James Larra

To fully understand this page please first read about the involvement of John Harris in the story.

Throughout this research primary sources have been used to supplement and confirm an image of James Larra (or Lara) that is not drastically in conflict with the ADB entry prepared by G.F.J.Bergman. Nor does it conflict with the account of Larra’s colonial experiences contained in Australian Genesis by the same author. However, the outcome of the present exercise suggests there is much more to James Larra than that contained in the history Bergman assembled. In particular, the story of his conviction at the Old Bailey in London is accompanied by a whiff of conspiracy, and the possibility he was “set-up” as a payback for an unfortunate business transaction cannot be dismissed. Nor, incredible though it may sound, can the possibly that he actively pursued – after a drinking bout – transportation to New South Wales.

James Larra’s (or Lara’s) Australian story commences in 1787 London, when he was convicted of theft at the Old Bailey and wound up on a convict transport to New South Wales.

According to the account of his trial¹ in England, Larra was a ship broker, but an advertisement in the Times newspaper, dating from 8th February 1786 may suggest that he was also involved in arranging very large financial transactions…

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Larra-in-Times-Newspaper4-Archive.jpg

The advertisement reproduced above ² is not positively linked to James Larra. However, the location of this Mr. Lara’s house was approximately 19 minutes walk from the equestrian statue of King Charles the First at Charing Cross. Samuel Jones’ Northumberland Coffee House where Larra stole a silver tankard was in the vicinity of that Charing Cross statue. (Note also that Lara and Larra are alternate spellings of the same name.)

The record of Larra’s trial reveals he paid part of another customer’s wine bill in the coffee house. A little later that other customer suggested to the waiter that Larra might be planning to steal something from a sideboard. Larra, after hovering about the sideboard, placed a silver tankard in his pocket and left with the tankard very obviously bulging in his pocket – stepped into a passageway that was the exit to the street – and ran.

At his trial, reported as that of James Law, for theft, one of his witnesses stated that he was a ship-broker ³ – a profession likely to earn him a few enemies… Larra was found guilty of stealing the ￡5/0/0 tankard and sentenced to death. This verdict as a matter of course led to an appeal for mercy to the King , but the documentation associated with Larra’s appeal disappeared for almost two years. However, Larra eventually got his reprieve from the gallows and was shipped off to New South Wales with the infamous “second fleet” as a convict-for-life.

Eight months before Larra’s fumbled episode at the Northumberland Coffee House, a young woman named Mary Green, who may have been related or at least known to Larra, was sentenced to seven years transportation for a relatively minor theft. Within one month of her conviction she was en-route to New South Wales on the “first fleet” – leaving England on 17th May 1787.⁴.

Although derived purely from an impression gained from several years of research rather than any semblance of evidence, it is possible to put forward a modification to the theory about Larra’s felony, which might be considered an additional factor in the chain of events that led to his name becoming attached to a land district in the Colony of New South Wales. The modification involves the conviction of Mary Green – later the mother of John, Elizabeth and Hannah Green/Harris. [To understand this statement and the paragraphs which follow it is almost essential to refer to the page about John Harris – as already suggested.]

Larra would have known that the crime he committed in the aftermath of a drinking bout would lead to a sentence of death and that the outcome would be, after the usual appeal for mercy, his being transported to New South Wales for life. So – was his drinking bout brought on by concern about Mary Green’s transportation as well as a complication in his personal situation? If John Harris was not related to him, then was Mary Green – mother of John Elizabeth and Hannah – his sister? It is very unlikely that we will ever know, but a married Mary Green is easier to explain than a James Larra who is the brother of a John Harris… We are, however, way ahead in the tale…

Nothing has been found to suggest the ship-broker had children of his own either in New South Wales or elsewhere, but in 1801 he became involved in the welfare of Mary Green’s girls – Elizabeth and Hannah. They were left behind with Larra when John Harris, having run foul of Governor Philip Gidley King, set out to return to England accompanied by his son, John Green and also, possibly, Mary Green, who, as already stated ⁵, was now a free woman. If, as said by others, Mary did return to England in 1801 when her term of transportation expired , the two girls being left behind would certainly have needed support. They were then only 7 and 5 years old respectively. However, as sometimes happens, there is a further twist – Mary Green (as Maria or Marion Green) turns up living with William Pantony in 1819 ⁶

Larra’s involvement in caring for the girls was at least in part an outcome of Governor Philip Gidley King’s instructions that no parent was to leave the Colony without having made arrangements for the welfare of partners or children left behind. However, if Larra had not stepped, in the girls would have had very limited opportunities in the cesspit that was the penal colony at Port Jackson. What is interesting is that Larra went quite a few steps further than might have been expected.

