Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed George Cornelius
Biographies
George Cornelius was born in Andover in 1819 to John Cornelius and Fanny Witcher. His father was a mason when he married Fanny in 1803. George had two older brothers - John born 1806, Henry born 1808 - and an older sister - Eliza - born 1817. Older brother John was transported on the Royal George in 1830 for theft, George transported on Lord Lyndoch in 1841 for assault and robbery of a soldier after trial at Southampton in 1839. It is likely that their father was a petty criminal.
George was not well-behaved in gaol - being described as having a bad character. In VDL he did not take to convict servitude and was sent back to be re-assigned on more that one occasion. One notorious incident was reported in 1845 as follows "George Cornelius, a third-class probationer,
in the service of Mr. T. Bransgrove,
was accused of insubordinate conduct,
and threatening to assault his master.—
Complainant stated that the prisoner was
under engagement to him for six months,
and had served about three. Last night,
just as the family were retiring to rest, the
prisoner quitted the kitchen, and went and
perched himself on the top of a high post
in the yard ; he was repeatedly told to
come in, but, refusing to obey, complain-
ant at length went out, and threatened, if
he did not dismount, to knock him off his
perch. Prisoner, upon this, got down,
and said, "If you attempt to touch me,
I'll knock your b—y head off,"—after
which he again resumed his seat. After
remaining for a few minutes longer, he
dismounted a second time, and challenged
complainant to a pugilistic encounter,
which was, of course, declined, and he was
shortly afterwards given into custody ;
his conduct had all along been of the
most unruly description.—The worthy
magistrate severely reprobated the prison-
er's conduct, who, he remarked, was,
most probably, better situated in the ser-
vice of Mr. Bransgrove, than he had ever
been in his life.—He was sentenced to
three months' hard labour on the roads."
George managed to get a Ticket of leave in 1847 then went to Melbourne in 1851. Many of the ex-convicts travelled acroos Bass Strait to the consternation of the Victorians who lobbied hard for the discontinuance of transportation for this very reason. George must have been very engaging as a newspaper article reporting that he was given 1 month for vagrancy also described him as a "regular swell" though from the description of his activities he probably was stealing from the public at the "free concerts" he attended in the licensed houses in the city. Nevertheless he manged to have a Constable Fenning give him a shilling because he had no visible means of support.
In 1853 he was given 7 years hard labour on the roads for theft from a saddlery shop in Geelong. He was drunk at the time.He was granted his ToL for a second time in December 1855, constrained to live in the Portland area.
Around 1860 he met a married woman Elizabeth Dixon and they have 5 children in the next 10 years. She already had a number of children with her previous husband. George and Elizabeth marryin 1869, both described as servants and living in the Mallee Scrub at Horsham. Four of the 5 children appear to have died with only a daughter Frances Mary surviving until 1908.
At some point before 1887 the couple separated and George died in the Ballarat Hospital in that year, after being recommended for admission by one of the administrators.His death notice appeared in The Ballarat Star, 19 March 1887.
Submitted by Researcher (8077) on 29 June 2018
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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 11/12, p.221
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