Categories
Transported Convicts (1831-1833)

William Cowmeadow

William Cowmeadow was born in 1820. He lived in Ruardean and worked as a collier. On 9 November 1835, at the age of 14, he was sentenced to three months at Littledean House of Correction for stealing apples. On 16 October 1838, at the age of 17, he was sentenced to three weeks imprisonment and flogged (12 lashes) for stealing a bag, a dish and a cloth. On 27 July 1840, he was sentenced to one month in prison for stealing potatoes with his sister Hannah.

On 30 October 1840, at the age of 19, Cowmeadow was sentenced to 21 years transportation for stealing the hat of John Jones, a local farmer, in St Briavels with his brothers Cornelius (17) who was sentenced to two years in prison and Cater (13) who was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The boys stole the hat from Jones while he was walking down a road and so they were charged with highway robbery. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Somerset and set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 20 December 1841 and arrived on 30 May 1842.

He received a conditional pardon on 26 Nov 1852. He married Ann Needham in January 1856 and went on to have four children and many grandchildren. Ann Needham, who was born in Wiltshire and moved to Middlesex, was also a convict who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land in 1856. Cowmeadow settled in Franklin and worked as a bushman, splitter and gardener. The couple moved to Hobart in 1885. William Cowmeadow died in 1906 at the age of 87.

 

Categories
Transported Convicts (1789-1826)

William Harris (1)

William Harris (1) was born in 1801 and lived in English Bicknor where he worked as a labourer. On 3 August 1826, at the age of 25, he was sentenced to death commuted to transportation for life for the theft of one sheep. After a spell on the hulks, he was transferred to the Andromeda which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 14 October 1826 and arrived on 23rd February 1827. He was initially detailed to work on public works and then as an assistant to Mr Mackersey. He was granted a ticket of leave on 21 August 1835, recommended for a conditional pardon on 29 May 1839 and 19 November 1840 and finally granted a free pardon on 4 April 1844.

 

Categories
Transported Convicts (1789-1826)

Samuel Jones

Samuel Jones was born in 1820 and worked as a labourer. On 31 March 1840, he was sentenced to transportation for life for the theft of a silver watch, a sovereign and a coat from the house of Thomas Davis. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Eden which set sail for New South Wales on 10 July 1840 and arrived on18 November 1840.

Categories
Transported Convicts (1831-1833)

James Young

James Young was born in 1800 and lived in Westbury-on-Severn where he worked as a labourer. On 30 June 1835, at the age of 35, he was transported for life for the theft of one sheep. After a spell on the hulk, the Ganymede, he was transferred to the Asia which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 8 Nov 1835 and arrived on 21 February 1836. He was flogged on board during the journey for stealing another prisoner’s sugar.

In June 1845 he received a conditional pardon on the basis of the following report:

“Having had two masters one of whom he served from the time of his arrival until he obtained his ticket of leave and the other from that time, both of whom speak highly of him; and only one trivial charge  having been made against him.”

Categories
Transported Convicts (1789-1826)

George Wright

George Wright was born in 1797 and lived in Littledean where he worked as a nailer. On 31 March 1818, at the age of 21, he was sentenced to be transported for 7 years for the theft of clothes and other articles from Robert Williams in the parish of Oddington. After a spell on the hulk, Justitia, he was transferred to the Lord Sidmouth which set sail for New South Wales on 20 September 1818 and arrived on 11 March 1819.

He did not settle well and was brought before the authorities and punished on a number of occasions. He was given his certificate of freedom on  31 March 1825. However in the following years up to about the late 1850s he was in and out of prison on numerous occasions for minor offences such as theft.

Categories
Transported Convicts (1789-1826) Uncategorized

Oliver Woore

Oliver Woore was born in 1803 and lived in Coleford where he worked as a stonemason. In September 1826 he was charged, with Mary Wheeler, of stealing two hives of bees and the honey therein from Thomas Hobbes but the evidence was not sufficient to indict them. On 2 April 1828, at the age of 25, he was sentenced to death commuted to life for the theft of one cask and 2 jars containing rum, brandy and peppermint from William Smith of the Rising Sun in Bream. After a spell on a hulk, the Justitia, he was transferred to the Vittoria which set sail for New South Wales on 1 Sept 1928 and arrived on 17 Jan 1829.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Transported Convicts (1831-1833)

William Henry Williams

William Henry Williams was born in 1807 and lived in Woolaston where he worked as a papermaker. On 2 April 1828, he was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing two geese. On 7 April 1830, at the age of 23, he was transported for 7 years for the theft of potatoes from Philip Davies of Woolaston. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Burrell which set sail for New South Wales on 27 July 1830.

Categories
Transported Convicts (1831-1833)

Richard Williams

Richard Williams was born in 1805 in Newland where he worked as a labourer. On 28 June 1831, at the age of 26, he was sentenced to 7 years for the theft of one cotton gown valued at 4s. After a spell on the hulk the Justitia, he was transferred to the Isabella which set sail for New South Wales on 22 Nov 1831 and arrived on 15 March 1832.

He was given his certificate of freedom on 22 August 1840. On 3 March 1854, he was sentenced to 6 weeks in Goulburn prison.

Categories
Transported Convicts (1826-1831)

Charles Williams

Charles Williams was born in 1807 in Chepstow and lived in St Briavels where he worked as an agricultural labourer and ploughman. On 10 August 1833, at the age of 26, he was sentenced to be transported for life for the theft of a horse belonging to James Evans from a field belonging to Bearse farm. After a spell on the hulk, the Justitia, he was transferred to the Moffatt which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 7 January 1834 and arrived on 9 May 1834.

He was initially detailed to work on public works. He obtained his ticket of leave on 3 November 1842 and conditional pardon on 2 December 1845 and 23 November 1846. He died on 30 October 1884.

Categories
Transported Convicts (1831-1833)

John Webb

John Webb was born in 1806 and lived in Woolaston where he worked as a clock and watchmaker. On 11 Aug 1832, he was sentenced to be transported for life for burglary and the theft of clothes. After a spell on the hulk, the Justitia, he was transferred to the Jupiter which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 31 January 1832 and arrived on 28 May 1833.