Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Richard Lockwood
Biographies
Richard LOCKWOOD was born on 5th March 1814 in London, England, the eldest son of Abraham Lockwood and Mary Ann nee HAWKSLEY. At just sixteen years of age Richard was on trial at the Old Bailey for obtaining goods by false pretences. The trial transcript reveal that on 16th February 1830 he went to a glover’s warehouse, where, purporting to be from Mr. Dosseter, one of their account customers, he charged goods to that account valued at 36 shillings. Exacerbating his crime, he foolishly returned to the warehouse the following evening declaring that the garters he had bought were the wrong size, but Mr. Dossiter would keep them, and also take a further dozen in a larger size. As they weren’t in stock, the clerk promised to deliver them later, and mentioned that other goods previously orderedfor Mr. Dossier were now available. Richard offered to deliver them, which he duly did that evening. A strangely altruistic act from a thief.
When the clerk delivered the goods the following day, the crime was discovered, Richard was spotted nearby and arrested.
At his at his trial at the Old Bailey on 15th April 1830, his youth was apparently not a mitigating circumstance, nor his lack of previous convictions, and he was sentenced to 7 years transportation to Australia3.
Richard was held in the London goal for four months4, and in August 1830 he was one of 200 convicts transported on the ship Florentia, twenty of whom, like Richard, were aged 16 or younger5.
Surgeon Superintendant Andrew Henderson, his first in this position on a convict ship, kept a journal from 16th July until two weeks after they arrived at Port Jackson 15th December 18307. Richard was not on the list of those treated on the voyage, although 5 convict deaths were recorded.
Little is known of Richard’s time as a convict. His health must have been relatively good as he appears only once on the daily sick list only from 23rd – 24th December 1830 with a common convict ailment – Catarrh6. From his description on various documents we know that he grew 4 inches during his 7 years sentence, from 5 feet 4 at age 16 to 5 feet 8 in 18377, and by the end of his incarceration he had lost two upper front teeth. Whether from decay or violence is not recorded.
Like many convicts, Richard may have been assigned to work with a settler. A complaint lodged in 1834 by a Richard LOCKWOOD against a farmer, Captain Biddulph, charging him with failing to supply their ‘slop’ (clothing) allowance8, but Richard is not identified with the name of the ship on which he was transported so this may have been any one of the 3 men of this name in the colony at this time.
Transportation didn’t reform Richard as during his lifespan of eighty years he was imprisoned many times. During the original seven years sentence he was moved several between goals several times, presumably for re-offending. In 1833 he was being held on the hulk Phoenix9 in Sydney Harbour and in late 1837 at the Paramatta Goal awaiting another transportation to Norfolk Island10. His Certificate of Freedom, granted on 7th August 183711 at the end of his seven years sentence, was cancelled, but no record has been found that he was actually transported again. By November 1839, he was held in Sydney goal for larceny13 and he probably remained there until granted his second Certificate of Freedom on 15th October 1841212.
By the end of 1841 Richard had sailed to New Zealand, where he met and very shortly married (probably in Wellington),13 Margaret RANKINE, a young woman who had recently emigrated with her family from Scotland14. Their son Richard was allegedly born a year later (a family story, supported only by an unreliable record15).
Within two years Richard was again imprisoned in New Zealand on several charges, including fraud. Despite a bold escape from goal, he was recaptured, tried and sentenced to 6 months; 3 of those with hard labour16.
In 1845 Ric
Submitted by Researcher (6328) on 22 May 2016
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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
Ancestry -England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973: Film No: 919083
Proceedings of the Old Bailey – London’s Central Criminal court, 1674– 1913
NSW, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1827
Submitted by Researcher (6328) on 22 May 2016
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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. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/7, p.459
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