Sent to Bermuda for stealing 4 turkeys.

[griff20]

I have an ancestor who with his brother stole 4 turkeys and then tried selling them. They were tried in Oxford 1827 and sentanced for 7 years labour method 'C' in Bermuda. They left in 1828 and arrived in Bermuda on the Leviathan Hulk on 9th December 1828.

Are there any ways of finding out what they did in Bermuda, and also any transport documents?

[Kerrywood]

Convicts were originally sent to Bermuda to help with constructing the Royal Naval Dockyard there.
This page has some useful background information.

There were several hulks moored in Bermuda, including Dromedary and Antelope. But are you sure about Leviathan? I may be wrong but I thought Leviathan, when in use as a hulk, was permanently moored at Portsmouth.

[Geoffers]

There were several hulks moored in Bermuda, including Dromedary and Antelope. But are you sure about Leviathan? I may be wrong but I thought Leviathan, when in use as a hulk, was permanently moored at Portsmouth.

I was under the same impression - Griff, are you sure the record you have doesn't mention that your chap was held on the hulk at Pompey (possibly for sometime) before transportation?

As well as Antelope and Dromedary, I have a note that there were also Coromandel and Weymouth at Bermuda.

Griff - Have a look through TNA's research guide on convictsfor ideas on other lines of research (for which you will probably need to visit TNA). You might try searching the medical journals using TNA's catalogue, enter a surname in the word or phrase, restrict the year range and in the department or seires code enter ADM101. Indexing the medical journals is an ongoing project.

[griff20]

I have a Book called 'Banished!' it's about criminals who were sentanced to transportation from Oxford, and it does say things about Portsmouth and Weymouth. It says:

"27th March 1827 "Removed the following convict to the Leviathan Hulk lying in Portsmouth Harbour, pursuant to his sentance to transportation for 7 years. Solomon Oliver" (his name). / HO9/8 Captivity Hulk, Portsmouth: Received from Oxford 27th March 1827. Discharged to Bermuda per Weymouth 9th December 1828 / HO7/3 Weymouth, Bermuda: Received 9th December 1828 from Leviathan."

He may have been held for a year, but I don't know how it works.

[Peter Goodey]

By definition, a hulk didn't go anywhere, unless it was towed.

"The body of a dismantled ship (worn out and unfit for sea service) retained in use as a store-vessel, for the temporary housing of crews, for quarantine or other purposes; also applied to vessels specially built for such purposes"

[Kerrywood]

"27th March 1827 "Removed the following convict to the Leviathan Hulk lying in Portsmouth Harbour, pursuant to his sentance to transportation for 7 years. Solomon Oliver" (his name). / HO9/8 Captivity Hulk, Portsmouth: Received from Oxford 27th March 1827. Discharged to Bermuda per Weymouth 9th December 1828 / HO7/3 Weymouth, Bermuda: Received 9th December 1828 from Leviathan."

Suggested reading ...

After trial at Oxford on 27 March 1827 he was sent to the hulk Leviathan in Portsmouth on the same day, to await transportation.

On 9 December 1828 he was transferred to HMS Weymouth and transported to Bermuda. After HMS Weymouth arrived in Bermuda with these convicts, she remained there, effectively as a hulk.

He may have been held for a year, but I don't know how it works.

A wait of 1-2 years or even more in the hulks was not uncommon, especially if there was uncertainty about whether to send a particular group of convicts to Australia or Bermuda. A search of the newspapers often more reveals information on the political background to these sorts of decision.

Also, have a look at this article on prison hulks.

[griff20]

So he was transported in HMS Weymouth but was held in Leviathan waiting to be transported. Do you know whether they would they be in National or local papers?

[Kerrywood]

So he was transported in HMS Weymouth but was held in Leviathan waiting to be transported. Do you know whether they would they be in National or local papers?

Could be either. But you're unlikely to find names of individuals listed in the papers. Just possibly some press reports of "discussions in the house" as to policy regarding transportation.

Try the British Library's 19th century newspapers database. This is a paysite, but in Oxfordshire you may be able to get free access at home through your county library membership. See this page.

[carolchipp]

Not much help, but a bit more info - the Weymouth finally sailed for Bermuda on Sunday 4th January 1829, having been put back twice after setting out on the two proceeding Sundays, as she was unable to proceed westward. W. Miller was Master.

[Coromandel]

Griff20, do you know that there's a website all about the www.
oliverfamilyhistory.co.uk" Olivers from the Stonesfield area? The subject of Joshua and Solomon Oliver is being discussed on the messageboard there at the moment, in the thread called "Joshua(1797), Solomon (1802) and James (1803) - Mysteries????". This includes some information from prison hulk registers which have recently become available via Ancestry.
Hope this helps!