I found this the other day, looks like the Sheens are a big part of Stoke Goldings History.
With reference to the information given in last month’s Stoker on Samuel Kirkland and Thomas Sheen being transported to Australia in 1837, my wife’s maiden name was Sheen and Thomas Sheen is one of her ancestors. The Sheens first appeared in the Parish Register of St. Margaret’s Church in 1693 with the marriage of Joseph Sheen to Eleanor Bradford and Sheens were still living in the village into the early years of the 20th century. Thomas Sheen, born in the village on the 17th of April 1817, was the son of Thomas Sheen and Mary nee Miles. Thomas and Mary had eight children, including Thomas Jnr, all born in Stoke Golding. A brother of Thomas Jnr, Francis Sheen, born 19th September 1824, was also transported to Australia in 1850 but that is another story. In addition to Samuel Kirkland and Thomas Sheen a further villager, Thomas Storer, was also charged with setting fire to a stubble stack and a stack of straw but he turned King’s evidence. The Jury returned a verdict of guilty against the prisoners, after which the Learned Judge, (Lord Abinger), in passing sentence addressed them as follows: “Prisoners at the bar, you stand convicted of an offence for which you ought to forfeit your lives – the most ignominious and disgraceful crime that can be perpetrated. To add if possible, to your crime, you can read and write and with an education to instruct you better, you have violated every decency and law. There was a time when the peasantry and working classes of this country were noted for morality and obedience to the laws, but I am sorry to say, of late years there has been a great and deplorable change. It is fortunate for you that your neighbours have come forward and given you something like a character, or I should have considered it my duty to have sentenced you to forfeit your lives on the public scaffold. Your character and youth, however, have pleaded strongly for you and the sentence of the Court is that you be transported beyond the seas for life as being unworthy to live in the country that gave you birth”. Thomas Sheen was one of 270 convicts transported on the 10th July 1837 on a ship named the ‘James Pattison’ and arrived in New South Wales. A ticket of leave was given on the 19th August 1846 and Thomas was given a land grant of which he farmed for many years. Thomas married Phoebe Ellen Perkins, who was born in Australia and they had twelve children. Thomas died in 1885. A few years ago, before my wife and I were in touch with her relations in Australia, one of the Australian Sheens had been working at the Australian Embassy in London. He and his family rented a house in London but before they returned home they made a brief visit to Stoke Golding. They visited St. Margaret’s Church and the cemetery in Hinckley Road and found a grave of one of their ancestors. We regret we were not in touch at that particular time.
Hope that was of interest.
