Two teenaged criminals who went from Moreton Bay to Norfolk Island. [This is the second in an occasional series that examines the fates of the convicts who had “to Norfolk Island” written against their names in the Moreton Bay Register.] Two of the convicts who went to from Moreton Bay to Norfolk Island arrived inContinue reading “The Young Ones.”
Category Archives: Convicts
One Hell after another.
Convicts who went from Moreton Bay to Norfolk Island. Edward Doolan’s short life was punctuated by a series of extremely bad decisions. It ended because of one of them. His story is part of a series of posts about the Moreton Bay men who went on to serve time at Norfolk Island. Only a fewContinue reading “One Hell after another.”
The Amity Convicts – the Runaways and Incorrigibles. Part 2.
A repost of an earlier account of a convict absconder, to mark the anniversary of the Amity’s landing. John Welsh Forbidden from Society. John Welsh was born in the historic port and garrison city of Waterford around 1799. Unsurprisingly, he became a sailor. How he got to Nottingham, and committed a robbery, is unclear, butContinue reading “The Amity Convicts – the Runaways and Incorrigibles. Part 2.”
The Amity Convicts – The Runaways and Incorrigibles. Part 1.
A re-issue of a previous post, dealing with the group of convicts who ran from Moreton Bay in 1825. Thomas Mills Robbing the Vicar of Stepney St Dunstan’s Anglican Church, Stepney, known as the “Mother Church of the East End,” had been a place of Christian worship for more than 900 years when Thomas Mills,Continue reading “The Amity Convicts – The Runaways and Incorrigibles. Part 1.”
The Mystery of the First Convict at Moreton Bay.
Who was John Anderson? The very first entry in the Chronological Register of Convicts at Moreton Bay is that of John Anderson, per Baring 2, making him (technically) the first Moreton Bay convict. John Anderson was described in the Moreton Bay records as being 23 years old, a sailor and sailmaker who hailed from Leeds.Continue reading “The Mystery of the First Convict at Moreton Bay.”
The Incredible Life of Anthony Best.
Convict at Moreton Bay 1827-1833. The Cordwainer’s stolen pillow-case. In Hull Packet of 24 October 1809, Messrs Croudace and Stork proudly announced the opening of the Hull Coffee-Roasting Office. No longer would the flavour of Hull’s coffee be injured by London Traders’ careless stowage, or by moisture damage through carriage by sea. It would beContinue reading “The Incredible Life of Anthony Best.”
Theft, Transportation, Repeated Absconding and Mutiny.
Or, how John Stewart occupied himself between the ages of 18 and 25. The bare facts of John Stewart’s convict career in Australia can be summed up fairly easily – he was transported in 1823, absconded from a few settlements, and received a Certificate of Freedom in 1829. What he actually got up to isContinue reading “Theft, Transportation, Repeated Absconding and Mutiny.”
The Convict Runaways – Part 5.
The Tale of Murder and Escape – Longbottom’s Depositions, 1825. 1825, November Sir I have the honour to inform you, that four Crown Prisoners (as per margin) arrived in the morning who state themselves to be deserters from the settlement at Moreton Bay. They assert that they have been five weeks on the journey whichContinue reading “The Convict Runaways – Part 5.”
The Convict Runaways – Part 4.
Four men escaped from Moreton Bay in October 1825 – did they really commit murder, and leave five drowned comrades? Runaway 4 – John Welsh – Forbidden from Society. John Welsh was born in the historic port and garrison city of Waterford around 1799. Unsurprisingly, he became a sailor. How he got to Nottingham, andContinue reading “The Convict Runaways – Part 4.”
The Convict Runaways – Part 3.
Four men escaped from Moreton Bay in October 1825 – did they really commit murder, and leave five drowned comrades? Runaway 3 – William Smith There were 501 convicts transported to Australia with the first name William and the surname Smith. One of these William Smiths was an 18-year-old bootmaker who had been convicted ofContinue reading “The Convict Runaways – Part 3.”
Moreton Bay and More 