Because he cared, one of the two very young girls he took in accumulated quite considerable wealth. ⁶ discussed in more detail in the following page The other ran away with a ships’ captain at the age of 21 or 22 years, was dumped ashore by him in Trincolmarlee (Ceylon – now Sri Lanka), found her way to Calcutta where the sea captain took her back, and wound up living in quite comfortable circumstances with him in Tasmania for the rest of her days. However, it would seem a concerted effort has been made over the last 220 years to obliterate James Larra’s legacy.

Larra may not have been Australia’s greatest philanthropist but he was certainly one of the first to become involved in the welfare of children who had been, or were about to be, abandoned in the Colony. What is truly interesting is the lengths to which he went to ensure the two girls mentioned had a future beyond a life of servitude. There is a strong probability that he also became the mentor of at least one native-born boy who showed a little determination to better his situation, but how many others received his help is unclear. In view of this glimpse into the character of the man, it gives me considerable satisfaction to suggest that The Parish of Larras Lake is his enduring memorial. The challenge has been, and continues to be, to produce an adequate justification for this conclusion. The balance of this series of Parish of Larras Lake web pages attempts to achieve that object.

To recap, Larra arrived in the Colony of New South Wales as a convict on the Scarborough in June 1790 ⁷ having been sentenced to death following conviction for theft of a tankard said to be valued at £5.0.0. ⁸ The story behind his conviction is important, but the disappearance of his appeal for mercy (a petition to the Monarch for the commutation of his sentence to transportation for life) is even more so. There is possibly more to this story than is found in the records, but given the circumstances of his crime, it is just possible that Larra’s actions on 12th December 1787 following a couple of hours in a ‘coffee house’ were, in a muddled sort of way, intended to ensure his transportation to New South Wales – especially as Larra stated it was the first time he had been in that particular house. Perhaps his drinking companion was an extremely displeased client who suggested he “do the deed” or suffer a more immediate consequence?

It has been suggested – in an item submitted to the Australian Dictionary of Biography – the ‘ADB’ – that shortly after his arrival in New South Wales Larra replaced John Harris (discussed in a previous page) as a member of the Night Watch, created by Governor Arthur Philip in mid-August 1789. This rapid advancement to a relatively trusted role is only mentioned in one place, the pedigree of which may not be as pure as previously thought. However, it does seem Larra was favorably regarded by the Colonial administration and that he became a principal of the Port Jackson Night Watch around 1791. On 30th September 1794 this convict-for-Life was granted a Conditional Pardon [ a conditional pardon gave Larra his freedom from penal servitude but only on condition that he remained within the colony ] having served only seven year of his life sentence… Note, however, at this time no set formula of rewards for service in the Sydney Night Watch had been put forward.

Four years after receiving the Conditional Pardon Larra was the licensee of a public house – the Masons’ Arms at Parramatta – later to become the Freemasons’ Arms. The license for this establishment, one of Australia’s first, was granted on 19^th September 1798 and continued to be held by Larra until 1821. No detail as to the fate of his Freemason’s Arms at this time. ⁹ has been sought, but on 14th June 1821 his residence and an adjoining property, together with some of their contents were auctioned. ¹⁰

On 19 September 1799, a year after Larra received his license to sell spirituous liquors, he had been a surety for one of several new applicants for licenses. The significance of this mention is that the person being licensed was John Harris, suggesting a reasonably close relationship existed between the two at that time.

It was originally thought the relationship between Harris and Larra dated from 1791 when Larra is said (in the ADB) to have replaced Harris as principle of the Sydney night watch. However, it now seems likely that it commenced in January or February 1794 when Harris returned from Norfolk Island, more or less at the same time as Mary Green, whose term of transportation for seven years was then expired.

The reasons for rejecting the suggestion that Larra replaced Harris are simple – Harris was one of the convicts sent to Norfolk Island, where Philip Gidley King was in charge. The records of that settlement show Harris arrived there on 29th January 1790 ¹¹. Accordingly, Harris was not even in Sydney town when the ADB entry states Larra replaced him as a principal of the night watch. Nor was Larra… He arrived in June 1790 as a convict on board the Second Fleet transport Scarborough, five months after Harris removed to Norfolk Island.

