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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: turfy on Tuesday 16 November 10 12:30 GMT (UK)
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Hi
Can anyone please read the attached record for William Cork aboard the Prison Hulk Ship HMS Justitia, moored Woolwich c1839.
It may help to know that his crime was stealing a Duck and he was born in Uffculme.
He is number 9 (second from the bottom)
Many Thanks
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my take on it...
Willm Cork
age: 50
crime: ly a duck [ly=larceny?]
convicted at Exeter 25 July 1839
sentence: 10 years
married or single: m
read or write: n [no or neither?]
trade: stone mason [something written over the second word so not sure]
gaoler's report: Convd & [ ? ] transd bad charr poor connexions
how disposed of: Died 29 apr 1841
the enrty below and also the first two on the page have "Convd & transd" but this has an extra word I can't work out.
Hugh
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I'm having my doubts about the 'convd & transd' could the word between them be 'thrice'?
Hugh
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Hi Hugh
William's sentence was for 10 years transportation, I assume he died aboard the prison ship while awaiting to be transferred to another vessel for the voyage. Could 'Convd' and 'trans' be to do with convicted and transportation maybe? I wonder what 'poor connexions' could mean?
Many Thanks
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I think 'connexions' means family or maybe friends and family. The policeman in the previous entry had 'respectable' connexions.
Hugh
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I am reading fro William Cork - convicted & thrice imp(risone)d, bad char(acte)r poor connections(?) [I'm not entirely sure about connections - seems to be spelt with and 'x' and possibly have a 't' at the end]
I think the previous entry says connexions respectable, character unknown - :-\
And the one before that connexions??? respectable :-\
and the one before that again - - previous character good, poor connexions(?), - as if he's made bad friends in prison maybe. :-\
Don't know - - - ::) the word coming up again and again as connexions seems to me to have a 't' at the end of it- can't think of a word to fit though. :-\
Wiggy :)
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... nothing really to add, my first look at it, :-\ think though that under Read or Write column it is R for read, W for write or B for both ? ... so I would say W for William. i.e that he could write :) mare
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Just as a piece of interest maybe - also maybe relevant in this case
- I am reading about various convicts/prisoners of this period at the moment- it has been noted in the book that many of them, though of good background, farmers, and character, never had anything recorded against them or been in trouble for anything before,, fell in with the wrong lot just once, and got caught, hence were convicted of crimes they might never otherwise have committed -
Just a thought in trying to understand . . .. :-\
Wiggy :)
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Thanks everyone.
Hi Wiggy
That's interesting, William (my 4x Great Grandfather) ended up on the Justitia because he stole a Duck, we would like to think that maybe he was forced into it in desperation of trying to feed his family but he had been in trouble before... I hope to find out out more when I hopefully manage to get down to the record office in Exeter. Interestingly he stole the Duck from John New esq. in Uffculme and there is still a John New esq. there today - my Father thinks maybe we should take the [a] Duck back down to him!
I note that you say you are reading about convicts of this period - would you happen to know what is likely to have happened to Williams body when he died on the Prison Hulk Justitia 29 April 1841?
Regards.
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Sorry Turfy
- the ones I'm reading about all ended up being transported and flourishing (or occasionally otherwise) in Australia. But the book started out with a description of the times in England and why the crimes were committed - many of them were desperation, some against the prevailing times and laws protesters etc, some 'cos they didn't like the way their overlord treated them. but it surely helps understand the times and the people of those years.
Sorry I can't help with disposal of bodies. How about your local council records. I am told they are very good down your way - lots of records.
Wiggy - in Aus. ;)
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Here's my reading of most of it:
Stg a Duck
Married
Cannot read or write
Stone Mason
Convicted and thrice imprisoned. Bad character, poor connexions.
Died 29 April 1841
I actually see his name as William Cook.
Cheers
Prue
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I thought so too Prue, but thought Cork must have been a known fact :-\
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Hi Mare and Prue
Yes, surname is Cork.
We have the extract from his trial book for this case plus other trail appearance's, newspaper clipping (Exeter Flying Post 1839) of his sentencing, occupation details Stone Mason, address etc etc..
Everyone's help has been great (as usual on here) - I'm now going to see if its possible to find out what happened to his body, I hope its not the case but remember reading somewhere that sometimes they were thrown over the side of the ship..
Regards
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I wondered, but didn't really like to suggest it Turfy! :(
Wiggy
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Hi Wiggy
The more we find out about William the more attached and interested I seem to get - he may have been an out and out rogue, we may never know, but as some of your previous comments suggest there may have been many contributing factors / injustices involved... Either way if it does turn out he was simply thrown overboard then it makes his life story even more tragic. He was 50 at the time of this sentence, his wife Elizabeth my 4 x Great Grandmother struggled on her own until she died age 94.
