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Angelaj
08-02-2009, 12:11 PM
I've recently discovered that an ancestor of mine was sentenced to 7 years transportation in 18/05/1827 for the theft of pigeons. His prison record states that he was 'delivered on board the Retribution Sheerness'. Is there any way I can find out what happened to him after that. His name is John Northwood, one of many in my tree so I'm not sure if he came back or not.He doesn't seem to have had any children born after 1827 with his wife but the Northwoods appear several times in the gaol records and Quarter Sessions charged with bastardy so I can't really be certain.The best indication that he didn't return is the lack of prison records for him after this date.
How likely was it that a prisoner would return after serving their sentence? It also doesn't say on the prison record where he was sent.At the bottom it says 'discharged 19/07/1827' but presumably that refers to him being put on board the ship rather than being freed.

Geoffers
08-02-2009, 12:23 PM
First thing, can you locate your chap on the Convict Transportation Register?

Go to TNA's web-site (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/searchthearchives/default.htm?source=ddmenu_search9)
and scroll down to search the above mentioned database (It's 8th in the list)

If you can get to TNA at Kew - you might look at the quarterly returns of prisoners in hulks - these cover Retribution 1825-1830 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=retribution&txtfirstdate=1825&txtlastdate=1830&txtrestriction=HO8&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=33&image1.y=11)

These registers may also prove interesting in HO9 - Retribution, Sheerness (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=retribution&txtfirstdate=1825&txtlastdate=1830&txtrestriction=HO9&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=52&image1.y=13)

Jan1954
08-02-2009, 12:27 PM
I see that he is mentioned on Victorian Crime and Punishment (http://vcp.e2bn.org/prisoners/5029-1-john-northwood.html).

Usually, if prisoners were transported, they had to pay their own way to return to Blighty.

Hugh Thompson
08-02-2009, 12:36 PM
Hi Angelaj, I found this in the New South Wales State Records
Under Certificates of Freedom this entry could be your man.

John Northwood, arrived on vessel Florentia,1828 . certificate of freedom no 34/1201.issued 29 Sep 1834.
The page address below.
Hugh.

http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/searchform.aspx

Geoffers
08-02-2009, 12:47 PM
Further to Hugh's useful response, this then points to the transportation register of the Florentia (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-5431971&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CFLORENTIA&accessmethod=0) which looks to have sailed 14 Aug 1827

and the medical journal (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5038627&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CFLORENTIA&accessmethod=0)of the Florentia

Copies of entries may enhance your research.

Angelaj
08-02-2009, 12:49 PM
Thanks everyone for your help. I've just found out that his brother William was transported for life in 1830 so I think they'll be keeping me busy for a while.

Hugh Thompson
08-02-2009, 1:17 PM
Angelaj, (hi Geoffers and Jan) I think this will be your William, arrived on board the Isabella 1832. under index to convict pardons, the first one was a CP pardon on 1st Oct 1841, and then a RW pardon on 25th May 1860.
Page address,
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/searchform.aspx

I'll have a look and see if I can find what the CP and RW stand for, I expect that the CP would be for conditional pardon.
Hugh.

Jan1954
08-02-2009, 1:22 PM
I'll have a look and see if I can find what the CP and RW stand for, I expect that the CP would be for conditional pardon.
Hugh.RW = Royal Warrant?

Hugh Thompson
08-02-2009, 1:23 PM
Found them,good hunting.
Hugh.:)
CP.Conditional pardon granted convicts freedom as long as they remained in the Colony.
RW. Royal Warrant from the Monarch authorising the grant of pardon.

Geoffers
08-02-2009, 1:29 PM
I think this will be your William, arrived on board the Isabella 1832.

Again

Convict register - Isabella HO11/8/233 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-5432060&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CISABELLA&accessmethod=0)
Medical Jounral - Isabella ADM101/36/4 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5038694&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CISABELLA&accessmethod=0)

Hugh Thompson
08-02-2009, 1:34 PM
Good one Geoffers, why can't I find my people this quick:confused::confused::D

Angelaj
08-02-2009, 5:24 PM
Again, many thanks to you all. This is all new for me, all of my other convicts have been in the UK! It would've taken me a lot longer to find what I was looking for on my own. I'll add it to my list of things for Kew, although I suspect by the time I get around to going it'll all be available online anyway.

I've since found a reference to John occupying land mentioned in his father's will of 1838 so it looks like he made it back. I wonder if his wife waited for him?

Feen
08-02-2009, 9:54 PM
I remember hearing, possibly at school, that as Australia became increasingly developed and stories found their way back to the UK of freed cons doing well for themselves, there was a rash of crimes committed by people hoping to get themselves transported. This may have contributed to the ending of transportation as a punishment for criminals. Does anyone know if this is true?

Naughty 3 x great-uncle Fred was convicted of attempted forgery in (I think) 1860 and according to the newspaper reports, his "friends" (which presumably included his family) hoped that he would be transported. One hopes for Fred's sake that was because they hoped once he'd served his sentence he could build a better life out there, and not cos he was an embarrassment they wanted removed from their doorstep :) .

For the record Fred didn't get transported. On his release from jail he tried to murder a bank manager and got banged up for life |shocked|

wazzalox
14-04-2017, 12:42 AM
Hi Angelicaj
Since your post was 2009 you have probably got all your info but now but here goes. John was one of my rellies so I can fill you in on his antics. Christened 21 Feb 1796 in Maulden, died 19 April 1869 in Maulden. He married Elizabeth Swepstone 3 November 1814 in Maulden. He was a regular at the Bedford Courthouse before they lost patience and sent him to Australia. He arrived in Sydney, NSW, 14 April 1828 aboard "Florentia". He was given a Ticket of Leave in 1831 which meant he could find employment and pretty much travel at will. He got his Certificate of Freedom 29 September 1834 and returned to England.
He had kids by four women, one of whom was actually his wife. The other women were Ann Dudley, Ann Robinson and Letitia Alderton. The children were all interspersed chronologically between the women. I shudder to think how many were born while he was out here.
His brother William was also a regular visitor to the Courthouse. He arrived here 22 July 1832 aboard "Isabella". Apparently he behaved admirably once he was here and ended up a successful businessman in the colony owning several properties in Sydney. He received a Conditional Pardon 1 October 1841 which meant he was a totally free man with the only condition being that he could not return to England, However he got a Royal Pardon Warrant 25 May 1860 which enabled him to return to England where he died 2 February 1871 in Shefford. While out here he married Lucy Sinfield and had two children both of whom died out here before he returned to England with Lucy.
If you would like to know more about the Northwoods my tree is on Rootsweb where my tree is called wazzalox. It is open to view by anybody.
Cheers from Oz
Warren