John Fitzgerald’s petition to the Governor
A letter written for John Fitzgerald to petition for pardon. It wasn’t successful – he only received a pardon much later, in 1848. The letter asks the Governer of NSW to take into account his “unfortunate Case of being Deaf and Dumb”, adding that he was “well able to support himself at his Trade as Shoemaker”.
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—TRANSCRIPT—
To His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane
K.C.B. Captain General and
Governor in Chief in and over His
Majesty’s Territory of New South
Wales and its dependencies.
The humble petition of John Fitzgerald Born Deaf and Dumb
Most Respectfully Sheweth
That your petitioner was tried at the Old Bailey London in September 1818 and arrived in this Colony per Ship Baring 2nd Lamb Master, in the year 1819 under Sentence of Transportation for Life.
That petitioner’s father was a private soldier who fell in Battle and that your petitioner was born Deaf and Dumb has been in the immediate employ of government ever since his arrival, in the Shoemakers’ Shop, and trusts his Conduct on Examination will be found such as to merit your Excellency’s Indulgence.
Petitioner therefore most humbly implores your Excellency to take into your humane Consideration his unfortunate Case of being Deaf and Dumb together with his long servitude and deign to grant him a Ticket of Leave as he is well able to support himself at his Trade as Shoemaker.
And for such a Mark of your Excellency’s favor Petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray etc
John Fitzgerald
Sydney
New S. Wales
10th October 1822
