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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: seuro on Saturday 06 November 10 02:20 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Require help deciphering conduct record, in particular the remarks section on the bottom right hand side. Thanks, Rebecca
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The remarks section includes brief information - location and person - about this mans assignment for labour. Is that what you are wanting to know or is there a specific piece of information from this record that you are wanting ?
...Mr Henry Bilton, Glenorchy ....23/6/43....12/8/43 Perth....30/12/43 A Maynes Sassafras Morven
2/3/44 Perth...5/3/44 PB (that is prisoners barracks) Launceston....14/4/44.......
This record also in case it is useful, plus next page has information about home - native place Birmingham, plasterer(guessing ?) mother Catherine, brother Alfred, 4 sisters Mary Ann Catherine Anna (guessing again). Housebreaking John Barratt Malsom (?)
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-12,240,20,C,80
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Thank you, yes, I was wanting to know who he was assigned to work for, to try and get a sense of his life once he was transported. Thanks for that, I couldn't make out any of it, so now know it looks like he was taken to Western Australia for a bit.
Thanks for the information about his home, in particular family details, very useful, I had not seen that! :)
Couldn't make out if it was John Barratt Maltom, or Malsom as you suggest as the person he burgled.
The left of the document I think details his solitary confinement and reprimands, and date for Ticket of Leave and Conditional Pardon. I can't make out if this document names the hulk he may have spent time on?
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Hi Seuro,
Do you know there is a Perth in Tasmania?? Isn't it more likely that he stayed in Tassie than went right across the country only to be taken back to Tassie?? Those other places are all in Tasmania,and the time frame would hardly allow time to get to WA and back. Perth Sassafras and Launceston are quite close to each other. Glenorchy near Hobart
Just a thought.
Wiggy :)
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No, I didn't know Perth was in Tassie. Oops :-[ Thanks for the clarification, much appreciated!
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Rebecca
- have you got the rest of it ? - just been reading what I can of his offences - he was treading on thin ice quite a bit wasn't he!! There are a few words I can't make out but most is legible - just - presume you have it all now???
You are lucky to have such a good description of him - my convicts came to early to have descriptions against their names so we don't know much about their looks at all.
Wiggy :)
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Thanks Wiggy,
What I can make out is June 1842 midconduct in feigning sickness, reprimanded,
July 1843 disobedience of orders, 14 days solitary confinement ?
Misconduct going to doctor in plea of illness to leave himself from work, absent from station without a leave pass, 24 hours solitary confinement.
Is this what you read? Any corrections, additions most welcome.
Do you know much about surgeon's reports?
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What I can make out is June 1842 - misconduct in feigning sickness, reprimanded, & . .? . . (I presume his employer)
July 1843 disobedience of orders, 14 days solitary confinement ? return to . . ?. . Ditto
23 Dec 43 Misconduct going to doctor in plea of illness to excuse himself from work,
14 Oct 44 absent from station without a leave pass, 24 hours solitary confinement.
16 Mar T(icket) of L(eave)
4/2/49 Con(ditional) Pardon Approved
I've found out lately that a conditional pardon meant they could go wherever in Aus. but could not return to England (A full pardon meant you could go 'home' if you wanted to!)
Surgeon's reports - not a lot, but try me - used to be a nurse - that might help maybe!! ;) Or may not!!
Wiggy
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Surgeon's report in this case -
1. ??of offences ??
2. How employed
3. General conduct
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Conditional Pardon - so he never had the chance to go back, and from I've been able to find, none of his siblings came to Australia either. He definitely was completely cut off from all his family! He went on to have 12 children so I guess made up for it!
I've been told that many of the later convict ships have a surgeon's report, which may have details of the passengers on board. Just not sure how to go about finding them!
Thank you so much for your help, great to have another pair of eyes :) :)
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Hi Rebecca,
Surgeon's reports - not a lot, but try me
I'm reading a book at the moment called "Australia's Birthstain" and finding is quite fascinating- I can't work out if you are in Australia or not - but you might also enjoy it - learning why people were transported and why their convict status was kept secret for so long, etc etc - anyhow, the point of this message is that I've just been reading about the surgeons on the convict ships -
"Since 1815 a naval surgeon had been appointed to every convict ship. Armed with complete authority over the welfare and discipline of the prisoners, the surgeon's presence was designed to counter any abuse of power by captains such as Donald Traill of the 'Neptune'. . . . . . .It became the practice for the surgeon to keep a journal about the health and conduct of the prisoners in his charge . . ." Australia's Birthstain" by Babette Smith.
As I read that passage I immediately thought of the comments made by the surgeon on your ancestor's record. I presume they had surgeons in all the prisons as well, keeping similar records.
by the way - I have been trying to read the top bit - I can work out he was on a hulk - but can't see if it was named on this sheet.
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Thank you, I've made a note of the book, shall put in a request when next at the library :) :) :)
My ancestor sailed on the Barrosa from Sheerness, Kent on 30 August 1841, and the surgeon was Dr Henry Mahon RN. Now hoping to find out if there's a surgeon's report still in existence. :)