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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: anniebelle on Sunday 19 January 14 00:11 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know if there were prison hulks in Port Jackson, NSW in convict times where those with a colonial sentence were sent? If so, are there any records available that record who may have been sent to a hulk and what happened to them after?
Any direction as to where to go would be appreciated.
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Hi,
Would you like to provide the name of the person you are looking for please?
Leanne
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Yes here is a little about the Phoenix which was used as a prison hulk
http://www.patersonriver.com.au/places/phoenix.htm
regards,
Ros
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Firstly, thank you to both of you for your quick responses.
I am looking for inform on what happened to William Buttress (Convict per 'Lord Sidmouth' 1820) following his transfer to 'Hulk'. The Sydney Gaol Entrance Book records :
23 Apr 1827 William Buttress, Qtr Sessions, Windsor, pig stealing, 7 years, penal settlement; 19 Jun 1827 Transferred Hulk.
There is a report on Trove in Syd Gazette of 16 Apr, 1827 of this court case.
William Buttress' wife, Rebecca Hall, remarried to Edward Hames/Arms in Jul, 1831 which makes me suspect William must have died. I am hoping to find some details as to whether this is so.
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Hi,
have you seen these?:
From Colonial Secretarys' Records:
BUTTRESS, William. Per "Lord Sidmouth, 1819
1822 Feb 2
In Sydney Gaol charged with assaulting his overseer. To be discharged and delivered to Carter's Barracks (Reel 6008; 4/3504A pp.384-5)
1823 Oct 25
On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.12)
1823 Nov 8
On lists of convict labourers forwarded from the Establishment, Emu Plains, to the Penrith Bench for assignment; listed as Gardener alias Buttress (Reel 6028; 2/8283 pp.169, 175)
1825 Apr 19
On return of Government servants transferred in the District of Evan; from William Roberts to Alexander Fraser on 25 Jan (Reel 6063; 4/1785 p.183a)
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
Leanne
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TROVE has this general account of the prison hulk in Port Jackson in December 1826, about 4 months before your man was on it. No mention of whether the prisoners stayed on the hulk or were waiting for transportation to somewhere else.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31758044
Seems a bit odd -
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Monday 16 April 1827, has an account of a trial at Windsor Quarter Sessions where 4 people are tried for pig stealing including a Wm BUTTRESS who is found not guilty. This report of the proceedings of the Windsor Quarter Sessions is curiously dated Tuesday October 10, 1827, however this would seem to be a typo as the Tuesday prior to the date of the newspaper report would be Tuesday 10 April The sentences for the two who were found guilty are listed.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2188032
??? ??? ??? Judith
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Listed as both GARDENER and GARDINER
Death 1827 Ref # V18277398 2C/1827 also Ref# V182737 11/1827
William aged 57 years.
Neil
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Thank you for your responses. Yes, I have seen the Col Sec Corres and also the Trove article. I think the Newspaper report must have incorrectly stated that Buttress was found Not Guilty given he was admitted to the Syd Gaol just following the trial. I also noticed reference to the 'alias Gardener'.
William Buttress was born abt 1797 according to his Convict records, so about 30 years in 1827.
The Paterson River History article on the 'Phoenix' has provided some good guidance on NSW State Records available at Western Sydney on records relating to the 'Phoenix'. Looks as though I might find out more on a visit there when I next get to visit Syd.
Thanks again for generous help and information.
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Hi
In June 1825 the Hulk Phoenix was almost ready to receive prisoners
In May 1826 the Phoenix Hulk was to be achored off Goat Island in Sydney Harbour and the prisoners worked on the shore.
Gerry
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Thank you for the comment. The reference to Paterson River History provided by rosball above gives a nice summary of the Phoenix. From that and looking at the NSW State Records site it appears that prisoners were transferred from 20 Aug 1825 until 30 Jan 1837 with the last prisoners transferred out by Oct 1837.
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Hulk Pheonix was listed as a Gaol in the 1833 NSW Calander & PO Directory just like Parramatta, Sydney Gaols etc.
It was probably considered a nore secure gaol for the serious offenders or re-offenders.
Hulk Pheonix was sold in 1937 for 145 pound to Thomas Hyndes for breaking up, it was laying up at Balmain Point.
Gerry
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From memory and without looking up anything, the Hulk Phoenix was originally at what is now Lavender Bay on the North Shore and which was called Phoenix Bay because of this.
Name was changed to Lavender Bay after George Lavender who married into my Blue family (second husband of Susannah Blue, dau of Billy Blue).
He shot himself in a fit of depression, aged 66, in 1851.
Dawn M
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William Buttress was discharged from the 'Phoenix' Hulk on 13 July, 1827 ti be transported to Moreton Bay per the Brig 'Wellington. It also seems he may have been transferred back to Sydney from Moreton Bay on 18 May, 1835. This would have been at the end of his 7 year sentence.