Thanks for posting this Dennis - anyone else fascinated by the variance in sentences for what appear to be similar offences??? Regards, Patsy - New Zealand Website: http://www.loanegenealogy.webs.com Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 4:00 AM Subject: Re: Cork Assizes September 1822 The Constitution or Cork Morning Post, 4 September 1822 -- CORK (POSTPONED) ASSIZES. [continued] COUNTY. <snip> John Hayes, stealing a shirt, one month's imprisonment. <snip>. John Brien, stealing a shirt, to be transported for seven years. Mary Herlihy, stealing shirts, one month's imprisonment. Mary Fitton, stealing wearing apparel, six months imprisonment. Catherine Sweeny, stealing wearing apparel, do. John Savage, stealing wearing apparel, seven years transportation. <snip>

Patsy I believe there was a time where the occupation of the prisoner was the main consideration, being matched to the "needs" of the colony...e.g. did they need your occupation as a priority? I read somewhere that the magistrates/judges were given lists of the occupations in demand in the colonies. No doubt the prisoner's past history also determined the sentence. Margaret