William WEBB - what happened to him?

[Truebrit]

I am researching an Ancestor, William Webb, born in Gilmorton, Leicestershire in 1817, who was sent to Tasmania for stealing sheep in 1841.  He arrived in Tasmania in early 1843 aboard the Duchess of Northumberland where he spent the next 6 years in the colony.  I have found his conduct record (no 8877) although some of it is very hard to read.

He appears to have been pardoned in late 1849, before heading from Launceston to Melbourne on the @Shamrock' steamer on 17th April 1850. 

I am not sure what happened to him then.  I am hoping that he went back to England as his wife Elizabeth, who he married in 1839, lists William as a father of a child, William Webb (Jnr) on a birth record (Oct 1852) and christening record (Oct 1853) in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.  However, i cannot find him on any census' in England, except the 1841 census, which is before he was sent to Tasmania.  After that his wife is listed as living on Parish Relief in Lutterworth in the 1851 census (stating she is a widow) and again she is alone in 1861 where she states she is married, before listing herself as a widow again in 1871!

Can anyone help me trace William Webb from his ship voyage on the Shamrock on the 17th April 1850 bound for Melbourne? Or can anyone help with further info on his trial and time in Tasmania?

Thanks in advance.

TB

[Neil Todd]

Hi Truebrit, Return to England? That would be very unusual. Pardon or ticket of leave meant some freedom to move around the Colony. Not leave it.

Transportation normally meant for the term of life. I would think that he would need the means to buy a ticket which didn't come cheap. Also he would need friends in High places to be able to board a ship. I believe that his wife after seven years could legally marry again and this could be the true father.

A search for a William Webb here may turn up something. What was William's sentence term?

Neil

[Truebrit]

Hi Neil

Thanks for your reply.

He was sentenced in the Leicestershire courts to 10 years for steeling sheep by way of Transportation.  The criminal records register is dated 30/07/1841.  I have found a record of him being transported to Tasmania on 'The Duchess of Northumberland' ship on 16/09/1842, arriving 18/01/1843.  He then appears to have been pardoned in 1849 and then heads to Melbourne on the 'Shamrock' steamer on 17/04/1850.

That is all that i know....

Any other details or info would be greatly appreciated.

TB

[Neil Todd]

Hi, I came across a mention in 1871 of A "William Webb" at Ballarat Victoria who had some items stolen and was offering a reward. Of course this could be any William Webb. Perhaps he settled there and remmarried but as I dont have full access to Victorian records it will be difficult to find him (for Me).

As he could move reasonably freely around the colonies he could turn up anywhere but I am sure that others may be able to find some record. As a pardoned prisoner he was able to buy land or take up ballots this also could be anywhere and there were lots of pardoned prisoners.

Do you know his parents names our records do have these when they are made available by informants either on marriage or death certs.

Neil

[Truebrit]

Yes.

His parents names were John Webb and Ann Hopkins.

Any details, confirmations, clarifications or generally any info greatly received on this one.

Regards

TB

[judb]

You have all this information I would think but I'll put it up as it may help others.

William WEBB, aged 24, was convicted (with Thomas BYWATER) for sheep stealing at Leicester Assizes 30 July 1841, sentence: transportation 10 years.  Voyage per Duchess of Northumberland, 1 October, 1842 to Van Dieman's Land.  He received a conditional pardon after 5 years 10 months in the colony and 10 months after his ticket of leave.

According to the UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, he was an ag lab, could not read or write.  There are some comments about his character which are too hard to read, although it seems to say Imp'd before, bad something and good dispn (possibly imprisoned before, bad something, good disposition) He was on the Justitia at Woolwich from 30 Aug 1841.

Pity he didn't have a middle name as there are so many William WEBBs.  While he only had a conditional pardon when he left Tasmania he would have been free to leave Australia after he had served his full sentence.

Judith

Tasmanian Convict records also give this info on his indent:
Native place: Gilmorton (Gilmarton?), Leics,
Ploughman and labourer
Height 5ft 9 3/4in, married, 2 children, protestant religion, convicted for stealing 2 sheep, 3mos for poaching, 2 mos for assault (also some unreadable comments in this column). The next column I think has his wife as Elizabeth and his two children as Elizabeth, and Ann Elizabeth but this may not be correct.  I am not very familiar with Tas records.

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?detail=1&type=C&id=74356

[Dundee]

Wife Elizabeth, Native Place, Father John
Mother Elizabeth, Brother John, 3 Sisters
Ann, Elizabeth, Phillis (?) Native Place

His mother's name is incorrect.

Debra 

[Truebrit]

Hi all

Thanks for this info. Can I ask for the sources/links as I am not sure I did have all this info! Not sure I have seen the prison hulk records, where can these be found?

Debra - those details are correct except for the wrong mothers name. John married Ann in 1816 and William was baptised in 1817. Where did you get that info from?

Thanks all. My only disappointment is that it really is looking like he did not make it back to England to father William in 1852.

TB

[judb]

Well read Debra!

The link I gave you is the Tasmanian convict records on-line and you can see the digitised records there.

Judith