Susannah Holmes and Henry Kable

Norwich Castle Prison in the year 1786, and 22 year old Susannah Holmes, daughter of Joshua Holmes and Eunice Brook had been imprisoned for three years awaiting sentencing for breaking into the house of Jabez Taylor and stealing a pair of linen sheets, valued at 10 shillings, one linen gown, valued at 5 shillings, one linen shaft, valued at 2 shillings, four yards of Irish linen cloth, valued at 6 shillings, three linen handkerchiefs, valued at 3 shillings, one silk handkerchief, valued at 2 shillings, three muslin neck cloths, valued at 18 pence, two black silk cloaks, valued at 10 shillings, two silver tablespoons, valued at 12 shillings, and two silver teaspoons, valued at 2 shillings.

The father of Susannah’s baby was fellow convict 23 year old Henry Kable who had been convicted also on house breaking at Thetford on 1 February 1783. Henry’s father, Henry Senior along with Abraham Carmen was convicted of stealing goods to the value of 450 shillings from a country house in Norfolk, owned by Mrs. Abigail Hambling. They were sentenced to death, and the standard letter written by the Judge Baron Eyre was to seek the King’s mercy for Henry Junior and fourteen others. Henry Senior and Abraham did not make the list on the letter and they were hanged outside the prison on Saturday 5 April 1783.