On 7 November 1859 at Portobello beach in Edinburgh, George Peters, aged 28, in company with John M’Lachan and James Henderson, stole a purse with 12/6d in it from the trousers of a man who had rented a neighbouring bathing machine.[1] With a charge of theft and five previous convictions, Peters was sentenced to eight years’ transportation. His two companions avoided transportation.
At time of his trial George Peters, (alias Peter McGowan or McGorran), aged 28, shoemaker, religion R.C., was described as a shoemaker, of West Port, Edinburgh.[2] [Described elsewhere as a baker.] It is not known in which prison he served his time while awaiting transportation to Western Australia.
He arrived at Fremantle onboard the Norwood on 9 June 1862. His character while on Public Works was recorded as V. Good, and during the voyage Good.[3]
Record in WA
11/6/62 – Received at Fremantle Prison from Norwood.
15/10/62 – To Bunbury.
4/7/63 – Geo. Peters released to Harvey Bridge.[4]
18/9/62 – Casual sick – Wishes change of work.[5]
11/10/62 – Casual sick – Truss not fitting.[6]
12/10/62 – To Bunbury. [7]
16/1/63 – Ticket of Leave.
27/4/63 – Sutherland Bay.
12/2/64 – Receipt at Fremantle Prison from Harvey Road.[8]
9/10/67 – Received C.P. from R.M. Champion Bay. Returned and destroyed 23/2/69.[9]
1866 & 1868 – Employed three ticket-of-leave men at Dongarra.[10]
23/2/69 – Certificate of Freedom issued.[11]
Convictions in WA
11/4/63 – R.M. Fremantle – Robbery, 12 months’ hard labor.
16/2/64 – Mt Eliza Depot.
10/6/64 – R.M. Geraldton – Drunk & using obscene language, fined 7/6.
11/4/65 – Ditto – Drunk, fined 12/6.
21/4/65 – Drunk, absent from lodgings, using obscene language and violently assaulting police – three months in lock-up.[12]
[For further details see the Midwest Convict Register, https://midwestwaheritage.com/search-convict-register/ ]
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[1] Edinburgh Evening Courant, 25 June 1859.
[2] Scotland Court and Criminal Database, Archive Reference RD14/59/336.
[3] Convict Department Registers, General Register for Nos 4375 – 4534, 1017, 6383 – 6458 (RD24 – RD25)
[4] Convict Establishment, Receipts & Discharges (RD3 – RD4)
[5] Convict Establishment, Casual Sick Registers (CS8 – CS10)
[6] Ibid.
[7] Convict Dept. Registers, Probationer Prisoners, Register for Nos 5586 – 6999 (R7)
[8] Convict Establishment, Receipts & Discharges (RD3 – RD4)
[9] Convict Department Registers, General Register for Nos 6393 – 6932 (R22)
[10] Rica Erickson, Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, p.2469.
[11] Fremantle Prison Convict Database, [11]
[12] Convict Department Registers, General Register for Nos 6393 – 6932 (R22)