However, the proposal of a date for Larra becoming involved with the Sydney Night Watch (without any input from Harris) sometime in 1790 after Harris had left for Norfolk Island, is not unreasonable when considered in the context of Larra’s Absolute Pardon ten years later.

In 1801, the year after he was granted an Absolute Pardon, Larra became further involved in ‘keeping the peace’ as a member of the Loyal Parramatta Association – a militia formed in anticipation of an uprising by Irish rebels many of whom are said to have been transported to the colony without trial. The records suggest Larra was promoted to Sergeant-Major of the Association in 1804. In 1801 he had also become involved in the welfare of ‘orphaned’ children. Although some of these children were indeed orphans – children whose parents were deceased – many were the outcome of relationships between convict women and fathers who were either time-expired convicts, Marines who arrived with the First Fleet, or members of the New South Wales Corps (infamously referred to as the Rum Corps). When their fathers left the colony upon the expiry of their sentence or, in the case of the Marines and Corps, at the end of their term of service, the children were abandoned, as were their convict mothers. Even though one or both of their parents were convicts, the children were ‘free’ and Larra became involved in finding homes or overnight shelter for at least some of them. However, for the present, the focus is upon Elizabeth and Hannah Green – the two young girls taken in by Larra and his wife when their father ¹² was about to abandon them in 1801.

And to, once again, recap… James Larra , the Convict-for-Life received a Conditional Pardon on 30th September 1794 and an Absolute Pardon on 4th June 1800. ¹³ On 1st May 1797 he had received a land grant of 50 acres at the Field of Mars ¹⁴ and on 19th September 1798 became one of the first ‘Licensed victuallers’ in the Colony, having established an Inn called the Masons’ Arms on his 50 acres.. This Inn was at Parramatta. However, for Larra, as a Convict for Life, to receive an absolute pardon raises a few other questions, as does, perhaps, his receipt of substantial land grants. But, even so, he does appear to have aligned himself with the Colonial administration at a time when doing so would have alienated him from a considerable proportion of his fellow convicts. At the same time his relationship with members of the Rum Corps was probably pragmatic, so long as the demands upon his loyalty did not clash with his allegiance to the principles of ‘law and order’.

At this point the first indication appears that Larra really did earn a little special consideration and that he had indeed been involved with the Night Watch – at some time… This elusive piece of information was located by G.F.J. Bergman while looking at the records of Larra’s 1810 (600 acre) land grant, where a copy of his final (Absolute) pardon from 1801 is to be found¹⁵. Bergman provided an end-note that advised the document is to be found in the Registrar-General’s Department Register of Land Grants. Series IIIc, Folio 12. ¹⁶.

The 1801 document states that the absolute pardon, granted that year by Governor John Hunter, was given “taking into consideration the unremitted good conduct of James Larra, which induced Lieut. Gov. Grose to grant him a conditional emancipation in 1794, & the faithful discharge of his duty as a Principal of the Night Watch, together with a recommendation from Lt.Col.Paterson, Major Foveaux, Wm.Balmain, Esq., the Magistrates in General and several others the Principal Officers of the Colony”. Nothing has been found, apart from the one ADB entry, that suggests Larra actually replaced Harris as a member of the watch. Nor is there any indication as to when and for how long he was involved with the watch, but shortly after he arrived as Governor, Hunter held out to members of the Port Jackson night watch similar enticements to those earlier held out by King at Norfolk Island, mentioned in regard to John Harris.

On the basis of Hunter’s regulation, as a convict-for-life Larra would have been, at most, entitled to a Conditional Pardon after ten years service in the night watch. It has to be assumed that, to merit the special consideration of an Absolute pardon after that ten years service, he did perform particularly meritorious services for the Administration in the period to 1801.

To continue, James Larra enrolled as sergeant in the Loyal Parramatta Association in 1801, and in 1804 was promoted sergeant-major of that Association. Earlier biographies suggest that in 1803 he received a second land grant, this time of 1000 acres (405 ha) in the Bankstown district. However, the only record of a next grant is of one 100 acres by Governor Philip Gidley King 1804. This was to be near Bankstown, and to be held in trust for his nieces, Elizabeth and Hannah Harris – the two young girls he and his wife had taken in, as mentioned above. James Larra was ensuring his nieces had assets that would increase their opportunities as they became older.

