Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed James Smith
- Researcher (Richard Seymour)
|
 |
Biographies
James Smith 1804 – 1874
James Smith (or Smyth) was my third great grandfather. He was born 1st February 1804 in Castlemahon, Ballyculter, County Down, in what is now Northern Ireland. He moved from Ireland to England in 1820, where he worked as a labourer and as a navigator sawyer.
At the York Assizes on Saturday 24 March 1827 he was charged, upon the oath of David Suttell, spinning master of Bishop Thornton, with having at Hartwith cum Winsley feloniously robbed and taken from his person a silver watch, a steel tobacco box and key.
He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to transportation for life. He was transported to Van Diemen’s Land on the ship “Asia” which departed Portsmouth on 16th August 1827 and arrived at Hobart on 7th December 1827. His convict record clearly identifies this voyage as “Asia 3” although it is listed elsewhere as “Asia V(I)”.
The convict record for Prisoner 860 Smith Jas (Asia 3) describes him as 5 feet 9 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes and with a scar on the back of the left hand. His gaoler’s report describes him as a “Bad and dangerous character”, and he admitted to stealing on the ship coming out. His convict record is a long collection of rebellious misdeeds which overfilled the space on the page. A partial transcript reads –
March 6 1828 Intoxicated in prisoner’s barracks last night. Tread wheel 4 days.
April 16 1828 Absent from prisoner’s barracks the whole of Monday night last without leave. 25 lashes.
May 5 1828 Absented himself from the gang on the way back from the Catholic chapel yesterday. Tread wheel 2 days.
June 29 1828 Neglect of duty as a sawyer last week. Admonished
Feb 24 1829 Neglecting to work. 50 lashes, remitted.
Aug 11 1829 Being found after hours last night in the disorderly house kept by Mrs Lupton. Chain gang 14 days.
Aug 27 1829 Drunk and absent from muster in prisoner’s barracks last night. Tread wheel 14 days.
Sept 14 1829 Scaling the walls of the prisoner’s barracks yesterday. 50 lashes. Returned to his duty.
Oct 21 1829 Throwing provisions this day to the men confined in the tread wheel yard contrary to orders. 25 lashes.
March 31 1830 Drunk in the prisoner’s barracks last night. 25 lashes.
He seems to have improved his behaviour after this, for six years later-
April 28 1836 Permission granted for prisoner 860 Smith, James, Asia 3, to marry Mary Callaghan, free.
Mary Callaghan had arrived at Hobart on the ship Boadicea on 4th February 1836. The ship carried 194 young women who were provided with a free passage to Van Diemen’s Land by the London Emigration Committee as part of a program to address the severe gender imbalance in the colony. Mary soon gained employment as a general servant, and only two months later she and James Smith applied for permission to marry. They were married on 9th September 1836 at Sorell, north east of Hobart. Their daughter Mary Jane Smith was born 2nd August 1838.
Marriage and parenthood had only a temporary effect on James’ behaviour. His convict record then resumes –
March 22 1837 Being at Waterloo Point after hours. Ticket of Leave suspended for 7 days.
May 11 1839 Sawyer feloniously receiving and having in his possession a quantity of wheat, about 5 bushels, the property of Edward Tilley, value 40/- on 7 May inst. 18 months hard labour in chains and to be deprived of his ticket of leave.
March 3 1840 Chain gang. On the township without leave. One month hard labour in addition to his present sentence. Approved. Part remitted.
April 13 1841 Sawyer. Ticket of Leave. Drunk. Fined 5/-
Jan 3 1842 Sawyer. Ticket of Leave. Misconduct in being out after hours and refusing to go home when ordered, using improper language. 14 days hard labour.
James Smith finally gained his Conditional Pardon on 9th May 1844.
Submitted by Researcher (Richard Seymour) on 18 July 2017
|
Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/6, p.257
|
