Thomas Lynams

Easter Session 1777
Thomas (born 1721), a mason, the father of Joseph Lynam (born 1753) of High Hedge, shoemaker. Joseph to answer a charge of the parish of Ripley, Belper of begetting a child of Hannah Anthony of Ripley single woman not yet delivered.
Order Thomas and Joseph Lynam to stand surety.
Thomas Lynam 20 shilling; Joseph Lynam 40 shillings
To be levied against their goods and chattels

Bastardy Bond Easter Sessions 1786
Thomas Lynam (born 1721) the father of William Lynam (born 1751) of Heage, Framework Knitter. William to answer a charge of the parish of Crich, begetting a child of Elizabeth Fletcher single woman not yet delivered.
Order William and Thomas Lynam to stand surety.
Thomas Lynam 20 shillings; William Lynam 40 shillings
to be levied against their goods and chattels

Epiphany Sessions 1794
Thomas Lynam of Heage, farmer, was convicted of unloading his cart of coals or slack within a mile of the Toll Bar Gate at Bullbridge erected upon the Turnpike Road leading from Cromford Bridge to Langley Mills on the first of October last with an intent to reload the same on a further day and to carry such coal or slack a greater distance upon the said turnpike in order to avoid negating the toll for such coal or slack.

Francis Lynam 1745–1828

In July 1823 Francis was the victim of a robbery at his house –

Derby Mercury: 16 July 1823
Committed to the county gaol, ...– Also to the said gaol, William Yates and Samuel Brewell, charged with feloniously entering the dwelling house of Francis Lynam, at Danes Moor, and stealing one pot cream jug and twelve shillings and six pence in silver.

This robbery was further described in a later issue of the Derby Mercury. What was interesting is that it stated Francis was deaf and lived alone. It was also quite amazing is that the main robber (his young accomplice had turned King’s evidence to protect himself) was very nearly sentenced to be hung for robbery – instead he was deported.

Derby Mercury: 23 July 1823
William Yates and Samuel Brewell, for feloniously entering the dwelling-house of Francis Lynam, at Davis Moor, and stealing thereabout one pot cream jug and twelve shillings and six pence in silver. – The prosecutor, who is deaf, lived alone; the prisoners came to sweep his chimney; he took a cream jug in which was money out of a cupboard and paid them; afterwards returned the jug to the cupboard. He secured the door at night, and went to bed – in the morning he found it open, and the jug with its contents gone. – Samuel Brewell (King’s evidence) after sweeping the chimney went with his master to the Prosecutor’s house again, between eleven and twelve o’clock at night – got up on the shoulders of his master, who directed him to ascend the roof of the house and to proceed down the chimney and open the door; he did so, and Yates the prisoner went in and took the jug and money, after which they returned home. – This was corroborated by other evidence, and the jury returned an immediate verdict of Guilty. – His Lordship told the prisoner that the offence was of an aggravated nature, that instead of training the boy in honest and upright dealings, he must had been leading him to acts of robbery and depredation: he must not expect to remain in this country, but must take his final leave of it. The sentence of death was not passed but recorded.

In 1777 Francis’s youngest sister Dinah appears in the Bastardy Records for Pilsley.

Michaelmas Sessions 1777
The discharge of William Cupit of Pilsley, Miller, and John Cupit of South Wingfield, Cordwainer, and Francis Fox of Pilsley from a recognizance entered into by them for the said William Cupit appearance at this session to answer a charge by the inhabitants of Pilsley, of begetting a male bastard child on the body of Diana Lynam of Pilsley single woman.
To pay the overseer of the poor and church wardens the sum of 20 shillings for the laying in and 5 shillings for the midwife, and the sum of 1 shilling a week while ever the child is a charge on the parish of Pilsley.
Diana Lynam to also pay the sum of 6 pence weekly whilst ever she shall fail to nurse the child.
William Cupit 40 shillings
John Cupit 20 shillings
Francis Fox of Stoney Houghton 20 shillings

Samuel Lynam 1749–1815

Although he died a wealthy landowner, in his earlier days he had trouble with the law

1780 Quarter Session
Samuel Lynam of Duffield-Maltster conviction of Assault fined 1/-fine

1784 Petty Session
Samuel Lynam, of Heage Maltster for Poaching fine £5

Joseph Lynam 1784–1849

In 1830 Joseph was a witness in a court case involving a stolen shovel. The punishment for the offender was harsh!

