Below is finally the session paper for Robert Vicars I promised some time ago.

Many people in England were "Banished" to the new world for a variety of reasons. Robert Vicars, 19yrs old, was one of those individuals.

Robert Vicars & Family were residence of Botetourt, Fincastle, Washington, & Russell Counties, but always lived in the same "general' area of SW Virginia from 1771 on.

Robert Vicars (1747-1821)

occupation: farmer

prob. born in England on 8 Nov. 1747

prob. came to Norfolk, VA, from England in Sept. 1767; ship, Justitia appearance on the Clinch:

Robert was listed as a tithable when the first head count was taken on the Clinch, 2 Oct. 1771. (this list of tithables is located in the Clerk's office of Botetourt Co., Fincastle, VA. He prob. arrived on the Clinch in the last half of 1770 or first half of 1771.

the Session Papers- the first part is an e-mail summary of the session papers from Guildhall who did the research. The second part is the actually session papers transcribed.

Enjoy...Dawna J. Vicars

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Subj: RE: Robert Vicars/Vickars September Felon 1767 Ship Justitia

Date: 2/16/00 5:57:52 AM Pacific Standard Time

From: Search.Guildhall@corpoflondon.gov.uk (Guildhall, Search)

e-mail: search.guildhall@corpoflondon.gov.uk website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/search_guildhall

Robert Vicars

The case was heard at Sessions at the Old Bailey in June 1767 and there is a summary in the printed sessions papers... The offence was stealing solder from his employer, John Salter, a plumber at

Bush Lane in the City, but there are no other family details. I checked the indexes of apprenticeship indentures covering 1767, but these only cover formal indentures, and Vicars did not appear. The Corporation of London holds the sessions archives, which include some additional unpublished material. The sessions file for June 1767 contained the summons to John Salter and his two witnesses, a piece of common form and noteworthy only in that Vicars is wrongly called John Vicars. The file also contains the jury's presentment; this again is in common form, and therefore describes Vicars as a labourer and says that the offence was committed 'with force and arms', but these are purely set phrases. The only real information is that the theft occurred in the parish of All Hallows the Great, and that the solder was worth 13s. Among the general papers in the file, the Poultry Compter calendar records that Vicars was ommitted to Newgate on 4 May 'on a violent suspicion' of stealing the solder, and the Newgate committal is repeated in the 'perfect calendar' made by amalgamating the district ones.

... I am not sure if there are other classes of transportation record at the Public Record Office which might be of use. If you have not already seen it, Peter Wilson Coldham, Bonded Passengers to America, vol 1, Genalogical Publishing Company, Baltimore 1983, has a useful general introduction on transportation.

Pamela Taylor

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*******Here's a transcript of the actual case page provided by Guildhall, Search **********

(heard at Sessions at the Old Bailey in June 1767 Summary pg 184 #287)

"287 (L) Robert Vicars was indicted for stealing forty pounds weight of solder, value 13 s the property of John Salter, May 2.

John Salter: I am a plumber and live in Bushlane; the prisoner came to live with me the 25th of April last, and continued in my employee till the 2d of May; that afternoon a neighbour came, and desired I would go to the Bell Alehouse; I went; there was bag produced, in which was three old cocks and a piece of solder, with the company's mark of the goodness of the solder & the initials letters of my name upon it; I desired the people to let the bag be there, with the things in it till evening; after I pain my men their wages, I should find which of them came to take it away; that had described the person that left it there, which I took to be the prisoner. I went home, and after some time I was sent for again, and told they had stopped the prisoner with the bag; I opened the bag and found in the whole four pieces of solder, which, before broken, was one compleat piece of solder, about forty pounds weight of it. I asked the prisoner how he use me so; he begged I would forgive him and was very sorry for what he had done and said if I would let him go he would be very honest for the future. I took him before my Lord-Mayor ou the Monday, he had been doing business at my Lord's house; he was asked, how he came by the solder and concealed it among some rubbish but did intend to carry it home again to my house.

John Paterson: I live at the Bell, in Bushlane; the prisoner came on the 2d of May and asked leave to leave an empty bag about noon; he came some time after, and put something in it, which proved to be solder; he came a second time, towards evening, and put something more in it; then Mr. Salter was acquainted with it; he came and saw it and asked me to let it abide there; after which the prisoner came for it and was stopped with it; my house is about 250-300 yards from the prosecutor’s.

Joseph Pulley: I was at Mr. Paterson's on the 2d of May; Mr. Paterson took into his yard, and told me the prison had left a bag, which he suspected had something in it that was not honestly come by; I went and fetched Mr. Salter; there were some old brass cocks and some solder in it. Mr. Salter desired it might be there till his men had done work, and were paid, to fee who came for it; the prisoner came there again and put something into it and went & drank some beer & after that took the bag & was going away. I stopped him & seen what was in it, then Mr. Salter was sent for again; there was 40 lbs. weight solder & 3 old brass cocks.

Prisoner's Defence. I was at work at my Lord-Mayors; I carried this solder there to make a joint; coming home on Sat. night, my master paid me y wages; I thought to bring the solder home' I was going to take it to his house & they sent for my master.

Prosecutor: The prisoner was NOT at my Lord-Mayor's that day.

He called Thomas Weft, Abraham Withers, Mary Gamson & Martha Charles, who gave him a good Character.

GUILTY-T" (T=Transported)

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Robert was most likely sent to America from England in "Bondage",( source:Coldman, Peter Wilson, "Bonded Passengers to America 1655-1775", Vol 2, New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1976, p 153)

The Robert Vicars on this passenger list is the only Robert Vicars to enter the country via passengers list during the same time the Robert Vicars shows up on official record for Virginia.

The book - "Bonded Passengers to America" by Peter Wilson Coldham, Vol. 3, pg. 153, lists:

"Vickars, Robert 5 June T Sept 1767, Justicia".

In the book - S was "Sentenced to transportation at Sessions of Goal Delivery on or immediately before the date shown. T was transported, followed by date of embarcation and ships name. The destination will usually be found by reference to the appendix.

Ship's name: Justitia Captain: Colin Somervell

Sailing date: Sept. 1767 T 53 Reference: 50/93

T1 Reference: 456

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