Convict's crime - John WEBB

[rpoole]

I am hoping someone can help identify the crime of convict John WEBB via "Guildford".

He was convicted at the Oxfordshire assizes for a term of 14 years on July 21st 1819. The "Guildford" left Portsmouth on 12th May 1820 and arrived VDL 28th Oct 1820.

A native of Little Tew, Oxfordshire, he was baptised 27th May 1798 at Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire, and died 27th Nov 1873 Sorell, Tasmania.

The first entry on his conduct record is in 1822.      I have most of his family details, but his original crime eludes me.    Two of his sons married two of my gg aunts, and a direct descendant of one of them is seeking the crime for his family tree.

Hoping there is a lister who has this info.


Cheers, Aussie Bob

[judb]

From Australian Convict Registers, Other Fleets and Ships, 1791-1868 Piece HO 11/3
Colony: Van Diemans Land
there are three chaps bracketed together tried at Oxford Assizes 21 July 1819 - Thomas CONNON (could be Connor), James KNIBBS and Martin HARTWELL, sentence: Life
then there are two names bracketed together, tried at Oxford Assizes 21 July 1819 - John WEBB, John COULING?, sentence: seven years.

England and Wales Criminal Registers show
John WEBB convicted in the Summer assizes of Sheep-stealing; sentence: Death
John COULING convicted in the Summer assizes of burglary; sentence: Death
James KNIBBS convicted in the Summer assizes of burglary; sentence: Death
Martin HARTWELL convicted in the Summer assizes of burglary; sentence: Death

It was common for sentences to be commuted to a lesser sentence and it would appear that these chaps were all kept together for transportation.

Cheers, Judith

[rpoole]

Thank you ever so much Judith,

There will be one very happy descendant of a sheep stealer when I pass your findings on to  him.

Great work, regards, Aussie Bob   

[tropicalj]

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=11

On  the above link to the Tasmania Archives  you  will be able to see there is further information about John Webb but unfortunately it has to be viewed in  the Archives reading room. The on record that is able to be viewed on line shows him also linked to John Couling.

Perhaps some kind fellow rootschatter who lives in  Tasmania may be able to help you further with more details

kind thoughts Jenn

[Andcarred]

Hi Aussie Bob and Jen,

There are records online for this convict eg the conduct book and indent.   The conduct books give some insight into the every day life of the convict while still in gaol.  However they are a bit hard to find sometimes as they are not strictly alphabetical and take some searching to find the one you want.   Click on the link Jen has given and then enter your convict's information and it will come up with the Conduct Book.  Click on this and then you will have to find what page his is on.  Also the handwriting is not always easy to read but can be blown up on the screen.  They all make fascinating (and sometimes horrifying) reading. 

I note that the whole list of Tasmanian convicts is not online and can only be viewed at the Tasmanian Archives Office.   I am also told that the Tasmanian Archives Office is to be closed down.  I have no idea what is to happen to the records.  Such a shame for all Tasmanian researchers as the Tasmanian convict records are much better than records for New South Wales convicts as NSW destroyed so many of theirs eg there are no conduct books for NSW convicts.

Andcarred

[rpoole]

Hi Jen and Andcarred,

I usually make Hobart once a year and will check details then. In the meantime Judith has supplied the core matter I was after, the crime.   I did state in my initial post that the conduct record did not start until John Webb was in VDL, as I have viewed it.  Unfortunately the Indent and description lists cant be viewed online.

Many thanks for your kind suggestions and interest.   This is a great facility, thanks to people like Judith and yourselves.

Best wishes, Aussie Bob

[rpoole]

By the way Andcarred,

I believe it is the National Archives Office in Tasmania that is to be closed, not the Tasmanian Archives that is at the Library in Hobart.    Fingers crossed.

Regards,

Aussie Bob

[Dundee]

Hi Aussie Bob,

Just a little extra from:

Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, November 6, 1819; Issue 3472.
OXFORD, Saturday, Nov. 6

The following convicts have been removed from our county gaol to the Leviathan convict ship in Portsmouth harbour, pursuant to their respective sentences as follows:

For Life - Jas. Warwick, Thos. Lennon, Richard Ayris, Daniel Walton, Thomas Sawyer, Jas. Spokes, Martin Hartwell , James Knibbs, John Smith and Thomas Smith

For Fourteen Years - John Couling, Charles Goodlake, John Webb and Thomas Allen.

The Leviathan was a convict hulk, and you can read a bit about it here http://bugden.bigpondhosting.com/prison_hulk.htm

Cheers

Debra

[rpoole]

Hi Debra,

Thanks for that. That is another piece in the Jigsaw of his troubled life.

I think the 7 years sentence mentioned in the "Australian Convict Registers, Other Fleets and Ships 1791 - 1868, piece HO 11/3" may be a mistake, as both the "British Convict Transportation !787 - 1867 Database" and the "Jackson's Oxford Journal" both state it was a 14 year sentence.    Either way, he went on to produce very large families, of which reputable descendants are spread all round Australia today.

Cheers,

Aussie Bob