven and born in New York.³
     In 1870 she was living in Bedford^G in the household of her parents James and Maria, and was recorded as Gussie Bates, aged 16.⁴
     In 1880 she was living in Bedford^G in the household of her mother Maria, and was recorded as Augusta Rebecca Bates, aged 26.⁵