Henry Rumbold & the Stolen Tea Kettle
A humble kettle, a heavy price.
🍵 The Crime
On 2 October 1822, Henry Rumbold was indicted for stealing from William Lawrence:
- One copper tea kettle, value 8 shillings.
- One pewter pint pot, value 1 shilling.
(Old Bailey record, ref. t18221023-234)
Such goods were basic to daily life but costly for a working family. A kettle was not just a household item, but the heart of the hearth.
🏛️ The Trial
At his trial on 23 October 1822, the evidence was plain: the kettle and pot were traced to Rumbold’s possession. His defence carried little weight.
The indictment was read:
“Henry Rumbold, you stand indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 2nd of October, one copper tea kettle and one pewter pint pot…”
The jury needed little convincing.
⚖️ Verdict & Sentence
- Verdict: Guilty.
- Sentence: Transported for seven years.
For a kettle and a pot valued at just nine shillings, Rumbold was condemned to leave England, most likely bound for Australia.
(Old Bailey Proceedings, Punishment Summary, Oct 1822)
🧠 Why It Matters
- Harsh proportionality: Minor thefts often carried exile.
- Daily goods, severe loss: A kettle symbolised warmth and daily routine; its theft was both practical and emotional.
- The transportation machine: By the 1820s, transportation was the standard punishment for property crimes — the colonies were built on such sentences.
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