Lately this new information has come my way. You are going to be highly thrilled to at last read the correspondence regarding appeals for Henry and Susannah and baby Henry to go together for sailing.

In 1786 there were a great number of people both in Norfolk and in London aware of the couple's plight. People in high places were a mystery to us for many years. However, now we have the names and positions of some of these elusive men and women who had great interest and concern  for the case.

According to the documents the situation was known far and wide across the land even appearing in a Scottish newspaper as well as many papers all over England. This was the news of the day and it spread quickly. 

The letters of which I have a copy of the handwritten originals at this time to pass on to you ,will clear up a number of unanswered questions. Comments as feedback are welcome. In order of time.

                                                                                                                                                                                   Beeston.  October 29,1786.

My Lord                    ( Sir Harbord Harbord , Lord Suffield of "Gunton Hall" , his Manor in Nth West Norfolk.)

          I am sorry to trouble Your Lordship so often, but the subject of this letter is of very different nature to the last, it is to request your Lordship's interest with Lord Sydney on behalf of two lovers in Norwich Castle not that their sentence be mitigated but that they may both transported to Botany Bay, Susanna Holmes sentenced to be transported fourteen years embarks tomorrow, or rather is to be conveyed from Norwich to the place of embarkation, but having become a mother since her residence in the Castle by one Henry Cable  under a like sentence for seven years his attachment is so strong that rather than be separated from her and his child he is desirous of being transported to the same place.

Mr. Willins, the Chaplin, mentioned this matter to me and Mr. Rigby ( this was Dr. Edward Rigby of which there will be more detail later in another update) confirmed the truth of it and seemed to be persuaded this attachment was a likely means rendering them useful members of Society if their prayer was granted of being allowed to go together. 

Mr.Fellowes and Mr. Dillingham to whom this matter was communicated at a meeting for County Business yesterday, desired I would use their name in requesting Your Lordship to acquaint the Secretary of State with this business, it is probable that an order following of application would be in time for Henry Cable to join the party before the ship sails. 

           I must not conceal from Your Lordship that Mr. Rigby understands that the compliment  of these transports being compliant, only three females have been ordered from Norwich, but this is so singular a case that as I presume an application under circumstances so authenticated is to be readily attended to.

         I have the honour to be with the united company of Mrs. Preston and myself to your Lordship Lady Suffield and Miss Harbord. 

                                                                                                            My Lord,

                                                                                                            Your Lordship's most obedient

                                                                                                            and humble servant,

                                                                                                            Jacob Preston.

         Jacob Preston was a Norfolk Squire who was residing in Norwich at the time of this letter. His residence "Beeston" had been demolished and new home was being built in that year. 

Two days later another letter accompanied the first, being from Lord Suffield was sent to Evan Nepean the Under Secretary to continue the appeal.

My Lord,   (Evan Nepean)

              The circumstances mentioned in the enclosed letter has been the subject of conversation with many of the Justices of the County. It is so well known fact, tho' they have now only put me upon troubling Your Lordship with the application, I hope you will be kind enough to pardon me for presuming to intrude upon you with this business, as I confess that it is not in any power to help feeling interested that these two poor creatures should be permitted to go together, I have understood tho' it is possible. I may be mistaken, that these wretches never were considerate in any or for misdemeanour, but that of child making,  I should hope there might be less objection should the number of males intended to go be compliant or so limited that another cannot be sent, will it be impracticable to change one man for another? I could wish a vacancy from a Pardon or any fortunate circumstances to any one of the convicts, except to my old acquaintance Semple. 

              I hope Mr. Townshend  was well when you heard from him; permit me to add that Lady Suffield and my best respects attend upon Lord Sydney, your worship and family.

              I have the honor of being with the highest esteem and regard,

                                                     your Lordship's most obliged most faithful

                                                          most humble servant

                                                             Suffield. 

It appears that these two letters fell on deaf ears and maybe Lord Sydney was not notified explaining  his surprise when John Simpson appeared at his offices with his appeal for the couple and babe. 

So far the names picked up in the correspondence ---

Sir Harbord Harbord, seen in English Peerage being Lord Suffield. 

Jacob Preston --Norfolk Squire, Dr. Edward Rigby --- medical doctor residing in Norwich  and also man of letters writing various books on Gaenocology and Obstetrics.

Reverend Willans of Norwich, 

Brampton Gurdon  Dillingam of Letton Hall, 

Robert Fellowes of Shottesham Hall to name a few. 

Then there were the people we already knew about. Lord Sydney Thomas Townshend, Richard Johnson, Captain Arthur Phillip and Mrs. Jackson.