Five years later, on July 13th 1809, the 100 acre grant at Bankstown was replaced by one of 300 acres at Cabramatta, nearer to his 50 acre Grant and the Freemasons’ Arms. However, this substitute grant was made by Lieut. Governor William Paterson during a period when the governorship of the colony was illegitimate. ¹⁷.

In a discussion of this period in the Historical Records of Australia Paterson is described as weak and vacillating, the tool of any strong man, who conferred favours on almost anyone who asked for them, granted pardons with apparently no reasons. His replacement, Governor Lachlan Macquarie stated, ” he was such an easy, good natured, thoughtless man, that he literally granted Lands to almost every person who asked them, without regard to their merits or pretensions.” ¹⁸

News of the mutiny had reached England when Bligh was allowed to return to that place. Shortly after, arrangements were made to resolve the situation in the Colony.

Lachlan Macquarie arrived on 28th December 1809, bringing with him instructions to revoke all the administrative actions of Johnston and Foveaux. He extended those instructions to include actions by Paterson, on the basis that their omission was attributable to ignorance of the fact that Paterson had assumed the government. A summary of the situation that existed at this time can be found in the preface to The Historical Records of Australia (op. cit.) but, in essence, “when Lieutenant-Colonel Lachlan Macquarie arrived in the Colony of New South Wales on 28th December1809, with the 73rd, a regiment of professional soldiers, at his side, it was the first time that the governor-in-chief held in his own hands the executive command of the colony and the military command of the troops. Until then the Governor was always at a disadvantage in that he had no direct command of the group who wielded direct power in many areas of the administration.”

Macquarie had been instructed to enforce the recall the Rum Corps to England, which he did. However, he had little ability to act against former members of the Corps. These fine upstanding citizens, amongst their other entrepreneurial activities, controlled the importation and distribution of alcoholic and other substances, and had been directly involved in the mutiny against Bligh. They also continued to occupy, officially or unofficially, key positions of influence. Macquarie’s enforced tolerance of the situation may have been the driver for his willingness to engage with ex-convicts – on the basis that they were no worse than many of the people entrenched in positions of power. ¹⁹

Apart from reinforcing existing prohibitions, one of Macquarie’s first executive acts ²⁰ was to issue an edict that all land grants made by Johnston, Foveaux and Lieutenant-Governor Paterson (who was still the commanding officer of the Rum Corps) during their illegal administration were cancelled. After individual review, grants made on an impartial basis for a legitimate purpose were replaced by new grants over the same ground. Larra’s 300 acre grant ‘to be held in trust for his nieces’ was replaced by a new grant over the same ground on 1st January 1810. Paterson had also issued a grant of 600 acres on the Upper Nepean River at Richmond to Larra. This too was cancelled, and reissued as a new grant over the same ground by Macquarie. The full story of this complex tale will unfold in the next few segments, but, interestingly, Larra is also recorded as intending to call the 300-acre grant held in trust for his nieces ‘Harris Farm’ – a name that is currently used in New South Wales by a retailer of farm produce.

James Larra was quite clearly becoming more successful than most of the convicts who had arrived on the Second Fleet but, twenty years after first being involved as a member of the Port Jackson Night Watch and ten years after joining the Parramatta Loyal Association, Larra’s situation became far more complex when his enemies commenced a concerted campaign to destroy his reputation. Unfortunately, Larra had left them ammunition…

“On Wednesday last, at Parramatta, Mrs. LARRA, Wife of Mr. LARRA, after a long and painful illness, which she endured with exemplary fortitude and resignation. This worthy woman had been many years an inhabitant of the place in which she breathed her last; and was universally esteemed throughout all classes of Society. To an afflicted Husband and her two amiable Nieces the loss must be undoubtedly severe; though the testimony of respect paid to her remains evidenced in the attendance of a vast concourse of persons at her funeral, which took place this evening will be highly gratifying to those relatives; as notwithstanding the very heavy rains that still continue, great numbers have gone from Sydney and the other Settlements. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 15 June 1811.

