Author: ian wright

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Charles Vaughan was born in 1809 and lived in Tidenham where he worked as a labourer.

On 27 August 1834, at the age of 26, he was sentenced to be transported for life for the theft of sheep. After a spell on the hulk, the Fortitude at Chatham, he was transferred to the Marquis of Huntley which set sail for New South Wales on 7 March 1835 and arrived in on 5 July 1835.

William Selwyn was born in 1810 and lived in Westbury-on-Severn where he worked as a labourer. On 26 September 1829, he was sentenced to six months in prison for the theft of onions from a garden in Westbury. In June 1835, at the age of 24,  he was sentenced to be transported for life for the theft of one sheep, the property of James Clifford, of Newnham; one sheep, the property of James Hill, of Westbury; one sheep, the property of Joseph Lloyd, of Abinghall; one pig, the property of the Rev. H. Borkin, of the Forest of Dean; one lamb, the property of John Scudimore, of Flaxley; eight fowls and seven ducks, the property of Robert Smith, of Newnham; and one drake and four ducks, the property of John Palmer, of Flaxley. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Asia which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 8 November 1835 and arrived on 21 February 1836.

Selwyn obtained his ticket of leave on 20 March 1844 and conditional pardon on 15 July 1847. He married Mary Ann Boutler on  7 May 1850 in Launceston and had two children born in 1859 and 1843. At some stage, during this period he started to work on his own farm. He died on 26 September 1880 of bronchitis in Sidmouth.

Sophia Robins was born in 1794 and lived in Lydney. On 11 March 1813, at the age of 20, she was sentenced to three months in prison for the theft of clothing from John Morgan.  On 15 October 1814, at the age of 21, she was arrested but acquitted for the theft of plumbs with a basket and cloth. On 3 April 1816, at the age of 22, she was sentenced to be transported for 7 years for the theft of two gold guineas, two half guineas, two gold rings, a silver coin and other articles from the Lydney house of Sarah Bethel  After a spell on a hulk, she was transferred to the Lord Melville which set sail on 15 September 1816 and arrived in New South Wales on 24 February 1817.

Between 1850 and 1856 Sophia Robins regularly appeared in front of the courts in Sydney charged with drunkenness, vagrancy, using obscene language, prostitution, etc. During this period she was sent to Darlinghurst prison on about 20 occasions.