Derby Mercury 20 Jan 1830
Joseph Stone, was charged with stealing from a clay pit in the township of Belper, one shovel, to the value of two shillings, the property of Joseph Bourne. – Joseph Lynam stated that in August last prisoner came into a butcher’s shop in Heage, where he (witness) was, and offered the shovel for sale. Witness said what do you ask for it, and prisoner replied 3s. Prisoner said he had given 4s 9d for it to the maker, a person of the name Fritchley. Witness ultimately bought it for two shillings and a pot of beer and some bread and cheese. The shovel was produced in court, and identified by a person of the name of Hand, as the property of his master, the prosecutor. – To be imprisoned twelve months, and kept to hard labour, the last week of imprisonment to be solitary confinement

Charles Lynam 1791–1859

Derby Mercury 28 October 1840
James Hall, aged 30, charged with stealing from and off the premises, on the 27th day of July last, at the parish of North Wingfield, one counterpane, two sacks, and some bed ticking, the property of Charles Lynam.
Charles Lynam, examined by Mr Clarke – deposed that he lives at Danesmoor on the night of Monday, 27 July last, he placed the missing property upon a haystack in his field, to keep the rain off his hay. He saw them at eleven o’clock at night. At a quarter after four o’clock on the following morning they were gone. He found some footmarks, and traced them up the field to some potatoes. He saw the constable, and they agreed to let it stand over a week until all should be still. On the Monday following they searched the house, and on looking at the prisoner’s boots, saw that they corresponded with the footsteps in the field. In a box they found the stolen property, but at the time prosecutor would not swear to the counterpane, which they left behind. The house was again searched and the counterpane was gone. (The articles were produced in court, and identified.)
Guilty – sentenced to three calendar months imprisonment and hard labour.

NOTE: At this time the police did not investigate and prosecute such crimes– it was up to the injured party to prosecute.

Derbyshire Courier 18 March 1848
A report stated that Charles Lynam had money stolen

William Lynam 1822–1861

In October 1840 William and Hannah Lynam's son, also called William, was sentenced (with Richard North) to six weeks hard labour for damaging an orchard, the property of William Woolley of Stretton on the 5th September.

William Lynam

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 15 May 1880
Singular charge of robbery at Belper.
At the Belper Petty Sessions on Thursday last, before Mr AB Heyward, the Hon F Strutt, and Sir JGN Alleyne, John Watson and John Ash of Belper, butchers, were charged with stealing £26 13s 9d the monies of William Lynam of Heage, innkeeper. Mr Jackson appeared for the complainant and Mr Hextalll defended.
William Lynam said that he had kept an inn in Heage, and was a butcher. Last Tuesday he went to Derby cattle market, and took with him £40 10s in gold having only one half sovereign. He received from one James Bowler £5 15s for a fat pig and 12s from Messrs Heathcote of Derby. He bought a fat cow and paid £20 7s 6d. He drove back from Derby accompanied by John Hunt and Henry Herrett. They went to the Railway Inn, in King Street. He had then the sum of £27 14s 6d in his pocket. They obtained some refreshments for which he paid. Old Mr Ash came into the room first and directly afterwards two defendants. Watson spoke first, and said that he would fight or play the witness cards for a sovereign. The defendant Ash put two sovereigns on the table. Witness also put one on the table, and afterwards gave it to Henry Herrett. The defendant Ash went into the back yard – before then they took their coats off. The witness then went to his horse in the street. They both went back into the room, where the defendant Ash put a sovereign down as near as he could remember. Ash accused him of taking one of the sovereigns. The witness said: “I’ve more than 20 in my pocket, you’d better take the lot if you take any.” The defendant then collared him and took hold of his tie, and putting down on the floor on his back. The defendant Watson put his hand around his neck, his knee on his chest and held him down. The defendant asked took the money out of his right hand trousers pocket. Watson drew a white bag from out of his pocket and put in some gold. The same evening old Mr Ash offered the witness 13s 9d, and said that was what his son taken out of his pocket.
Cross-examined by Mr Hextall: John Ash was in the house when they took the money. The witness sat next but one to Mrs Smith. He did not thread her needle. He was sober. Watson said he would toss him for a pack of cards and play him for £1. He was never in his shirtsleeves. He did not see Watson put £1 down. He did not dare or challenge Ash to take the money. The landlady sent for the police.
Emma Smith, the wife of a farmer, said she was dressmaking at the Railway Inn, Belper, in the parlour. William Lynam, John Hunt and another came into the room – Lynam was sober – and afterwards the two defendants. She saw Ash and Lynam put gold on the table. Ash said he would fight Lynam for £1 aside. Lynam declined. Ash took his coat off. She supplied Lynam with gin, he took a handful of silver and some sovereigns from out of his right hand trouser pocket. She heard Ash accuse Lynam of taking a sovereign of his. Lynam said “I have not got it. I have above twenty in my pocket, can’t thee take one out.” Ash downed him on the floor. Watson held him, the former put his hand into complainant’s pocket and twisted it inside out. A few moments elapsed between the time when the pocket was turned inside out and the money was put on the table. Old Mr Ash counted the money, and said he had 13s 9d. Before this Lynam said he had £27 in his pocket.
Cross-examined: they were all arguing in the house. Watson and Lynam wanted to play cards, they each put £1 on the table. Watson said if they could not play at cards for sovereign they will fight for one. The tap was stopped at the table cleared.
John Hunt, Butcher, Belper spoke to being the Railway Inn on the day in question, and that the complainant told him the presence of the defendant that he had lost £27 13s 9d.
Henry Herrett, butcher, he, said he saw Lynam and one of the defendants but a sovereign each down on the table to fight for. Witness took up one and would not allow it. He left the room and on his return Lynam was there. They were down on the floor. The defendant Ash took money out of his pocket and laid it on the table. He did not see any go on the floor. After the squabble was over Lynam said they taken all his money. Witness was quite sure that all the money Ash took out of the pocket was put on the table.
The bench at this stage of the proceedings decided to dismiss the case.
Considerable interest was taken in the proceedings, as both the defendants are respectably connected.