By 1st August 1811 rumours were circulating that Larra had caused his wife’s death by ‘improper sexual practices’. At his trial on 5th September 1811, Larra was acquitted when William Redfern, Edward Luttule, and Henry John Young, all of whom were assistant surgeons to the Colony, and who had performed a post-mortem upon Suzanna Larra before the rumours began to circulate, categorically refuted the charge, stating that she had died of dropsy, and that the rumoured practices were unlikely to have had any impact upon Mrs. Larra’s demise. However, during this episode, Larra did confirm the sexual practices mentioned, and, according to Bergman, his reputation suffered to the extent that he was removed from office as auctioneer at Parramatta.This episode in particular demonstrates the relationship between Larra and some members of the community after his many years as member of the Night Watch and then of the Parramatta Loyal Association. He was acquitted because the post-mortem confirmed beyond doubt the cause of Suzanna’s death was dropsy and the majority of the tales put forward during the trial were hearsay, the key witness appearing to have been primed with the evidence put forward.

Less than twelve months later, the elder of Larra’s nieces, Elizabeth Harris married a recent arrival in the Colony from India. He was Walter Lang. Some biographical tales of this relationship suggest Elizabeth had two children of him – one of whom was named John George Lang. Although there are two entries in the NSW Registrar-Generals records for this birth, there is no entry for another child. Accordingly it is almost certain Elizabeth Lang had only one child to Walter Lang, but that the birth is recorded twice in the (church) records. Further information, this time from Australian Royalty (an online genealogy resource) indicates Elizabeth Harris and Walter Lang had married on June 17th 1812 when both were 23 years of age, and that John and Hannah Harris (Elisabeth’s brother and sister) signed the marriage register as witnesses. The information regarding John Harris’ signature on the marriage register is an enigma, as John Harris (John Green, brother to Elizabeth and Hannah) is said to have left the colony with his father on 5th January 1801. ²¹ The same source indicates Walter Lang had arrived from Calcutta on 6th May 1812 – just six weeks earlier… However, this is not the only discrepancy in the account – Elizabeth Harris was aged 7 years when James Larra accepted responsibility for her in 1801. If so, by 1812 when she is recorded as marrying Walter Lang, her age would have been 19 or 20 years.

“MARRIED-On Wednesday last, by the Reverend Mr. MARSDEN, at St. John’s Church, Parramatta, WALTER LANG, Esq. recently from India, to Miss ELIZABETH HARRIS, Niece of Mr. JAMES LARRA, of George-street, Parramatta. “ The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 20 June 1812.

Walter Lang died four years later…

The year after Elizabeth was married to Walter Lang, James Larra re-married. His new wife was Phoebe Waldron, widow of the licensee of the Duke of York Hotel, in Sydney Town. [NSW BDM records 85/1813.and Gazette, 25 September 1813.]

Shortly after his marriage to Phoebe, Larra was making substantial changes to his arrangements…

To Be LET, and immediate Possession obtained, That valuable Dwelling House and Premises, situate in Prince Street, Known by the Sign of the Duke of York, and lately in the Occupation of Mrs. Waldron, now Mrs. Larra. — To any Person that may wish to carry on a public Business, the Situation is truly desirable, it being long established in the retail Line, and having at present the advantage of a License. — For Further Particulars apply to Mr. JAMES LARRA, Parramatta; or at the GAZETTE OFFICE, [Sydney, Gazette, 25 September 1813.]

About this time, Larra also sold some of his cattle, the catalyst for which may have been his becoming involved financially with Samuel Terry, notorious for unscrupulous dealings. A year later he advertised his house at Parramatta as being available for rent together with that previously occupied by Phoebe adjacent to the hotel in Prince Street, Sydney. In the aftermath of the situation created by the death of his first wife, Larra’s appointment as Auctioneer at Parramatta had been cancelled, but two years later he was still in a position to supply beef to the Government commissary…

“TO be Let, or Sold by Private Contract, all those valuable, extensive, and commodious Premises, the Residence and Property of Mr. James Larra, situate in George-street, Parramatta; consisting of a capacious Dwelling House, the House adjoining, a large Kitchen, Laundry, Servants’ Rooms, Bakehouse, Stabling for nine Horses, Stock-yard, and a Garden furnished with choice Fruit Trees, Grape Vines of the best Quality, and plentifully stored with Vegetables.

