Henry Beard (1823 – 1887) (Reg. Nos. 4494 and 7604)
By Irma Walter, 2022. Henry Beard was born at Staffordshire in 1823 to Thomas, an ostler, and his wife Maria…
Category: Convict Histories
John Parsons (c1833 – ?) (Reg. No. 4390)
By Irma Walter, 2022. A copy of a petition was widely circulated in British newspapers in July 1868, pleading the…
Transported Twice – Joseph Rossiter (alias ‘George Seaman, George Henry Rossiter’) (1839 – 1896) (Reg. Nos. 4867 and 8978)
Joseph Rossiter was one of the more unusual characters transported to Western Australia during the convict era. He was the…
Henry Longman (1824 – 1914) (Reg. No. 1189)
Henry Longman was baptised on 8 April 1824 at Rimpton in Somerset, to parents George Longman and his wife Jane.[1]…
A Conviction of Sacrilege
By Irma Walter, 2021. William Messenger (c1840 – 1861) (Reg. No. 5136) On 22 July 1854 William Messenger, just 14…
George Peters (1834 – ?) (Reg. No. 6414)
On 7 November 1859 at Portobello beach in Edinburgh, George Peters, aged 28, in company with John M’Lachan and James…
Conspiracy to Murder Governor Gardner of Bristol Gaol, 1856.
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER THE GOVERNOR of the BRISTOL GAOL. – Some sensation has been created during these assizes by the…
Joseph Cant (Reg. No. 3249) and John Henry Eason (3900 & 10037)
By Irma Walter, 2021. Joseph Gant [sic, Cant] and John Henry Eason were criminal associates in Lincolnshire. When arrested in…
Two Gangs of London Forgers, 1850s
By Irma Walter, 2022. William Wagner (alias Curtis, aka Wegner, Wegener) (c1812 – 1882) (Convict Reg. Nos. 5611 & 10118)…
William Hortin/Horton (c1833 – ?) (Reg. No. 4767)
By Irma Walter, 2021. William Horton’s story is yet another example of the harsh treatment meted out to young offenders…