So  Henry and Susannah had caused a national incident with their case. So much was written in the papers and such talk in high places all across the British Isles which also appear to be in the House of Commons, made them the "sample couple" when the ship sailed. Men of letters felt very strongly about them and we have probably been believing to this time that nobody much really cared about convicts in Britain.  While the majority of English people were glad to se the hulks cleared highly intelligent people of note took a more humane approach. This is the example that there was a lot of sympathy for those "poor wretches. "So from high society to humble turnkey everything relied on their actions at that time. 

 Mrs. Jackson of Portman Square, London, a "well to do" address set up a collection for the couple and the parcel of goods was the result. She also asked Reverend Richard Johnson to keep an eye out for their welfare. Some months after arrival he ventured to report progress of the couple.

Here is that letter;

                                                                                                    Port Jackson in the County of Cumberland,

                                                                                                        New South Wales

                                                                                                              July 12th, 1788

Hon. Sir,

Though I have nothing particular to mention to you, I cannot think of letting the fleet return to England without dropping you a single line to inform you of my health and welfare. 

It would be unnecessary for me, Sir, to give you an account of the various circumstances or incidents respecting the fleet, during our late passage from England to this distant part of the globe: as no doubt you will receive ample information respecting these matters, together with a description of this country, as to climate, natives, etc etc, from his Excellency Arthur Phillip Esq., our governor, and others.

Everything here is as yet ( as you may easily suppose) very unsettled, but in time our situation will be rendered more comfortable, and even now, all things considered, thank God! I have no reason to complain. 

You may remember Sir a circumstance which greatly interested the public a little before our leaving England. This was respecting the Norwich gaoler and two convicts, Cabel and Holmes, which with a child, were removed from the Norwich gaol to Plymouth, in order to be embarked on board one of the transports then bound for New South Wales. These two persons I married soon after our arrival here. Some persons made charitable contributions for these two persons--- collected the sum of $20and laid this out on various articles, at the same time requesting that I would see these delivered to them on our arrival here.  Unfortunately these have not been found. This circumstance as been brought before the Civil Court here, when a verdict was found in their favour against the Captain of the Alexander,( Duncan Sinclair --see Cable v Sinclair on the net) ----am sorry this charitable intention and action had been brought to this disagreeable issue , the more so because the public seemed to be so interested in their welfare. the child is still living , of a weakly constitution, but a fine boy. 

Hope, Sir, you will excuse my freedom in directing these few lines to you. my chief intention, as I have already mentioned, being to inform you of my health and welfare and that I may have the honour of once more subscribing myself, 

                                                                                   Your most Obedient and Humble Servant,

                                                                                            ( Rev. ) Richard Johnson.

Following that letter in July 1788, the letter of Henry himself is a point of interest. How many convicts have been recorded sending letters back to England so early? If you know of any others please inform us. 

Te letter appeared in the London Chronicle on July, 23rd, 1789. However it was written by Henry? or on behalf of Henry to his mother. 

This is an extract only--- for publication. 

"I cannot say much about this country as yet,  I mean what it will produce, there being only a few gardens in any prosperous condition: corn and other seeds seem to have little prospect of this place being fertile or in any degree able to support the few inhabitants on it: this country is the most barren that I have heard of, producing nothing but  a leaf called sweet tea, a sort of cabbage which grows on trees, and a sweet red berry; as for any other sort of fruit, it is scarce as on the barren hills of Wales. 

There is an animal called a cancaro (kangaroo) likewise an opossum and a flying squirrel, which together with species of rats called cancaro rats, because of their likeness to that animal, are all in this country is stocked with: paroquets are very plenty; some few pigeons, and a few parrots; plenty of different sorts of fish. Our governor has drafted  a great many of our people and made two other settlements, one called New Norfolk the other Orange Bay; the former is in a fine flourishing condition, about seven days hence, the latter but just inhabited about twelve or fourteen miles. 

We have an extreme good and healthy climate very heavy rains, and prodigious heavy claps of thunder; here the sun goes to the left from the eastwards, our summer is very hot; our winter , which commences in May, is no altogether very cold , but very sharp. 

We have a little garden, which supplies us with cabbage and turnips in plenty; very easily situated, never work one day since I have been here; some officers are so pleased with my conduct that they continue me in the office of the overseer of the women, there being several overseers of the men. Our little boy Harry is a promising little fellow, and goes to school. The girl that was with us, Elizabeth Pulley is married and as a fine little boy. It is day here when it is night with you. "

                                                                                                                                                             Henry Kable

Also other news has come my way. The name of "The Ramping Horse"Henry's first tavern in George St. does have a link to a Norwich tavern Henry would have known. 

See the following links to go to the pages explaining this---

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/Features/DerekJames/StreetNames/extra/060206Rampant.aspx

http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/mosaicsorguk/norwich/horse.shtml

Also a descendant of one of Henry's siblings has made contact with probably some interesting outcomes for future news. ! Return at intervals to see new material. 

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