Also, a Dwelling House and Garden, situate in Prince street, Sydney. Likewise, about 20 Head of Horned Cattle, four excellent Mares, a Horse, sundry valuable Farms, and a Quantity of Household Furniture and Effects, of a superior Kind and in excellent Condition.-For Particulars enquire of Mr. I. Nichols, Sydney; or on the Premises, Parramatta.” [Gazette, 1 October 1814.]

“Messrs. Richard Rouse and Francis Oakes are appointed joint Auctioneers in the Town of Parramatta, from the present Date, in Room of Mr. James Larra, removed from that Office. Messrs. Rouse and Oakes will take out the usual License required to enable them to act as joint Auctioneers at Parramatta.” [Gazette, 1 October 1814.]

“DEPUTY COMMISSARY GENERAL’S OFFICE,
Sydney, 27th July, 1816 A LIST of Persons who have tendered SUPPLIES of FRESH MEAT, for the Use of His Majesty’s Stores, and from whom the Quantities expressed against their respective Names will be received at the undermentioned Stations…
…At Sydney Oct 5^th Mr James Larra, 2500 (lbs.) Residence Parramatta.” “[Gazette, 27 July 1816.]

Bergman tells the balance of his story… mfn] Australian Genesis, p 50-51, J.S.Levy and G.F.J.Bergman, Robert Hale & Co, London, 1974 [/mfn]

“On 18 March 1817 he married for the third time. His bride was a convict, Mary Ann Clarke, an English actress, and her exigencies led to his final ruin. In May 1821 Larra sent his wife to England to collect funds, but in June Terry had him declared bankrupt. Larra’s wife returned in July 1822, but the pair soon separated because she not only used the money for herself but made debts in his name for which Larra was thrown in the debtors’ prison. Elizabeth Harris, whose second husband was Joseph Underwood, rescued him ²² and took him into her house. In 1828 he was still living with her at Ashfield but by 1837 he had moved to Parramatta. He died, aged 90, on 11 February 1839 and was buried in the Jewish section of the Devonshire Street cemetery in Sydney, unnoticed in the press.

“James Larra was certainly the most prominent Jew in the earliest years of the colony, and one of the most colourful personalities and successful emancipists of his time. His downfall was not entirely undeserved, but he merited the epithet bestowed by Joseph Holt ”James Larra, an honest Jew’.“

There is almost certainly much much more to the story of James Larra. The above summary represents independent research, but for a second view of his life a very good source is Levi and Bergman’s Australian Genesis op.cit.

GOTO The Links between John Harris and James Larra >

1
James Law (Larra, Lara)

Transcript of proceedings – Old Bailey Online – Session 17871212 p12-p14.

(Although the transcript reported the name as “Law” the sentence – transportation for life – was imposed on James Lara. This was established by reference to the sequence of the trials and sentences, to the sequence of sentences as listed in the summary of sentences for the session.)

6. JAMES LAW was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 11^th day of October last, one silver tankard, value 5l, the property of Samuel Jones, in his dwelling house.

SAMUEL JONES, sworn,

I keep the Northumberland Coffee house, Charing Cross; about six o’clock in the afternoon I heard a gentleman speak to the waiter, and caution him about somebody in the coffee-room ; and as the prisoner was going out, he tripped in the passage, and spoke to the waiter ; the waiter said he observed the prisoner’s pocket look very big, and he went after him ; I know the prisoner went out of the house , and some words passed between me and the waiter ; I desired him to pursue him, and he did, and returned in two minutes ; the tankard is my property, and the prisoner is the person that the waiter pursued ; he was in the coffee-room on the 11^th October, at about six in the evening.

Mr.Knowlys, Prisoner’s Councel. How far from your dwelling house is this coffee-house? – It is under the same room with my dwelling-house.

Who is concerning with you in carrying on your business? – Nobody but my wife.

Has none of your head-waiters an interest with you in the business? – None at all ; no partners whatever.

JOHN CARNS, sworn,

I am waiter at the Northumberland Coffee-house ; the prisoner came in about four into the coffee-room ; I did not observe him do anything ; he staid till very near six ; I observed him go out of the coffee-room ; a gentleman called me out of the coffee-room, and apprized me if there was any plate on the side-board to remove it, in consequence of that I had my eye on the prisoner, after this till he was going out ; the gentleman said, do you know waiter, the Irish gentleman that paid for part of my wine in the coffee-room? I said no ; he said nor I ; he went out ; I looked after him ; I thought he had something in his pocket ; and at the same time he ran, before he got ten yards from the coffee-room ; there is a long passage ; I took him directly ; he was not out of my sight till I took him ; he ran as hard as he could ; and I followed as hard as I could ; he went a little way into the street , about thirty yards, and he dropped his hat ; he took no notice, that made me pursue him with more vigor.

