Robbery Under Arms – 6 January 1869.

Mr W Selwyn King had received orders to return to Sydney from his posting at Kilkivan, near Gympie. It’s hard to imagine that he would be particularly reluctant to leave the remote town, but he had made good friends during his stay, and they toasted him at a farewell dinner at the Northumberland Hotel. TheContinue reading “Robbery Under Arms – 6 January 1869.”

Happy New Year (1866, that is)!

A snapshot of the celebrations across Queensland. Brisbane – a Regatta and the Races in a delicious breeze. THE advent of the New Year was celebrated by the citizens of Brisbane in a manner worthy of the occasion. The weather was delightful; the sun was very warm, as must be expected at this season ofContinue reading “Happy New Year (1866, that is)!”

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.”

The Convict Runaways – Part 2.

Four men escaped from Moreton Bay in October 1825 – did they really commit murder, and leave five drowned comrades? Runaway 2 – Thomas Mills – “I Never Liked a Redcoat” Robbing the Vicar of Stepney St Dunstan’s Anglican Church, Stepney, known as the “Mother Church of the East End,” had been a place ofContinue reading “The Convict Runaways – Part 2.”

The Convict Runaways – Part 1

Four men escaped from Moreton Bay in October 1825 – did they really commit murder, and leave five drowned comrades? Runaway 1 – John Longbottom. (Updated from the Post – A Notorious Rogue and Vagabond.) At York in January 1817 a young sailor was sentenced to seven years’ transportation to New South Wales. Even forContinue reading “The Convict Runaways – Part 1”

Convict Snapshots – William Mattingly.

Berkshire and London. William Mattingly (sometimes spelled Mattingley) was born on 11 September 1875 in Uffington, to James and Ann Mattingly. He lived most of his time in the parish of Uffington, and nearby parishes of Baulking and Kingstone Lisle. (Since 1974, this part of Berkshire was absorbed into Oxfordshire, an idea that would probablyContinue reading “Convict Snapshots – William Mattingly.”

Convict Snapshots – Samuel Challenger.

Few men are as well-named as Samuel Challenger. He challenged laws, customs, and authority over his long life, which began and ended in respectability. For several decades, he was a pain in the neck of police and prison authorities in two hemispheres. Yorkshire Samuel was born in Darton, Yorkshire on 15 September 1794, the youngestContinue reading “Convict Snapshots – Samuel Challenger.”

Convict Snapshot – Morgan Edwards.

Contemporary views of Monmouth, Wikimedia Commons. Morgan Edwards was a native of Monmouth, who had been born around 1800. On 10 August 1822, at the age of 22, he was convicted at the Monmouth Assizes of Sheep Stealing and was ordered to be transported for life. After a spell in the prison hulks, he wasContinue reading “Convict Snapshot – Morgan Edwards.”