Thomas Lynam 1800–?

Thomas seemed to have had a life of crime which resulted in him being transported for life in 1829.

Quarter Sessions 1824
Thomas Lynam of Hazlewood, labourer fined £5 for poaching

Derby Mercury 10 Dec 1828
Committed to the County Gaol since our last, Thomas Lynam, charged with burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Samuel Bradshaw, at Osliston, and taking thereabouts one pair of cotton cord breeches, the property of Richard Bradshaw.

Derby Mercury 1 April 1829
William Eley, aged 30, and Thomas Lynam, aged 28, were capitally indicted for a burglary committed in the dwelling house of Samuel Bradshaw, at Osliston. – Ellen Bradshaw, daughter of the prosecutor, stated that she resided with her father, an infirm old man at Osliston; was the last up in the evening preceding the robbery, which took place on the 20th November last; went to bed about nine o’clock and left the doors and windows all fast; on rising next morning about six o’clock found the door had been forced open, and various articles comprising two flitches of bacon, a pair of chaps, two shirts, an apron, a pair of small clothes, and other linen missing; the door had been forced by a plough coulter, which was afterwards found by witness at the end of the house. – Henry Newton deposed that he searched Eley’s house in Litchchurch street, in this town, on the 28th November last, and found several articles of wearing apparel, all of which he produced. Also apprehended Lynam and found on him a pair of small clothes, which he also produced – James Allen stated that he assisted last witness in searching Eley’s house, and found in the corner of a chamver a piece of bacon, which Eley said his wife had bought in the market. Witness produced the bacon, which he said was a less bit than when he first found it, Eley’s wife having while his back was turned cut a piece off which she said she should have for her children’s dinner. – The first witness, and Richard Bradshaw, her brother, identified the several articles produced as part of the property stolen from the prosecutor’s. – Eley in his defence told a lame story about the bacon and other things found at his house being given to him by John Bradshaw, prosecutor’s son. – Lynam said he picked up the small clothes found on him, on the Ashbourne road. – Guilty. – Judgement of death recorded. The learned Judge observed to the prisoners, that as they had both undergone imprisonment for former offences, it was in vain to hope that that species of punishment would now work any serious reformation in their conduct; their lived would be spared, but that would be the only mitigation they must look for.

Derby Mercury 13 May 1829
On Monday the following convicts were removed from our County Gaol to be placed on board the Ganymede Hulk at Woolwich, until their several sentences of transportation can be further carried into execution, voz: – John Smith for seven years,; William Anthony, George Bromwell and James Milward, for fourteen years; and James Brown, James Cockayne, William Eley, Samuel Hibbert, Thomas Lynam, Thomas Rawlins and William Tallents for life.

NOTE: Ganymede was the French frigate Hébé captured in 1809. She was converted to a prison hulk in 1819 and broken up in 1838.