Did he stop to take up his hat? – No ; I was coming rather close to him; I cried murder and stop thief, thinking that would ring in the ears of the people ; just as he got to the middle of Charing Cross, near the statue, he put his right hand in his pocket, and made a rattling, and flung the tankard down in the street ; I saw him do it ; I ran and took up the tankard , and still pursued him with the same cry as before ; just as he got very near Spring-garden Coffee-house, a man came out and opened his arms, and took him ; his name is Anderson.

Are you sure that he is the person that was in the coffee-room at that time? – Yes.

Are you sure that he is the person that threw down the tankard by the statue at Charling Cross? – Yes.

JOSEPH ANDERSON, sworn,

I live with my brother, who keeps a shop in the neighbourhood ; I saw the prisoner on the 11^th of October , about six in the evening ; there was a hue and cry of stop thief ; I came out and saw the prisoner running without his hat , and a man was crying stop thief ; I seized him directly ; I am sure the prisoner is the same person ; I saw the last witness Carns, running after the prisoner at the time I took him, with the tankard in his hand.

(The tankard produced and deposed to, marked A.Y. 25. 18.)

Carns. This is the tankard ; I have cleaned it many times.

Prosecutor. It is my property ; it was the property of Aaron Young, who died, and left it to his wife, and she was my wife’s aunt, and left it to me, and some more property ; I believe the figures 25, 18, mean the ounces ; but I know the tankard perfectly well.

     Mr. Knowlys. How long Mr. Young had this tankard you do not know? – No, Sir, his widow kept the coffee-house.

    It came to your wife as a legacy? – Yes.

    You cannot tell what it cost a first? – No.

    Is it an old tankard? – So it shews on its face.

   What is the lowest value you would set upon that? Consider it is a capital charge. – The Gentlemen of the Jury can judge better.

   But we are to hear your evidence? – The value I put upon it was five pounds ; there is but one value for old silver, that will sell for nothing else.

   I should be glad to know what you value it at; as it affects his life? I should be glad to recommend him to every lenity from the Jury ; I suppose it cannot be worth less than three or two pounds.

   Perhaps to be sure of the thing, rather than rest upon supposition only, you might think it less than two pounds? – You may call it if you please one pound.

We must have some value from you, the law required it? – Then value it at twenty shillings ; and I recommend also to the Jury to show every lenity.

Court. Old silver receives a certain value at goldsmith’s shops ; I suppose they would give you five shillings an ounce, or five shillings and fourpence? – I believe they would thereabouts.

You have not weighted it? – No.

Then the Jury will form their judgement how many ounces it weighs.

PRISONER’s DEFENCE

My Lord, to deny the fact would be very horrid ; at the same time I leave myself entirely to your mercy ; at the time the act was committed, which my witness will prove, I was very much intoxicated, or else no man in the world could attempt to do a thing of the kind , to out a tankard in his pocket where there was forty or fifty people in the room ; as such I leave myself entirely to your mercy ; I never was guilty of such a crime before ; I never was at the house before in my life.

Court to Prosecutor. Did you observe that the prisoner was in liquor? – I did not perceive any signs of it indeed.

Jury to Carns, the waiter. Did you discover any marks of intoxication at the time? – No.

Prisoner. I have a witness in Court, who is the keeper of Tothill-fields, who can prove that I was so much intoxicated, that I even fell out of the coach as they carried me to prison, and that I did not know I was in prison till the next day.

Court. I do not think that will be of any use to you ; if you(?) was to prove that you was ever so much intoxicated ; because an honest man, if he was ever so drunk, would not steal.

Prisoner. Very just, my Lord.

The prisoner called three witnesses, who gave him a very good character; one of whom said he was a ship-broker.

WILLIAM BRIANT, sworn,

I am deputy keeper of Tothill-fields ; I received the prisoner into my custody about eleven o’clock at night.

Court. Was he sober? – He seemed to be intoxicated to me.

Guilty, Death.

