The Bloody Code

This article on Substack explores the brutal legal system known as the Bloody Code, under which more than 200 crimes were punishable by death. Through the story of my great-great-great-grandmother Hannah Brown—convicted in London in 1814—we see how women, the poor, and the powerless were swept into its grasp. Drawing on court records, transcripts, and recent historical research, the article traces Hannah’s trial at the Old Bailey, her death sentence, and the mercy that saw her transported to New South Wales instead. Her story offers a personal window into one of the most unforgiving chapters of British legal history.

Read more here. Peter Anthony Substack