Regards
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Interestingly he stole the Duck from John New esq. in Uffculme and there is still a John New esq. there today - my Father thinks maybe we should take the [a] Duck back down to him!
Turfy,
Think returning the duck would be an excellent thing to do!!!! I'd love to see the look of surprise on his face when you told him the history!!! ;D ;D
Wiggy :)
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It seems to me that so many of these offences were so trivial that it is clear the people who committed them were not violent criminals but people struggling to survive. After all, if you were a villain why would you bother to steal a duck when you could probably make off with a whole field of sheep or go and rob a stagecoach? The majority of these petty thefts were committed by desperate people who were probably hungry themselves and had hungry wives and children at home. The sentences handed down to them were supposed to act as a deterrent and stop others trying to do the same; I don't really know a great deal about sentences given over that period, but I was wondering what happened to rich people who stole and robbed and cheated people out of their lands/inheritances. Presumably they wouldn't end up dying on a hulk.
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Perhaps the trade is journeyman stone mason, as for the disposal of bodies usually prisoners were buried in a paupers grave or used for research by the medical profession. Gruesome I know but that was early Victorian England.
James
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but I was wondering what happened to rich people who stole and robbed and cheated people out of their lands/inheritances. Presumably they wouldn't end up dying on a hulk.
Hi Greensleeves
That's a good question and one I would love an answer too as well.
Hi Macintosh
I was wondering how/if a Journeyman Stone Mason would differ from a Stone Mason?
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Maybe they move about more!! ;) Just guessing! Like a travelling salesman!
Re the rich people - but they weren't committing a crime - they were just exercising their rights!!! :o :o :o ::) unfair isn't it!
Wiggy :)
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Turfy, originally a journeyman was a person who was hired by the day, from the French Journee', but later became associated with a person who had mastered a trade or craft.
A relative of mine was a jouneyman Nut, Bolt and Rivet maker who left Clydeside 1880s for work in the North East of England, he was in permanent employment, though still referred to as journeyman, I don't know when the transition occurred.
James
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That's interesting, thanks James.
I've not had any luck yet in finding out what happened to his body. Also been trying to find a photo of the Prison Hulk Justitia, I know it was moored at Woolwich when he died 1841 - I have found one photo of 'Prison Hulks off Woolwich' but can't make out names of the ships and don't know what date it is.
Regards
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Connexion was a valid spelling at that time., e.g. the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, a late 18th century religious movement which existed until at least the 20th century.
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Great picture Turfy! Glad you showed us that one - will be interesting to many I bet!!
Also thanks for spelling of connexions veeblewort (it actually makes more sense to spell it that way doesn't it!)
Wiggy
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My tree follows one of William's daughters Sarah up to the present day (are you interested?). We would appreciate any info you have on Elizabeth Cork - William's wife who was born in the East Indies. They were our 3rd great grand.
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The authorities of the day gave sentences of transportation for trivial crimes
as a means to getting cheap labour to the colonies.I think their crimes against the poor of the country far outweighed the theft of a duck.
George.
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Hi all
I might be able to help with some information about the "Justitia". I found out quite a bit of information regarding this vessel when I was working on University project:
JUSTITIA
The "Justitia" was a 260 ton prison hulk originally moored in the Thames between Galleons Reach and Barking Reach. The Convicts in the attached engraving were performing hard labour at the Woolwich Warren. The convicts were employed "to raise soil, sand and gravel from the bed of the river for the benefit of the navigation of the said river". The prisoners were kept on board awaiting deportation to Australia. This ship had been moored on the Thames when the American War of Independence stopped transportation of criminals to the colonies. The 'Justitia' formerly belonged to Duncan Campbell who was appointed to supervise the work of the convicts.
Campbell and his partner John Stewart had previously set up as "JS&C" and were in the business of transporting newly-convicted convicts and this was aided by an article of agreement with Richard Burke from the Treasury Department, dated 5 September, 1764. It is of interest to note that Campbell was "uncle-in-law" of William Bligh of the infamous “Bounty”
PS I do have a little image - but I can't figure out how to attach it! Will try and figure it out and post later.. :(
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Has anyone checked the local burial records? Even a "Paupers Burial" would be recorded.
As for throwing him in the river - so a few hours later he floats up by the Houses of Parliament - I think not.
I did have a look in NBIv2 but he's not there. Not surprising as few FHSs bothered after the civil registration came in; and hence the death of William is noted:
Deaths Jun 1841
CORK William Greenwich 5 171
CORK William Dartford 5 66
Which one is him I don't know for sure but the Greenwich district covers Woolwich.
Bryan