He was humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury and Prosecutor.

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH.
2
which uses the long ‘S’ that looks like an ‘f’ just to confuse things
3
In the 19th century, it was the work of ship-brokers to procure goods on freight or a charter for ships outward bound. They also went through the formalities of entering and clearing vessels at the customs-house. They collected the freight on vessels brought into port and took an active hand in the management of all business matters between ship-owners and merchants, whether shippers or consignees, for which they were paid a fee. In major British ports, ship-brokers were also usually insurance-brokers Source: Wikipedia, extracted 25 May 2023
4
British Convict Transportation Registers – 1787-1867 SL QLD database; see also Wikipedia List of Convicts on the First Fleet.
5
see the page regarding John Harris
6
See the page entitled William Lee and “Larras Lake” [/mfdn]

Larra’s involvement in caring for the girls was at least in part an outcome of Governor Philip Gidley King’s instructions that no parent was to leave the Colony without having made arrangements for the welfare of partners or children left behind. However, if Larra had not stepped, in the girls would have had very limited opportunities in the cesspit that was the penal colony at Port Jackson. What is interesting is that Larra went quite a few steps further than might have been expected.

Because he cared, one of the two very young girls he took in accumulated quite considerable wealth. ⁶ discussed in more detail in the following page
7
Convict Records Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 54
8
He had appeared at the Old Bailey on 12 December 1787.
9
However, at around this date the premises do appear to have been sold, and eventually became known as the Woolpack Inn depicted in the header to this page
10
PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE Saturday, June 2, 1821. Terry v Larra.
BY Virtue of a Writ of Fieri Facias issued forth of the Supreme Court, and to me directed as Provost Marshal, I will Cause to be Put up and SOLD by PUBLIC AUCTION, on Thursday the 14th Instant, on the Premises in Parramatta, at the Hour of Eleven in the Forenoon, one Brick House, the Residence of the Defendant ; one Weather-boarded Ditto, one Brick Kitchen one Stable, and several other small out-houses, all situated in George street, with an Allotment of Land, attached to said Buildings. Also, one Chaise; with all the Furniture and different Utensils, belonging to the said Defendant ; unless the Execution thereon be previously superseded.
11
This date is that recorded in the Norfolk Island victualling book
12
and also, perhaps, their mother, Mary Green
13
NSW State Archives, [4/4430; Reel 774 Page 004] | Record Type: Conditional Pardon | Date: 30 Sep 1794
14
NSW State Archives, NRS 13836 [7/445], Register 1, Page 91; Reel 2560
15
Actually this is a typewritten transcript – perhaps created along with numerous other records relating to land grants when the originals were damaged – quite possibly an outcome of the ‘Garden Palace fire’ which damaged or destroyed a very large number of government records in 1879
16
Australian Genesis, p 44, J.S.Levy and G.F.J.Bergman, Robert Hale & Co, London,1974
17
The grant was made by Lieut. Governor Paterson, commander of the Rum Corps, but the Corps had seized control of the colony in a mutiny on 26th January 1808. Accordingly Paterson’s administration was illegitimate and the actions of that administration had no validity. ¹⁷The mutiny had been against the appointed Governor – William Bligh – and his demand that the Corps observe strict military discipline, abstain from commercial activities and in particular, relinquish their absolute monopoly upon the importation, distribution and, through people like Harris and Larra, the sale – or barter for foodstuffs – of various alcoholic substances, but mostly – rum… (Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1825. Citation: [9/2731], pp.139, 179)
18
In the twelve months of his administration, Paterson issued four hundred and three grants, of a total area of 67,475 acres 3 roods 193/2 perches, which was more than Governor King, the most prodigal of his predecessors, had granted in nearly six years of government. He also took the extraordinary action of issuing ten grants, of a total area of 1,970 acres, on the 29th and 30th of December, both days subsequent to the arrival of Governor Macquarie in the harbour of Port Jackson. The Historical Records of Australia (op. cit.)
19
Paraphrased from the Historical Records of Australia Volume IX
20
See Historical Records of Australia Volume IX for a detailed discussion of Macquarie’s governorship
21
G.F.J.Bergman, op.cit. p37 and https://uudb.org/articles/thomasfyshepalmer.html
22
Some aspects of the ADB entry for Joseph Underwood may need verification, but the underlying question as to Larra’s fate is not part of this possible weakness